Maggie_O Posted August 25, 2007 Share #1 Posted August 25, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) So, I'm committed to an M8. The question now is black or silver? Silver has a slight advantage because the silver CV lenses I'm looking at are less expensive. Thoughts? Advice? General M8 advice? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted August 25, 2007 Posted August 25, 2007 Hi Maggie_O, Take a look here Black or silver?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
cwf Posted August 25, 2007 Share #2 Posted August 25, 2007 I have black and sometimes wish I silver. If I had silver, I'm sure I'd sometimes want black. If I ever go for a backup, I'm not even sure whether I'd want identical or fraternal twins. So you might want to flip a coin. Nothing says you have to follow the result of the flip. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Albert4321 Posted August 25, 2007 Share #3 Posted August 25, 2007 I just got a chrome M8 + chrome 50 lux and absolutely love the look. Very classic, especially with the Luigi Rally half case. I have 4 blk dSLRs and Blk Contax C645 with all blk lenses. No reason for me get another blk body, especially Leica RF. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest sirvine Posted August 25, 2007 Share #4 Posted August 25, 2007 Don't worry...I keep a silver CV15 on my black body and it looks great. It's what's inside that counts.... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveSee Posted August 25, 2007 Share #5 Posted August 25, 2007 I'd consider more how you plan to keep your digital-only images in order, and intact... yet on the looks of things, all lenses look good on a silver body, but you may be mistaken for a P&S shooter:D Choice is good! rgds, Dave Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
marknorton Posted August 25, 2007 Share #6 Posted August 25, 2007 I have both and the black is not especially hard wearing... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
XD7 Posted August 25, 2007 Share #7 Posted August 25, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) Congratulations on the decision to go ahead with the M8, Maggie. You move fast. Makes sense to have it for your trip to Europe. I look forward to seeing the shots. I'd go for black, however, the silver would not only sit nice with your CV lenses but also with your D-LUX 3. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
guy Posted August 25, 2007 Share #8 Posted August 25, 2007 Hi Maggie! I think they have slightly different advantages. I went for black because it's so unobtrusive. People hardly notice the camera, and if you put gaffer tape (to which I assume you have easy access) over the M8 logo and / or the Leica red dot, the whole device kind of vanishes and becomes invisible. That, to my mind, is the advantage of the black model; plus the fact that not all modern Leica lenses are available in silver. That said, the silver look is far more classic, and if you're not so much into reportage / unobtrusive photos and more into, eg, portraiture, then the silver would be fine, and look good into the bargain! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shootist Posted August 25, 2007 Share #9 Posted August 25, 2007 At present I have both black and silver M8. I originally bought a silver because at the time I got it that was the only one I could find and after I got it I thought I would really like to have a black. So when I had to send in my original silver M8 I desided to buy a second to have as a back up and at that time I could get either black or chrome/silver. I bought the black thinking I like it more. Now that I have both I take the silver with me much more often then I do the black. So buy a silver M8. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
carstenw Posted August 25, 2007 Share #10 Posted August 25, 2007 I prefer the silver as well. I get some old-camera comments, and people don't seem intimidated by it. The finish is also more durable, and black and silver lenses look fine on it. In fact, some silver lenses also look great on black cameras, if you are into that, but it is definitely different-looking. Pro cameras are almost all black, and I think that black pushes the M8 more into that direction, not necessarily a desirable condition. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
larry Posted August 25, 2007 Share #11 Posted August 25, 2007 Maggie, Get both. ;-) Although I ordered black, I wound up getting a silver M8 because my dealer had one on hand. My M7 is black and I've been able to compare the two for eight months now. Silver is the way to go. I think it looks better and I know it wears better. It's also amusing when people who notice the M8 express sympathy that I'm apparently unable to afford a new, modern camera. Larry Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest malland Posted August 25, 2007 Share #12 Posted August 25, 2007 Maggie, you're too good a photographer to worry about black or silver... But "Maggie-O" — it has a certain ring to it, doesn't it? — tell me it ain't so: you threw in the towel and plugged for an M8! How are you now going to get the "HP5 look"? ...And back to the important thing: it should be black. —Mitch/Potomac, MD Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
delander † Posted August 25, 2007 Share #13 Posted August 25, 2007 Maggie, I am lucky enough to have both. My first purchase was the black chrome version, which Leica sort of emphazises more in the advertising and is more of a fit with the modern black look. They are both beautiful but for me the silver chrome version is just stunning and does greater justice to the design. I have only black lenses. Most people think it is an old film camera. It would be interesting to know the ratio of bodies sold, black to silver. If I had to choose it would be the silver chrome no question, but it does not really matter. Enjoy the camera (and lenses) Jeff Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guy_mancuso Posted August 25, 2007 Share #14 Posted August 25, 2007 I have 2 black bodies and they are really nice looking but i also have put many many shots through them and they are starting to wear a little , slight scratches and marks. As a pro i don't care at all about that , my cameras are to be used a lot but silver will certainly show less wear in time. I think silver would look nice on a lady and actually match her jewerly. Not that anyone really cares but if i bought one for my wife it would be silver Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
