Old film cameras are stylish and they look old and tired after a certain amount of time have been used. Fortunately, rejuvenating the leatherette camera body covering involves repainting and as we all know this is one of the most effective steps to give that classic camera a face lift. When selecting fresh leatherette for your aged camera, make sure that you select high-quality leatherette material that will blend with the style of that camera. Here are some of the best leatherette options available to restore your retro photography equipment.

Buttery Soft Genuine Leather

If the camera has to be covered in a leatherette material for an ages-old top-end look, then branded leather is the finest form of leatherette for cameras. Choose soft, high quality leathers that have the natural characteristics of being soft and slightly stretchy to the touch. The real leather surface changes with time and becomes more and more ‘retro’. ” Avoid bright colors like red or purple that may look absurd on both old and new camera designs; instead, stick to black or brown shades of leather that completes the classic look of a vintage camera. Companies such as Cameron Leatherette make genuine leather kits that come as pre-cut pieces which can simply be affixed to any camera body. Faux leather is another pertinent option, which provides a leather-like appearance while saving money.

Two-Tone Fashion Colors  

The cameras are also available in a number of colors that will easily make you want to choose one for yourself, such as red, blue, yellow, and more. This is where you should increase the retro aspect of the design: go with two tone leatherette split in corresponding pop colors. For instance, one can match the red with white or blue with yellow leatherette strips for a Mod 60s or 70s look. Two-tone leatherette allows for application of various colors, and individuals can design their items depending on their preference. This is a good idea if you want to add some personality to an average looking camera that has a plain silver or black finish.

Distressed Faux Leather

Another practical trend is distressed leather finishes, which look elegant and appropriately accentuate the signs of natural leather wear. Opt for distressed faux leather camouflages to achieve this fashionable weathered look without having to use the real McCoy vintage camera. These pre-weathered synthetic leatherette covers look like cracks, scratches and uneven tone which will take a lot of years to appear on genuine leather. Distressed options provide antique elegance in old time cameras such as the Leica II, which has been produced in the 1930s or the Hasselblad 500 produced in the 1940s. Combine with brass for an antiqued look Brass is a great material to pair with for an antiqued look.

Vintage-Style Fabric Prints

Specifically, fabric leatherette is perfect for cameras manufactured in the swinging 60’s and groovy 70’s. Stick to throwback prints in sixties psychedelia, paisley, flower power, and art-deco geometrics in circulation during these two eras. Custom printed faux leatherette camera covers enable you to select specific prints for different periods that the vintage cameras represents. Not only does it retropopulate your camera with the graphic iconography of its birth decade, but snazzy prints transform your photography equipment into art deco pop icons.

Wood Grain Faux Leather

Using the wood grain leatherette is a classy approach to giving a dated vintage camera a new look. Raw wood material design reflects on the mechanical look of 19th Century cameras while having a unique and contemporary appeal. To harmonize and enhance brass lens accents, warm walnut or ebony grained faux leatherette would be a great addition. A lighter oak leatherette complements the looks when paired with vintage chrome trims. Orientation of grain varied from shallow to distinct with definite channeling. Distressed wood grain leatherette also combines great texture and that perfect retro look for a very rich retro look and feel.

Applying New Leatherette Covers 

The process which you need to undertake in order to re-cover your vintage camera is simple. First, the body of a camera should be cleaned by washing and second, remove any material that was previously used as a cover. You can use a heat gun to melt the glue that was used for the original leatherette so it can be peeled off without scratching the metal or plastic beneath it. To combine the main body with your new leatherette segments, once the main body is stripped down to the bare shell, use spray adhesive that is made for synthetic leather. Ideally, choose ready-made kits with the leathers ready to fit the contours of curved parts of the interior. 

Do not pull the material tightly around curved edges; instead, try to stretch it gradually. You can use a tool like a roller, bone folder, or even a butter knife to apply pressure and make it smooth on every part of your paper. Cut off any additional length with a fine tipped hobby knife. Allow the glue to dry for a while before reinserting small pieces of hardware such as strap hoops or viewfinder cover that were removed during the exercise using epoxy glue. Do not touch any part of the car body with glue when re-fixing loose parts so as not to stain the outer surface of the car. 

How to Look after Your New to You Retro Camera

Leatherette is another product that can be mildly cleaned but it is also very vulnerable and thus should be treated carefully so that it does not get spoiled with time. Wipe carefully with a microfiber cloth without applying pressure to remove dust or wipe the surface with an unused part of the cloth without roughly rubbing it. In case of more stains, use a damp cloth, with normal water or diluted mild soap, and wipe the surface lightly. It’s also important not to use chemicals in cleaning as they have a tendency to cause leatherette to dry out and fade. This type of leather needs to be treated from time to time to make it soft and thus avoid formation of cracks with the help of special lotions. Untouched, your rejuvenated vintage-style leatherette will maintain the look of the above photograph for future photographic expeditions.

Incorporating personal flair while ushering new life into a classic photo camera helps maintain the history of photography. Whether you are looking for a worn out vintage look, complementary colorful polka dot glazes or all together new mod prints leatherette coverings are simple DIY enhancements. Select good leatherette such as buttery genuine hides, thick, sturdy faux leather, or fabric prints that give the impression of the time of your vintage camera. Use the guiding steps to properly apply the products then take good care of the newly restored retro apparels. Some simple leatherette restoration brings your once cherished piece of art back into spotlight of your photography display area.