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As the person who started this thread, my only comment is that I think the issue of unacceptable wear on the SL2 leatherette arises from a combination of factors.

1. The design of the grip with an abrupt transition from grip to body (my Canons always incorporated a smooth curve)

2. The quality of the material - it should not be so vulnerable to abrasion.

3. The length of the user’s fingers. I have long middle finger that strikes against the leatherette. I keep my fingernails short, but the abrasion risk remains.  

My solution has been to use an inexpensive but well designed Chinese half case. For me this makes the camera more comfortable in MY hands and eliminates the risk of unnecessary damage.

just my 2 cents 🙂

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Anothe factor is the way one holds the camera. Either putting the main hold on the body with the finger tips( needs somewhat longer fingers) or one’s grip is on the umm…grip. 

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3 hours ago, jaapv said:

Anothe factor is the way one holds the camera. Either putting the main hold on the body with the finger tips( needs somewhat longer fingers) or one’s grip is on the umm…grip. 

Yes ... but.  At the risk of being a bit pedantic, maybe a couple of photos will help

Normal grip (my middle finger nail would  be touching the body leatherette without the half case)

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Middle finger extended (but not in a rude way!!) - which sort demonstrates the issue with the grip / cover design on the SL2)

I understand that the SL3 grip is a bit better ergonomically, but I've not tried it.  And as things stand, a £80 half case is a better purchase than a new camera!

Best

Chris

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The last is very true 🤠You demonstrate what I mean. You have a habit of stabilizing the camera against the camera bodywith your middle finger (And ring finger) if you would have the habit -I’m not saying that this is better or that you should - to use those fingers to grip the grip 😉 they would not touch the camera and damage the covering. 

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Posted (edited)
8 minutes ago, chris_tribble said:

Yes ... but.  At the risk of being a bit pedantic, maybe a couple of photos will help

Normal grip (my middle finger nail would  be touching the body leatherette without the half case)

Middle finger extended (but not in a rude way!!) - which sort demonstrates the issue with the grip / cover design on the SL2)

I understand that the SL3 grip is a bit better ergonomically, but I've not tried it.  And as things stand, a £80 half case is a better purchase than a new camera!

Best

Chris

Exactly .

Despite my complaints about the design of the Oberworth half case , because its so bulky , it lifts my fingers off the camera body.

IMO this shouldn`t even be an issue .

I`m not aware of any other camera manufacturer which has this issues.

In fact the covering on my M3 DW was perfect so why these niggles with the modern cameras ?

I don`t recall a proscribed way of handling that body .

 

Edited by Markey
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I never said it was proscribed rather the opposite. The 601 was a lot better; it had no covering in that spot. They could easily have used rubberoid there. 

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29 minutes ago, jaapv said:

You have a habit of stabilizing the camera against the camera bodywith your middle finger (And ring finger) if you would have the habit -I’m not saying that this is better or that you should - to use those fingers to grip the grip 😉 they would not touch the camera and damage the covering. 

Hmm. If I’d ever tried to do this the camera would be unstable and my hand would probably cramp up. I’d be pinching the body, not gripping it!

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I think this is clearly just a consequence of the particular design that they chose having an unforeseen drawback for a certain segment of the users with a particular finger length or finger and nail length. For example, I have had my SL2 for five years and it shows almost no wear, despite being used professionally for that whole time. 

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Hi,

In an earlier post (no.: 82) I mentioned that my SL2 was starting to show wear in that spot. It has grown quite a bit since then. I do not find it to be of any great concern, but it definitely indicates that the covering choice was not the best. I certainly do not believe that i should be required to modify my handhold in other not to mar a camera covering. I would actually prefer a body design without a grip: never had one on any Ms.,  Hasselblads, Mamiyflexes, or large format cameras.

Anyway, I'll likely stick a soft patch of some sort in the worn area. And since I tend to keep my equipment to almost obsolescence, I do not worry about any resale value.

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Another possibility is sample variation resulting from materials or production over time. We’ll never know.

