M8: flaky lettering

[Colin1974]

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I've just bought an M8, but some of the lettering above the buttons is flaking slightly. What is the most suitable paint and brush to replace it?

Surprisingly, the letters aren't indented, so I'll need to be very delicate with this.

 

Colin.

[wda]

Colin, mine is the same. And my M9. My dealer said Leica would restore the lettering, at a cost (out of warranty). I deferred, not wishing to be without my M9 camera for many weeks.

 

Compared with earlier Leica M cameras, modern painted lettering is a much inferior possibly cheaper application. It is proving not durable. Leica should be aware.

 

I will be interested in the views of other members.

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[jcraf]

The black painted 'info' button lettering on my (now departed) silver M240 wore off in no time, well in a couple of months of amateur use anyway. Hardly durable.

 

I've seen the same on black 240s with white lettering too.

 

Perhaps Leica, recognising that certain owners look for a 'patina', are giving us a fast track to that effect.

[Colin1974]

Thanks for the replies. Does anyone have any tips on what sort paint (or otherwise) I can use to tidy up any flaked lettering? I don't mind when it slightly fades, as on some lenses, as long it is still readable.

I'm happy to fix this myself, as long as I know what I'm doing. Any ideas are greatfully recieved.

 

 

Thanks, Colin.

[streetwise]

Hi, I have an M8 Black edition and I noticed that some of the white lettering on the rear buttons looked a little faded or less vivid eg Delete button, Set button.

 

Was annoyed as I think this is not acceptable on such a high value item and should be addressed by Leica with a super durable paint job.

 

Otherwise the camera is super, never had any problems. I have it for about 7 years now and though I am careful with it I do not treat it with kid gloves.

 

I decided to remove all the paint from all the rear buttons gently with a wooden tooth pick and a cotton swap with a tiny amount of paint remover -not allowing any even a tiny amount to get anyway near the buttons!

 

Now the button engravings appear silver and are perfectly visible though less vivid than white on a black background. Rubbing away the white paint has revealed a silver underside /undercoat -not sure what term to use.

 

I can read the notation perfectly and if you did not know that the engravings should be white -you may never comment.

 

No other fading or pealing has been noticed anywhere else on the camera-which has no brassing either.

 

My Leica lenses are essentially the ones I used to have on my M6 ie Summicron 35 and 50 plus an ancient 135 Elmarit with goggles (which works great on M8 =180mm ).

 

No signs of any paint fading on the lens lettering -so I think a lesser paint stock may have been used in error on the camera bodies -who knows?

 

I do not expect any camera to remain unblemished but key switches should be visible.

 

Hope this helps

 

Rgds