john_newell Posted September 11, 2009 Share #1 Posted September 11, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) Odd? Especially given the comments about paint wear on the M8.2? I would have thought that at least one of the two would be available in a chrome finish. Guesses at why - expense? environmental issues with plating chemicals, etc.? something else entirely? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted September 11, 2009 Posted September 11, 2009 Hi john_newell, Take a look here M9 - Paint Only, No Chrome.... I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
markgay Posted September 11, 2009 Share #2 Posted September 11, 2009 I'm pretty convinced its cost. It wouldn't take much imagination to forsee the uproar there would have been if the M9 had reflected the cost of the bigger, more advanced sensor specially designed for it. It seems chrome was a victim of price pressures, along with the shot counter on the top, and the glass LCD cover added only last year. I expect we'll discover a number of other cost savings under the hood with time. But these were all nice-to-haves. Leica delivered the guts, at the right price. Mark Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted September 11, 2009 Share #3 Posted September 11, 2009 ...Leica delivered the guts, at the right price... OK but Leica means quality first of all. Bad move from them IMHO. Those paints will wear off way faster than the good old black & silver chrome of our film Ms & Rs. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Ash Posted September 11, 2009 Share #4 Posted September 11, 2009 Depending on the commercial success they might offer other finishes. Regards Steve Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
adan Posted September 11, 2009 Share #5 Posted September 11, 2009 1) I did notice that the black paint on the M9 is less glossy than on the M8.2, or previous "black-paint" Leicas. More like black chrome in appearance. 2) Anything Leica does in favor of picture-making at the expense of fondling is OK with me. The Hermes era is over - Thank (insert preferred Deity's name here)! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted September 11, 2009 Share #6 Posted September 11, 2009 This way a EUR 5,500 camera will look more beaten in 2 years use than any cheap plastic DSLR. No problem if you don't plan to sell it of course. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
erg Posted September 11, 2009 Share #7 Posted September 11, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) I was very disappointed to see that my M9 has black painting and a plastic cover on the screen. My black chrome M8 is really indestructible ! I have some dents on my M8 but absolutely no wear off. I'm pretty much attached to my M8, but I'll sell my M9 as soon Leica offers a black chrome version. Again, Leica's move to decrease the quality of the M body was a really bad move and cannot be justified in a camera of this price category. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
georg Posted September 11, 2009 Share #8 Posted September 11, 2009 Removing the LCD from the top was a design decision, they wanted a "cleaner" look and needed a better visualization of battery power anyway. The sappire glass adds several hundred € production costs and would have increased the price beyond 6k€, I'm not sure if people would have been so happy about that... But it would be nice to have the choice! I don't know what actually caused the decision to switch to paint, but it's entirely different and more durable than the piano-gloss paint from the M8.2. Both, the chrome and paint in this quality aren't cheap. The HSC-machining of the top-plate alone is unique and makes the surface price negligible in comparison. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ulrikft Posted September 11, 2009 Share #9 Posted September 11, 2009 I was very disappointed to see that my M9 has black painting and a plastic cover on the screen. My black chrome M8 is really indestructible ! I have some dents on my M8 but absolutely no wear off. I'm pretty much attached to my M8, but I'll sell my M9 as soon Leica offers a black chrome version. Again, Leica's move to decrease the quality of the M body was a really bad move and cannot be justified in a camera of this price category. Let me know when you have a M9 with paint dings for sale for 2500-3000 Euro Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tadeyev Posted September 11, 2009 Share #10 Posted September 11, 2009 I was very disappointed to see that my M9 has black painting and a plastic cover on the screen. Again, Leica's move to decrease the quality of the M body was a really bad move and cannot be justified in a camera of this price category. The representative at Solms mentioned that the paint (both versions) also has a transparent clear finish over it as well. So I don't think this is the same as the 'black paint' of some M versions that wore off super fast. He said that with normal care, there should be no real problems with either finish. In the end I don't care; but until I can fixate on pictures with an M9 in my hand I guess the only thing I can be concerned about is 'when' and 'what color' :-) ! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
marknorton Posted September 11, 2009 Share #11 Posted September 11, 2009 I think it's a fundamental mistake to have removed the indications of remaining battery power and card capacity from an at-a-glance display. Having to press any button to check is, as I have said elsewhere, like driving a car with the fuel gauge in the trunk - a conscious action is required to find out. My Nikons tell me both at a glance and there's an extra display which tells me about battery life, not just battery charge. Forget design considerations, the neat S2 top panel display should have been included. Removing the poor quality M8 display will have saved a miniscule amount of money. [Just in case you think I'm a Nikon fan boy, I've bought 6 Leica lenses this year, including the Big Three, upgraded two M8s, SF-58 and now an M9 so Leica get my opinion on this stuff whether they like it or not - they don't like my tell-it-as-I-see-it approach but that's the way it is.] I deplore the removal of the sapphire glass - and the amount us early adopters will be made to pay for it as an eventual upgrade - by accountants who insisted on building the M9 down to a price. There's a couple of persistent moaners here about price but it should have been possible to buy the sapphire glass and a more durable finish to protect the investment. The idea that an M camera somehow has character when it looks like it has been to Hell and back is just nonsense. