Saturday 24 October 2009
Digital Pimp
I don't know whether it's because their design makes them harder to customise or just because they're harder to love but it seems there isn't too much of a pimpin' scene going on for digital cameras.
This Panasonic LX3 is different, though, and I think it looks great. I found it on another website and will happily take it down if it upsets the owner who I can't contact. His name is Jörg Schmidt and he deserves lots of credit for creativity. This doesn't look like an off-the-shelf camera leather job but a custom fit bit of tanned dead animal skin.
Friday 16 October 2009
The nearest thing to white
In response to a comment left on a previous post speaking about a white leather finish for the OM1, this is about the closest you're going to get. It's cameraleather.com's black and white cobra finish. I'm not sure about it on a chrome body but it would be pretty striking on a black OM1!
I don't think cameraleather.com will object to a bit of free publicity but I'm happy to remove the pic if it causes them any concern.
Sunday 16 November 2008
Lizard skin
A black Minolta with red lizard skin? Does Michael Riffey also have a white fur coat and a swagger stick? Striking rather than subtle is the name of the game here - but I like it. What's wrong with making a bit of a statement anyway!
Saturday 9 August 2008
Way to go Ricoh!
Here's proof that you don't need a high end Leica before you get the urge to start pimping. Steve Lewis gave his 1960 Ricoh 500 the Cameraleather treatment and the result speaks for itself.
With its original covering in place, the Ricoh is a fairly nondescript little camera but the addition of some imitation crocodile skin transforms it into a wee stunner - the Kylie Minogue of cameras.
Steve has since off-loaded the camera on Ebay but obviously liked it enough to keep a pic handy which he kindly sent to me.
Monday 4 August 2008
Thumbs Up for Luigi's cases!
Tim Isaac thought so as well and that's why he teamed a beautiful Luigi half case with his Leica M8. This is my kind of pimping! The back of the case hinges open for a quick bit of chimping, a nice touch that also helps to discourage LOCD (LCD obsessive compulsive disorder). Note the further bit of customising - a Thumbs Up attachment. Leicaphiles, for some of whom the wonderfully engineered throw of the rangefinder wind on lever is a replacement for sex - at least of the autoerotic variety, occasionally find that they've nowhere to put their right thumb on the M8. The Thumbs Up slots securely into the hot shoe mount and can be used on several other Leica models as well. It provides photographers with a comforting resting place for their opposable digit- the same kind of role a dummy or pacifier fulfils for babies.
Tim says, "The Luigi case is a fabulous and useful addition to my M8. The Thumbs Up provides a perfect balance for composing and handling the M8." Kinda like Jeffery in my first post, Tim's pseudo-pimped his M8 with the addition of a Voigtlander 15mm Super Wide Heliar lens and 21mm viewfinder (which closely matches the M8's cropped view with the 15mm). It's all good, clean fun!
Friday 1 August 2008
What a hand job!
"I find it satisfying to bring something back to a high quality with my own hands. I'd be happy to share any tips I've learned if you get any requests for how to do this. I've learned some things having done several now."
The new covering is certainly a good match for the case and the result is a classically pimped Olympus. Just before you go, take a look at the OM1. Has there ever been a better SLR camera design? I'm going to return to this subject at some point as I think 35mm SLRs reached their zenith - and I'm not talking about "features" here - with the OM1. With just one or two exceptions, it was downhill all the way after that!
Wednesday 30 July 2008
A brace of Leicas subtly pimped
The black M6 is wearing a nice Gordy Coale wrist strap, a Leica M grip and a soft release which my limited Scandinavian doesn't allow me to identify. Gordy has a great series of pictures demonstrating how strong his straps are: in short, you can probably abseil with them.
It has to be said that the M6 is a mighty handsome beast, with or without handgrips. If only Leitz had taken a bit more care with the build quality, they might have had something to rival the OM1 ;-)