jrp Posted June 1, 2013 Share #1 Posted June 1, 2013 Advertisement (gone after registration) I am trying to think of the relative advantages / disadvantages of black and silver Leica bodies, notably the M240. The list I have come up with so far is as follows. A black body is more Subjective differences Discrete, but also more attractive to thieves Professional looking Modern looking / less retro Objective differences Prone to heat up in the sun, and fail Show brassing Popular Do you agree? Suggestions for additions to this list welcome. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted June 1, 2013 Posted June 1, 2013 Hi jrp, Take a look here Black v Silver bodies. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
iedei Posted June 1, 2013 Share #2 Posted June 1, 2013 silver is for people who like bling, like to show off, and want shiny/fancy things. black is for people who want to take photographs. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stunsworth Posted June 1, 2013 Share #3 Posted June 1, 2013 Some people prefer black, others silver. Personally I prefer black. Just get the one _you_ prefer. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
macjonny1 Posted June 1, 2013 Share #4 Posted June 1, 2013 I'd wait for the white leatherette version sure to come. Won't heat up and fail as easy. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Geschlecht Posted June 1, 2013 Share #5 Posted June 1, 2013 Hello jrp, Welcome to the Forum. I would think being more discreet is the major advantage of a black camera. Leicas are good cameras, whichever of the "M" models or variations you choose: Whether it is the M3, the latest M240, or any of the models inbetween. Chrome or Black. Best Regards, Michael Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pico Posted June 1, 2013 Share #6 Posted June 1, 2013 Black is not more attractive to thieves. So many cameras are black today that it really is not distinguishing. Besides, thieves are not connoisseurs. They are opportunists. Black will not become hotter enough to damage anything. To get that hot you could not even hold it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
StephenPatterson Posted June 1, 2013 Share #7 Posted June 1, 2013 Advertisement (gone after registration) My first Leica, a IIIC, is silver chrome and over the years I've seen no reason to change. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdlaing Posted June 1, 2013 Share #8 Posted June 1, 2013 silver is for people who like bling, like to show off, and want shiny/fancy things. black is for people who want to take photographs. That is the most ridiculous thing I've heard today. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted June 1, 2013 Share #9 Posted June 1, 2013 silver is for people who like bling, like to show off, and want shiny/fancy things. black is for people who want to take photographs. Spot on. Look at Capa, HCB, McCullen - all show offs with their silver 'male jewellery' cameras and couldn't take one worthwhile photo between them! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gerard Posted June 1, 2013 Share #10 Posted June 1, 2013 JRP... If you put this much thought into what finish you want your M in, I dread to think of the nightmare you'll have choosing a bag. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulus Posted June 1, 2013 Share #11 Posted June 1, 2013 My first Leica, a IIIC, is silver chrome and over the years I've seen no reason to change. My first was Titan M6. Because the chrome was out of stock. My second one was chrome ( traveller M6 ) .My third one was black M6TTL. My third one was Chrome MP. My forth one was chrome M8. My fifth one was Black M9, My sixth one was Steel M9. The advantage? I think most Leica M cameras look nicer in a bi-colour way. Is a black camera less noticed? I still don't know if that's really true. Everybody says so, but is there real scientific evidence? The only thing I know is, that in warfare camouflage it is not done, to have objects all black ( except at night ). A black brick before your face should be noticed too. The way a photographer behaves could be more noticeable than the way his camera is " painted ". Black or Chrome? I don't see the difference. The only thing I notice is, that the chrome ones were more scratch resistant ( with the exception of the Steel Grey one. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stealth3kpl Posted June 1, 2013 Share #12 Posted June 1, 2013 People have looked at my chrome M2s and said "Cool camera" or "Nice camera" or have laughed and asked "what is that!". Nobody has ever said "Nice bling". I can't imagine anyone thinking it's jewelry because it's not, it's a camera. Assuming a camera to be jewelry is a very bizarre concept. If my peers were to think that way, I would think perhaps it's time to get some different peers. Of course, friends seeing one's camera as jewelry might be a reflection of one's character. Time for some self examination. My first Leicas (M6 and MP) were black. I was looking forward to their brassing - memories of our travels. Eventually I started to think of them as looking a bit boring. I had no choice but to go for chrome M2s when I decided to release some capital from my black leicas. I really love their timeless look. They might catch peoples eyes more readily but then I'm sure they'll immediately assume it's just a worthless old film camera. Chrome's a hard wearing finish so I think the digital versions will hold their value better than if black. Pete Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pico Posted June 1, 2013 Share #13 Posted June 1, 2013 silver is for people who like bling, like to show off, and want shiny/fancy things. black is for people who want to take photographs. And grey is for what, the undecided? Those who go both ways? Bi-Bliing? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
