Jump to content

Petition for demanding Leica a real chrome M9, not painted


ArtZ

Recommended Posts

  • Replies 172
  • Created
  • Last Reply

The 100M Euro question is whether you guys will pay extra to have a chrome camera since I have the impression this may be the only way that Leica will make one... Assuming Leica can make a small batch of M9s (standard stock, only difference being the chrome body, maybe a top plate script), how many of you will be willing to pay 500-1,000 extra in advance to satisfy your chrome lust?

 

Cheers,

Link to post
Share on other sites

The 100M Euro question is whether you guys will pay extra to have a chrome camera since I have the impression this may be the only way that Leica will make one... Assuming Leica can make a small batch of M9s (standard stock, only difference being the chrome body, maybe a top plate script), how many of you will be willing to pay 500-1,000 extra in advance to satisfy your chrome lust?

 

Cheers,

 

In for a penny, in for a pound. Yes. :D

Link to post
Share on other sites

The 100M Euro question is whether you guys will pay extra to have a chrome camera since I have the impression this may be the only way that Leica will make one... Assuming Leica can make a small batch of M9s (standard stock, only difference being the chrome body, maybe a top plate script), how many of you will be willing to pay 500-1,000 extra in advance to satisfy your chrome lust?

 

Cheers,

 

Riccis,

that's absolutely what I think too.

If a chrome has to be made, it shouldn't be more expensie than a black or grey one!

Matter of fact, having not vulcanite on my grey one (being it the same camera as the black one) is a big hassle for me.

I.e.

If I choosed a black one when I ordered it, I would have had the "vulcanite" as a standard, and I could have entually opted for a black with the "old" M8.1 finish instead without extra expense.

Why should I pay an extra to get vulcanite on the grey one?:confused:

Link to post
Share on other sites

Advertisement (gone after registration)

This afternoon, just for curiosity, I have shown one of my M8 to a company which can chrome metal pieces.

 

I asked them how much could cost to, let's say, a thousand top plates (delivered on clean brass). They made a dirty estimation: 1 euro piece! :eek:

 

So, if the reason why Leica's gone "painted top plate" is to reduce costs, it's really disappointing... :mad:

Link to post
Share on other sites

Are we talking about the same kind of chrome, or will we end up with cameras looking like '60s Cadillac bumpers? :) Is the nickel-plating included for that 1 Euro? Do they realise that the holes and the backs shouldn't be chromed?

 

Yes, Carsten, we're talking about the same kind of chrome, because I said I'd was looking forward for something identical or very similar to my M8. As I know (vaguely) a girl who works there, I explained her the reason of my inquiry. She explained me chrome it is not an expensive coating. All depends on the quantities.

 

Personally, I would have expected a price of 5-10 € piece. Even that wouldn't be expensive for a 5500 € ($7 000) camera...

 

I do believe the reason why Leica has chosen the painted option obeys more to a marketing decision, maybe to give a modern look, than to an economic one. For this reason, I keep thinking (especially if gray paint peels off as Maurizio says and as I've already seen) Leica could reconsider their choice in the future.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Well it's not that hard to take the top & bottom plates off, top is the trickiest but a spanner and screwdriver set would cost about $20 tops from microtools.

 

Perhaps someone is game enough to take their camera top & bottom to a chromer with an example (say a chrome lens for example so they can match it) and see if they can strip & chrome it for you. As long as they get the degree of "matteness" right it should be ok.

 

I'd be interested to see it, of the paint finishes I definitely prefer the black to the grey, but overall I prever the chrome cameras (and lenses).

Link to post
Share on other sites

Getting the plates off is not so hard, but then there is the circuitry in the top, as well as the shutter release and the shutterspeed dial, and the front glass for the rangefinder. I guess Mark Norton would know how hard it would be to get that stuff off.

 

I guess the worst that could happen with a chroming is that the camera gets sent to that guy in Japan for a coat of black lacquer afterwards :)

Link to post
Share on other sites

Leica will surely make a chrome version of the M9.... I have no doubt.

 

wild guess, it will be released in 18 months or so, then all the early adopters will be ready to "upgrade" their current M9 to the silver finish one.. Leica will have managed to sell a second camera to a lot of guys and put a bunch of silver paint ones on the used market.. my silver paint will probably be scratched like crazy and I will have a few terabytes of image to show for the scratches.

 

I love chrome but I don't think it will affect the quality of my images much.

 

.

Link to post
Share on other sites

The One Euro per brass top plate for each thousand really got to me, and for $7,000 USD there is absolutely no excuse AT ALL!!!!!!\\

 

For items in this price range, the customer is generally always right, and it seems real chrome should be one of the choices here.

 

You should be able to have four colors to choose from:

 

1. Black Paint

 

2. Grey Paint

 

3. Silver Chrome

 

4. Black Chrome

 

All at $7,000 USD. Now wouldn't it be funny if there were these choices, which finish would wear out first.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...