One-of-a-kind Leica camera ‘tattooed’ by talented Chinese artisan

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Leica cameras are works of art in their own right, but one M6 owner asked a Chinese artist to engrave her camera and turn it into a unique piece of photographic art

Three screenshots from Instagram Reel showing Leica M6 getting engraved by hand
(Image credit: @gnarstie / Christie Fitzpatrick)

It hadn’t even occurred to me that you can get your camera ‘tattooed’ until I happened upon this Instagram Reel from film photographer Christie Fitzpatrick (AKA @gnarstie).

As it turns out, there’s a tiny stall in Yokohama’s Chinatown, Japan, where you’ll find a talented Chinese artist, Ding Zuyin, who will engrave almost anything. Even a Leica M6. Yikes!

A post shared by @gnarstie

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Now, I wouldn’t entrust a Leica, even what looks like a relatively modest vintage M6 (by Leica standards), to just anyone. But having viewed this video on repeat, Ding certainly isn’t just anyone. If engraved tech gives you flashbacks to the noughties, when everyone was engraving “I love you” onto iPod Nanos, this is a whole other ballgame.

At the beginning of the video, the camera pans to reveal various phones, engraved with what can only be described as miniature artworks. It’s a real treat watching this master craftsman work, freehand. Initially, Christie thought Ding was only etching the bottom plate, but a slight breakdown in communication meant he engraved the top plate, too!

The Leica M6 is an '80s classic (pictured), but was re-released in 2022 (Image credit: Future)

The finished article reveals a phoenix and dragon on the underside of the camera and various koi on the top plate. I think we can all agree that the camera is all the better for it. Many would call Leicas unique works of art anyway, but this camera now truly is one of a kind.

I’m not usually one for camera ‘bling’ beyond a red soft shutter and a half case, but I wouldn’t hesitate to get my Nikon FM engraved by Ding, if I ever got the chance. What’s more, Christie paid just JP¥10,000 for the engravings, which is roughly $65 / £48 / AU$93.

Make sure you check @gnarstie out on Instagram for more film-related goodness.

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Mike Harris
Mike Harris
How To Editor

Mike studied photography at college, honing his Adobe Photoshop skills and learning to work in the studio and darkroom. After a few years writing for various publications, he headed to the ‘Big Smoke’ to work on Wex Photo Video’s award-winning content team, before transitioning back to print as Technique Editor (later Deputy Editor) on N-Photo: The Nikon Magazine.

With bylines in Digital Camera, PhotoPlus: The Canon Magazine, Practical Photography, Digital Photographer, iMore, and TechRadar, he’s a fountain of photography and consumer tech knowledge, making him a top tutor for techniques on cameras, lenses, tripods, filters, and more. His expertise extends to everything from portraits and landscapes to abstracts and architecture to wildlife and, yes, fast things going around race tracks...

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