RockyIII Posted September 9, 2009 Share #1 Â Posted September 9, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) Please pardon me for asking what some here may view as dumb questions, but has anybody handled an M9 with the new steel-gray finish? Is it more matte or semigloss compared to the black? How is it for resisting fingerprints compared to the black? Any idea if it is more, less, or the same as black for durability? Â Rocky Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted September 9, 2009 Posted September 9, 2009 Hi RockyIII, Take a look here Steel-grey paint finish?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
efftee Posted September 9, 2009 Share #2 Â Posted September 9, 2009 That's a good question, imo. I ordered the black but on seeing the matched set with the X1 in Steel Gray, which I am also keen on getting, I'm having second thoughts. So yeah, I'm also interested to know how it handles. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
yanidel Posted September 9, 2009 Share #3 Â Posted September 9, 2009 That's a good question, imo. I ordered the black but on seeing the matched set with the X1 in Steel Gray, which I am also keen on getting, I'm having second thoughts. So yeah, I'm also interested to know how it handles. The one I handled was grey. I was going for the black one but changed my mind. It is simply beautiful. Much less flashy than the chrome one and I think a bit more classy than black only. Note that the grip is the same as the M8.1 while the Black version has the same as the M8.2 which is probably better in high temperatures when hands might get sweaty. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marty Posted September 9, 2009 Share #4 Â Posted September 9, 2009 Note that the grip is the same as the M8.1 while the Black version has the same as the M8.2 which is probably better in high temperatures when hands might get sweaty. This is definitely a dilemma for those who want a particular colour but a different covering. I love vulcanite but I also prefer grey instead of black... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RockyIII Posted September 9, 2009 Author Share #5 Â Posted September 9, 2009 I use a Leica camera protector (half case) on my M8.2 and will continue doing so with the M9, so I guess the cover material does not matter much if any. I am glad to see same half case fits the M8 and M9. Â Rocky Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
yanidel Posted September 9, 2009 Share #6 Â Posted September 9, 2009 This is definitely a dilemma for those who want a particular colour but a different covering. I love vulcanite but I also prefer grey instead of black... In the end, my dealer told me they could change the grip and put Vulcanite if I wanted so it convinced me to go for the grey one. I am not sure I will, my M8.1 has not been an issue so far and look wise I feel the vulcanite one has a bit of a crocodile shoes look Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
efftee Posted September 9, 2009 Share #7 Â Posted September 9, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) The one I handled was grey. I was going for the black one but changed my mind. It is simply beautiful. Much less flashy than the chrome one and I think a bit more classy than black only. Note that the grip is the same as the M8.1 while the Black version has the same as the M8.2 which is probably better in high temperatures when hands might get sweaty. Â On the note of flashy, I thought that the M9 in white against the black paint is louder than the black letters on gray steel. The vulcanite would definitely handle better and my thumbs up and eclypse would certainly be less conspicuous as well. Damn. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
markgay Posted September 9, 2009 Share #8  Posted September 9, 2009 This is exactly the question on my mind. I have the chrome M8.1 which has a timeless look against the later fashion for black. But grey?  Are we talking hammertone grey which was used on Leica's commemorative editions and used to be the norm for telescopes when I was a kid?  It makes me think of grey shoes, which cheaper producers make for guys who mistakenly try to coordinate their shoes with their suit in an overdose of conservatism.  And if it is intended to wear like the black paint, there's no brassy-black contrast. Darn, battleship grey goes with rust!  Any thoughts from owners or those with hands on experience?  I've ordered black with the option to change my befuddled mind  Mark Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
carstenw Posted September 9, 2009 Share #9 Â Posted September 9, 2009 Both grey and black colours are apparently the finishes from the R9 black and anthracite. These are baked in a high-temperature oven, and are not glossy like the black lacquer of the M8.2 or MP. The black is nearly indistinguishable from black chrome in look and feel. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
