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Black M9 - what is behind the coating?


Leicakillen

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The metal behind the black coating on my black M5 is of chrome color - not very nice actually. The metal behind my black painted M2 is "golden" brass - very, very nice. The metal behind the black paint on my M6 LHSA I can´t tell because I have been too careful but this paint finish is the best so far.

But what kind of metal is behind the black coating of my black M9? Brass or "chrome" metal? The spec says brass - but is it really "golden brass"?

 

/Anders

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You may be seing some primer under the black paint, but eventually there is brass.

 

There are direct to metal paints today so the paint wears thru to brass very fast if that is what they use.

 

For a camera this expensive, a more durable finish is warranteed, either bright or black chrome. But maybe the environmentalists have got to them.

 

My Nikon digitals don`t look old before their time.

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My M9 has already started to "brass" on the corners, it's had a lot of use. As has been said it's real brass directly under the paint. The brass is bright but not shiny, it looks as if it's been sand blasted to give the black coating good adhesion.

 

 

Bob.

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my m9 has brased a bit on the edges.

i have been using it alot, but have been giving it a bit more care than my m8's had seen.

i guess i really must like her.

 

ahahah.

 

it has one descent dent and some dings, and shes only 2 months old, and who knows how many tens of thousands of frames in...;)

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This M9 coating issue makes me appreciate my M8 more. I have the black and chrome M8s and they both shown no wears anywhere. I think Leica used the same coating methods as the previous M7 camera.

Soon enough Leica will come out with the new M9 with the old M8 caotings for more money... Call it a la carte may be ?

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I don't know why Leica doesn't make a titanium body. Then use a coating process similar to Nikon or Canon. This would create a body that weighs less and has a tough as nails coating.

 

Leica has joined the digital age, why not advance beyond the brass age?

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I don't know why Leica doesn't make a titanium body. Then use a coating process similar to Nikon or Canon. This would create a body that weighs less and has a tough as nails coating.

 

I believe that you talk about magnesium. Canon and Nikon have the magnesium alloy chassis. Titanium is used in some shutters.

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I've always had bright chrome Laicas. I have never liked the way it scuffs and scratches, especially when viewed under an angle to the light. My black coated M9 (it is not paint, but some kind of coating) shows far less wear than any chrome camera ever did at this point of use. Just some miniscule brass points along the edge of the baseplate.

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The brass is bright but not shiny, it looks as if it's been sand blasted to give the black coating good adhesion.

 

... a process which obviously doesn't work. I think it is shameful that the Leica finish is so poor. My Nikons get more use than my Leicas and look like new.

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... a process which obviously doesn't work. I think it is shameful that the Leica finish is so poor. My Nikons get more use than my Leicas and look like new.

 

And yet the black paint finish on the M9 is far tougher than previous black paint finishes used by Leica, so they are making an effort. I would liken it to a traditional stove enamel finish in toughness, yet achieved with modern two pack resin paints (probably). The good thing about it is that it won't turn the hideous gunmetal grey that the black chrome transformed into with heavy use, and it can be touched up or re-painted.

 

Steve

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