[ColdEye]

I have a Pentax Spotmatic F that I want to turn all black. Cover the name, markings (except for the dials). What is the way to go? Spray paint it? If so, what kind of spray paint will give me a matte finish.

[JohnX]

Search over on the Pentax User forum. Guy on there has done several re-paints and gives details of what he used, plus pics of results.

[stevebrot]

This is a frequent question on the RFF (Rangefinderforum.com Portal - Rangefinderforum) and the answer is that it ain't easy. Paint will not stick to the satin chrome finish on your camera. The general solution goes something like this:

• Remove the chrome body covers from the camera
• Electrolytically strip the chrome finish from the underlying brass
• Clean and prepare the brass for paint
• Prime
• Paint with a high quality satin lacquer
• Fill in the lettering with a white lacquer pin

The devil, of course, is in the details


Steve

[séamuis]

buy a black body spotmatic and cover up everything with gaffers or electrical tape. much easier than painting. also you can be like all the leicaphiles who cover up the thousands of dollars worth of leica logos with $1.50 worth of tape.

[ColdEye]

I see. I thought that it's as simple as spraying paint. :P Won't the tape make it sticky, I mean the residue.

[séamuis]

I see. I thought that it's as simple as spraying paint. :P Won't the tape make it sticky, I mean the residue.

gaffers tape leaves no residue, and spray paint would never stick to the satin chrome much less a black painted body. if I may be so bold, what is the point in this little endeavor?

[ColdEye]

It's all brassed and there are lots of scratches. So I decided to give it a facelift. I'll go with gaffers tape then. Thanks.

[séamuis]

It's all brassed and there are lots of scratches. So I decided to give it a facelift. I'll go with gaffers tape then. Thanks.

so I assume yours is a black body yes? you know Leica users consider a well worn 'brassed' black body to be a good thing! mind sharing a photo of the body?

[tuco]

Remove what is left on the brass, polish and lacquer coat it. You'll now have a gold edition of that Spomatic.

[Clicker]

You'll have to find someone to "powder coat" it black for you BUT you'll have to strip it down for the parts to be coated. If you can strip it yourself and reassemble then all you'll need is to find a local shop willing to do the pieces for you. Start with your local body shops.

[vladimiroltean]

Hey, look what I've found. Maybe this guy can tell you more about where exactly he had it painted.

[Ratmagiclady]

I see. I thought that it's as simple as spraying paint. :P Won't the tape make it sticky, I mean the residue.

One of the reasons they used to put real chrome finishes on 'silver' cameras was *because* they tend to be impervious to darn near anything. Pros got black ones because that made them less-obtrusive and *lighter.* Real old chrome finishes are *supposed* to be hard to remove or affect. That's why they're there.

Remember, a lot of these 'consumer' cameras were meant to be bought like fine watches, and cost the period equivalent of *thousands,* however unimpressive you find them now... They were sold on the idea they were supposed to last *generations* of family snaps use.



Not all met that standard, but those finishes weren't *meant* to ever come off or have things stick to them.