Rune Posted November 12, 2013 Share #1 Posted November 12, 2013 Advertisement (gone after registration) Hi! Just out of curiosity, what is your opinion on black bodies with chrome lenses or vice versa? Is it a no-no, something you try to avoid or is it "refreshing" to mix? I, myself, have a black M8.2, and an old black 28 Elmarit and an old black 50 Summilux from 1972. Then I also have a chrome 24 Elmarit, and a chrome 90 Summicron. At first I worried, but now I find it rather cool... Sorry for posting a silly thread... Best regards, Rune Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted November 12, 2013 Posted November 12, 2013 Hi Rune, Take a look here Mix or match..?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
earleygallery Posted November 12, 2013 Share #2 Posted November 12, 2013 Hi! Sorry for posting a silly thread... Best regards, Rune You're right, it is a silly question. FWIW the early Leica's had a black body/chrome lens and so has their latest special edition Dlux. Use what you have, or what you can get, or what you prefer. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff S Posted November 12, 2013 Share #3 Posted November 12, 2013 Welcome to the forum. You're excused for not knowing about the search function (box at top), but there's not much new under the sun here, even on these types of questions. Here is one of many prior discussions. And of course there's lots of related discussion on chrome bodies, as here. Jeff Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tobey bilek Posted November 12, 2013 Share #4 Posted November 12, 2013 Get black lenses and use either way. If you never want a black camera and like chrome lenses, buy chrome lenses. I have a few chromes I use on black because I already have the lenses from pre digital days and they are still current. I do not dislike it enough to trade them. Lastly not all lenses are available in chrome and if they are they weigh a fair amount more. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dblrifle Posted November 13, 2013 Share #5 Posted November 13, 2013 I'm sitting here trying to figure the importance of the question. I have come to the conclusion it is totally irrelevant to anything. While sitting here I have to consciously try to remember what my two black Leica m8's have as to color of lens. One has a Voigtlander 40mm 1.4 the other has a 21mm 4.0. I will now look at them as they are in the bag right next to me. I have now looked and the 21 is all black and the 40 is partially silver. Now that I know it STILL makes absolutely no difference. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rune Posted November 13, 2013 Author Share #6 Posted November 13, 2013 I'm sitting here trying to figure the importance of the question. I have come to the conclusion it is totally irrelevant to anything. While sitting here I have to consciously try to remember what my two black Leica m8's have as to color of lens. One has a Voigtlander 40mm 1.4 the other has a 21mm 4.0. I will now look at them as they are in the bag right next to me. I have now looked and the 21 is all black and the 40 is partially silver. Now that I know it STILL makes absolutely no difference. Well, I never said that the question was important, I was merely curious about other Leica users opinions about the matter... I wouldn't go as far as say that it "is totally irrelevant to anything" ... As an example, I believe many, including myself, would agree that chrome colour catch more attention that black ones, and that may not be good in many places or situations... I apologize if I have wasted your time with my "silly question", but it is after all voluntary to both read and chose to answer... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pgk Posted November 14, 2013 Share #7 Posted November 14, 2013 Advertisement (gone after registration) Sorry for posting a silly thread... Whilst I am happy to 'mix 'n match', at the moment I have an all black system. But given that photographers should be visually aware people who should appreciate visual aesthetics more than most, perhaps it isn't as silly a question as it might first seem. And perhaps the question should be rephrased to ask those who have preferences over black and chrome combinations, why;)? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted November 14, 2013 Share #8 Posted November 14, 2013 As an example, I believe many, including myself, would agree that chrome colour catch more attention that black ones, and that may not be good in many places or situations... Maybe if you're a magpie this is valid, but in most real life situations, it's more likely the human being holding the camera/lens that will draw the attention. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luigi bertolotti Posted November 14, 2013 Share #9 Posted November 14, 2013 Well, I never said that the question was important... ... apologize if I have wasted your time with my "silly question", but it is after all voluntary to both read and chose to answer... You haven' t wasted our time... and the forum is open to ANY question, so don't have a bad feeling on THIS Forum, which, believe me, is very rich, valuable, and full of nice guys... I hope you won't abandon us... And... as a STRONG lover of chrome bodies I can't give a definitive answer on your topic... my only Leica black body was the Leica CL (forcefully...) : its 40&90 (black) were the best esthetical fit... but I used to mount also a 28 Summaron (chr) and an Elmar 135 (chr, vulcanite base) and I liked the combinations... but a bulky chrome item like the Summarex 85 was a knock in the eye (apart the absurbity of using it on CL... focus was critical and the native 90mm frame partially obstructed by the hood... ) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
UliWer Posted November 14, 2013 Share #10 Posted November 14, 2013 The mixture always matches. The earliest Leica bodies were painted black and the typical lenses were nickel, not chorme. But some of the very early lenses with longer focal lengthes were black and staid so when all the bodies were in chrome. Though the classical bodies were never totally in chrome but always had a black cover, only the top and the bottom plate was chromed. Even chrome lenses usually had hoods - in black, but often those black hoods had chrome rims. There are only a few exceptions with chrome hoods - the Summarex and the early 90mm Summicrons being the most obvious examples. Nowadays there are some lenses with integrated hoods, so if the lens is in chrome the hood is chromed as well, but with some very rare exceptions of specially designed bodies the cameras all have their black and chrome mixture - if they aren't totally black or even a mixture between some olive bue-green and black like the recent M-E. So if you look at it, the mixtures are typical, and "pure" style is an exception. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
1joel1 Posted November 14, 2013 Share #11 Posted November 14, 2013 I buy chrome as often as possible, but have bought black if and when the timing and price were right. I think that the chrome gives a more classic look so my M7 and M8 are chrome. Joel Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cyril Jayant Posted November 18, 2013 Share #12 Posted November 18, 2013 Well, I never said that the question was important, I was merely curious about other Leica users opinions about the matter...I wouldn't go as far as say that it "is totally irrelevant to anything" ... As an example, I believe many, including myself, would agree that chrome colour catch more attention that black ones, and that may not be good in many places or situations... I apologize if I have wasted your time with my "silly question", but it is after all voluntary to both read and chose to answer... It is a not a silly question but a little senseless. I never thought when I use a back lens on my Crome camera and chrome lens on the chrome body and what it gives. Why not try it over the counter of a camera shop you find near by. I am going to have look at mine later. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
WestMichigan Posted November 23, 2013 Share #13 Posted November 23, 2013 Hi Rune, Your question IS welcome & appropriate. Knowledge is never gained as well operating in isolation as it is when interacting with other interesting people. I will share my experience in the matter & maybe it will prove interesting for you. I had long researched things prior to burchase & decided I wanted a silver M8, but purchased a Black one because my dealer offered me a good deal on it and it was a refurbished one. I soon came to discover that I liked how my black camera looked with chrome lenses on it, how black lenses looked on it, and how the chrome & leatherette tele's looked on it, too. In all honesty, I am now quite glad that circumstances led me to a black camera. I do ask that you remember that it is nearly meaningless what color your camera is when it comes to going out into the world to create or capture images so please be patient with anyone who may be impatient with your inquiry. I almost never before cared about how my lenses or cameras look as long they worked and the price was right for me to afford buying it. However, I feel quite differently when it has come to buying in the Leica world. I feel that since we pay premium prices for Leica cameras and lenses and accessories (even the used items), it puts our purchases into a somewhat different category. When paying extra for items that can be difficult to acquire or afford, one shouldn't feel bad in trying to maximize the enjoyment they get for their money by getting the color or appearance or condition they prefer in life. Anyway, I hope you enjoy whatever camera or lenses you do acquire. Sincerely Richard in Michigan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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