new skin for the s2?

[back alley]

my nikon s2 will be airborne some time this week and will take a week to get here so there is no rush for a decision...but furcafe says the front cover is just starting to peel back some. i could reglue it, that would be the simplest and cheapest route but i have been thinking about a new cover.
recovering the m3 was pretty easy and i thought it looked great when finished.

so i started looking at camerleather and aki's site to see what might do the little nikon justice.

and so far the choice is the red goatskin leather.

what do you guys think?

joe

[xayraa33]

go for the classic black Joe.
it is traditional and very suitable to a top shelf camera like the S2.
leave the gaudy colours for the FSU cameras.

[NIKON KIU]

and so far the choice is the red goatskin leather.

what do you guys think?

joe

Thinking a little bit flashy, eh?
Probably be the only one out there like that:)
Kiu

[back alley]

i see the room is filled with traditionalists!

;)

[xayraa33]

yes traditionalists,.. that is why we love fully manual mechanical cameras and film.

[mwooten]

Red would be cool, and you're not putting in on with epoxy right? So, it wouldn't be like a tatoo of an ex-wife's name on your neck, and therefor wouldn't be too painful to change.

Black is always acceptable, but sometimes you just want to dance.

Michael

[back alley]

So, it wouldn't be like a tatoo of an ex-wife's name on your neck...

yeah, i'd never do that...again!

as for the camera, i think both it and the contax lla are kinda cool looking and a new red dress for the dance might be the perfect thing.
of course there is always that coral blue...

[Kim Coxon]

I think red can look very good on a camera.

http://pentax-manuals.com/camgallery/gallery1.htm

However, I have been trying to get on Morgan's website for a couple of days now and all I get is page unavailable. Anyone else having the same problem?

Kim

[sepiareverb]

I'm dreaming of recovering too- and I can't get beyond the black myself- tho that bright blue is stunning, as is the red. Spent last night reglueing the stock battery compartment cover on a new to me M7 .58- was successful, so I have less reason to go for the blue. I'd say if you are comfortable with drawing attention to the camera go for it- I work in too many areas where I try hard to be les conspicious- thus my difficulties in going blue- I've got the red logos and white M7's covered up with black tape. If you think it is right in red more power to you!

[back alley]

I think red can look very good on a camera.

http://pentax-manuals.com/camgallery/gallery1.htm

However, I have been trying to get on Morgan's website for a couple of days now and all I get is page unavailable. Anyone else having the same problem?

Kim

i was on last night but have not been able to access it today.

[rover]

I have never seen a red goat before.

[b_en]

the darker the color the better due to the large amount of black paint on the s2 body, blends in better imo

[rbiemer]

CameraLeather still seems to be off line:bang:
I recall seeing a "granite snake" covering, that might look pretty good, joe.
Certainly not traditional but not quite so flashy as some of the offerings.
Hope Mr. Sparks' site is down only temporarily.
Rob

[furcafe]

As you'll soon see, it's really only peeling @ the edges & hardly needs replacement, but if you do decide to re-cover, I agree w/b_en that a darker color, like a Ferrari red or British racing green (my personal favorite as it would also match the green tint in the VF), would probably look best.

[back alley]

green might be my least favourite colour and red my favourite.
i may just re-glue it for now until i get used to the camera.

any recommendations for the type of glue?

joe

[furcafe]

Pliobond is recommended for leather, but since the S2's covering isn't leather (some sort of plastic, I believe), you might be better off w/plain superglue, etc.

[Trius]

One comment about the goat (kid) skins ... they feel really good, but are just a tad slippery. Nothing to worry about, but some folks might feel a bit insecure. Especially with a wrist strap it's never been an issue, but some of the other materials have more surface tension and are thus a bit more "grippy". That said, I love the green kid on my Oly 35SP. Very classy look, lovely pattern.

[back alley]

got a pic earl?

joe

[ray_g]

You may want to avoid superglue. That will bind the old covering permanently, and may be a problem should you decide to re-cover.

[back alley]

good point ray.

[xayraa33]

Joe, if you have trouble finding Plibond glue in Canada, use Lepage Pres- Tite 6 contact cement .
It is the same type of adhesive as the Plibond.
the Lepage Pres-Tite 6 cement is found in every Canadian Tire store across Canada.
I have used it with very good results on camera leather and vulcanite.

[back alley]

great tip.
cdn tire is everywhere.

[mwooten]

I have never seen a red goat before.
It comes from eating rusty tin cans.

Seriously, why is it that we tend to stick to "traditional" colors?

Last Saturday, Liz and I went downtown for lunch, and parked on a side street was a shiny, new, Italian Racing Red Ferrari (and three cars away was a new Lamborgini -- it was a good day for exotics). The Ferrari looked "right" in red -- even though I've seen a few in other colors, the red seems to fit my perception of what it should be. Likewise, when I had my British car painted it was British Racing Green. Is this why we feel more comfortable if the camera is covered in black, because that is the way we almost always seen them?

