repainting M9

Epimetheus · 01-12-2011

Mine's black and I would like it in silver with some animal skin imitation covering. Something like this:

Does anyone know a place that can make my M9 silver and replace the covering while at it, hopefully in Europe? I did find camera restoration companies and web sites that look like thay ware made in 1985 but they only had phone numbers and my english or dutch isn't good enough to have any kind of conversation over the phone.

damien.murphy · 01-12-2011

There are many companies/ people that do black paint jobs on chrome M's, but do not recall seeing any that could transform a black camera into a chrome one without changing the top plate. I could be wrong though.

I suspect it may be a lot easier and cheaper to exchange your black M9 for a chrome one, and simply go to cameraleather.com for your choice of covering.

Vickko · 01-12-2011

Yeah, repaints are a bit dicey and you have to do all the little parts too. Better to trade.

And complicated to take an M9 apart. Okay, easy to get apart, hard to re-assemble with it all working. Lots of items that can get damaged just by static electricity.

Vick

Epimetheus · 01-12-2011

Trading it for a silver M9 would be easier if there were such a thing (I know there's a steel gray M9 but that's not what I'm after). There is of course the special edition silver M9 but that has a totally different price tag which is out of my reach.

Limited Special Edition Silver M9:

LeicaFan · 01-12-2011

IMO, repainting an M9 is more trouble than it is worth. You would have to completely disassemble it in order to properly strip the black paint, prep, and repaint, but unlike film M's, the M9 is jam packed with electronics and it would take a skilled technician to take everything apart and put it back together. Really, your better off with a steel gray M9 and ordering some leather from Cameraleather and installing it yourself.

250swb · 01-12-2011

I don't understand why you are thinking of having it re-painted, why not have it plated dull chrome/satin chrome?

You just need to take it apart, strip the paint off, and being brass underneath its ready to go to a platers who can do the final finish.

Steve

Roger Hicks · 01-12-2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by 250swb

I don't understand why you are thinking of having it re-painted, why not have it plated dull chrome/satin chrome?

You just need to take it apart, strip the paint off, and being brass underneath its ready to go to a platers who can do the final finish.

Steve

Dear Steve,

Ummmm.... See Wes's point.

Cheers,

R.

sahe69 · 01-12-2011

You could ask Leica if they'd do it?

Andy Kibber · 01-12-2011

Get in touch with CRR Luton in the UK and ask if what you want can be done. They repaint. I don't know if they un-paint.

Fraser · 01-12-2011

Why why why

malcD · 01-12-2011

delilah.....

Phil_F_NM · 01-12-2011

It's no harder than repainting a Canonet top plate.
The whole top assembly comes off as one piece. The only hard soldered contacts are the hot shoe. The shutter dial will lift off and can be removed from beneath. The shutter button simply comes out on its own and the shutter mode dial is held in most likely with a snap ring. Again, no soldered contacts.
After that, you have the paint stripped, the brass top peened for chrome coating and then have it chromed. While you're at it, you may think about having the M9 logo filled in with brass solder then smoothed over. After that, have the top plate engraved with the real Leica script, M9...your serial number.
Then get the bottom plate done at the same time with matching chrome.
I mean, if you're going to go through all that trouble, you might as well do it right.

At least, that's what I want to do. Sorry, I'm thinking vicariously.

So, realistically, it's probably a pretty easy deal. A true chrome finish will outlast anything painted that Leica has put out in the last 10 years too.

Phil Forrest

Andy Kibber · 01-12-2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fraser

Why why why

If you've already spent $7,000 on a camera you might was well spend a few hundred more to make it look how you want.

damien.murphy · 01-12-2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by Epimetheus

Trading it for a silver M9 would be easier if there were such a thing

Oh yeah, oops

I've been trying very hard to ignore anything M9-related, as it scares the bejesus out of my wallet, lol

250swb · 01-12-2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roger Hicks

Dear Steve,

Ummmm.... See Wes's point.

Cheers,

R.

Dear Roger

Ummmm.... See Phil_F_MN's point.

Cheers

S.

sahe69 · 01-12-2011

You could also go for the ruff'n'tuff look and tape it with adhesive aluminum foil.

Hey, at least it's reversible if you don't happen to like it

ramosa · 01-12-2011

I'd be careful if you plan on reselling your M9 at some paint. I suspect a custom paint job would significantly narrow your field of potential buyers. (Of course, that's not a consideration if you don't intend to sell at some point.)

PrecisionCamera · 01-12-2011

You don't want to take apart an M9. Having taken apart an M8, I know of what I speak.

Dealing with all the contacts, custom switches, flex cables, and other electronics -- this is not something for a novice. Got the proper desoldering tools and know how to use them? Got anti-stat workbench?

Good luck finding a chrome plater that would even attempt the job. Better luck finding a plater who can put a satin chrome finish (and not a Chevrolet bumper chrome.)

Just go to Neiman Marcus and buy the one they are selling, and take off the ostrich.

atlcruiser · 01-12-2011

AAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa........... Hhhhhhhhhhhhmmmmmmmmmmmmm.......uuummmmm...hhhhmmm mmmmmmmmm?

Really?

ruslan · 01-12-2011

Looks ugly

Quote:

Originally Posted by Epimetheus

Trading it for a silver M9 would be easier if there were such a thing (I know there's a steel gray M9 but that's not what I'm after). There is of course the special edition silver M9 but that has a totally different price tag which is out of my reach.

Limited Special Edition Silver M9:

Epimetheus · 01-12-2011

Thank you all for your input!

I don't actually care if the finnish is painted or plaited. The color matters. I'm not even considering doing it myself, that's why I was asking if anyone would know a professional service that could do it.

I saw only one service mentioned in the replies and that was CRR Luton. Their web site looks very suspicious and they only use fax and phone.

jaapv · 01-13-2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by Epimetheus

Thank you all for your input!

I don't actually care if the finnish is painted or plaited. The color matters. I'm not even considering doing it myself, that's why I was asking if anyone would know a professional service that could do it.

I saw only one service mentioned in the replies and that was CRR Luton. Their web site looks very suspicious and they only use fax and phone.

CRR is a highly regarded Leica service facility with an excellent reputation.

However I doubt that any independent would do this kind of thing on an M9, and the quality of the finish will probably not match the original Leica gray. I doubt too that Leica would give out the needed chrome parts. I see two options for you. Either sell the camera and get a grey one, if so desired change the leather for Cameraleather, or send the camera to Solms to exchange the top and bottom. In that case you can have the top engraved as well, and you can get a-la-carte leather fitted. Be prepared for a hefty bill though. If it must be chrome you'll have to find the money for the special edition. Or maybe Leica will sell you a chrome top - at a price...

SimonSawSunlight · 01-13-2011

have you asked Leica if they can just swap the top and bottom plate (they should have chrome ones, but it's probably not cheap)? should keep your warranty alive as well...

jaapv · 01-13-2011

No, they don't have chrome top plates, those are special manufacture , certainly not cheap if they even will do a single one instead of a run.