My Hasselblad 501CM and A12 magazine have been serving me already for 21 years. As with many old cameras, the original leatherette begins to peel off and falling apart. So I think that this is the right time for a replacement.

My workhorse for the past 21 years
skin begins to peel off



I order the kit set from Aki-Asahi in Nagoya and the delivery to Hong Kong is quick, about 10 days.

Registered mail from Aki-Asahi
Inside Content



All of these leatherette are pre-cut and self adhesive. The hardest job is to remove the old skin and also the old adhesive. So I start peeling off the skin first, then use my finger to rub the old adhesive off and finally use a small flat head screwdriver to remove the last bit of aged adhesive. Then I use a cotton swab with 75% alcohol to clean the metal surface and finally, use a small brush to clean off the last debris of old leatherette and adhesive.

I first begin to test with the easiest part first – the viewfinder!

Peel off the skin by hand
Sometimes it needs the help of a tiny screw driver
Removing the old adhesive
Cleaning with 75% alcohol and cotton bud



Video

Video about replacing new leatherette on to the viewfinder



After finishing the viewfinder, I get used to the technique and then I move ahead to the A12N magazine. First of all, I need to remove the dark slide holder in the A12N. There are 4 small screws inside to be removed and the holder will automatically come off.

Removing 4 tiny screws to let the dark slider holder come off
It comes off!
New leatherette. Success!



Then I continue to work on the body of 501CM, using the same routine.

Warning: The following image may contain nudity which is not suitable for children under 13……XDDD

Hasselblad 501CM in Nude!

After almost an hour of work, finally new leatherette on the camera!

Success!

Hurray!
Before (left) and After (right)



You can see the new leatherette has different pattern than the original one. The new one is thicker and the “pebble” is coarser. Anyway, this is absolutely OK for me and I hope the newly skinned camera will work for me for another 20 years.




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7 Comments

Santiago Ochoa · July 2, 2021 at 5:17 am

Hey there,

Do you still have the old leatherette?

I would like to purchase it if so.

Santiago Ochoa · July 2, 2021 at 5:18 am

Hey

Do you still have the old leatherette?

I would like to buy it if so.

H M Lai · July 2, 2021 at 8:41 am

Hello Sir,

The old leatherette I replaced from this Hasselblad had already been thrown away several months ago, so I cannot supply you this old leatherette anymore.

Michael Carrigan · April 14, 2022 at 6:54 pm

Which kit did you buy? They only have the 501c kit listed.

    H M Lai · April 14, 2022 at 7:03 pm

    Dear Michael,

    Yes, I bought the 501C kit + 3 sets of A12 too. The 501C kit can also be used in my 501CM.

JOAQUIN AGUIRRE · August 23, 2024 at 4:23 am

Are you still selling covering kits for Hasselblad?

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