black or chrome?

[justins7]

Kurt,
I too am in NYC. Although I haven't been shooting much on the street lately, when I do I just wrap the strap around my hand and hold my M6 like brick. People never notice it.

I really wonder what a pontential thief would think of an old chrome camera, if it looks valuable. I think the flash of chrome directs attention.

As a joke I used to glue cheap brand name logos on my Leica, like RiteAid or RadioShack. It made me laugh, despite the lack of funnyness.

 

[Honu-Hugger]

Black Chrome

Black Chrome

"black chrome"??? Is there such thing? [sorry if it's a dumb question]

I just Googled "Leica Black Chrome" and this is what I found on KB Camera's site:

"Black Chrome - Called Black Chrome, but is really a black anodized finish. It was Leica's way to offer a black finsih camera with the professional look with a more durable finish. This finish will look good for a long time, much like the chrome version. When it 'brasses' it shows the silver colored zinc underneath. It does not brass very easily. Only black lenses look good on this finish. the standard black anodized lenses are a perfect match. This choice also makes for the lightest kit possible since Zinc is used for the top and bottom plates of the camera and aluminum is used on the lens barrels. Many people prefer this choice for these distinct advantages."

Maybe I just have weird taste, but I disagree with their "Only black lenses look good on this finish..." assertion -- I often like the contrast of silver lenses/black bodies and vice versa.

D2

 

[sfaust]

Re: Re: Black cameras

Re: Re: Black cameras

I have also noticed that my digital Olympus 2040 attracts little attention, perhaps because digicams are so common today

My very small Sony Cybershot DSC-P100 is absolutely the best street camera I have!! I only wish it had more speed than ISO 400, so its a day/early evening camera.

Its very small, fits in my front pants pocket, and no one even gives it a second thought. "Tourist" is what it yells loudly, and no seems to notice. When shooting with my SLR or RF, I notice people will try to get out of the picture if they happen to notice me. Some will shoot a look of bewilderment as to why I would want a shot of them.

With the Cybershot they never react in the same way and just continue to go about their business as if they didn't notice. Rarely do I need to shot that camera looking through the viewfinder, or by looking at the back LCD. Holding the camera around mid chest height, I can clearly see the framing in the LCD at that angle. So, it just appears that I am fiddling with the camera rather than actually taking a photo since its neither at my eye or held in front of me using the LCD in the traditional manner. Also in that position, its easier to hold such that my thumb is on the shutter release, and not the typical shutter finger, which enhances the illusion. And the shutter is totally silent! Makes a Leica seem very loud 🙂

 

[Russ]

BLACK! It's common knowledge that black bodies always make better & sharper images. ALWAYS !!!

I suppose that's why my Viv ES, is considerably sharper than the Canon GIII QL-17, and every bit as sahrp or sharper than the Oly RC......

Russ

 

[Oldprof]

Chrome cameras have better thermal properties, especially when one is working in sunny tropical conditions. Black cameras absorb more solar radiation. This can lead to heat buildup which may affect some films. On occasion, black cameras have been known to burst into flames. 😀

 

[kuvvy]

Following this black v chrome thread.

Has anyone tried to 'paint' their camera in order to disguise it? Is it possible to 'paint' one? Imagine a black Oly 35RC or RD. Would this be too tricky to acheive? Would the finish be good and what kind of paint? Maybe the sort used for touching up die-cast models etc. Or must we stick to using tape to cover those shiny bits?

As I write this it sounds a little daft to me but is it possible?

Paul

 

[Pherdinand]

"Black cameras absorb more solar radiation." Actually, as a sidenote, Canon's (and others) very big lenses are white not (only) for the distinct look, but for exactly the same heat-absorption concerns. Not that they would burst into flames🙂 but they get their special lens elements extend and mess up the performance; and the surface gets very hot if black, which makes handling harder for the photographer. And they are not too handy lenses from start.

As to anidozation, i see now, that's what "black chrome" is. It's indeed more durable than black paint; we use anodized aluminum components in our labs here instead of paint - it just seems impossible to see some wear on them, unless you file them or something🙂 And it's matte too, unlike most black painted surfaces.

Maybe that's why silver lenses "don't look good" on these cameras, Doug. Because they are not shiny black painted but matte rough surface.

 

[Pherdinand]

Kuvvy: i've seen once a website about (re)painting cameras. I guess you can google it. It demonstrated how one should do it: taking the camera apart, types of paint to use, painting methods, time to leave it dry etc. Nice website overall.

 

[sfaust]

I've seen a couple examples of cameras that were re-painted. It works well, and the finish looks factory done. But from what I understand, its a labor of love, since its somewhat time consuming and usually will degrade the camera value since its no longer original.

I have a Kiev that was painted, and it really looks great. I haven't had it long, so I can't comment on durability.

I think your idea for a Oly in black would be great. But then again, I'm the one that has somehow started collecting black 70's RFs.

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

does this make me shallow?

Let's not go there, Joe. :angel:

Black. Of course, chrome is classic. Black is cool and will go on either black or chrome (or olive or titanium) bodies.

Canon was wishy-washy with their black/chrome design.

 

[back alley]

talk about resurrecting a thread!!

 

[Germanica]

so, i'm reading a thread over at photo.net about choosing a black or chrome body (leica, of course) and being somewhat smug in my thinking.
i mean, really, what difference does it make?

but...then...i started to think about my canon ltm lenses and how some of them come in both chrome and black paint, about how the black paint ones look more like modern slr lenses than the chrome ones do.
and that i much prefer the chrome ones even if they are heavier.

does this make me shallow?

You are the same guy that re-leathered a Nikon rangefinder in bright red no ? .... in which case it surprises me you didn't add pink to the choices .....

 

[back alley]

pink isn't a real colour...

see what 3 years on this forum does to a guy!

 

[Mean Panda]

Old Thread, New thought

Old Thread, New thought

I used to only buy black M, and always thought black body looks more professional, draws less attention, and brasses beautifully. But since shooting with Leica for more than 5 years regularly, I realize that people could easily tell you have a Leica regardless black or chrome. So if not for professional look, I actually like chrome little more. Really like the clean and classic look of the chrome body. Here is a picture of my chrome M3 and Black chrome M4.