Let's talk 'Modern Black Paint' lenses, accessories and analog cameras

[tobiasfjp]

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I've been a great fan of Leica's 'modern' black paint, by which I mean everything since the re-introduction of black paint with the millennium special editions. Until now, apart from the black paint Leicavit and MP, I believe everything black paint was Limited Edition (not going into digital bodies here). Everything was also black paint on brass as far as I'm aware (except for the "70th Anniversary Republic of Korea" lenses I believe, please correct me if I'm wrong). So the introduction of the 'Glossy Black' Noctilux is an interesting one. Not only is it the first unlimited black paint lens, it is also black paint on aluminum, in stead of brass. It will be very interesting to see where Leica go from here with their black paint items, but I think it's great that they are becoming more accessible, not just limited editions.

So currently you can buy a new MP with a new Leicavit (great move Leica!) and a new Noctilux, all in black paint (now called Glossy Black), albeit not all in brass. I personally really loved the brass black paint lenses, I hope we haven't seen the last of them with this new lens.

Another interesting item to me is the black paint rear lens cap (yes we're going deep down the black paint rabbit hole here). Leica made beautiful BP on brass front lens caps for most of their BP lenses (although the APO 90mm sadly came with a plastic cap) but most lenses came with the standard plastic rear caps. They did however make black paint rear caps for a few special editions (Lenny Kravitz, 70th Anniversary Republic of Korea). I managed to buy a few of these caps new to put on my lenses. The seller told me they came from a Leica employee. In either case, they are beautiful, heavy (brass) and very rare. I don't think they even have a regular product number, but it appears Leica did make some extra. Does anyone know more about these?

 

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Edited November 27, 2024 by tobiasfjp

[Sebastian S]

vor 15 Minuten schrieb tobiasfjp:

The seller told me they came from a Leica employee

That I believe to be an upsale lie.

Personally I don't like the idea at all to intentionally produce coatings that wear of with time just because it's the to go with hype. But that's just me, obiously people like it. Black chrome all the way for me! 

[tobiasfjp]

9 minutes ago, Sebastian S said:

That I believe to be an upsale lie.

Possibly, although this is a very reputable seller who is very close to Leica, so I thought it was a fun story to share.
Yes, I like black chrome too, but I'm hoping to keep the thread to those who like black paint Leica and want to share their knowledge. The fact that you don't personally like it doesn't contribute much.

[yorda@]

1 hour ago, Sebastian S said:

That I believe to be an upsale lie.

Personally I don't like the idea at all to intentionally produce coatings that wear of with time just because it's the to go with hype. But that's just me, obiously people like it. Black chrome all the way for me! 

Well… I’ve seen well used 50 summilux asph black chrome turn grey and well used 50 summilux black paint turn beautiful…

For me There is no match between the two finish

[tobiasfjp]

Yes I did Al! I'm not trying to compile a list here and I'm trying to keep it lenses, accessories and analog bodies only, like I said. To discuss things like the future of lenses with black paint on brass vs aluminium, or specific items like the brass BP lens caps. I don't think hijacking the M10-R thread would be the right way, so I started this new thread.

Edited November 27, 2024 by tobiasfjp

[hdmesa]

17 hours ago, Sebastian S said:

...Black chrome all the way for me! 

It's too bad they've stopped making anything in black chrome due to the environmental impact of the process. It's either some form of black paint or anodized from now on.

[Sebastian S]

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vor 4 Stunden schrieb hdmesa:

It's too bad they've stopped making anything in black chrome due to the environmental impact of the process. It's either some form of black paint or anodized from now on.

well, i'm just reacted to this thread because exactly this kept me from buying a new MP, which i wanted so bad. (not so bad that i would have accepted the offer to swap the top and bottom plate against one from an M-A for over 2000€ though)  didn't wanted to go offtopic, sorry @tobiasfjp 
but i'm all settled now, have a fully cla'd and blackened out M6 with mp view finder and a second body (chrome M4) for less then the offer and quite happy now. (for now? who knows, at some point maybe i will fall in love with a black painted body or lens and the gas starts all over again lol )

[tobiasfjp]

All good Sebastian and I fully agree that it is a shame the MP isn't available in Black Chrome. I'm looking at getting an M4 for that reason too.