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ccc yyy Posted September 11, 2009 Share #12 Posted September 11, 2009 I think it's a fundamental mistake to have removed the indications of remaining battery power and card capacity from an at-a-glance display. +1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Ash Posted September 11, 2009 Share #13 Posted September 11, 2009 Mark, when do you to start to investigate if it is possible to swap the LCD from M8.2 to M9? Regards Steve Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
erg Posted September 12, 2009 Share #14 Posted September 12, 2009 I think it's a fundamental mistake to have removed the indications of remaining battery power and card capacity from an at-a-glance display. Having to press any button to check is, as I have said elsewhere, like driving a car with the fuel gauge in the trunk - a conscious action is required to find out. My Nikons tell me both at a glance and there's an extra display which tells me about battery life, not just battery charge. Forget design considerations, the neat S2 top panel display should have been included. Removing the poor quality M8 display will have saved a miniscule amount of money. [Just in case you think I'm a Nikon fan boy, I've bought 6 Leica lenses this year, including the Big Three, upgraded two M8s, SF-58 and now an M9 so Leica get my opinion on this stuff whether they like it or not - they don't like my tell-it-as-I-see-it approach but that's the way it is.] I deplore the removal of the sapphire glass - and the amount us early adopters will be made to pay for it as an eventual upgrade - by accountants who insisted on building the M9 down to a price. There's a couple of persistent moaners here about price but it should have been possible to buy the sapphire glass and a more durable finish to protect the investment. The idea that an M camera somehow has character when it looks like it has been to Hell and back is just nonsense. I completely agree on your comment. Leica introduced one big innovation (FF) with the M9 but dropped three other features (unwearable black chrome, saphire glass and the small battery indicator). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
erg Posted September 12, 2009 Share #15 Posted September 12, 2009 I don't want to be misunderstood. I don't care about the look of the M9. My Leica M8 is an object of utility. I carry it around everyday, use it on travels and in my operating room. I don't want the camera to wear of when putting it loosely in a bag with other stuff or laying it on steel tables in the OR. The black chrome of the M8 was perfect for using it as a daily tool. We already know that the black painted M8.2 had some issues with splintering paint. I don't want to have a black painted piece of art for the showcase. I wan't a heavy duty tool that is covering fine optemechanics. I'd like to send a petition to Leica demanding an M9 with black chrome and saphire glass. Who is joining me ? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 12, 2009 Share #16 Posted September 12, 2009 I deplore the removal of the sapphire glass - and the amount us early adopters will be made to pay for it as an eventual upgrade - by accountants who insisted on building the M9 down to a price. There's a couple of persistent moaners here about price but it should have been possible to buy the sapphire glass and a more durable finish to protect the investment. The idea that an M camera somehow has character when it looks like it has been to Hell and back is just nonsense I agree completely Mark. Leica used to offer a very good Black Chrome and Silver Chrome finish on the M6.A £5000 camera should be offered with a better finish than paint. As for the sapphire glass I think its just an excuse for an expensive upgrade programne or the M9.2. Brian Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ceflynn Posted September 12, 2009 Share #17 Posted September 12, 2009 Maybe Leica is waiting for this new type of glass to be available in thin sheets: New type of glass resists small explosions - Innovation- msnbc.com Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
medved Posted September 12, 2009 Share #18 Posted September 12, 2009 Gosh, I thought that brassy black paint M4 and MP's were considered really sexy, at least my M4 is. If it shows brass though it will be very traditional, but I don't think that color is underneath. Who cares if it wears, it's just a camera. The point is the photograph and here's what a Leica lense can do when it sees infrared, too.. 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/96367-m9-paint-only-no-chrome/?do=findComment&comment=1031345'>More sharing options...
erg Posted September 12, 2009 Share #19 Posted September 12, 2009 Maybe Leica is waiting for this new type of glass to be available in thin sheets: New type of glass resists small explosions - Innovation- msnbc.com You're right. After the "white edition" Leica probably works on a "translucent edition". Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
marknorton Posted September 13, 2009 Share #20 Posted September 13, 2009 I've already emailed Stefan Daniel about the glass and lack of silver chrome which I have found to be the more hard wearing of the M8 finishes. There's a dealer in London, Richard Caplan, who used to have the pathetic slogan: "Where the Elite Meet and Greet". Yuck! This is what they say now: "The marks of usage only endear. The way you hold your particular Leica, the events which befall it, only serve to distinguish your Leica from any other." They are idiots, truly, and I will not deal with them, period. You can be completely certain that, come resale time, those "marks of usage" will count heavily against you. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.