menos I M6 Posted December 1, 2011 Share #21 Posted December 1, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) I thought about asking for this, but didn't want to overcomplicate my order, as I had already asked for a number of other small changes. Anyway, I actually kind of prefer the M2/M4/M6/M7/MP-style top plate. The increased simplicity may in fact be the result of cost-cutting, but is also more in-keeping with the camera's bauhaus aesthetic. I always thought about the Leica M3 looking very complicated and barock styled with it's windows and the top plate reaching around the lens mount. I never was a big fan of chrome cameras either and always preferred black bodies. BUT: when I bought a Leica M3, to try out that magic viewfinder, I have to agree, that all the writing on the internet about the M3 is true - it's the nicest and best Leica M, when not needing 35mm frame lines. I even fell in love with the M3 styled top deck, which wiped all my concerns and wrong thinking about it's design. Once you used a M3 for a little, it might very well grow on you - a real black lacquer paint (a la Leica M8.2 or MP) on a MP3 styled body with standard frame lines is very well, what my dream film body would be like (I don't like the simplistic frame lines, as I have too many lenses in different focal lengths, needing the frames). Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted December 1, 2011 Posted December 1, 2011 Hi menos I M6, Take a look here How would you engrave your Leica?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
philipus Posted December 2, 2011 Share #22 Posted December 2, 2011 Brings back memories. I think you mean one of those Dymo label things like this. Thank you Ian, yes it's the Dymo I was thinking of. I read online (for instance at Cameraquest re M3s and re LTM and also here) that cameras engraved with owner's name or social security numbers are valued less. Then again, who buys a camera new to allow a collector years down the line to be able to get a mint collector's piece. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mafoofan Posted December 2, 2011 Author Share #23 Posted December 2, 2011 You don't need an expert to tell you that a personal engraving will reduce a camera's value . However, value retention is not one of my priorities, as this camera is being gifted to me for my 30th birthday and will never be sold. Anyway, if worse comes to worst, I can always pay to have the top plate replaced with a regular one before selling. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted December 2, 2011 Share #24 Posted December 2, 2011 Basically the value reduction is the general idea - to make it less attractive to steal. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lars_bergquist Posted December 2, 2011 Share #25 Posted December 2, 2011 I once tried to make Leica make the M8 available in British Racing Green, but they didn't bite. There are two kinds of people: Those who can recognise a M Leica for what it is, without any kind of prompting, and those who have never heard of Leica and think it's a misspelling for 'Lieca'. So if I decide to upgrade my M9 to P style, I would like to have no text at all on a black camera – except in the accessory shoe of course, which I understand is retained. The M is its own icon. The old man from the Chrome Age 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted December 2, 2011 Share #26 Posted December 2, 2011 Actually, they do (at least, the leather) - go to the A-La-Carte configurator: Nappa, racing green The colour of british classic racing cars. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
philipus Posted December 2, 2011 Share #27 Posted December 2, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) Basically the value reduction is the general idea - to make it less attractive to steal. Though I don't think you meant it that way, the inverse of what you've written is that there'd be collectors or their help roaming the streets looking for un-engraved cameras to steal. You don't need an expert to tell you that a personal engraving will reduce a camera's value . Like I said... who buys a camera new to allow a collector years down the line to be able to get a mint collector's piece. Good luck with your gift. P Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pico Posted December 2, 2011 Share #28 Posted December 2, 2011 (edited) Thank you Ian, yes it's the Dymo I was thinking of. I read online (for instance at Cameraquest re M3s and re LTM and also here) that cameras engraved with owner's name or social security numbers are valued less. Putting one's social security number in plain site is crazy. Even the US Social Security Card carries a warning, "DO NOT CARRY THIS CARD WITH YOU." (Their capital letters) Unfortunately, the Medicare agency is idiotic in that regard. They assign a number to the person/card which shows in plain sight, large letters, the persons social security number followed by a dash and letter (for example) -A. For that reason I do not carry mine, but instead a supplemental plan with a properly coded number. -- Pico - I wonder if the actor Johnny Depp, who uses a Leica, knows what his last name means in German. Edited December 2, 2011 by pico Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bocaburger Posted December 2, 2011 Share #29 Posted December 2, 2011 I won't have any of my cameras or watches engraved. Even if I plan to keep them for my lifetime, my heirs have no interest whatsoever in cameras or mechanical timepieces. I prefer not to limit their ability to liquidate my estate at maximum value. If there's anything they decide to keep, I'd rather it be for sentimental reasons and not because of my vanity. 