Worn/brassed M9 - pls share pictures to show Grey and Black wears

[bill]

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...although being a black paint finish it opens the way for a Leica spray shop to open up in a couple of years time for restorations and makeovers.

 

...you mean like this?

 

Regards,

 

Bill

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[jonoslack]

...you mean like this?

 

Regards,

 

Bill

 

Thanks for the link Bill

Nice to know that one can return a camera to 'like new' for a sensible price if necessary.

Personally I like them looking a little used.

 

Incidentally, my black M8 after around 40,000 also had no marks on the chrome . . . . which was no longer black, but a rather ordinary (I thought) grey. My black M9 is brassing gently and nicely. I know which I'd prefer!

[bill]

You're welcome, Jono.

 

Me too. Nothing wrong with honest wear.

 

CRR also do excellent work for CLA's so they are worth bearing in mind.

 

Regards,

 

Bill

[250swb]

...you mean like this?

 

Regards,

 

Bill

 

Mmmmm, a Latte M9, a must have (not)!

 

Steve

[artspraken]

thanks to all who posted pics in this thread, i purchased my M9 today in Steel Grey. It is an informed choice thanks to all the pics you have kindly posted.

 

I am now looking forward to black hairline scratches on the Steel Grey. I decided in favour of Steel Grey because (i) i personally prefer brassed grey to the brassed black "espresso" look; (ii) I expect to buy some old LTM chrome lenses which will match the Steel Grey better than the black.

 

Now I gotta begin my hunt for 50mm lenses.

[artspraken]

Now that I have Steel Grey M9, I can confirm it is impossible to scratch the paint with your fingernails. I have tried my hardest (honest). There is obviously a top coat over the base paint which fingernail cannot penetrate.

 

I have however not been adventurous enough to scratch the surface with anything other than my fingernails.

[rosuna]

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Now that I have Steel Grey M9, I can confirm it is impossible to scratch the paint with your fingernails. I have tried my hardest (honest). There is obviously a top coat over the base paint which fingernail cannot penetrate.

 

I have however not been adventurous enough to scratch the surface with anything other than my fingernails.

 

That is damage, but how it resist erosion?

[garygsandhu]

Because winograd's M photo was deleted, here's

 

Ian berry's M from Magnum (copyright's ok -- see the watermark).

 

http://www.magnumphotos.com/CoreXDoc/MAG/Media/TR3/3/d/f/c/LON89183.jpg

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[newtoleica]

As a guitarist with a couple of Stratocasters, I feel you should know that Fender sells 'Custom Shop relic' strats that are a good few thousand more expensive than the 'new' ones. If Leica did this they would be selling 'Custom relic' M3s with brassing for £10,000 made exactly to look like the 'artist original' above. Gilmour Strat, Hendrix or Clapton Strat (complete with cig burns)?

[frc]

I tried a number of these relics and simply don't grasp the idea behind it. Incredible people buy these pre-beaten up instruments. For a joke i offered my 30 years old Telecaster ( played and very worn ) for an insane amount of money. No one responded.;-(

Perhaps there is a market for beaten up Leica's.

Interested? pm. me your wishes and i'll provide you with an estimate.

[250swb]

I tried a number of these relics and simply don't grasp the idea behind it. Incredible people buy these pre-beaten up instruments.

 

On the simplest level its because they are hand made from the finest wood the Custom Shop can buy and then built with a higher level of care and attention than the original. As for the finish, I suppose it becomes immediately comfortable, both psyhcologically (you don't have to worry about the first chip out the paintwork), and physically (a smooth well worn neck with no lacquer is nicer to play than a sticky glossy new neck). I sometimes think the level of 'relicing' is extreme, but some people do like patina and having the sense that the guitar is somehow alive. And as the materials are more valuable than the finish they can always be re-painted, just like Ian Berry's camera could be smartend up with a new paint job

 

Steve

[j_lir]

was shooting some lenses i'm selling and grabbed a beauty shot of my m9.

 

i use it alot, i've shot 70,000 frames with the m9 since last year.

 

 

 

i shoot music.

 

it's fun.

 

 

 

 

cheers

 

jesse

Edited October 7, 2010 by erl
Gratuitous advertising

[rosuna]

Nothing wrong with honest wear.

 

 

Nothing wrong with dishonest durability either

[jonoslack]

My black chrome M8 has over 40,000 exposures on it and the finish looks like new!!!!

 

Whereas mine went a rather drab grey colour - not attractive, I much prefer my (now brassed) M9.

 

I have a black and a grey - the brassing is not so obvious on the grey one (it's nearer to the same colour). It seems that the base plate of the grey one has black primer, but I don't think the top plate does (mine's showing brassing on the corners through the grey).

 

Like others, I would originally have preferred chrome finish, but in retrospect I like the look of the painted cameras better - they have developed a patina which I rather like, whereas my chrome M8s (one black, one silver) just looked a bit tired.

[erl]

Sorry Jesse. I had to delete your advert from your post. You are welcome to post in the 'Buy & Sell' section for very reasonable rates.

[250swb]

was shooting some lenses i'm selling and grabbed a beauty shot of my m9.

 

i use it alot, i've shot 70,000 frames with the m9 since last year.

 

cheers

 

jesse

 

Very nice. It hasn't suffered from the usual ugly brassing normally seen in working cameras, just the attractive nibbles around the edges. I see you have a minor dent in the top plate, but is that a smashed LCD as well?

 

Steve

[Fotofanatiker]

Wow Jesse - your M is really cool... Just wonder how it would look like without any colour, pure brass... Steampunk anyone?

[coup de foudre]

Whereas mine went a rather drab grey colour - not attractive, I much prefer my (now brassed) M9.

 

I have a black and a grey - the brassing is not so obvious on the grey one (it's nearer to the same colour). It seems that the base plate of the grey one has black primer, but I don't think the top plate does (mine's showing brassing on the corners through the grey).

 

Like others, I would originally have preferred chrome finish, but in retrospect I like the look of the painted cameras better - they have developed a patina which I rather like, whereas my chrome M8s (one black, one silver) just looked a bit tired.

i agree with Jono. i've seen his M9 and it's far sexier than my well-used M8.

 

my M8 has turned a dull dark grey (the only thing interestingly brassed is my ThumbsUp which is getting quite beautiful)... i'd rather have Jono's patina any day!

 

so to counter some that are dissing the M9 for the paint, to me, it is one of its main attractions ... the fact that it's full frame has nothing to do with my lust whatsoever

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[RichardM8]

I think the anodized gun-metal like finish of the M8 is the best looking and best 'wearing' from what I've seen.

 

I guess it should be possible to get the painted top- and base plates anodized by another company. Frankly it surprises me that afaik there is no company that offer this already...

[Fotomiguel]

was shooting some lenses i'm selling and grabbed a beauty shot of my m9.

 

i use it alot, i've shot 70,000 frames with the m9 since last year.

 

 

 

i shoot music.

 

it's fun.

 

 

 

 

cheers

 

jesse

I would like to see a picture of the LCD screen. It looks...

I just want to mention that my LCD m9 screen seems to resist better than my m8 lcd screen.

In my M9 is disapearing the white paint but all the rest seems to be perfect. My M9 has not heavy use for the moment. Just one day a week for the last 10 months. Anyway the moment has come. I hope my M9 will resist.