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Black vs. Silver lens


MEB

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Over the years I have owned at least a dozen M lenses but I have never owned or used a silver colored one.  I know the optical performance is the same between the two but my question is whether there is a physical/mechanical difference between the two.  I see that the silver colored ones are heavier and I understand that the base metal is brass.  Do they feel or behave (physically) different?

 

Thank you,

Mark

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Apart from being a heavier carry, not really.

 

Years ago I traded a black anodized 35mm f2 Summicron ASPH for a chrome version and the chrome version was a beast compared to the black model.

 

It was enough of an experience that I stick with the black anodized models today.

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I think the only current brass/chrome lenses are the 50mm Summilux and the 28mm Summaron.

 

 

The weird thing about the 28 Summaron is that if you take it off the camera and hold it in your hand it feels like it's made from depleted uranium. However, if you put it on the camera it doesn't seem to weigh anything at all. :wacko:

 

This brass fetish is also odd. I'm also a sucker for brass bits on a Leica (the horror of a zinc or aluminium top plate!) but if you go and buy a box of brass screws from B&Q you quickly realise that the material is as cheap as chips. 

Edited by wattsy
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The weird thing about the 28 Summaron is that if you take it off the camera and hold it in your hand it feels like it's made from depleted uranium. However, if you put it on the camera it doesn't seem to weigh anything at all. :wacko:

 

This brass fetish is also odd. I'm also a sucker for brass bits on a Leica (the horror of a zinc or aluminium top plate!) but if you go and buy a box of brass screws from B&Q you quickly realise that the material is as cheap as chips. 

 

Summaron-M 28mm is indeed very dense and "too small when off M body".

The clip on metal chrome cap may be tricky: it can uncap easily :huh: .

One time, at my surprise, the lens almost fell because I happended to hold the cap only when I thought holding aperture ring.

 

Now I manage to hold the whole lens :p .

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I think the only current brass/chrome lenses are the 50mm Summilux and the 28mm Summaron. Both definitely made by Leica!

And the Summicron 35 asph ? (surely my "old" one... maybe the current one no more ?)

 

(btw.. around 40% of the brass in Europe "passes" through my town... so that I like its usage...)

Edited by luigi bertolotti
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