What do you think of camera painting?

[isaac7]

I’ve never really thought too much about it but I just saw this video



and I am amazed at how beautiful the Konica iiim is in black. I’m sure the paint job would probably cost more than the camera. Might be worth it just as a piece of sculpture. As a confessed gearhead I love cameras both for what they do and as objects. Has anyone had their camera painted? Any idea what it costs?

 

[ozphoto]

Not personally, however, I admit some camera's look brilliant with a different paint job.

It probably isn't something everyone will be looking to do, especially with a camera of high value (?), although if you aren't looking to flip it or make $$$ out of it - why not?

I'm seriously considering having one of the small Rollei 35's painted - I just need to figure out which model I'd like to do this to. I have the colour chosen, and while it definitely won't be to everyone's taste, it will be something I enjoy using and that is the #1 thing, IMHO.

 

[dynachrome]

I have a response which is somewhat related. Although I have never painted a camera or had one painted, I have reskinned a number of cameras. The Yashica cameras made in Yashica/Contax mount had notoriously poor coverings. When they were new they were fine but they did not age well.
The coverings would blister and peel off leaving what felt like canvas and looked dull gray in color. I thought about what materials I might use and I came up with textured vinyl floor tread material. The material has adhesive backing. My repairman stripped off the adhesive backing and used Pliobond to attach the new covering. The cameras I had him cover were mostly Yashica FX-3s with at least one FX-3 Super. The FX-3 Super 2000 was made with a hard material which aged better. What colors did I use? Black, light gray, medium gray and white. I thought something like red or yellow would be too garish. When the cameras were re-covered, they were also overhauled. While the FX-3 is somewhat primitive with its meter button on the back of the top plate, it has a very nice finder, an accurate meter and seems to hold up. My one disappointment is with the very handsome FX-3 Super, which has the medium gray covering. The mirror in the FX-3-Super sticks out just slightly more than the one in the regular FX-3. It won't work properly with my 60/2.8 S-Planar. I have a number of 55/2.8 Yashica ML Macro lenses and they work properly with the FX-3 Super.

In a related matter, I have a black Canon FX. It is my understanding that very few Canon FX cameras were originally black. Some were later painted black. I would still like to have a reliable source for knowing whether my FX was originally black or later painted black. It looks original to me.

 

[xkaes]

 

[Don_ih]

Camera repainting is highly specialized. Whoever does it needs to be capable of taking the camera at least partially apart (and putting it back together). The paint needs to be very durable. The painted parts need to be stripped or otherwise treated. All that adds up - the process is involved and expensive. The painter needs to know what they're doing. Generally, only high-end cameras get repainted.

 

[fstop]

Camera repainting is highly specialized. Whoever does it needs to be capable of taking the camera at least partially apart (and putting it back together). The paint needs to be very durable. The painted parts need to be stripped or otherwise treated. All that adds up - the process is involved and expensive. The painter needs to know what they're doing. Generally, only high-end cameras get repainted.

I would do a cheap camera first. Why risk something expensive.Plus it would freak people out if you had a black Minolta XG1

 

[Paul Howell]

A few Leica's and Context were repainted black by photojournalists others used black gaffer tape to tape the chrome. As I understand it repainted Leicas and Contexts lost value. If I was going to have a camera painted I would strip it down the body, strip off the chrome then have it powdered coated. It would be expensive and don't really understand why I would.

 

[dynachrome]

There's something funny about painted cameras. Years ago, before there was so much plastic in and on cameras, chrome was the preferred material for the top and bottom plates. These parts had to be machined well for the chrome plating to look good on the finished product. Top and bottom plates which did not look as good were often painted instead. You now had a camera with less durable top and bottom surfaces but which sold for more money. Why? They were "professional." The idea was that if you were sneaking up on skittish wildlife, no unwanted reflections would scare off your prey. An odd black camera was the second version of the Konica Autoreflex T3, known as the T3N or NT3. It had a very thick black plastic coating on the top plate.

 

[eli griggs]

Not paint but I need new skin on my Sawyer's my IV and have considered bright yellow, or orange Gorilla Tape or camouflage for the heck of it, with bright yellow in the far and away lead.

Gaffers tape would work but only in black.

Copper metal would also work.

PS:

A paint option is black 4.0 or it's white twin, just for fun, but it won't last long a very clean hue.

 

[isaac7]

A few Leica's and Context were repainted black by photojournalists others used black gaffer tape to tape the chrome. As I understand it repainted Leicas and Contexts lost value. If I was going to have a camera painted I would strip it down the body, strip off the chrome then have it powdered coated. It would be expensive and don't really understand why I would.

There’s no question it’s a cosmetic change so there’s no usability justification. But if you own an MG, let alone a Ferrari, having a good looking paint job is part of the package. Film cameras are as “useful” as an MG these days for most of us

But yeah, there are better ways for me to spend my money right now. Still, that is a beautiful camera. Sigh…

BTW, I recommend watching the first 30 seconds if that video to get the full view of the camera.

 

[xkaes]

 

[Jeff Bennett]

I sent my Canon P off this weekend to Restoration35 to be cerakoted black.

 

[AnselMortensen]

I'm ok with it.

Before: Ugly, beat-up olive drab camera.

After: Happy, non-threatening portrait camera.

 

[mshchem]

Anything that builds thickness like powder or Ceracoat may cause fit issues. You need to start with a stripped brass body then apply a proper lacquer finish.
Oh the early Leicas that came with nice black paint unless you paid extra for a chrome finish

 

[isaac7]

I sent my Canon P off this weekend to Restoration35 to be cerakoted black.

Ooh… if you don’t mind me asking what is the price for that? Would love to see before and after pictures.

 

[Jeff Bennett]

Ooh… if you don’t mind me asking what is the price for that? Would love to see before and after pictures.

I’ll pm you the owner is a moderator here and I never see him discusss it so he may not want me to.