Black tape

[jason_gold1]

I have just purchased a M6.I want to protect the body from scrathes,dings and misuse that my 33 year old M3 shows off so well.I intend to cover the body with black plastic tape.Which kind is best?I tried it on the M3/2 but all the tapes started to ooze stick stuff after awhile.It looked and felt tacky...The little handgrip is cool.It feels really nice to hold.Also gives centre hole for tripod.

[wilhelm]

How about a nice hard leather neveready case instead?

[tse_sung_wu7]

There's something called 'self-vulcanizing' tape- found at

electrician's stores. It sticks only to itself, not to any surface.

It's a bit thick, but might be what you're looking for.

 

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It might be tricky getting it too stay on the body.

[djphoto]

I've had excellent results with the black photographic masking tape

made by 3M. It's easy to apply, protects the camera well, isn't sticky

to the touch, and is good for four to six months in normal use.

[albert_smith]

Jason,

 

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Congrats' on your new camera. I am just making this short post for

some information about the Leica black finish. If your previous

experience is from the old black paint days, then things have

certainly got better as far as the durability of the finish.

 

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I treat my Leicas hard, and as of yet, my 1988 M6 looks very good.

In the old days I'm sure it would be brass with some black showing,

but as stated things have changed. If you feel you want to go with

the tape, then do so... but just think about what you are protecting

it from. In routine use, the camera will be fine.

 

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Hope you like the advances since the M3 days. I still use my M2 as a

second camera, using the M6's meter for both cameras.

[john_collier]

Use black gaffers tape available from stage lighting stores. I

agree with Al though, just use the camera and forget about the

finish. It is a camera! If you are going to worry more about it

getting scratched than getting the photograph you want, sell it

and get a camera you can USE.

 

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Cheers

[robin_smith]

Jason

 

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I must say I agree with Al and John. On the current models there

seems little reason to cover them at all - and the cameras really do

look ugly covered in tape. On my SL I put some tape on the strap

attachment to protect the finish, but on the current cameras they

have plastic protectors to do this for you, so on my other Leicas I

leave them alone. The chrome finish wears better in my opinion, but

the black is black chrome and robust. I wish I could say the same

about the black lenses...

[tom_bryant]

I'll vote in favor of blacktaping your Leica.

 

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o It protects the finish from scratches, and the vulcanite from

cracking. These can cost you a lot when you want to sell it.

 

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o It uglifies the camera from theives. I use my Leicas, and

I want to discourage theives. Black tape makes them look

used and worn. If most street theives knew what a Leica M

was worth...

 

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o It makes the metal parts of the camera easier to grip.

 

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Of course, those owners who use the camera as jewelry or keep it

on display in a glass case are agast at the thought of covering their

Leicas with tape!

 

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Use good Gaffer's tape. Electrical tape will turn gooey on a

summer's afternoon, and masking ior duct tape might be very hard to

get off. Gaffers tape is by far more expensive than the others, but

it's worth it. I use Permacell "Professional grade" Gaffer's tape.

It takes me about 2 hours to blacktape an M body. You'll probably

have to do it a few times to get it right. The tape must be carefully

cut (be careful with sissors near the Leica!) to fit well. The body

must be fairly clean. I suggest a q-tip cleaning with rubbing alcohol

before you start.

[andrew_schank]

To each his own, but it kind of reminds me of my uncle who used to

put plastic seat covers in his new car so the seats would look great

for the next owner. I think a few scuffs here and there give the

camera some character. I also don't think most street thiefs these

days even know what a Leica is, and would be more attracted to a

Nikon f5 or Canon EOS with monster zoom on it instead of an "old

fashoned" Leica.

[bob_eskridge2]

3M makes a tape called "Plastic tape" It is a sold as a mending tape

and comes in several colors including black.

 

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I have used it on several items plus cameras including my Leica M6.

It is the best stuff I have ever seen and is very tough. Electrical

tape gets too gooey in summer.

[john_c.]

I'm sorry, but I think anyone who spends $3000+ on a camera and lens,

and then tapes the camera with black tape, is an idiot. IMHO...

[Spearhead]

How about black tape with little red dots?

[grant_.]

just when i thought id seen it all on this leica list...go with jeff's

idea...maybe it will inspire you to use the camera...

[jasonvicinanza]

Oh no why on earth would you want to cover up such a beautiful object

such as your new M6.

Dont do it buddy! :)

 

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Jason Vicinanza

London, England

[ron_benvenisti]

Black, removable, contact paper such as "Magic Cover" is extremely

thin, leaves no goo, can be easily removed/replaced and blends

perfectly with Leica, Hexar and Nikon (and probable any other black

non-glossy-paint cameras). It is barely noticeable and effectively

makes these expensive cameras look generic. Additionally, it can be

applied in the vicinity of strap lugs and on the camera baseplate if

desired (although these areas would need it to be replaced after a

while). I will also be experimenting with some Leica red-point

marques by making them black with acrylic enamel, both matte and

gloss finish. These are the current red Leica logo circles that

adhere to the front of the M6 versions. If I am successful I will

post the results.

