silver or black

[kiwidad]

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On 8/6/2024 at 5:23 PM, brickftl said:

I'm curious why people prefer a silver M11/M11P body over a black one, and vice versa.

I recently bough a mint used M11P that I absolutely love, even though in my heart of hearts I really wanted black for the lighter weight and more discrete appearance. But I bought the M11P because of its 12/234 build date (which knock on wood hasn't ever had a freeze problem, even before I updated to 2.1.2) and because the seller has a great rating on Fred Miranda (with whom I've since gotten friendly, really nice guy).

There's a side of me that would still like to look for a mint used black M11P, obviously paying at least $1000 more than I paid for the silver M11P, and then selling the silver M11P which I'm sure I'd have no problem doing. But then, I do like the aesthetic of the silver camera over the black camera, albeit that the silver camera is heavier and less discrete than black.

Okay, please feel free to slap some sense into my fool head 😵‍💫 

Back in the 70's and later black was the "professional" color in SLRs. Camera store I worked in embodied that idea! in reality unless you going somewhere stealth is needed it matters not. I went black for the lower weight not the look.

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[MikeW]

On 8/6/2024 at 6:02 PM, lct said:

i like when people ask me in a smile what is this old silver camera.

I often get that reaction, and it is, in fact, one of the reasons I bought silver chrome in the first place.

Patina possibilities over time was another, secondary reason. I expect this body to be in use a good long time.

[ldhrads]

I've done black for most of my Leica's, My M10-P is Safari, which I love.

I went with Silver Chrome for the M11-P because I preferred a brass body. Weight is not a big difference.

[chris7273]

Chrome was a better match with my grandfather’s lenses and my wife preferred the chrome 🙂 easy to choose  with the right arguments 🙂

 

[M8X2]

I'm a matte black guy basically everywhere but I ended up with a silver M11 because I knew the seller and that the camera was no lemon and treated well. It is not my preference but it doesn't really bother me either. The camera has some heft but I don't find it inconvenient even over longer periods of time.

However, I chose to buy my lenses in black only so that I am flexible with the next body and in case I might add a Monochrome. I prefer black lenses on silver bodies over silver lenses on black bodies.

[AnakChan]

Can't get M11 Silver anymore - the only way is to go M11P Silver. Not certain why Leica discontinued the M11 Silver (but kept the M11 Black, and offer the M11P Black/Sliver).

I chose since the M6TTL days 'cos back I already had an all-black EOS-3 (although champagne OM-4Ti). However since then my Leicas were always silver - M7, M9, M Typ240, and now M11. During t he M9->Typ240 transition though I did change my chrome to black lenses though. Kinda regret that now.

Edited August 10, 2024 by AnakChan

[JNK100]

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7 hours ago, AnakChan said:

Can't get M11 Silver anymore - the only way is to go M11P Silver. Not certain why Leica discontinued the M11 Silver (but kept the M11 Black, and offer the M11P Black/Sliver).

I chose since the M6TTL days 'cos back I already had an all-black EOS-3 (although champagne OM-4Ti). However since then my Leicas were always silver - M7, M9, M Typ240, and now M11. During t he M9->Typ240 transition though I did change my chrome to black lenses though. Kinda regret that now.

Both colours are shown on the Leica UK website.

[colint544]

The lighter weight of the M11 in black is similar to the weight of the M6 I had for many years. With the 35 Summaron 2.8 bolted on, it's a pleasure to carry all day. Perfect balance and handling. My M9M, by comparison, you do notice the extra weight of the brass caps.

Also, and it's a tiny thing really, but I think it just looks nicer. The red dot has always looked slightly jarring, to me, on the silver M camera, but just right on an all black one.

[Telemetric]

I like more the M11-P in black but a dealer made me a very good offer with a M11-P in silver so I bought it. 

I like more the black one? Yes

I like it more than a good discount? No, hehe

 

 

[Marley]

I Have a M11-silver and was thinking of trading it for the M11 glossy black paint. But can't accept the trade in loss just for the paint. Besides, my M11 silver is working

perfectly fine. I do agree that people notice you more with a silver camera than with a black one. 

[jpark114]

I like silver better, but then it kinda attracts more attention. Black lenses on silver looks better than silver on black imo.  And I like silver colored lens more than the black one.  I just dont like black annodized lens with wears showing silver bits.  
 

Solution?  I have both..

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[MaxGor]

My take on this dilemma is that silver has a more appealing look to me, but black is more practical.

Also, there is one unknown - how black will age, from what I understood, new material is being used now. 

So I went with silver.