Michael

[Athena]

Both my S2 and SP have lived their lives inside the leather case so I've never had to face this situation.

Although it is blasphemy to some; I consider the Nikon S cameras to be on a par with their Leica contemporaries and so would retain their classic black look.

But, it is YOUR camera - to do with what you will.

[Xmas]

Brian

Joe needs a handicap for street shooting, snake skin with diamont pattern, with a rattle attached to tripod socket.

Noel
P.S the wide spectrum antibiotic not working yet here.

[Kim Coxon]

My Pentax camera repair man uses thined Contact adhesive for skin repairs. (Evostick in the UK). Another solution is some of the industrial double sided adhesive that Jon Gooodman sells. Fantastic stuff for complete skins.

As to the leather why not cut your own -Hmmm Joe and a sharp knife, maybe not! Seriously, if you want some leather to experiment with, I can send you some either in funky colurs, black or undyed so you can choose your own.

Kim

[Sonnar2]

My vote goes for brown snake leather like this one

http://www.geocities.com/taunusreiter/snake_leather.jpg

[bobkonos]

I have the verdigris goatskin leather from Cameraleather on an M3 and I really like the feel and look.

Way to leap headfirst into the Nikon rangefinder pool!

[Trius]

got a pic earl?

joe
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/33/64641523_f6dd16785e.jpg

[back alley]

nice pic!
great background.

[Kim Coxon]

Hi Joe,
Several of the cameras in the camera gallery on my website have Margans "skins".

The black MX is Lizard, The S1a is a composite leather, The second Spotmatic and the GIII are goatskin, the SV is snakeskin and the Auto S2 is the embossed leather.

The first Spotmatic and the SL are in Aki's skins.

The most secure "feel" is given by the lizard skin followed by Aki's cowhide skins. The goatskin is very nice but doesn't have quite the same grip. The composite feels good as well but I don't much like the feel of the pebble emboss on the S2.

Still can't get on Morgan's site though.

Kim

[back alley]

i have been trying cameraleather also with no luck.
i probably should be more concerned about 'grip' as the nikon and contax will not have a grip (as i am used to) but then i will have a wrist strap or neck strap on them.
for now, till i get comfortable with the cameras, i'll just reglue the black skin but i do think the red will be my choice when the time comes.

i'm 5'10', completely bald and weigh in at 260 pounds, being inconspicuous on the streets is not the camera's problem, i think.

joe

[back alley]

fyi...cameraleather.com is back up

and that cardinal red skin is looking goooood!

joe

[Xmas]

Joe

A collector will detect that the cover is not Nikon origional PDQ, if it is in good condition it is child safe glue on peeling edges, hold down with thumb while watching TV.

Noel

[back alley]

the last thing i'm worried about is a collector noel.

my m3 went back to it's former owner with a new skin and he seems to quite like it.

[migtex]

One of my S has this Crocodile Dundee approach (even the lens is Brass and the shutter is in... Titanium, quite a MOD S).

This Japanese Sire has options as well... ordered a black coat for my other more "original" S
http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Aki-Asahi-Custom-Camera-Coverings

[back alley]

looks good miguel but i think a nice red cover would look smokin'!

joe

[back alley]

i just ordered a 'cardinal red' goat skin cover for the s2!

and i put the extra long black leather strap from luigi on it too.

this is gonna be the best dressed nikon s2 struttin it's stuff...:)

:)joe

[migtex]

Good to ear Alley-SAN !!
But why extra long.... Isn't shorter better? How long is the extra long?

[back alley]

miguel, extra long to go over and around my extra extra belly :)

brian, i think my s2 will make history, i just got an email from morgan sparks asking for a photo when the camera is done as he has never cut this skin/colour for a nikon s2!!

[back alley]

i make many decisions based as much on gut feeling as well done research.

and my gut just screamed red cover when i saw this nikon.
and black luigi strap.

this is a user yes, but it's a sunday stroll down the street, shooter also!

and very likely a bew avatar as well!!

i wonder how long the cover will take to get here?

joe

[rover]

I still want to see the red goat that skin is coming from.

[furcafe]

You are a wild & crazy guy. :p

i just ordered a 'cardinal red' goat skin cover for the s2!

and i put the extra long black leather strap from luigi on it too.

this is gonna be the best dressed nikon s2 struttin it's stuff...:)

:)joe

[back alley]

You are a wild & crazy guy. :p


oh i wish!!

old and slow nowadays ;)

[NIKON KIU]

i make many decisions based as much on gut feeling as well done research.

and my gut just screamed red cover when i saw this nikon.
and black luigi strap.

this is a user yes, but it's a sunday stroll down the street, shooter also!

and very likely a bew avatar as well!!

i wonder how long the cover will take to get here?

joe

Give it at least a month!!

Kiu

[back alley]

just got an email from cameraleather and my cardinal red cover has been cut and mailed out yesterday.

who knows, i could be red by the weekend!

joe

[back alley]

17 days and still waiting...