[ron_benvenisti]

Not for the fainthearted....

I received two red Leica logos (M6) from Northvale. They come on a

strip with self-adhesive on the back. Using a 000 brush and Gunze-

Sangyo Flat Black Acrylic Enamel (XF-1), I flowed the paint into the

small openings in the L, e, under the dot of the i, the c and the a.

I then removed the excess from the silver Leica with a toothpick.

After that dried I painted the rest of the circle with a number 1

brush, gently flowing the paint up to the sides of the letters so as

to cover the red. A second coat was required (after the first dried)

to completely cover all the red. A final touch-up to remove any of

the black from the silver Leica lettering was done with a toothpick.

The logo was then baked dry under a 60 Watt lamp for about an hour.

It looked pretty good, although not perfect - some red was still

visible when looking closely at the sides of the letters, the paint

was not exactly smooth like the anodized red, but all in all it

looked good enough to achieve the results I desired - to tone down

the glaring red logo.

 

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Now the scary part! You must mask around the red logo on the camera

to prevent accidentally scratching the finish. I used thin removable

contact paper - but in resrospect a I would double it up or use a

thicker removable drafting tape as it's possible to get through the

single application of contact paper. To remove the red logo, DO NOT

ATTEMPT TO PRY IT OFF! The tolerances of the fit are such that it is

impossible to get even the point of a very fine pin between the

camera and the logo. Once the area around the logo is masked off you

can take a very small optical screwdriver (an pointed orangewood

stick of the type used to remove film emulsion from the film-gate of

motion picture cameras may also work and is less likely to scratch

but a toothpick will definitely break - also a strong nylon

burnishing tool such as used to burnish press-type might work and is

less likely to scratch) and gently push the raised letters of the

Leica, starting from the long section of the L under the a so as to

move the logo counterclockwise. It will move slowly about 10-15

degrees and then settle back. Do the same from the loop of the L

moving it clockwise. It will again nove about 10-15 degrees and the

settle back. Continue to do this very gently in both directions

adding a few degrees each time until the adhesive that holds the logo

in place begins to loosen. Be very gentle as the logo will suddenly

pop off and your tool may jump, potentially scratching the inside of

the recessed circle, or worse your camera body!

 

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Once the logo is off it is a simple matter of removing the protective

paper from the the adhesive back of the (in this case, satin/matte

black) replacement and positioning the replacement circle inside the

recess on the camera front.

 

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Again, this mod is not for the fainthearted, but in my case the

results were worth it. The camera looks a lot less conspicuaous and

still maintains the Leica integrity. With a piece of removable matte

black contact paper covering the LEICA M6 on the camera front it

looks excellent.

[sergio_casillas]

Hope this can do. I have taped my M´s with stripes of the material

(plastic sheet) that signing/advertising companies do by computer.

You can get a free sample of this (gloss or mate) for free from one

of these businesses.

[wgpinc]

I agree that the best choice by far is

>>>the black photographic masking tape made by 3M<<<

I have used it on an M2 and an M3 for years with great results. If

you need to you can easily clean it off. But I admit I haven't

bothered to tape the M6 I got last year. The finish seems durable

and I like it the way it is.

good luck,

[tim_gee]

Hey Jason, I don't believe what I'm reading here. You and your

beautiful camera should grow gracefully old together and be

proud of the dignified marks of age. Tape over something ugly.

[fred_sun1]

I dont recommend tape. Over time (like 20 years) the adhesive (depending on tape) either gets gooey or becomes so hard that it's still stuck on the metalwork long after the tape has disintegrated. I found out the hard way after taping a brand new Nikon FM in 1979. How about making your own custom leather slip on case? Here's a pic of a prototype I made with 3M OHP transparency. I later used leather but dont have a picture yet. There's a flap at the back for opening the bottom cover. I made this case not so much to keep the camera pristine but more to forget what I'm using and to concentrate on taking pictures.

 

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http://home1.pacific.net.sg/~trs80/leica_bandaid.jpg

[richie chishty]

Jason:

 

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Don't do it! The M6 is a beautiful jewel of a camera that you should

proudly show off while taking wonderful photographs. Over time the

body will acquire scratches and dings, but that will only lend it

more character. Don't cover it with ugly black tape! :-)

 

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P.S. I have a M6 TTL and two M3s that I use on a regular basis,

scratches and all!

[michael_kastner]

(a) Jason, I worked on basically the same thing with black tape too

but ended up hanging on to the bottom part of my M6 never-ready case

from Leica (either of the two sizes, both sizes cost the same, just

throw the top part away). It "protects" against everything, is no

longer "never-ready", you can take it off and replace it easily when

you will, I see no problem when changing film, and the price --

although, yes, high -- is not all that much different from those of

the two best half-case competitors (Kameraleder and Umana).

 

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(b) Fred, your photo with the bandaid is great. You can, of course,

for the same purpose use instead a few wipes of ketchup or mustard.