Genuine leather vs synthetic leatherettes

[zarko_panic]

<p>Hi All,<br>

I was wondering if anyone happens to have a genuine cowhide leather trim on their Leica M and what's your experience with it? The "sandpaper" trim on my Leica MP keeps getting unglued in the corners and it's annoying as hell. <br>

Thanks,<br>

Z. </p>

[john_narsuitus]

<p>As one whose livelihood depended on animal products, I have a bias in favor of genuine leather instead of synthetic leatherettes. However, I do not have genuine cowhide on my Leica M. I have genuine ostrich.</p>

<p> </div>

[JDMvW]

<p>The appeal of real leather is well established from British motor cars to camera covers.<br>

Below is my "red" Exakta in genuine kidskin. I love it, but the synthetics are often more in keeping with the original cover, and probably more durable.<br>

"bling" or "authenticity" -- you decide, :)</p><div></div>

[mukul_dube]

<p>It's a simple job to glue back lifting corners. If the adhesive material is adequate, thin coverings of cow-hide and of synthetic material should be about the same. I can recommend Aki-Asahi and Cameraleather (specially "Griptac").</p>

[SCL]

<p>I'm with Mukul Dube on this question - although I've only used Griptac on other bodies. Reskinning a Leica isn't rocket science, I've done about 5 bodies now and although tedious, the end result is outstanding. If you don't want to do it yourself, there are excellent professionals who routinely do this. BTW the leather options by Cameraleather are varied and awesome.</p>

[Bill Bowes]

<p>Hello Zarko. For sequring the corners and small sections of the camera cover, what ever material you have, use Contact Cement, not rubber cement. Using a tooth pick, apply a "light" coat to both the backing material AND the camera body spot. Allow both pieces to dry 3-5 minutes and then use finger pressure to mate them. Like a good, metal weld, this spot is now more secure than the other parts of the camera. Aloha, Bill</p>

[dan_brown4]

<p>Is CameraLeather.com even in business anymore? Their website is totally jacked up and out of date.</p>

[SCL]

Their website was always out of date and screwed up, but I recently ordered from them and things came in a timely manner.

[zarko_panic]

Thank you all for your responses. If genuine leather doesn't stick better to the body than a synthetic leatherette, then I'll just apply contact cement in areas that started to get unglued, as per Bill's suggestion.