laptoprob Posted February 8, 2009 Share #1 Posted February 8, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) Anyone ever replace the peeling or loose rubber on the Digilux 2 with leather? I am thinking of asking Aki Asahi for a piece to cut myself. The rubber is starting to come loose and I hate that. I am not that fond of the rubber anyway. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted February 8, 2009 Posted February 8, 2009 Hi laptoprob, Take a look here Digilux 2 in leather?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
rsolomon Posted February 8, 2009 Share #2 Posted February 8, 2009 My had come loose, i went to Leica NJ and they replaced it free of charge. i did ask them about other options and leather specfically. leica wont do it. in the end i had them replace it with the orginal rubber Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Overgaard Posted February 8, 2009 Share #3 Posted February 8, 2009 Well, John Thawley did replace his with leather and wrote a blog post on the experience and how to get it done: Pimp My Ride!!! - Journal - Motorsports Photographer ~ John Thawley :: Photography of American Le Mans, Grand Am, SPEED World Challenge Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
laptoprob Posted February 9, 2009 Author Share #4 Posted February 9, 2009 Thank you Thorsten! I cut a grey goat leather on an M2 and IIf before, but I think I am out of that leather piece. I will track something down. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Thawley Posted February 9, 2009 Share #5 Posted February 9, 2009 Thank you Thorsten! I cut a grey goat leather on an M2 and IIf before, but I think I am out of that leather piece. I will track something down. Morgan at Camera Leather made a template for the Digilux 2 from the work he did on my cameras. So, he is now able to offer covering of the Digilux 2. I don't think, though, he's offering it in kit form. I got the impression that the Digilux 2 is not a do-it-yourself project. The doors present a bit of a challenge as you have to remove the original material and it's bonded. It also hides the door hinges. The leather will not. A benefit to the leather though, is the cover is now two piece (excluding the doors) as opposed to three. I can also tell you, with Morgan's work, if you didn't know the camera before the leather, you'd never know it wasn't built that way. The leather adds a nice luxury look and feel to an already fantastic camera. The camera deserves leather. I've still got another that is original and I'm sure I'll kept it covered. I'll keep the Lumix LC1 as is and use it as a daily driver. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
daveleo Posted February 9, 2009 Share #6 Posted February 9, 2009 yes, Morgan at CameraLeather told me explicitly that his D2 recovering would have to be done in-house, not as a do-it-yourself kit.... too compliacted. at the moment he is recovering my Konica Hexar in mahogany kid leather .... my D2 is next (can't decide what to go with yet). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Thawley Posted February 9, 2009 Share #7 Posted February 9, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) yes, Morgan at CameraLeather told me explicitly that his D2 recovering would have to be done in-house, not as a do-it-yourself kit.... too compliacted. at the moment he is recovering my Konica Hexar in mahogany kid leather .... my D2 is next (can't decide what to go with yet). I want a red one... really bad. LOL - But, I'm not sure if I'll regret it. I had questions about the brown one.... and now I use it way more than I thought I would. And yet, the black lizard skin sits idle. So, you never know. I like the darker green and dark blue as well. I just think the red would be HOT!!! LOL JT Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pitti Posted February 9, 2009 Share #8 Posted February 9, 2009 Hello, I've tried several times to contact cameraleather.com via email info@cameraleather.com about Digilux2 and Panasonics L1, but never got a answer. Is this adress incorrect? Thx Regards Peter Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
daveleo Posted February 9, 2009 Share #9 Posted February 9, 2009 John my problem is that i have a collection of cameras that i am always fidgeting with (Cameras) and now i have the recover fever !! which camera? what color? what material? ....the mind boggles. the D2 has to go with one of the darker colors for me .... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Thawley Posted February 9, 2009 Share #10 Posted February 9, 2009 Hello, I've tried several times to contact cameraleather.com via email info@cameraleather.com about Digilux2 and Panasonics L1, but never got a answer. Is this adress incorrect? Thx Regards Peter That is the correct address. The guy does great work... however, and it is frustrating, Morgan is NOT the Great Communicator. All of sudden you get an email, you get a question or a photo... and your camera is done. I get the impression that he stays busy.. and he works at his own pace. He does a great job and he does get it done. Keep trying. If I can answer any questions for you, I'd be happy to tell you what I can. JT Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