[Lee S]

Plain old vanilla M11, then give me silver chrome and red dot.

M11-P with white script, give me the black 🙂

Edited January 24 by Lee S

[Gianfranco Piovano]

hi all, this is my first comment shared in this Forum.

I just re- entered inside Leica world, after many years with other camera brands (Nikon, Canon, Fuji). just left Canon R6 coming back to Leica (M11-P).

Main scope was to reduce weight and get more wide usage of Perpective Control that in M11 is resident in the camera and not limited to one lens (I did intensively used Niko 28PC and Laowa 20 zero D shift).   

because of budget I was looking for a 2nd hand Leica and "unfortunately" I found only a Chrome one by the shop where I gave back the Canon: about weight I lost the chance to save 110 grams but .... I like the final result: I am back with my M Leica.

In the past I had M4-P and Nikon with 28PC but as I was needing Perpective Control, and I was not having enough money, I had to reduce my systems to 1: Leica R with Nikon 28PC adaptd to R5: big mistake. R5 was an abosolute nightmare: at least once per year was @ Leica service for some problem.  Then I drop R5 for Nikon F5 and other lenses.  Then I chose Fuji for my conversion to digital (X-Pro2 was a Leica concept digitalyzed).  Then I left for CAnon because of double Horizon and tilt control + antishock.  but last winter holiday were heavy with 3 Kg on my shoulders (I am 62 and last year I had severe health issues).

Finally I am back with Leica. M11-P with Voigtlander Hyper Wide 10, Leica Super Elmar 21, Voigtlander 50 Apo Lanthar (Voigtlander for Budget reasons).

I'ts another world. No issues with RF. LV is ..... fantastic and simplify a lot the focusing. 

what to improve? well, I would appreciate the chance to mix PC and digital Zoom as available on Q3: asked to Leica ( I would ask all of you to agree on this request and ask to Leica as well).

Else? In perpective, considering the possible age problem, an internal shock control on the sensor would not be bad.

greeting to all. Gianfranco   

[PhotoCruiser]

I just bought a used SL2 in silver because i could not resist on the deal on this over the other two in black.
Honestly i don't mind if all black or black and silver and i like the old fashioned look of the silver upper part.

It reminds me of my Canon and Nikon film cameras i had.

Chris

[jaapv]

If age is a concern a SL2 or SL2S might be of interest. IBIS and easier viewfinder with variable diopter. And PC. 

[Deeetona]

On 8/7/2024 at 3:56 AM, THEME said:

To me, silver generally looks more like jewelry.

Black is less shiny and seems generally more inconspicuous. And I don't want to draw attention as a photog.

Silver M-P is probably the most "old camera like" look you can have.

Black with red dot is "this is an expensive camera pls rob me".

I dont think people really care, this is only what goes on in our heads as justification to buy another camera.

[Deeetona]

On 1/24/2025 at 9:26 PM, Lee S said:

Plain old vanilla M11, then give me silver chrome and red dot.

M11-P with white script, give me the black 🙂

Hm.....soooo right

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[Deeetona]

White script on a black Leica's top plate. Written by God himself!

[Deeetona]

On 8/7/2024 at 12:38 PM, IMAGEPOWER said:

I own a silver M11 and a black M11-P. As posted above, it is mainly a matter of taste, but let me add my observations:

The silver body heats up much less than the black body. I work a lot in hot environment, 30°C, and the silver M11 always feels "cool" whereas the black bodies (M11-P and M10-R black chrome) always tend to heat up.

The silver body appears vintage, old-fashioned, and thus invites people to contact you. Many think of it as a film camera. So if you intend it, conversations are much easier to start. Some people even want me to take a photo of them with my "old" camera. This is also the case on weddings and similar events. The black body is stealthier, as stated above. Not really professional as the 'P' might indicate, if I need to come over as professional photographer I stick to my Nikon Z9 and D6 with big lenses...

The black body actually feels lighter (meaning it not only weighs less but also transfers this reduced weight into a lighter feeling in reality) and more grippy due to the surface. But 100g weight saving is really nothing to write home about IMHO.

Last but not least if you are into camera design the color of your lenses might be an argument. I think that silver lenses more often look better on silver bodies but that's just another question of personal taste.

If I were you I would just stay with the silver version and perhaps if you are ready to add a second camera body you could choose a black one...

 

 

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Here I combined a black lens with a silver hood (actually to differentiate the SEM in my bag from the Summilux-M 35/1.4 with the same hood in black - too often I grabbed the wrong lens as they look so similar)

Let's christen this the "Reverse Takeover Panda Colour Scheme of Leica Cameras"