[back alley]

Is there no way we can talk you out of red?


a thing of beauty!!

morgan emailed me this morning and seems throughly pissed off at the post office, both u.s. and canadian.
he says it should normally take about 8 days to get to me.
(is that photoshopped?)
joe

[back alley]

heck no... all my cameras are in bright colors... It helps the attendants find them for me, when I leave them around, here at the institution.


meeeeow


j

[back alley]

spoke too soon!!

the gorgeous red leather showed up in today's mail!!!!!!
this is gonna be one hot nikon!

with luck i should have it done tonight and picks of it soon after.

joe

[migtex]

Still waiting??!!!

[rover]

There is some poor red goat now running around with a bald back side. Well, I do want to see the Nikon.

[back alley]

the s2 has been stripped of it's old black cover.
this was accomplished while i watched a tv rerun of the west wing.
the camera now will be cleaned of all the old glue and then the new red cover will be applied.

stay tuned...

[NIKON KIU]

GO JOE GO---GO JOE GO---GOAT JOE S2

[back alley]

ok, the glue is mostly gone.
i have the stubborn parts soaking in some more goo gone for a minute.

did you know that to the right of the rear eyepeice on the narrow strip -that there is a number printed in white?

red soon...

[rover]

So, you clean it with Goo Gone, makes sense. Answers another one of those questions I have had for no known reason of why I would ask it.

[back alley]

we loves goo gone...

[back alley]

a couple of quick pics.

the red leather bled a bit when trying to attach with alcohol.
there was an extra piece for the front so i only have one piece on the camera that bled.
i'll have to get a replacement piece.

[BillBingham2]

Holly Cow Hide Batman!

Looks like you will be right at home on your next trip to the Chinese Mainland!

Could this be the true meaning of "Camera Pimp"?!?

But seriously folks, please tip your waitress, I'll be here till that hook gets fixed...

While it is not my taste, it does look very well done!

B2 (;->

[back alley]

some say i am too facinated by primary colours...;)

[migtex]

Little Horny Red Devil!! :eek:
I must admit... it looks WOW!:D
Great Job!:o

[rover]

Stealth camera, people will think it is a hand warmer. :D

[mwooten]

Great!
Reminds me of a droptop '55 Chevy.

[dave lackey]

YOWZAH, YOWZAH, YOWZAH!!!

That red is it, man!

Love it. :D :D :D

[FrankS]

This ranks right up there with Remy's pink, then gold, M2!

[dexdog]

joe, kind of bright for my taste, but it is probably consolation to know that it now looks even less like one of those horrid, fiddly german cameras.

[back alley]

Two thoughts.

1) I actually like it...

2) the fit and finish is beautiful. Can you post the address and info on this supplier? You did a beautiful job.


surprise, surprise!!

camera leather (http://cameraleather.com/)
morgan sparks is the owner.

glad you guys like it!

i wonder what the zi would like in red?

;)

[back alley]

he has black and many many other colours and textures.

the sky blue was my second choice...

joe

[FrankS]

he has black and many many other colours and textures.

the sky blue was my second choice...

joe

Of course it was! :)

[back alley]

don't hate me because i'm different...;)

j

[rbiemer]

Looks pretty sweet, joe!
I keep thinking about recovering one of my cameras, but I can't bring my self to remove the leather on them--haven't yet got a working camera with ratty leather. I do have this Retina 1a that will be needing a preventative CLA soon...maybe I'll ask that the leather be removed while the other work is being done...dunno that I'll pick red, though.
Nice job!
Rob

[back alley]

the cover on the s2 came off with ease. i did it while watching t.v.
the glue was a bit subborn but was just a matter of time spent with the goo gone and scraper.

i did the m3 will equal ease.

it's easier than working on a lens;)
and no canned air is involved!

j

[Trius]

joe: Well, I for one back you on your choice. First, on that camera it DOES seem quite appropriate. I don't know why I feel that way, I guess it's just a gut feeling, but let's not get my gut into this ... I'm trying to keep it from growing any more.

Second, the Nikon Puritans be damned! Cameras are to be enjoyed; as you've stated it's a USER even if it is in Sunday-go-to-church clothing.

There is some poor red goat now running around with a bald back side. Well, I do want to see the Nikon.

Better dead than red.

[back alley]

thanks earl!

it seems a natural to me as i love red and see red and black as 'one' colour - it's my favourite colour combo.
the chrome just adds a nice shine!

[back alley]

thanks brian.
the original pieces peeled off each in one piece, no ripping at all.

did you want it to make a template?
joe

[NIKON KIU]

Just be carefull joe, ladies may fall to your knees!!

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=42743&d=1174535146


We want more pictures...every angle possible ;)

Kiu

[back alley]

kiu,
you're assuming they don't already!
more pics to come, likely on the weekend.
joe

[FrankS]

Don't you mean, fall to their knees?

[back alley]

Don't you mean, fall to their knees?


kinda works for me either way ;)

[back alley]

this being my first close encounter with a nikon rf i can't guarantee it's original. but i can mail it off to you, probably on the weekend.
joe