M10 brasses quickly?

[Reciprocity]

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Hi,

 

I have had my M10 since late September, other than needing to adjust the vertical alignment upon receipt, no complaints really. I am finding it is brassing rather quickly at the strap areas though. On my M6 the plastic lugs prevent that from occurring but even with the leather guards on the supplied strap, the black finish is going quickly. I do wear it a lot bandoleer style when doing things so it is rarely in a bag.

 

It's certainly not the end of the world as this camera see a lot of pro use but is anyone seeing this on their black M10?

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Edited March 8, 2018 by Reciprocity

[fatihayoglu]

Have you tried using an eraser to brush it off? Few people have had this issue before and apparently rubber eraser works

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[UliWer]

Yes, in the region where the straps rub the body the black wears easily. When I saw the first traces I put two small patches of black adhesive tape on the the places. No worries anymore.

[pico]

I'm disappointed that the top does not appear to be brass.

[wattsy]

It is brass.

[Gobert]

Yes, in the region where the straps rub the body the black wears easily. When I saw the first traces I put two small patches of black adhesive tape on the the places. No worries anymore.

I did the same, but I used the soft half of Velcro.

[Reciprocity]

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Yes, in the region where the straps rub the body the black wears easily. When I saw the first traces I put two small patches of black adhesive tape on the the places. No worries anymore.

 

 

I tried that early on and it wore and fell off so I gave up. Like I said in the opening post it is not the end of the world, it will get well worn over the next few years for sure. 

 

I was just curious if others were seeing this and it seems that they are so all good I guess.

[UliWer]

I'm disappointed that the top does not appear to be brass.

Just wait for another year and your disappointment will wear off.

[fsprow]

My wife loaned me some clear nail polish which I use on the strap area in all cameras with metal bodies.  Works great.

[pico]

It is brass.

 

Thanks. So the exposes grey is primer or an over-brass coating?

.

[TomB_tx]

If they are indeed "black chrome" the black just rubs to expose the silver colored plating layer underneath - probably still silver chrome like the black chrome M6, etc. Most of the old back chrome bodies now show at least slight silver tints on the edges, which is NOT the zinc base metal.

[pico]

If they are indeed "black chrome" the black just rubs to expose the silver colored plating layer underneath - probably still silver chrome like the black chrome M6, etc. Most of the old back chrome bodies now show at least slight silver tints on the edges, which is NOT the zinc base metal.

 

So, is the top brass underneath that stuff or not?

.

[pgk]

So, is the top brass underneath that stuff or not?

.

 

From the Leica brochure: "body components machined from solid brass, a full-metal, magnesium alloy chassis" so looks like the top plate (a body component I assume) is brass.

[earleygallery]

So, is the top brass underneath that stuff or not?

.

 

Hi Pico, all black chrome bodies wear like that, to a silver/grey base. Severe wear on the M will eventually show the brass underneath, or you could take a file to it to make sure!

 

Black paint - the more 'glossy' black finish, quickly wears off to show the brass underneath.

[jdlaing]

Thanks. So the exposes grey is primer or an over-brass coating?

.

It’s a zinc base coat.

[wattsy]

Thanks. So the exposes grey is primer or an over-brass coating?

.

So, is the top brass underneath that stuff or not?

.

If you took a file to the M10 top plate you’d soon see plenty of yellow brass showing through.

Edited March 8, 2018 by wattsy

[pico]

Thank you everyone. I have only one black chrome Leica and it is not worn, the black enamel bodies all show brass with wear. What do you think Leica's rationale is for the zinc undercoat? I have to admit, possibly due to my ignorance, that their black chrome is just crap. I have glossy black 'chrome-like' motorcycle parts that show no wear after thirty years. A lot of the gloss or dull black finishes depends upon the polishing (or none) of the under-layer. Maybe Leica is lazy.

 

I wonder if Leica would ever dare to release a plain brass version with a protective coating.

Edited March 8, 2018 by pico

[pgk]

What do you think Leica's rationale is for the zinc undercoat?

 

Its probably nickel not zinc. From my reading I think that 'black chrome' is a mix of chromium and other metals and it is plated over nickel which in turn is plated over the original metal (brass). It looks as though the process has changed over the years (chromium is not a pleasant material in chemical forms) so its not clear if the process used by Leica today is the same as used in the past.

 

Personally I prefer black paint .....

Edited March 8, 2018 by pgk

[earleygallery]

 

 

I wonder if Leica would ever dare to release a plain brass version with a protective coating.

 

Gold plated yes, brass no!

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[NigelG]

I wonder if Leica would ever dare to release a plain brass version with a protective coating.

They did - well 50 anyway.....

 

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