bcaslis Posted March 22 Share #1 Posted March 22 Advertisement (gone after registration) A question for any M11 GBP owners, how easy is yours scratching? I got one two days ago and there is a faint hairline scratch on the bottom (I have been obsessively careful with it) and I put on the Visoflex 2 today and it left a faint scratch just carefully putting it on and off. I have had an M11 for two years and was not this careful with it and it and it looks brand new. Is this to be expected? I know it's supposed to wear over time but this seems unacceptably soft. Any experiences to share? 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted March 22 Posted March 22 Hi bcaslis, Take a look here Scratching Question for M11 Glossy Black Paint Owners. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
JNK100 Posted March 22 Share #2 Posted March 22 I am afraid this is to be expected for this finish. The paint will wear through to produce a nice effect where this happens. The std. M11 is adonised so the finish is much more robust. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted March 22 Share #3 Posted March 22 Black paint Leicas are supposed to wear with use - and fairly quickly. Congratulations, you made a start with creating a lovely brassed camera. 6 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jakontil Posted March 22 Share #4 Posted March 22 Yup same thing here, a hairline scratch at the bottom… i even feel this is much easier than my 3yo M10 r bp.. though im certain they r the same.. lol 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derbyshire Man Posted March 22 Share #5 Posted March 22 10 hours ago, bcaslis said: A question for any M11 GBP owners, how easy is yours scratching? I got one two days ago and there is a faint hairline scratch on the bottom (I have been obsessively careful with it) and I put on the Visoflex 2 today and it left a faint scratch just carefully putting it on and off. I have had an M11 for two years and was not this careful with it and it and it looks brand new. Is this to be expected? I know it's supposed to wear over time but this seems unacceptably soft. Any experiences to share? You are describing the whole point of it! 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bcaslis Posted March 22 Author Share #6 Posted March 22 Thanks for all the replies. I understand the concept in brassing, but should it be expected that simply putting on a visoflex 2 will scratch it? This seems excessive. Anyone else seen this happen? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pedaes Posted March 22 Share #7 Posted March 22 Advertisement (gone after registration) 7 minutes ago, bcaslis said: simply putting on a visoflex 2 will scratch it? I raised this in another thread and got the usual 'mines fine' when of course it isn't. The clearance under the Visoflex seems unnecessarily tight. I am thinking of getting the Dremel out and grinding off the 'nibs' on the bottom and putting on some surface friendly slippy helicopter tape. Might even increase the value rather than diminish it😀 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jakontil Posted March 23 Share #8 Posted March 23 (edited) I use my camera extensively but take good care of it, i have used M almost my entire life.. the silver chrome never give a scratch looks.. very robust coating, the old black chrome is less so.. and i think the black paint is the least i think i got mine from just taking in and out of my camera inserts rubbing against the nylon materials but then, my m10r bp with the same habit, give or take, didn’t have such behaviour Edited March 23 by jakontil Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hdmesa Posted March 23 Share #9 Posted March 23 On 3/21/2025 at 8:31 PM, bcaslis said: A question for any M11 GBP owners, how easy is yours scratching? I got one two days ago and there is a faint hairline scratch on the bottom (I have been obsessively careful with it) and I put on the Visoflex 2 today and it left a faint scratch just carefully putting it on and off. I have had an M11 for two years and was not this careful with it and it and it looks brand new. Is this to be expected? I know it's supposed to wear over time but this seems unacceptably soft. Any experiences to share? The Visoflex 2 quickly wore off the paint from the edges and rear of the flash rails on my regular black M11. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bcaslis Posted March 23 Author Share #10 Posted March 23 1 hour ago, hdmesa said: The Visoflex 2 quickly wore off the paint from the edges and rear of the flash rails on my regular black M11. Yes, I have seen that. But in this case it left a scratch in the paint just from putting it on as carefully as I could just once. It was tough to get a picture of it but I finally managed. 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! 1 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/419963-scratching-question-for-m11-glossy-black-paint-owners/?do=findComment&comment=5776040'>More sharing options...
