Lenses: Black vs. Chrome

It's me again on this black/chrome thing, but now I'm thinking about lenses. Specifically, how does opinion fall on the black (lighter because it contains aluminum) versus chrome and titanium (all brass and so heavier). Is anybody sorry their lens is not all brass? Phototoys.com has a few words to say on the subject but I'm wondering what the experience out there is like? My own black 50 Summicron has worked fine for the last 10 years.

Here we go again! Both the chrome/titanium and black lenses

have aluminium and brass in their focusing helicals. Aluminium

and brass have a certain amount of "natural" lubrication when

used together which reduces the amount of lubricant required

over materials. The ONLY difference is that brass is better for

chrome/titanium plating than aluminium so the larger outer part

of the focusing mount of a chrome/titanium lens is brass and the

smaller inner part is aluminium. Since the chrome/titanium has

more brass, it is heavier. There is no optical or functional

difference between the two lens constructions.

 

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Cheers

I would think that if you can wear out a current Leica lens, then you

must be taking a lot of pictures. I have a black 1969 Summicron, and

it works a fine as my current model. In real life, you won't be

racking it from infinity to minimum focus for every shot. The lenses

just don't accumulate that much wear and tear during general

photography.

 

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If you want light weight and cost savings... go black. If you damage

it from too much use, your massive portfolio should generate enough

money to buy another :-)

Thanks.

Enough on that subject, I guess.

Looking back, as the owner of a chrome M6 acquired many years ago and

a black TTL .85 bought more recently, I should have bought all

black. Why?

 

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1. Black (aluminum) lenses are noticeably lighter. I'm no great fan

of "heft".

 

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2. You can put black lenses on a chrome body and it'll look OK. The

reverse looks a bit odd, though of course this is a trivial, cosmetic

point.

 

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3. If Leica ever again has a black only camera (such as it did for a

while with the M6HM and the M6TTL 0.85) you will be stuck with

problem #2 if you buy such a camera.

Please, for the love of god, throw a penny in the air and move on.

Yes! Please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!