Leather covering vs. light seals

Light seals sit in narrow grooves on the back door and prevent light from reaching the film. Leather covering is the outer grip covering. It has no sealing function, but it significantly affects feel, appearance and collector value. Missing or swollen leather covering reduces resale value by 30–50%.

Ageing and shrinkage

Most camera manufacturers used PVC-based synthetic leather with contact adhesive. After 30–40 years, the following happens:

• Plasticiser migration. The plasticisers in the PVC outgas. The material becomes hard, brittle and shrinks. The edges come loose first.
• Adhesive degradation. The contact adhesive loses its bonding strength. Moisture and heat accelerate the breakdown.
• UV damage. Direct sunlight bleaches the surface and accelerates the hardening.

Replacing it is easy: peel off the old leatherette (warm it with a hair dryer if needed), remove adhesive residue with isopropyl alcohol, position the new leatherette and press it on. 10–15 minutes per side of the camera.

Light seals: seal sets for the back door

If the leatherette is coming loose, the camera's light seals are often in the same condition. Light seals sit in the back door and prevent stray light from reaching the film. We carry universal sets and model-specific kits.