laptoprob Posted February 10, 2009 Author Share #11 Posted February 10, 2009 Morgan replied to my question quickly: Rob, Thanks for the inquiry. We really are not in a position to sell genuine reptile leather that is not in the form of a pre-cut kit. It is so difficult to find this leather in a quality that is good enough for our own needs. It might be possible to sell you a section of the Black Paradise snake skin, which has a surface identical to lizard . . . but it is much easier to handle and cut precisely. Also, the Digilux cameras are difficult to recover if you are trying to do it with a template and hobby knife. The position of both doors is critical, and are best cut with 100% precision as a first step, instead of incrementally. We cut up nearly a full rubbish can of material perfecting our own template for the Digilux. But of course you can try, and if you are interested in the snake skin, you should make sure that you cover the camera first with an inexpensive material like a cloth tape, or VH Black leatherette, and then cut the snake skin to the right shape only after you have perfected the cut with the "dummy" material. We do have some leatherette available in 9X12 inch sheets that are not expensive. They are listed at the bottom of the online order page. If you have other questions just ask. Thanks, Morgan Sparks I ordered the service manual online to see how the rubber pieces are mounted. I will let you know how I proceed. thank you all, Rob. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
laptoprob Posted February 18, 2009 Author Share #12 Posted February 18, 2009 So I started stripping the camera. Underneath are black plastic pieces, screwed to the metal housing. Front right side is only metal. I got two bits of black stingray skin. The surface of this stuff is like small beads, up to about 1,5mm in diameter. Everything that sticks out to the back of the original rubber has to be cut off in order to make a paper mould. 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/76361-digilux-2-in-leather/?do=findComment&comment=812815'>More sharing options...
laptoprob Posted February 18, 2009 Author Share #13 Posted February 18, 2009 The hood is a hacked close-up filter, fitted with a UV filter. Excellent for protection. I only take it off to use BW filters or to avoid halos in nighttime. Next pics are of the naked camera. Remains of glue have to be removed. 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/76361-digilux-2-in-leather/?do=findComment&comment=812818'>More sharing options...
laptoprob Posted February 18, 2009 Author Share #14 Posted February 18, 2009 To glue the leather I got a double side-adhesive foil that seems to work fine. I one of the pics you can see the back of the leather with the paper mould. 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/76361-digilux-2-in-leather/?do=findComment&comment=812824'>More sharing options...
laptoprob Posted February 18, 2009 Author Share #15 Posted February 18, 2009 Ofcourse the doors are the most difficult. Since this material is everything but homogenous, it is almost impossible to cut a straight line. Positive in this is that the doors are almost completely hidden. The result is a very kinky cover. The grip is not as firm as I expected, but it is very special! 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/76361-digilux-2-in-leather/?do=findComment&comment=812828'>More sharing options...
Overgaard Posted February 19, 2009 Share #16 Posted February 19, 2009 Oh my, looks like the Digilux 2 has been on brothel and catched some disease Might be the hard light on the photos but it seem the leather is a bit too bulky (for my taste). Also, judging John's experiences, changing the look of a camera is a matter of not only personal taste but also many details such as colors, surface, etc. I'm still for the brownish Hermes-looking look, that's the one I shall be getting one of these days. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
laptoprob Posted February 19, 2009 Author Share #17 Posted February 19, 2009 Little digicam lighting is harsh, true. The black 'pearl beads' surface does have a little bling effect. The stingray material is strange stuff. If you think of using other leathers, bear in mind you will need a kinda sturdy material to cover the various holes in the body. A thin material would no doubt show them. In smooth leathers the cutting of the doors is even more difficult. Like Morgan stated, it will take some trials to get it right. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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