Call me unlucky, regardless of cause. Having used 11 camera brands since 1974, some including multiple models, in all shapes and sizes, the SL2 is the only body I’ve experienced with this issue.  Leica NJ will fix it for minimal cost, but I refuse to give it up for an estimated 1 to 2 months. Not a big deal, but not up to Leica build standards.

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6 hours ago, Jeff S said:

Another possibility is sample variation resulting from materials or production over time. We’ll never know.

Call me unlucky, regardless of cause. Having used 11 camera brands since 1974, some including multiple models, in all shapes and sizes, the SL2 is the only body I’ve experienced with this issue.  Leica NJ will fix it for minimal cost, but I refuse to give it up for an estimated 1 to 2 months. Not a big deal, but not up to Leica build standards.

Agreed.

They need to concentrate on the day job .

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21 hours ago, Jeff S said:

Another possibility is sample variation resulting from materials or production over time. We’ll never know.

Call me unlucky, regardless of cause. Having used 11 camera brands since 1974, some including multiple models, in all shapes and sizes, the SL2 is the only body I’ve experienced with this issue.  Leica NJ will fix it for minimal cost, but I refuse to give it up for an estimated 1 to 2 months. Not a big deal, but not up to Leica build standards.

Exactly my experience! Pentax, Olympus OM series over the years, Canon EOS film and digital, M Leica.  It’s only the SL2 that’s given this problem..

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For information - I happened to look at MBP this morning, and noted that at least TWO of the SL2 bodies on the website had noticeable wear on the leatherette.  I am not alone!

https://www.mpb.com/en-uk/product/leica-sl2/sku-3210509

https://www.mpb.com/en-uk/product/leica-sl2/sku-3157512

It really is a design fault - not just a case of my abnormal hands!

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1 hour ago, chris_tribble said:

For information - I happened to look at MBP this morning, and noted that at least TWO of the SL2 bodies on the website had noticeable wear on the leatherette.  I am not alone!

https://www.mpb.com/en-uk/product/leica-sl2/sku-3210509

https://www.mpb.com/en-uk/product/leica-sl2/sku-3157512

It really is a design fault - not just a case of my abnormal hands!

Yep .... I`ve never had it on other cameras and I`ve been shooting since the early eighties.

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3 hours ago, chris_tribble said:

For information - I happened to look at MBP this morning, and noted that at least TWO of the SL2 bodies on the website had noticeable wear on the leatherette.  I am not alone!

https://www.mpb.com/en-uk/product/leica-sl2/sku-3210509

https://www.mpb.com/en-uk/product/leica-sl2/sku-3157512

It really is a design fault - not just a case of my abnormal hands!

My SL2 came from MPB in a 'Like New' condition, at the moment my Camera is still in that condition and doesn't get day to day use so fingers crossed that this issue doesn't come my way. After 40+ years of owning cameras I've never had one where the covering fails, I'm hopeful that this record will continue.

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33 minutes ago, Oxfordian said:

My SL2 came from MPB in a 'Like New' condition, at the moment my Camera is still in that condition and doesn't get day to day use so fingers crossed that this issue doesn't come my way. After 40+ years of owning cameras I've never had one where the covering fails, I'm hopeful that this record will continue.

If you cross your fingers you will probably be Ok  :)

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17 hours ago, Oxfordian said:

My SL2 came from MPB in a 'Like New' condition, at the moment my Camera is still in that condition and doesn't get day to day use so fingers crossed that this issue doesn't come my way. After 40+ years of owning cameras I've never had one where the covering fails, I'm hopeful that this record will continue.

The good thing about MBP is that they give detailed photos of the specific cameras. Great that you got a good one.  I have to say they’re incredibly good value and more than capable enough for pretty well every purpose. 
I’ve just spent a week documenting an opera festival up in Cumbria (Cumbria Opera Festivaland the cameras (2 SL2 bodies + 24-90 & 90-280) dealt with everything thrown at them.

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