avatar230 Posted September 17, 2017 Share #1 Posted September 17, 2017 Advertisement (gone after registration) I thought I saw somewhere recently that following the M4 or M5, Leica altered their silver chrome process, and the "newer" (M4-2 and onward) bodies are a slightly different shade than the older ones, but now for the life of me, I can't seem to find the article or post where I read this. Can anyone confirm (or am I making things up)? And if I'm not, if anyone out there happens to have a silver chrome M3/M2/M4 as well as a silver chrome M6/M7/MP/M-A and could post a side-by-side snapshot to illustrate the difference, I'd very curious to see! Thanks, all. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted September 17, 2017 Posted September 17, 2017 Hi avatar230, Take a look here The color of silver. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
lincoln_m Posted September 17, 2017 Share #2 Posted September 17, 2017 I can try and do a chrom M2 v MP. I'd have to remember to do it outside in the morning as it's dark when I get home these days and I don't have a flash for my SonyA7 that'll be taking the photo. The MP has a more satin finish than the M2 some 40 years earlier. There are many pics in the I love my ... threads, sometimes the owners post there camera collection in a single photo. The M6TTL and maybe the M6 had a zinc top so they were not chrome plated as the other models have brass tops for chrome plating. The MP seems to show water marks more easily then M2 but the M2 shows fingerprints more easily well only slightly more, it's very subtle. Lincoln 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
avatar230 Posted September 18, 2017 Author Share #3 Posted September 18, 2017 (edited) The M6TTL and maybe the M6 had a zinc top so they were not chrome plated as the other models have brass tops for chrome plating. Lincoln, thanks so much for the response. It slipped my mind when I was researching this that the M6 & M7 bodies have zinc top plates, and would thus be a third subtle variation altogether. I'm most interested in checking out the differences between the original brass body cameras (M3/M2/M4) and the current brass revivals (MP/M-A). If you have an opportunity to take a photo of your two, would love that! I found this photo of an M2 next to an M-A in a different review. It looks like your description of the newer cameras being more "satin" is right on the money. Edited September 18, 2017 by avatar230 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lincoln_m Posted September 19, 2017 Share #4 Posted September 19, 2017 Some bad iPhone snaps which only show the colours change more with lighting than they do between M2 and MP. The M2 is obviously 40 years older than the MP and so is slightly more worn. 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! 1 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/276949-the-color-of-silver/?do=findComment&comment=3361973'>More sharing options...
lincoln_m Posted September 19, 2017 Share #5 Posted September 19, 2017 Side by side. 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! 2 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/276949-the-color-of-silver/?do=findComment&comment=3361974'>More sharing options...
pedaes Posted September 19, 2017 Share #6 Posted September 19, 2017 "I was researching this that the M6 & M7 bodies have zinc top plates" On a point of accuracy, I think the M7 has a brass top and bottom plate 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
avatar230 Posted September 19, 2017 Author Share #7 Posted September 19, 2017 Advertisement (gone after registration) On a point of accuracy, I think the M7 has a brass top and bottom plate You're totally right! I stand corrected. Lincoln, thanks so much for the photos of your pair! Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lincoln_m Posted September 19, 2017 Share #8 Posted September 19, 2017 M6TTL was zinc top plate, I had one. Slightly lighter weight than M7 that followed. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomB_tx Posted September 20, 2017 Share #9 Posted September 20, 2017 While the M6 did have a zinc top plate, it was chrome plated, either silver or black chrome per order. For zinc the process would be a copper plate, then nickel plate, followed by chrome. However, the appearance, sheen, and color of the chrome is largely a matter of the surface preparation before any of the plating starts, and the zinc prep would certainly be different than brass. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NB23 Posted September 26, 2017 Share #10 Posted September 26, 2017 Bottom plates were always brass on all M cameras. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
IkarusJohn Posted September 26, 2017 Share #11 Posted September 26, 2017 Bottom plates were always brass on all M cameras. Is that aspiration, or a (mis)statement of fact? I don't think the M262 is brass - isn't it aluminium? Similarly, the M6 had a zinc top plate, didn't it? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
adan Posted September 26, 2017 Share #12 Posted September 26, 2017 (edited) ANYWAY - yes, the "old" silver cladding from before 1980 or thereabouts has a grittier, dustier, more pebbly texture. And the fine bumps produce some diffraction, so that each speck can flash in colors slightly, especially under direct sunlight. In this BIG image of an M3, you can see the faint texturing to the silver on the top and bottom plates, but also about 3 other silver "types" - brushed chrome on the center screwhead of the self-time lever; a "bright chrome" like automobile chrome on the dishes surrounding the shutter button and frame counter window (on top plate) and the screw on the rewind lever, and the lens release button/screw; and yet another "smooth" silver on the lens barrel. http://www.kenrockwell.com/leica/m3/D3S_7742-1200.jpg I really like the "old chrome" look - frankly, my 1967 silver Canon FX chrome looked "richer" and denser than today's Leicas. https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e4/Canon_FX_02.jpg But I'm sure there are a host of possible reasons for the change, from cost and materials, to unsafe chemicals eventually ruled out by workplace-safety or ecological concerns, to a simple preference for the smoother, slicker, more paint-like silver chrome of today. Maybe if I sand-blast my silver M10 slightly.... Edited September 26, 2017 by adan 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NB23 Posted September 26, 2017 Share #13 Posted September 26, 2017 (edited) Is that aspiration, or a (mis)statement of fact? I don't think the M262 is brass - isn't it aluminium? Similarly, the M6 had a zinc top plate, didn't it? Facf. Well this is the film forum so M262 really means nothing to me. And yes, while the M6 was Zinc, it had a brass bottom plate. All film M had brass bottom plates. --- Typos Edited September 26, 2017 by NB23 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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