![]() ![]() … as well as the June 2005 efforts by Joop Mes, who took DIY to the extremes of even fabricating his own camera tools (didn't mix his own pain though - wimp): Nevertheless, see the following notes by Akira Nakajima: Then you have to remove the (black or silver) chrome layer by reverse-electrolysis or strong acids, and then remove the underlying nickel plate (more aggressive chemicals) before you get to the brass! If you're bored and enjoy taking cameras apart, why not DIY repaint? Take a deep breath though, for as you can imagine it ain't easy. I didn't ask him for a price for a paint job: if you want one, you can ask him that. He says his ethos is to create a finish as close to the original Leica black paint finish as is possible. Guess which came out completely unscathed? Give you a clue: not the Leica one. He says he demonstrated the durability of his paint to two guys from the Leica Historical Society by immersing one of his black-painted base plates into boiling caustic soda and an original Leica-painted base plate into the same. He has his own paint made specially, including his own acid etching primers. I've just been on the phone to Malcolm Yes, he will repaint chrome bodies, stripped down to the brass, the works. On a mailing list in Oct 2004, Andy Whysall noted the following: It is claimed he does a superb job, but the $ charge is unknown (by me!). Herefordshire-based Leica repair wizard, Malcom Taylor also apparently repaints cameras. Peter tightended those up in the process too. The back had some play and the baseplate had some slight movement vertically if you pressed on it under the key lock. My M2-R needed a new strap lug so we replaced those. The photos on his site make the cameras seem more like a BP finish but that's just due to the lighting used. It's magnificient! The paint job is more like a black chrome job you would see on the M6, though it's a deeper black than my M6, which is 14 years old. I picked up an M2-R at a very reasonable cost (for an M2-R) and sent it to Peter to have a CLA and black paint job done. He's is also on of the finest Leica repair person in the world, IMHO. Peter Grisaffi of CRR Luton in England also paints cameras. In May 2005, Jim Arnold sent me the following note praising the repainting work of CRR Luton: the site uses Flash, so good luck trying to find things!)ĭr Joseph Yao (see below) has also had cameras repainted by Mr Takahashi at. Finally, there can also be Japanese Customs Duty issues - so make sure you discuss this first with Mr Yaginuma before sending your camera.Īnother Japanese alternative is Kantoamera Service Co Ltd. See his excellent and detailed www site at:Įxpect lengthy delays as Mr Yaginuma can get very overloaded with orders. Shintaro Yaginuma in Tokyo is the man to do the work. ![]() The zinc bodied Leicas (M4-P after #1600 000, M5 and M6) cannot be done because their zinc alloy top covers would melt(!). One important caveat though, only older brass body Ms can be repainted (along with the new M7 or MP, now Leica have gone back to using brass). It isn't cheap though, and you can expect a long delay in getting it done. There's no practical benefit to having the box outside of resale, but psychologically, you feel more like you're buying something new or 'complete'.Yes you can, it is an excellent (albeit expensive) way of refreshing a brassy and scuffed M. There may also be interesting historical provenance, such as a camera being owned by, and registered to, someone of importance. Vintage cameras are especially like this, as collectors prize things that are as close to original condition as possible. ![]() An item with box and papers is closer to 'new' than without. Some want to be able to sell the camera again at a later date, and they know they will get a better price if it comes with box and papers, much like an expensive watch. If I wanted an MP with the 0.85x viewfinder would it be easy to find a good, used one or would it make more sense to buy a new one which, I take it, would have to be à la carte?īTW, why are people willing to pay so much more for a used Leica with the original box? Is it because buyers think that someone who is fussy enough to the box is more careful with his camera as well? I could care less about the box. ![]()
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