Jump to content

Should i get a Black M8 or Silver M8 ??


yuweimichael

Recommended Posts

Hello Michael. Tough crowd tonight....!

When i was at Leica UK a short while ago, this particular query came up; the technician

ventured the opinion that Leica generally thought that the chrome finish was by far the most durable, providing it was the genuine leica product ie M6/ M7, R6/R7/8/9, and likewise with the lenses. The finish on the Digilux 2 was NOT very durable. Hence to your question; definitely the chrome version if you want the utmost durability. If you want to hide, then get the black one !

Link to post
Share on other sites

The black lenses have outer layers made of an aluminium alloy, which is then covered with black. Since you can't chrome this alloy, these same outer layers are made from brass in the chrome lenses, and this finish is more durable, but significantly heavier, due to the brass. This information is all available in the Leica literature, as well as some books written about Leicas, from Erwin Puts and Günter Osterloh, among others. I have not seen anywhere that there is nickel in the lenses, but I really don't know.

Link to post
Share on other sites

The black lenses have outer layers made of an aluminium alloy, which is then covered with black. Since you can't chrome this alloy, these same outer layers are made from brass in the chrome lenses, and this finish is more durable, but significantly heavier, due to the brass. This information is all available in the Leica literature, as well as some books written about Leicas, from Erwin Puts and Günter Osterloh, among others. I have not seen anywhere that there is nickel in the lenses, but I really don't know.

 

Carsten, thanks.

 

The LeicaFAQ on nemeng.com suggest that there is nickel in black bodies, but not in black lenses: Leica FAQ - Brass vs. Zinc top plates and Leica FAQ - The Great Dilema - chrome or black body?. Unfortunately, these sources do not refer to the M8.

 

Cheers, Frank

Link to post
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...