quietglow Posted November 3, 2022 Share #1 Posted November 3, 2022 Advertisement (gone after registration) I massively prefer black cameras. In 2003, when I got my first Leica, I went for an M4-2 rather than an M2. The reason was mostly for the black chrome. These days I shoot an M3 most of the time. I've recently sold all my remaining digital cameras excepting my M8, and I need another M body to handle shooting different stocks etc. I have been looking with a whole lot of lust at all these repainted M2s and M3s that are on the market these days. Does anyone here have any experience with repaints done by the more reputable operations? i.e. Mr. T's etc. where they strip to brass. I use my cameras in pretty tortuous ways (backpacking trips, mountain climbing etc) so the camera is going to get brassed. I am fine with this, but I am concerned that these cameras are more for people putting them on shelves vs. actually using them. If you have a repaint that has seen some service, I'd love to see a photo. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted November 3, 2022 Posted November 3, 2022 Hi quietglow, Take a look here Repainted Ms?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
logan2z Posted November 3, 2022 Share #2 Posted November 3, 2022 (edited) I don't own a repaint but I've looked into it a bit and the two places I'd likely trust to do it would be Cameraworks-uk and Kanto Camera in Japan. They both appear to do beautiful work and do it right. For photos check out @kantocamera on Instagram. Edited November 3, 2022 by logan2z 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pippy Posted November 3, 2022 Share #3 Posted November 3, 2022 Why not simply buy another M4-2 / M4-P? P. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huss Posted November 3, 2022 Share #4 Posted November 3, 2022 35 minutes ago, quietglow said: Does anyone here have any experience with repaints done by the more reputable operations? i.e. Mr. T's etc. where they strip to brass.. You hit the nail on the head. If you get any repaint, make sure it has been applied to the brass. Not on top of a chrome finish camera. On the chrome ones, the paint will flake off very easily leaving the original silver chrome finish showing. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
logan2z Posted November 3, 2022 Share #5 Posted November 3, 2022 1 minute ago, Huss said: You hit the nail on the head. If you get any repaint, make sure it has been applied to the brass. Not on top of a chrome finish camera. On the chrome ones, the paint will flake off very easily leaving the original silver chrome finish showing. +1 Both Kanto and Cameraworks will strip off the chrome plating and apply the paint to the brass. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anbaric Posted November 3, 2022 Share #6 Posted November 3, 2022 (edited) Cameraworks have a range of finishes, so you can choose something that is similar to a (more or less durable) historic paint from a particular period, or something really tough like Cerakote: https://www.cameraworks-uk.com/post/2017/12/02/which-finish-for-my-restoredrepainted-leica https://www.cameraworks-uk.com/re-paints Edited November 3, 2022 by Anbaric Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted November 4, 2022 Share #7 Posted November 4, 2022 Advertisement (gone after registration) I had aM3 repainted by Shintaro. The work was immaculate,but it took him five years. Out of communication for most of the time. Tom Abrahamson finally retrieved it for me. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huss Posted November 4, 2022 Share #8 Posted November 4, 2022 15 minutes ago, jaapv said: I had aM3 repainted by Shintaro. The work was immaculate,but it took him five years. Out of communication for most of the time. Tom Abrahamson finally retrieved it for me. Good grief! If you didn't have someone like Tom, maybe you would have never got it back! I'd buy a camera that had a good repaint. But I wouldn't send a camera to be painted.. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted November 4, 2022 Share #9 Posted November 4, 2022 Yes, Tom was a gentleman. 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
archive_all Posted November 4, 2022 Share #10 Posted November 4, 2022 It may be worth checking out Shueido Camera. They do some plain but also really cool 'artist series' paint jobs but overall quality work. I think they do have stock for sale through Ebay as well. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
