Any experience 'disguising' your M8...

I'll buy black dots for my M7's, and a Hello Kitty dot for my M6, but I won't buy a tie for myself. I'd rather have the black dots. Like picking the color of your car, or your sofa. Skins for our Leicas. My ipod has a skin, why not the camera. It's an indulgence sure, but I've had much more dangerous indulgences.
I like the look better without the big red dot. If I can change it in a way that is easy why not?
 
I sympathize with the tapers; product brands and model names can be too blatant. Those who know what it is don't need to see the name, and those who don't don't need to know, and those who know the impressive name but don't recognize it without the label won't then be tempted to gush all over it.

A little discretion is good... similarly I wouldn't put a big FORD sticker on my rear window or windshield to make sure everyone is suitably impressed that I have a Ford. Nor do I buy "branded" clothing, such as a jacket with "Budweiser" or "Harley Davidson" embroidered on the back. They can pay for their own advertising without my having to pay for the clothing and then display in public for free.

Fortunately, my M2 is already sufficiently discreet. :)
 
Well, a thread like this always makes for fun conversation -- I think there are strong arguments for both sides of the point at hand, but I believe Doug said it best... Taping or blacking out a camera isn't effective at fooling other Leica owners, nor should it be. It keeps the 'label-conscious, Stuff magazine readers' at bay and makes a discrete camera even more so.

All that said, here is my newly christened Black M8 -- sporting it's new Luigi case -- thanks again Luigi, as another poster said, paid on monday in my hands two days later... wow... you are the man :)

Cheers,

Sasha
 

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i think it also matters where you live. In South Korea, where i live, there is a big boom in the film SLR/RF, vintage camera market. everybody with arms and legs practically has a film RF or an SLR wrapped around their neck. i guess too much digital advancment here makes them long for the good ol days of manual mechanics.

alot of these people may not know how an RF functions, but when they see that white M8 symbol, i hear chatter. everytime i'm in the subway (i always have my camera around my neck) i see or hear someone pointing towards the M8 sign, "look look, that's the M8". takes all the fun out of discreet...

i'm not really into the idea of taping over the symbols too. but if the M8 sign was black, i would guess some of the people would just blow my camera off as another RF (which there are a plenty of here). it wont fool leica geeks though, and thats fine. good conversations with leica geeks are always fun ;)
 
If i were to modify my M8, it would be to have the original Leica script put on the top plate. the only thing needed to make it a "Real" Leica. ;-)
 
I'm surprised nobody has mentioned one of the reasons for blanking out the logo's and text is to make the camera more discreet when shooting on the street. A taped over M8 can be a little bit more stealthy when raised to the eye compared to one with a red dot (easily identified from a distance since red is a 'danger' colour in the human psyche) and bold white on black letters. Alas a matt lens element or filter isn't possible but a black camera without logo's does seem to raise less interest from a distance.

As regards disguising the model - that doesn't work since anyone who knows what an M8 is will spot it a mile off anyways.
 
grduprey said:
If i were to modify my M8, it would be to have the original Leica script put on the top plate. the only thing needed to make it a "Real" Leica. ;-)
Click to expand...

If you really want the script engraved Leica can do it for you. Search the Leica User's Forum, someone there had it done for their M8. I think it cost €200 or something in that range.
 
How many of you would pay ~$5k for an M8 without the Leica logo and identifying marks? Would you pay extra for one without them?

Bob
 
I have the "stealth" M8 with black tape on the logo and M8.

Taking pictures at a school event the other day a woman took one look and asked me how I liked the digital Leica. Of course she talked about her M4 and Mamiya.

So far the only person who's been fooled is my wife. No so much by the black tape, but by my intercepting the bank statements every month.
 
GrahamWelland said:
I'm surprised nobody has mentioned one of the reasons for blanking out the logo's and text is to make the camera more discreet when shooting on the street. A taped over M8 can be a little bit more stealthy when raised to the eye compared to one with a red dot (easily identified from a distance since red is a 'danger' colour in the human psyche) and bold white on black letters. Alas a matt lens element or filter isn't possible but a black camera without logo's does seem to raise less interest from a distance.

As regards disguising the model - that doesn't work since anyone who knows what an M8 is will spot it a mile off anyways.
Click to expand...

I've never had much trouble shooting with my M2 Golden Dragon, so I suspect the stealthiness is more in the photog's mind than that it really is a factor in how people respond to your shooting.
 
Mine is disguised as a Canonet GIII

giii.jpg


I keed..carry on :p
 
Sasha,

Looks good! Do you just stick the new logo over the red one or do you need to remove the old logo?

JohnnyRangefinder said:
Well, a thread like this always makes for fun conversation -- I think there are strong arguments for both sides of the point at hand, but I believe Doug said it best... Taping or blacking out a camera isn't effective at fooling other Leica owners, nor should it be. It keeps the 'label-conscious, Stuff magazine readers' at bay and makes a discrete camera even more so.

All that said, here is my newly christened Black M8 -- sporting it's new Luigi case -- thanks again Luigi, as another poster said, paid on monday in my hands two days later... wow... you are the man :)

Cheers,

Sasha
Click to expand...
 
I was thinking of disguising my M8 then though better off it after as only certain people would realise what the camera actually is.
The Leica red dot is something to be proud of.
 
RML said:
I've never had much trouble shooting with my M2 Golden Dragon, so I suspect the stealthiness is more in the photog's mind than that it really is a factor in how people respond to your shooting.
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There are some things for which insurance isn't just a state of mind. Just be careful (and I say this with honest concern).
 
Black dot smash dot. Leather case smeather case. It is all an exercise in futility, not to mention a waste of money, and and ego trip. I am proud to hang my new M8 on my neck and forgetaboutit. An M8 is just another photographic tool. Just had to add another $.02.
 
RML said:
I've never had much trouble shooting with my M2 Golden Dragon, so I suspect the stealthiness is more in the photog's mind than that it really is a factor in how people respond to your shooting.
Click to expand...

I agree. If you honestly like the aesthetics of black on black that's one thing, but otherwise I don't see the point.

As far as attracting attention from thieves or other dangerous types, I'd venture to say that the population of thieves out there who would recognize and/or specifically target a Leica is miniscule, and that anyone else who is going to rob you is going to do so simply because you are there, and take whatever cameras you have on you whether they are valuable or not.

P.S. -- Johnny Rangefinder, is that a red Border Collie I see in your avatar?
 
Magenta shifted dog...

Magenta shifted dog...

MelanieC said:
... is that a red Border Collie I see in your avatar?
Click to expand...

Mel --

He's actually black polyester, but what with the magenta shift... just kidding.

Yes he is a red Border Collie. His name is Dunnegan :) You are in canine studies of some sort?

- Sasha
 
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