pedaes Posted March 23 Share #11 Posted March 23 36 minutes ago, bcaslis said: a picture of it I know how you feel with a new camera, but that edge will quickly brass naturally through use and look lovely, and you will not notice scratch then. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobW0 Posted March 23 Share #12 Posted March 23 2 hours ago, bcaslis said: Yes, I have seen that. But in this case it left a scratch in the paint just from putting it on as carefully as I could just once. It was tough to get a picture of it but I finally managed. 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! I am glad you put a red circle around it or I would not have seen it. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tseg Posted March 23 Share #13 Posted March 23 Feature, not a bug. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevejack Posted March 24 Share #14 Posted March 24 (edited) I'm the opposite and haven't tried to avoid any scratches. I'm not sliding it across a table or anything but it hangs at my hip and naturally bumps against things. There are lots of little scratches but nothing wearing through, other than a tiny bit on the ISO dial. This dial is pretty much all I ever touch when I'm out shooting so it's clicked in the 'up' position most of the time, and I think because of this the strap probably rubs against it. It's only showing minor brassing opposite the 64/200/400 settings, the other side is clean - as is the shutter dial. 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! Interestingly there's nothing on the corner of the camera body itself, so the ISO dial (when it's clicked up) must be shielding the camera from the pressure of the strap rubbing there. Edited March 24 by Stevejack 1 Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Interestingly there's nothing on the corner of the camera body itself, so the ISO dial (when it's clicked up) must be shielding the camera from the pressure of the strap rubbing there. ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/419963-scratching-question-for-m11-glossy-black-paint-owners/?do=findComment&comment=5776150'>More sharing options...
JNK100 Posted March 24 Share #15 Posted March 24 12 hours ago, Tseg said: Feature, not a bug. I agree. If scratch-aversion is an issue the std. M11 is the better buy. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dynaerik Posted March 24 Share #16 Posted March 24 Can't wait to have more wear off being visible on my M11 GBP. That is why I don't use any cover or protection. I want that brass look and enjoy every scratch because every scratch tells a story And yes: The paint is very soft. The complete opposite of the normal M11. Like the others mentioned: If you don't like the scratches or the brassing the standard M11 or M11-P is the better choice. Wait until the brass is visible and enjoy the use of this beauty 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimmyCheng Posted March 24 Share #17 Posted March 24 One thing I don't like Leica's current version of GBP is: it has to get really ugly before getting beautiful again. The elder more matte bp finish does not have this issue. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jakontil Posted March 25 Share #18 Posted March 25 On 3/24/2025 at 8:50 AM, Stevejack said: I'm the opposite and haven't tried to avoid any scratches. I'm not sliding it across a table or anything but it hangs at my hip and naturally bumps against things. There are lots of little scratches but nothing wearing through, other than a tiny bit on the ISO dial. This dial is pretty much all I ever touch when I'm out shooting so it's clicked in the 'up' position most of the time, and I think because of this the strap probably rubs against it. It's only showing minor brassing opposite the 64/200/400 settings, the other side is clean - as is the shutter dial. 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! Interestingly there's nothing on the corner of the camera body itself, so the ISO dial (when it's clicked up) must be shielding the camera from the pressure of the strap rubbing there. That edged brassing on dial is beautiful 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
anonymoose Posted March 25 Share #19 Posted March 25 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wabi-sabi 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevejack Posted March 25 Share #20 Posted March 25 (edited) 5 hours ago, jakontil said: That edged brassing on dial is beautiful I'm 99% sure this wear has happened because of how I wear it slung across my body. I have the strap on my left shoulder, and the camera on my right hip. The plastic lug of the strap rubs exactly on that ISO dial and especially when the dial is clicked up. I also tend to rest my hand on the top of the camera as I walk so I might actually be putting extra pressure right in that spot. It's just interesting that I haven't seen the same iso dial wear on any of my other M cameras (black chrome + std black paint) using the exact same strap, as I've used those cameras for a lot longer - but I would probably point to the knurled dial being the culprit here, at least as much as the softer gloss paint. The sharp spikes on the knurling don't give a lot of surface area to resist abrasion from the hard plastic strap lugs. Edit: pic of the culprit. Yes I'm in Australia but no I don't know why the picture is upside down. It's not upside down in my album. sorry. 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! Edited March 25 by Stevejack 1 1 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/419963-scratching-question-for-m11-glossy-black-paint-owners/?do=findComment&comment=5776679'>More sharing options...
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