xrogers Posted August 25, 2007 Share #15 Posted August 25, 2007 A slight preference in either direction is reason enough to go that direction. Enjoy your silver M8! --clyde Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisC Posted August 25, 2007 Share #16 Posted August 25, 2007 Maggie - In bright light, silver bodies can reflect sunlight like a flashing mirror. That's a lesson I learned 30 years ago and why some of us are adept at camera mummification with black coverings. So whilst the silver bodies are prettier for some; I never considered anything but a black body [and I too have covered the red dot and the Leica inscription and have even wound string around the strap near it's right hand lug to make the camera look crapier]. I know; I know....... sighs all around. ...........Chris By the way, for all aspiring mummifiers; consider black buckram. I'll say no more on the matter. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
girphoto Posted August 25, 2007 Share #17 Posted August 25, 2007 For the 40 plus years that I have been shooting, the argument has always been Silver or Black. As a working pro, I always go Black, because when you work a crowd, it is just not there (the camera around your neck or in your hand). If another photog looks over he/she will see the M8 no matter what color and rush right over and say "I love it, can I see it, Can I hold it, can I shoot it" etc, etc etc. Even working under the space shuttle, I had two astronauts (just back from space and shooting Nikon in space) and two photographers come over to see the M8. Now if you want to be SEEN with BLING! go Silver! I find that all of the non-black lenses are HEAVY! When you carry a few cameras arround all day (not just one camera and lense) you will find that buying the black lenses are a lot lighter. If you are worried what goes best with what (camera/lense) than you should wait for the a'lacart version. But all that said, You will love the M8 no matter what color you get and I have found that one of the best bargins in lenses are the CV 12mm and the CV 50mm NOKTON (both in black) . With what you save on the 50mm over the Leica 1.4, you can put towards a new camera body. Nice to have you on the Thread and look forward to seeing your images (from either the Silver or black camera). Good Luck & have FUN! Gary http://www.girphotos.com Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gwelland Posted August 25, 2007 Share #18 Posted August 25, 2007 Like others here I have both black and silver. Initially I only considered black because it looks fabulous and is somewhat more 'stealthy'. However, when I bought a second body I went with silver for a very simple reason - why not? Now that I've been using both for a while I have to confess that the silver body looks better, assumes a nice silver/grey patina in use and generally looks less like a digital camera than the black version. My black body, which I've had since January, has acquired some slight scratches that appear kind of light black on black - i.e. you can see them if you look closely but aren't down to the metal at all. I am beginning to see slight brassing on the edge of the top plate where my hand wraps around the top right side of the body. It seems like the silver is a little more durable from what I can tell. One other interesting aspect of the silver body (wrapped in a Luigi brown case) is that I've had several non-photographers comment on my 'old school' film rangefinder, which it does, and been surprised to find out that it was actually digital. Who knows, maybe that might make it look less valuable and save it from being stolen at some point? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maggie_O Posted August 25, 2007 Author Share #19 Posted August 25, 2007 Maggie, you're too good a photographer to worry about black or silver... But "Maggie-O" — it has a certain ring to it, doesn't it? — tell me it ain't so: you threw in the towel and plugged for an M8! How are you now going to get the "HP5 look"? ...And back to the important thing: it should be black. —Mitch/Potomac, MD Mitch Alland's latest photos slideshow on Flickr Thanks so much for the kind words, Mitch!! Coming from you, a photographer whose work I love and respect, it means all the more. Oh, I'll still be shooting lots with the D-Lux 3. As a matter of fact, I feel like I'm just now getting the hang of shooting B&W @ ISO 800 on it (both the RAW and in-camera JPEGs respond well to the "Agfa 200" AND the "HP5" channel mixer formula). The truth is, even though I don't miss shooting as staff for a newspaper, I do miss getting paid and the medium-format-ness of the M8 would be a big plus in making salable images, especially in the world of travel, food and advertising, not to mention 16x20" and up gallery prints. I love this D-Lux 3 ISO 800 shot of my chainrings, but a grainless color shot would be very welcome by stock photo agencies: So, an M8. Because I can't stand the feel of the new plastic DSLRs and anything bigger than my beloved and battered Nikon F3 HP (THE perfect SLR, in my opinion) is not an option. But one thing is for sure, for my own pleasure, my D-Lux 3 will always be in my purse or pocket, because you never know when you're going to get caught in a severe thunderstorm and a photograph will present itself: Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest sirvine Posted August 25, 2007 Share #20 Posted August 25, 2007 Or you could do as the spacemen do and go with white! 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! 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/31852-black-or-silver/?do=findComment&comment=337769'>More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.