tadeyev Posted February 15, 2013 Share #21 Posted February 15, 2013 Advertisement (gone after registration) Just a head's up guys on the Vulcanite question: Leica have stopped just recently with the old Vulcanite that used to be available, among other places, on the a la carte program. The new material that they are using is now a kind of leatherette, a cross between the M7 and Vulcanite finish. I think it is quite ugly. So, the only place here in EU is really Peter in Luton, as already mentioned. He is the best. A la carte has no more use for me, as I will now just buy an MP standard and have it changed to the good Vulcanite afterwards, and add a few chrome bits here and there. So Leica's change will save me money in the end... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted February 15, 2013 Posted February 15, 2013 Hi tadeyev, Take a look here Worth it to swith from M7 leatherette covering to MP or Vulkanite covering?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
animalhairs Posted February 15, 2013 Share #22 Posted February 15, 2013 Did this change just happen, or was it a year ago? http://leicarumors.com/2012/02/03/leica-m-cameras-change-from-vulcanite-to-leatherette-cladding.aspx/ I have the vulcanite covering on both of my a la carte MP bodies. One is a couple of years old, and the other was ordered late 2012. Both look pretty much the same. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
philipus Posted February 15, 2013 Author Share #23 Posted February 15, 2013 Personally I find the bigger-grained "vulcanite" too shiny. It looks like it is made of hard plastic. The leatherette in that link looks better. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
animalhairs Posted February 16, 2013 Share #24 Posted February 16, 2013 Personally I find the bigger-grained "vulcanite" too shiny. It looks like it is made of hard plastic. The leatherette in that link looks better. I'm not sure, but I'm guessing tadeyev is confusing what he sees on the newer digital M bodies with what Leica is actually offering on a la carte bodies. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tadeyev Posted February 16, 2013 Share #25 Posted February 16, 2013 I'm not sure, but I'm guessing tadeyev is confusing what he sees on the newer digital M bodies with what Leica is actually offering on a la carte bodies. Eeks! You are 100% right. Looked a bit too quick and thought the date was February 2013 instead of 2012. Trying to be helpful and yet only creating confusion ! As a crotchety Leica fan I really like the old Vulcanite as you see on the older Leicas…So my feeling is purely sentimental. It could well be that the newer material is more grippy and less slippery, but I have (not yet!) ever dropped any of my cameras. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
xalo Posted February 17, 2013 Share #26 Posted February 17, 2013 Personally I find the bigger-grained "vulcanite" too shiny. It looks like it is made of hard plastic. The leatherette in that link looks better. Agreed, the "vulcanite" is (was - now history anyway, if I get it right) a little shiny, albeit less so than the image suggests. I like the look a lot against black chrome. In the case of black paint, I'd have reservations and would also prefer a more mat surface. Alexander Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
thrid Posted February 19, 2013 Share #27 Posted February 19, 2013 Advertisement (gone after registration) Just a head's up guys on the Vulcanite question: Leica have stopped just recently with the old Vulcanite that used to be available, among other places, on the a la carte program. The new material that they are using is now a kind of leatherette, a cross between the M7 and Vulcanite finish. I think it is quite ugly. So, the only place here in EU is really Peter in Luton, as already mentioned. He is the best. A la carte has no more use for me, as I will now just buy an MP standard and have it changed to the good Vulcanite afterwards, and add a few chrome bits here and there. So Leica's change will save me money in the end... Leica has not covered their camera in real vulcanite since the M4-P. Everything from the M6 forward is covered in some form of vinyl with an adhesive on the back. The vulcanite offered through the a la carte program is also vinyl, with a rougher texture that matches the pattern of the real rubber vulcanite of the days of yore. Real vulcanite is actual rubber that is fused under heat and pressure to the metal of the body. CCR Lutton in the UK is the only place left that can still apply real rubber vulcanite. My guess is that they bought the molds from Leica, when they stopped doing it. No one else, including Leica still covers camera in REAL rubber vulcanite. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