Black Paint is a different beast though, it's hard to explain but there is something so utterly beautiful about it.

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[derleicaman]

I totally understand the appeal of a Black Paint M camera. I conceived and brought to fruition the LHSA Black Paint camera. It took 4 years to accomplish this with my good friend Stefan Daniel. Leica’s original response to my idea was, “Why do you want black paint, our black chrome is superior!” Well, I insisted on doing the black paint camera and it was an overwhelming success. This camera also brought the black dot, as I felt the red dot was just too much on the gloss black body. Little did we know that the black dot was reserved for the Micro Division.

I am still up in the air on the black paint 50/1.2. I love the finish, but would like to see it on brass. I had a discussion with Jono the other day about this. He loves his and likes the lighter weight and more affordable price. I also believe but am not sure that some of the 50 Summicron and Summiluxes, as well as the 8E 35 Summicron were done on mixed brass and alloy lens barrels.

Edited November 29, 2024 by derleicaman

[tobiasfjp]

I'm very grateful for your work, they became some of the most beautiful camera's in Leica's history in my opinion.
I'm hoping to try the new 50/1.2 this weekend. I do agree that for a lens of that size the weight benefit could be good, and it's certainly a good thing that it's made more affordable and accessible. Perhaps brass will be reserved for special edition lenses from now on. I don't see the Summaron-M 28/5.6 on Leica's website anymore. If that means that its discontinued then ALL current production lenses are aluminum.
I would assume the new Leicavit is still black paint on brass, or has that shifted to aluminum too?

Edited November 29, 2024 by tobiasfjp

[tobiasfjp]

22 minutes ago, Al Brown said:

Are all of you that are scared of hair thin scratches collecting or intending to use the camera? I can understand collecting without marks (that overused term "Collectors condition" comes to mind, still nobody really knows what it means), but buying buying a black paint camera for use and fearing even the tiniest scratch does not make any sense. (Speaking as a M10-R black paint owner).

I bought my Millennium M6 ICS purely as a user camera, I have little interest in keeping a camera entirely scratch free inside a box or glass cabinet (and it would be an especially daunting task with black paint 😅). But over the years the value increased dramatically and I have other camera's that I use too. So my set is now on display at the Leica Store in Amsterdam, until I pick it up again one day and use it again, or sell it.

Edited November 29, 2024 by tobiasfjp

[tobiasfjp]

I think black paint Leica's are the worst choice in the world for anyone fearing hair thin scratches 😂 or even camera's in general. I love a beautiful looking, top quality camera but to me it is a beautiful tool to take pictures with. Not a painting to hang on the wall behind glass, although you can use it to make one

[RMF]

8 hours ago, tobiasfjp said:

I'm very grateful for your work, they became some of the most beautiful camera's in Leica's history in my opinion.
I'm hoping to try the new 50/1.2 this weekend. I do agree that for a lens of that size the weight benefit could be good, and it's certainly a good thing that it's made more affordable and accessible. Perhaps brass will be reserved for special edition lenses from now on. I don't see the Summaron-M 28/5.6 on Leica's website anymore. If that means that its discontinued then ALL current production lenses are aluminum.
I would assume the new Leicavit is still black paint on brass, or has that shifted to aluminum too?

I see the brass Summaron 28/5.6 still available on their US site https://leicacamerausa.com/leica-summaron-m-28mm-f-5-6-silver-chrome.html

[hdmesa]

On 11/28/2024 at 4:59 PM, derleicaman said:

...I am still up in the air on the black paint 50/1.2. I love the finish, but would like to see it on brass. I had a discussion with Jono the other day about this. He loves his and likes the lighter weight and more affordable price...

I think I just died a little inside reading that 😭

I have to translate that for my poor brain to understand:

A brass version would be even less affordable.

[tobiasfjp]

True, it's all very relative...

 

Re: the black paint lens caps... They really are the icing on the black paint cake!

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