black or silver M

[michel_vandeput]

Dear Leica friends,

I was said the M6 TTL and the new M7 received a new black coating much more resistant to scratches. Do you have some (good or bad) experience in black.

Should I choose a black or silver M.

Thanks and best regards

[michael_kastner]

I haven't had the chance to scratch an M7 yet but My TTL is very

unscratchable.

 

<p>

 

In case you haven't already checked, check out the dozen or so

postings on black vs chrome within the last year.

[steve_barnett2]

The first thing to consider is that the M7 is only available in

silver with a .72 mag viewfinder, so this may affect your choice

anyway. The black finish on my M6TTL seems very hard wearing, any

marks rubbing off with a wet thumb. But it seems neither better nor

worse than my M4-P.

[cosmo_genovese]

As I've said many times before on this Forum, black is THE

professional standard--all other finishes on cameras are merely

pretenders. Photographs:Pictures::Black cameras:Non-black

cameras. It's that simple. Sure, a titanium finish may not show any

wear for a thousand years, but who wants that? And silver [chrome]?

Buy a Schwinn, a Hyundai, a Tamron lens while you�re at

it. Black cameras make photographs, people don�t.

 

<p>

 

When the Contax T3 first came out, I decided to hold out for the

black version which Kyocera later announced would soon be available

with black accessories. As soon as it came out, I plopped down $750

without batting an eye. The only cameras-of-another-color I have are a

Nikon F and a Hasselblad 500 CM. I only use the F for copy work, so

there's not too much likelihood that someone would actually see me

using it. I've never had any trouble with the Hasselblad, but then

traditionally the chrome Hasselblad has been the more prevalent

version.

 

<p>

 

If you have no pride in your professionalism, then go for the common

chrome and titanium finishes and watch as your subjects get up and

leave when they see you pointing it at them. Be ready to blend in

with the "point-'n-shoot" crowd with their other chrome and ersatz

titanium-finish, 18-250mm-zoom-equipped, polycarbonate toys. Real men

wear black and that means their accessories, too. This shouldn't even

be a decision, it should have been inculcated as a reflex,

genetically hardwired into every real, professional photographer.

Pass it on, Man. The reason they don�t make a black version (yet) is

because they�re waiting for all the (gotta-have-the-latest-thing)

amateurs to pay for the paint by buying the chrome version

immediately. A professional bides his time and, like a Buddha at the

threshold to Nirvana, lets the less enlightened enter first with a

polite �After you.�

[chris_chen]

Since the M7 top plate is brass, I don't know if it's possible to

anodize it black or if Leica ever made flat black chrome over brass.

It must be painted black (?).

[steve_barnett2]

Chris

The M7 top plate is black 'chrome' (anodized), not paint until the

next overpriced special edition. It is possible to put just about

any finish on brass.

[bob haight]

Get the black. That way you get black lenses which are lighter than

the chrome, which are just too darn heavy for my taste. Go to a

camera store and feel the heft of a chrome 21, 35lux and 50lux.

[jay bee]

Ease up Cosmo. Whether you choose black or chrome its the fact that

its a Leica that matters. Choose chrome v black based on your

personal asthetics not becuause of some notion of what true pros go

with. Geez...

[cosmo_genovese]

Jay Bee,

 

<p>

 

Tongue-in-cheek, Jay Bee--tongue-in-cheek.

[gil_gatrcia]

take the chrome!

[richie chishty]

Cosmo:

 

<p>

 

You should have put a smiley :-) after your post!

[jay bee]

Cosmo - glad to hear your posting was tongue in cheek, but it seemed

a bit too authoritative to be in jest...

 

<p>

 

Best,

J

[joe_pelizza_salusso_di_vol]

Silver version is fine, but have you ever considered how poetic

sounds an old black Leica, very, very used?

That is a true Leica, because it has been used for what it was

created! And the black colour is the sign of the professional use of

the camera.

Joe

[Rob F.]

Get what you like, Michael.

[karl_yik1]

Black absorbs more heat from the sun than the chromes (if you ever

shoot in hot countries)!

[andrew n.bra hrefhttp]

<I>Black absorbs more heat from the sun than the chromes (if you ever

shoot in hot countries)! </I><P>

 

Ah yes, but it also re-radiates said heat more efficiently. Why do you

think the titanium skinned SR-71 "Blackbird" spy-planes were painted

black?<P>

 

(Sorry, totally OT I know but the Industrial Chemist in me couldn't

resist!)

[Spearhead]

Depends on what you are wearing.

[david_killick]

What happened to those 30s snakeskin jobs in red and green - and later

commemorative M6s with matching gold plating?

[msitaraman]

Cosmo gets it all wrong!!

 

<p>

 

Chromes can be exposed properly only in a chrome camera, and black

and white film in a black camera, preferably an LHSA model, which is

in fact black and white itself ;-)

 

<p>

 

Me? I have both. As has been said before, black lenses look fine on a

chrome body, chrome lenses look wierd on a black body. The modern M6

chrome finish seems rock hard. My camera has taken quite a few

knocks. Compared to my 70s era cameras, the finish is not easily

marred.

[karl_yik1]

Black looks better if you plan to use it with a leica motor drive.

[joe_lee3]

I have two M6s, one in chrome and the other black. Normally I carry

both. My lenses are all black.

 

<p>

 

It seems that black body attracts lesser attention in public...

especially with the 35mm ASPH summicron. That's why when I required

only one body, I picked the black.

[roger_michel]

fer sure git a chrome!!! only the chrome cameras are made in solms

(export restrictions!!). all yer black cameras are portugese-made.

trust me -- it MAKES a DIFFERENCE!!

[michael_kastner]

Günter Osterloh (in Solms) once told me that they are now all made in

Germany. None in Portugal any more, none in Canada any more.

[william_m._carson]

The silver M-6 is a much smarter looking camera than the black

anodized job; the silver chrome is probably more durable in terms of

retaining it's new appearance with time and use.

Lenses: Take the silver every time! Brass is the material to be used

for high quality lenses unles costs do not matter and then use 18-8

SS. The aluminum is cheaper and, true, lighter, but for depandable

quality over the years, take the silver chrome plating over real-

honest-to-goodness-brass!

[gabriel_roca]

Regarding Cosmo Genovese's silly rants regarding black or silver:

 

Sir, what are you thinking?! How, on Earth does the color of the camera you are shooting with have ANYTHING to do with your photography?! My dear sir, the amateur here, is you.

 

Respectfully,

 

-Ed P.