philipus Posted February 19, 2013 Author Share #28 Posted February 19, 2013 . The vulcanite offered through the a la carte program is also vinyl, with a rougher texture that matches the pattern of the real rubber vulcanite of the days of yore. This is something I've wondered. The MP "vulcanite" seems to have bigger "grain" than the original vulcanite. Is that right? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruniroquai Posted February 19, 2013 Share #29 Posted February 19, 2013 Another question.. Is it possible to change the top plate for a BP of the M7? And the rewind crank of the MP? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wattsy Posted February 19, 2013 Share #30 Posted February 19, 2013 Another question.. Is it possible to change the top plate for a BP of the M7? And the rewind crank of the MP? If I understand the question correctly, I think the answer is no. If the à la carte programme is any guide you can have an MP with 'M7 style' slanted rewind crank but you cannot specify an M7 with MP style vertical knurled knob. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
xalo Posted February 20, 2013 Share #31 Posted February 20, 2013 This is something I've wondered. The MP "vulcanite" seems to have bigger "grain" than the original vulcanite. Is that right? Indeed, the grain is bigger. At least as far my M3 and M5 are concerned. Alexander Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
philipus Posted February 20, 2013 Author Share #32 Posted February 20, 2013 Thank you Alexander. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
alandash Posted February 21, 2013 Share #33 Posted February 21, 2013 I saw mention of "sharkskin" covering on the MP, which reminded me of the Leica 3C, which also had that same covering on a number of those cameras. It was notorius for peeling problems, so I thought it would never be used by Leica again. I happen to have a mint 3C in sharkskin, so my covering is perfect, but it could go bad if someone who owned it later decided to handle it a lot. It probably is great as a non-slippery covering, but it does feel creepy when held. A 3C with mint sharkskin is probably very desirable by collectors, since so few survived that way. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
thrid Posted February 21, 2013 Share #34 Posted February 21, 2013 This is something I've wondered. The MP "vulcanite" seems to have bigger "grain" than the original vulcanite. Is that right? I think you are correct. I have an M4-2, which I believe has the same vulcanite pattern as used on the M4-P and the texture is coarser than the M3/M2/M4 and I think the M5.I kind of like the coarse vulcanite, it feels really good in the hand and is quite sticky. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
thrid Posted February 21, 2013 Share #35 Posted February 21, 2013 Another question.. Is it possible to change the top plate for a BP of the M7? And the rewind crank of the MP? The top plate of the M7 is brass, so in theory you could have the brass and undercoat of nickel removed by reverse electrolysis. It could then br repainted in black. I'm pretty sure that Leica will sell you a black paint top plate for an M7, but they are expensive. I needed a replacement top plate for my M4 and Leica wanted $500. Of course you will also need all the other parts in black paint. In the end it would probably be cheaper to have the camera repainted or close to the cost of a real black paint M7 à la carte. I'm not sure if a camera with the slanted rewind knob like the M7 can be converted to a post like the MP or M3/M2. I suspect the internals of the MP were designed to be equipped with either. But i do not know how much the MP differs internally from an M7. If it can be done it's probably an expensive modification. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruniroquai Posted February 21, 2013 Share #36 Posted February 21, 2013 Thank You all, for me the best option would be a Leica MP with AE.. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
xalo Posted February 21, 2013 Share #37 Posted February 21, 2013 Well, as close as it seems to get -- *only* £4165... But why paint a white horse black? Alexander Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/195315-worth-it-to-swith-from-m7-leatherette-covering-to-mp-or-vulkanite-covering/?do=findComment&comment=2249705'>More sharing options...
kivis Posted December 6, 2016 Share #38 Posted December 6, 2016 I had my last M3 re-covered with Griptac; and I must say the feel of the material was the best I have come across. I have a Nikon F covered in Griptec. Best covering I have ever owned.http://www.cameraleather.com/ Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
spydrxx Posted December 6, 2016 Share #39 Posted December 6, 2016 I've recovered about 5 cameras now, using Aki-Asahi's and Cameraleather's coverings. The last Leica I did was a iif using Aki-Asahi's covering...it looks great and the job was really a piece of cake. Morgan Sparks from Cameraleather sent me a sample of Griptac to try out....it has a great feel, but I just haven't taken the leap of faith yet for a whole camera. Since it was mentioned earlier, the Photo Equip ML handle is about the best I've ever used on a small camera body (M). Their LM grip, which is open-ended on the tripod screw side works very well for a variety of cameras, especially Barnack ones. I covered the grip itself with a spare piece of camera covering so it matches my LTM bodies. I still have an M2 which is starting to drop vulcanite flakes here and there, but haven't yet decided when & what I'll recover it with. Definitely not one of the garish leather or goatskins, but perhaps something a little more distinctive than the standard Leica look. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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