![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/3004272afedb6622107789152ac6cde9/55c105cd-e72c-4de0-9d94-00c14facfd48_rw_1200.png?h=7aecc476294da9a7a5739095b62ba155)
After having my Leica for one month now, I wanted to update the leather to really make it my own. So I decided to remove the original "griptape" cover and replace it with a unique cover from Aki Asashi. I ordered the "#4008 black leatherette", which is looking pretty good and almost as good as Leica's vulcanite from the M9.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/3004272afedb6622107789152ac6cde9/edaf7bff-6036-4d74-8cc1-b99dcd161e06_rw_1200.png?h=c9a01bca42d91bba8e826ede1dc56bed)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/3004272afedb6622107789152ac6cde9/9e204869-6ba6-4194-ac78-ab4fae7a1735_rw_1200.png?h=22585dcb6785f8ad6823cfe8fad9decf)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/3004272afedb6622107789152ac6cde9/0018ce47-33a1-4b12-ac21-82e09937030a_rw_1200.png?h=69b12d03cfaaaca18dd8e3a04b702321)
The first step is to remove the cover from the USB port. I used a 00x50mm screwdriver to remove the two tiny screws.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/3004272afedb6622107789152ac6cde9/211d9585-6d4a-4c05-910b-dcffef008393_rw_1200.png?h=75d535641327e66a9f0aad70205d7081)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/3004272afedb6622107789152ac6cde9/77cf86b5-8c05-429c-ba00-c04ad7ead8a1_rw_1200.png?h=15d409bb16caa4767fa3e44d574818ff)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/3004272afedb6622107789152ac6cde9/586515e1-5c03-4665-88c8-593226be4ea7_rw_1200.png?h=a2715905d8f4aada2eba82152c671255)
Starting at the back, it took a while to remove the old tape. Especially the frame lever needs to be handled with care.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/3004272afedb6622107789152ac6cde9/2b0b6145-9e0e-41d6-ae17-5ae7ea384b81_rw_1200.png?h=41f573cd79ef49610674e3ae7fac7666)
After the tape was removed, I used nail polish to remove the last glue remains.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/3004272afedb6622107789152ac6cde9/0f3ecbec-616f-4199-b225-47e5164594ef_rw_1200.png?h=88b4425e0f00d482e503ad78eb8d7f7f)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/3004272afedb6622107789152ac6cde9/1017a268-eea9-4ca1-86ed-b93139fead5d_rw_1200.png?h=86255080771d36835c8f37aaf4eec9da)
To get a better hand of the new tape, I cut everything not need away from the back sheet. Further, I cut a the back sheet into two half below at the thinnest part. That enabled me to do the right side first and then do the left side.
I started with the lever, put it through a cut out hole and started removing the back sheet. The rest is very easy, just take your time when doing it yourself.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/3004272afedb6622107789152ac6cde9/3b399b1e-2907-46bf-a6c1-604c488188a0_rw_1200.png?h=f8aa3c2084fae4825cb578630b4169b6)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/3004272afedb6622107789152ac6cde9/17f2633c-97c0-4641-950f-4a9043ca015c_rw_1200.png?h=e5d1f21fc6ed33c2771653a580154442)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/3004272afedb6622107789152ac6cde9/a2e57268-4b55-41d3-945a-b5cc9e28387b_rw_1200.png?h=8cd5a912be95fd4f800aeebfe93254bd)
Besides the lever, the right side was pretty easy. The tape is super sticky and was about 1 mm to long at the edge so I had to cut off that bit, but it is still looking really nice.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/3004272afedb6622107789152ac6cde9/8416eace-1f17-4246-9b04-d3126aa6be84_rw_1200.png?h=e50d79a88c76418ec823569352673dd9)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/3004272afedb6622107789152ac6cde9/f3618a86-bde8-4b08-b3f7-890b6eecf99b_rw_1200.png?h=2e62e97d2ef2bbca4ca2f7dccf7eec22)
After everything is in place, I made sure to also go into each edge using the spatula. Afterwards, I attached the USB cover again and the battery plate.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/3004272afedb6622107789152ac6cde9/96a47408-1abe-46c1-bf76-1c05584381d4_rw_1200.png?h=77c5d04a7b5eebe5b73513634abd5567)
I'm really satisfied with the result. It looks much valuable than the old "griptape". It wasn't too hard to attach the new tape correctly and without any sign of DIY. I would definitely do it again, maybe then with real leather, probably from CameraLeather.com.
Thanks to Aki, the leatherette looks pretty good, feels warm and soft, almost like real leather.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/3004272afedb6622107789152ac6cde9/a4c31771-8d39-4961-b529-113118ba43e6_rw_1200.png?h=cfa647bb9c4bd50b98489c06b3f21b50)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/3004272afedb6622107789152ac6cde9/67787fe6-3387-448f-a2fa-7e560bcecc6a_rw_1200.png?h=5fd2ce3995d4fc945a9bd2d58dc874f2)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/3004272afedb6622107789152ac6cde9/e9de14ef-eb53-4f48-b67b-61c61ae984c8_rw_1200.png?h=6b0b3f9f011e89c861f7763a3a69e278)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/3004272afedb6622107789152ac6cde9/9ad7d5e6-9892-446a-8867-d8508d9fcd5e_rw_1200.png?h=4946b8ff5ffb96f47decd22eb32e2f83)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/3004272afedb6622107789152ac6cde9/2a8563ec-eb86-46fa-9c87-3e1db7cdcfe1_rw_1200.png?h=1b44ca6d56ec09b01990ca0c8dfb7284)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/3004272afedb6622107789152ac6cde9/027c3ba0-1aa1-4a1c-8fc6-34d04e38dc26_rw_1200.png?h=69aeb696ba98ca22616ecf8e2003849f)
I really like the combination of the new cover and my leather strap, much better than the old one.
😊 📸 💙
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/3004272afedb6622107789152ac6cde9/6a26045f-edea-4541-a815-ec47588b4ffd_rw_1200.png?h=bb6b0e949bd0f3c07b9f423f806e1a3f)