macjonny1 Posted June 1, 2013 Share #14 Posted June 1, 2013 And grey is for what' date=' the undecided? Those who go both ways? Bi-Bliing?[/quote'] And what if you had black M9 but sent it in during the M9P upgrade program and chose a new chrome top and bottom plate? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pedaes Posted June 1, 2013 Share #15 Posted June 1, 2013 In my experience most people think a chrome M of any variant is a "old" camera and therefore much less threatening. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
thighslapper Posted June 1, 2013 Share #16 Posted June 1, 2013 In my experience most people think a chrome M of any variant is a "old" camera and therefore much less threatening. Ditto. Everyone thinks I'm using some ancient piece of junk and generally I get ignored as a result. I prefer the retro look, and it continues the original Leica image which I find attractive ... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
iedei Posted June 1, 2013 Share #17 Posted June 1, 2013 Spot on. Look at Capa, HCB, McCullen - all show offs with their silver 'male jewellery' cameras and couldn't take one worthwhile photo between them! there was no choice. there weren't that many early M cameras that were black (if there were, they were very low production numbers)....if they had a choice, i'm sure they would have used the most discrete option. these days there is a choice. if one buys a silver camera, it's for bling....and there sure are a lot of 'gear obsessed' people who love the bling these days...OR if they really want to be 'retro'. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stealth3kpl Posted June 1, 2013 Share #18 Posted June 1, 2013 these days there is a choice. if one buys a silver camera, it's for bling....and there sure are a lot of 'gear obsessed' people who love the bling these days...OR if they really want to be 'retro'. Is this an assumption or do you know anyone that has bought a camera thinking that chrome will impress? Not solid silver but chrome? I think you're talking out of your hat, or stealthy, incognito, ninja photographer's baseball cap Pete Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kokoshawnuff Posted June 1, 2013 Share #19 Posted June 1, 2013 silver is for people who like bling, like to show off, and want shiny/fancy things. black is for people who want to take photographs. Ridiculously subjective comment with no basis of information or logic to back it. Just completely inane Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest rivercityrocker Posted June 1, 2013 Share #20 Posted June 1, 2013 I'd like one of each. Why? Because I like the way they look. When I bought my M8 I got a black one because it was the best value. When I buy my second one I may get a silver one if that's what comes up first or a black one. I don't really care much. When I buy my lenses I never consider chrome or black. My Zeiss 50 Planar and my 50 Suummiux are both chrome. my camera is black Does it look weird? Maybe. Does it make my pictures worse or better? Nope. I used to shoot entertainment pieces for the local Austin paper's website. I used a D2H and a Sigma 17-70. because it was for web use and I used flash at f/5.6 and it got banged around a lot. I didn't want to bring a more expensive camera out because I didn't need to. I paid about $400 for it. If I was shooting something interesting I'd bring along a Leica. People always assumed the D2H was the "expensive" camera. Just about any thief would steal a D2H over a Leica if they were sitting together, the opportunity was there, and they could only grab one camera. The point is; most people don't know what a freaking Leica is. To be honest the only people that think Leicas are "fashion accessories" are other photographers. And that's usually the ones who say Leicas are for "rich people". And so what if you prefer silver because it's flashier? There's nothing wrong with that. I'm a guitar player and collector. When I perform I use a Gretsch White Falcon. This is known to be one of the flashiest guitars ever made. Indeed that was what they were going for when they designed it. I play this guitar because it's flashy and attracts attention. Does that mean my guitar playing is worse because my guitar is the king of bling? Of course not. Owning something flashy doesn't always mean you're compensating for another areas you're lacking in. Not to sound conceited, but I'm pretty damn good at photography. That's why people hire me to do it. And if I could afford a white M with gold sparkle trim to match my White Falcon guitar I would do it in a heartbeat. That wouldn't make my photography any better or worse, but it would make me happy because sometimes I LIKE gaudy shit. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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