yanidel Posted September 9, 2009 Share #10  Posted September 9, 2009 This is exactly the question on my mind. I have the chrome M8.1 which has a timeless look against the later fashion for black. But grey? Are we talking hammertone grey which was used on Leica's commemorative editions and used to be the norm for telescopes when I was a kid?  It makes me think of grey shoes, which cheaper producers make for guys who mistakenly try to coordinate their shoes with their suit in an overdose of conservatism.  And if it is intended to wear like the black paint, there's no brassy-black contrast. Darn, battleship grey goes with rust!  Any thoughts from owners or those with hands on experience?  I've ordered black with the option to change my befuddled mind  Mark I would say Hugo Boss kind of grey .... Sober but classy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevelap Posted September 9, 2009 Share #11 Â Posted September 9, 2009 I'm expecting to go for black too, since it has the Vulcanite and my M8 was black. The grey (steel with a hint of titanium I think, rather than battleship:eek:) does look good in the publicity shots though, and there is always the recovering option. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
efftee Posted September 9, 2009 Share #12 Â Posted September 9, 2009 Both grey and black colours are apparently the finishes from the R9 black and anthracite. These are baked in a high-temperature oven, and are not glossy like the black lacquer of the M8.2 or MP. The black is nearly indistinguishable from black chrome in look and feel. Â So is black chrome or black paint then? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mnsato Posted September 9, 2009 Share #13 Â Posted September 9, 2009 Is the steel-grey finish chromium or lacquer? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
carstenw Posted September 9, 2009 Share #14  Posted September 9, 2009 Both finishes are paint, but the paint baking process makes these two finishes much more durable than the lacquer on an MP or M8.2. I guess this is another small cost saving which allowed Leica to release the M9 at just €500 more than the M8.2. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
efftee Posted September 9, 2009 Share #15  Posted September 9, 2009 Both finishes are paint, but the paint baking process makes these two finishes much more durable than the lacquer on an MP or M8.2. I guess this is another small cost saving which allowed Leica to release the M9 at just €500 more than the M8.2.  Why do I smell M9.2 or Safari/Desert/Arctic versions with different finishes, sapphire glass, etc, in the making? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shootist Posted September 9, 2009 Share #16 Â Posted September 9, 2009 The one I handled was grey. I was going for the black one but changed my mind. It is simply beautiful. Much less flashy than the chrome one and I think a bit more classy than black only. Note that the grip is the same as the M8.1 while the Black version has the same as the M8.2 which is probably better in high temperatures when hands might get sweaty. Â Â Why and how could Leica do this. The covering on the original M8 is just the worst ever thought of. Why on earth use 2 different coverings. Maybe they don't want to sell the grey version. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shootist Posted September 9, 2009 Share #17 Â Posted September 9, 2009 So is black chrome or black paint then? Â Sorry but can't you read, BLACK PAINT. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
yanidel Posted September 9, 2009 Share #18 Â Posted September 9, 2009 Why and how could Leica do this. The covering on the original M8 is just the worst ever thought of.Why on earth use 2 different coverings. Maybe they don't want to sell the grey version. I have no clue, but I am sur that the grey one I handled this afternoon had the M8.1 grip as we compared my M8.1 with it. My guess is that it is a question of look, the Vulcanite does not go too well with the grey maybe. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
swamiji Posted September 9, 2009 Share #19 Â Posted September 9, 2009 Why do I smell M9.2 or Safari/Desert/Arctic versions with different finishes, sapphire glass, etc, in the making? Â I hope I smell a la carte. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shootist Posted September 9, 2009 Share #20 Â Posted September 9, 2009 I have no clue, but I am sur that the grey one I handled this afternoon had the M8.1 grip as we compared my M8.1 with it. My guess is that it is a question of look, the Vulcanite does not go too well with the grey maybe. Â Yeah but the M8.2 chrome version uses the same covering as the black M8.2. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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