Leica SL paint peel off easily ?

[Ashkanani1985]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Hi 

 

I wanted to ask the owners of Leica SL how is the pain on your camera is holding up ?

I found a lot of reviews about the camera that paint is very easily peel off with the Leica SL and even every Leica Store that I visited trying the SL I found the camera with a lot of aluminum marks here and there......

 

so anybody having same issue?

 

did anybody try sending the camera for service and repainting the body ?

 

 

[Advertisement]

The Leica Q3 is available for pre-order at B&H Photo Video and Adorama

[bherman01545]

I do not believe that the SL is not 'painted', it is black anodized. It is more resistant to wear than the painted bodies such as the Q or 'some' or the "M-Series" camera bodies. With that said, on the older M bodies, the top and bottom plates were made of brass, so when the paint wore off, it showed a brass-colored patina, which many seem to like - i.e. it shows 'character'. The more recent Leica bodies have an aluminum top plate, so when the black paint or anodized finish wears, it shows a dull silver color underneath.

 

My SL still looks new, but I don't use it daily. I have heard from others who use their SL daily that it wears very well, and only shows the slightest wear or patina around the knobs or perhaps on the edges over 1-2 years' time. If you are that concerned, you can buy a nice half case, like the Arte Di Mano or Luigi, which will protect 2/3-3/4 of the body from wear. Many would argue that the equivalent Nikon or Canon bodies hold up a bit better with regard to wear, but plastic probably shows less wear than a painted or anodized chunk of metal. I wouldn't even consider re-painting an SL due to wear.

 

I think that anyone who is reasonably careful would be pleased with the wear and inherent durability of any Leica product

 

-Brad

[Bill W]

I have had mine a year and it still looks new. Anodize aluminum wears very well. It is a very hard surface and one would need to use something very sharp to scratch it. 

[LD_50]

Top dial shows wear on mine. A few of the sharp top edges are dinged up from frequent use. RRS plate protects the bottom.

 

None of it has been a problem.

[John Z. Goriup]

I really wouldn't pay a great deal of attention to 'a lot of reviews about the camera that the paint peels off very easily ' for several reasons.

 

First, it ain't paint - it's anodized.

 

Second, how much credibility are you willing to give  any reviewer when he ( they ) aren't even aware nor have bothered to inform themselves of just what the problem might be with the camera they're ostensibly 'reviewing' and that anodizing can only wear off, not peel because it's not an applied surface film like paint.

 

Thirdly, if you've seen dinged up SLs at various Leica stores with your own eyes you can be pretty damned ceratin they're used and most likely abused units, owned by people who appearantly did not care, and that, of course, raises the question of just how sound is the rest of those cameras and lens(es).

 

Here a shot of my two and a half year old SL ( purchased new ) with 9700 actuations and more trips by car, plane, train and on foot than I can recall and it has yet to show a single mark or signs of wear...............it's all in how one treats their belongings.

 

JZG.

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!

[arvin]

I really wouldn't pay a great deal of attention to 'a lot of reviews about the camera that the paint peels off very easily ' for several reasons.

 

First, it ain't paint - it's anodized.

 

Second, how much credibility are you willing to give any reviewer when he ( they ) aren't even aware nor have bothered to inform themselves of just what the problem might be with the camera they're ostensibly 'reviewing' and that anodizing can only wear off, not peel because it's not an applied surface film like paint.

 

Thirdly, if you've seen dinged up SLs at various Leica stores with your own eyes you can be pretty damned ceratin they're used and most likely abused units, owned by people who appearantly did not care, and that, of course, raises the question of just how sound is the rest of those cameras and lens(es).

 

Here a shot of my two and a half year old SL ( purchased new ) with 9700 actuations and more trips by car, plane, train and on foot than I can recall and it has yet to show a single mark or signs of wear...............it's all in how one treats their belongings.

 

JZG.

I noticed you have the thumbs up for SL. How are you finding it with the 24-90 lens? Does it make it easier to hold? Where did you buy it from? Thanks

 

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[harryzet]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

its a lenny kravitz-feature

[geetee1972]

 

anodizing can only wear off, not peel because it's not an applied surface film like paint.

 

[pedant mode]

 

Well technically it is an applied surface film and as with paint it can wear off as you highlight:

 

Anodize: Verb; to coat (a metal, especially aluminium) with a protective oxide layer by an electrolytic process in which the metal forms the anode.

 

[/pedant mode]

[jonoslack]

I've had my camera since they started shipping.

I have a few scratch marks on the sharp edges where it's biffed into things, and the top dial is rather charmingly greying.

Other than that it's fine.

[John Z. Goriup]

I noticed you have the thumbs up for SL. How are you finding it with the 24-90 lens? Does it make it easier to hold? Where did you buy it from? Thanks

 

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

 

Arvin,

 

I find the Thumbs-up indispensable on any and all the Leicas I own or have owned. Have used them since they were first introduced and have become totally dependent on them, since I find that it facilitates comfortable, secure camera handling significantly, regardeless of which lens is mounted. I've heard others say that the Thumbs-up impedes operating the joystick, but I can report I have not encountered  problems / difficulties in that respect, whether in landscape of portrait mode -but I think that aspect is a highly individual matter.

 

I strongly recommend the Thumbs-up, especially on the SL. I have purchased all of my Thump-Ups from Camera West in Walnut Creek, the local Leica Boutique.

 

Note: I see where a titanium Thumbs-up is available for the M series, and wish one were available for the SL.

 

JZG

[ramarren]

My SL was purchased on November 16, 2015 ... first one delivered in the area. I have used it extensively. It has not a mark on it, despite being tossed into and out of a half dozen bags, swapping lenses on and off it constantly, etc. A very solid camera. 

 

Thumbs-Up: They never fit my hand, I never held a film camera with a rewind lever that way anyway because my hands are larger than that; it always cramps my thumb. Fitting one to a camera that has such excellent shape and surface area to grip would be ridiculous for me, it would only get in the way.