1 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mafoofan Posted December 2, 2011 Author Share #30 Posted December 2, 2011 I won't have any of my cameras or watches engraved. Even if I plan to keep them for my lifetime, my heirs have no interest whatsoever in cameras or mechanical timepieces. I prefer not to limit their ability to liquidate my estate at maximum value. If there's anything they decide to keep, I'd rather it be for sentimental reasons and not because of my vanity. Let's not get sanctimonious about the vanity of engraving names on $5,000+ cameras. Some sanity in perspective, please. 1 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Double Negative Posted December 3, 2011 Share #31 Posted December 3, 2011 ...cameras engraved with owner's name or social security numbers are valued less... That's just a REALLY bad idea. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave.gt Posted December 3, 2011 Share #32 Posted December 3, 2011 Jeez, most people lose more than the value of an MP with depreciation in the first year of owning a new car. Or a motorcycle. Or a house, these days. Why worry about it? Just do what you want with your own money! In my case, my grandkids would LOVE a camera with my name engraved on it as on the custom split-bamboo flyrod. If I had the money, I would put anything on the camera that I wanted and would not care a single bit about anyone else's opinion. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rickp13 Posted December 3, 2011 Share #33 Posted December 3, 2011 i've always thought that plain black paint would be perfect on an MP. this is not for reasons of stealth, just for perfect minimal decoration. to my eyes, the camera's shape is its identification. the photo is from Ffordes - an MP that i unfortunately didn't buy. greetings from hamburg rick Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/167572-how-would-you-engrave-your-leica/?do=findComment&comment=1861529'>More sharing options...
farnz Posted December 3, 2011 Share #34 Posted December 3, 2011 A lovely camera but to my eye the "R" now really sticks out so I'd want to remove it. Pete. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave.gt Posted December 3, 2011 Share #35 Posted December 3, 2011 A lovely camera but to my eye the "R" now really sticks out so I'd want to remove it. Pete. Ha, ha...and then there's the 0.72. And those numbers all around those lenses... Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mafoofan Posted December 3, 2011 Author Share #36 Posted December 3, 2011 If I had the money, I would put anything on the camera that I wanted and would not care a single bit about anyone else's opinion. So how would you have it done? i've always thought that plain black paint would be perfect on an MP. this is not for reasons of stealth, just for perfect minimal decoration. to my eyes, the camera's shape is its identification. This is just as intriguing an approach, to my mind. I've never been much for middle-of-the-road solutions. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave.gt Posted December 4, 2011 Share #37 Posted December 4, 2011 So how would you have it done? This is just as intriguing an approach, to my mind. I've never been much for middle-of-the-road solutions. Wow...this is a very personal thing to do, however, I prefer simple and elegant. Either a script signature or script initials, I suppose. Deleting Leica Camera from the back is pretty neat. Now, if we were discussing those expensive! split-bamboo fly rods, then, there are some wonderful engravers that could do anything you want, but, again, I prefer something simple and elegant, and especially BLACK. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
farnz Posted December 4, 2011 Share #38 Posted December 4, 2011 Ha, ha...and then there's the 0.72. And those numbers all around those lenses... No, to my eye they don't stick out; it's only the white R on the deep, lustrous black paint. Pete. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted December 4, 2011 Share #39 Posted December 4, 2011 But one could only use black paint lenses in deep lustrous paint on such a camera. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mafoofan Posted December 4, 2011 Author Share #40 Posted December 4, 2011 Jaap, when are you expecting yours to come in? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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