archive_all Posted November 4, 2022 Share #11 Posted November 4, 2022 4 minutes ago, archive_all said: It may be worth checking out Shueido Camera. They do some plain but also really cool 'artist series' paint jobs but overall quality work. I think they do have stock for sale through Ebay as well. https://www.ebay.com/itm/195409477835?hash=item2d7f5000cb:g:KWMAAOSw5AtjRqSv 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
raizans Posted November 4, 2022 Share #12 Posted November 4, 2022 Here are the best repainters that I know of currently working: Kanto Camera, Tokyo, Japanhttp://www.kantocamera.com/ CameraWorks, Alan and James Starkie, Bury, Greater Manchester, UKhttps://www.facebook.com/LeicaRepairs/https://www.cameraworks-uk.com/ Lumierè Camera, Takahashi-san, Tokyo, Japanhttps://www.lumierecamera.com/ Trained by Shintaro. Patagonean Camera Cases & Straps, Enzo Betinyani (Monochrom on RFF), Santiago, Chilehttps://www.instagram.com/patagonean/https://www.facebook.com/enzopatagoneanhttps://www.rangefinderforum.com/member/50896-monochromhttps://www.flickr.com/photos/enzo-betinyani/ Some repainters that aren't as good, but might be good enough: Masa Saita, Japanmasa-saita@ac.auone-net.jp marc_gogogo, Shueido’s repainter, Taipei, Taiwanhttps://www.instagram.com/marc_gogogo/ Camerakote, UKhttps://mobile.twitter.com/camerakote 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kivis Posted November 4, 2022 Share #13 Posted November 4, 2022 3 hours ago, jaapv said: Yes, Tom was a gentleman. Off Topic but Tom A was true gentleman and a great mentor to me. RIP. 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
105012 Posted November 4, 2022 Share #14 Posted November 4, 2022 1 hour ago, raizans said: Here are the best repainters that I know of currently working: ... ... Lumierè Camera, Takahashi-san, Tokyo, Japanhttps://www.lumierecamera.com/ Trained by Shintaro. ... ... Example of the work of Takahashi-san: 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! Heavily used over the last 7 years, never on a shelf! It's been on 20+ long-haul trips, not babied, enjoyed... 😀 13 Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Heavily used over the last 7 years, never on a shelf! It's been on 20+ long-haul trips, not babied, enjoyed... 😀 ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/344438-repainted-ms/?do=findComment&comment=4554444'>More sharing options...
MarkP Posted November 4, 2022 Share #15 Posted November 4, 2022 (edited) . Edited November 4, 2022 by MarkP Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkP Posted November 4, 2022 Share #16 Posted November 4, 2022 5 hours ago, jaapv said: I had aM3 repainted by Shintaro. The work was immaculate,but it took him five years. Out of communication for most of the time. Tom Abrahamson finally retrieved it for me. One brush stroke a month. That was quick. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jakontil Posted November 4, 2022 Share #17 Posted November 4, 2022 I have a repainted m2r in black, used it heavily and brassing beautifully Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
quietglow Posted November 4, 2022 Author Share #18 Posted November 4, 2022 13 hours ago, pippy said: Why not simply buy another M4-2 / M4-P? P. This is a possibility, but every time I go looking I see a gorgeous black painted M3... 12 hours ago, jaapv said: I had aM3 repainted by Shintaro. The work was immaculate,but it took him five years. Out of communication for most of the time. Tom Abrahamson finally retrieved it for me. I am honored to have Tom A.s name appear in a thread of mine. I never met him, and I wish I had. I used to read his columns and posts in the early 00s with lots of reverence. 8 hours ago, 105012 said: Example of the work of Takahashi-san: 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! Heavily used over the last 7 years, never on a shelf! It's been on 20+ long-haul trips, not babied, enjoyed... 😀 That is gorgeous. That makes me think I may go this route. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
matted Posted November 4, 2022 Share #19 Posted November 4, 2022 (edited) Post removed since I was mistaken! Edited November 4, 2022 by matted Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
logan2z Posted November 4, 2022 Share #20 Posted November 4, 2022 7 minutes ago, matted said: I was considering sending my M4 to cameraworks uk but noticed on their website that as of last year they no longer accept international repair jobs, which I assume includes repaints. Where do you see that? I looked around on their web site and couldn't find a statement to that effect. That would be odd, because the very first sentence on their web site says:Cameraworks-uk is a very well respected Leica repair specialist with a worldwide customer base Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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