Black Chrome MP anyone?

k__43

k__43

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I'm on the hunt for a used black M6, maybe even a used M7 which would stretch my budget quite much.
What I do not like about M4-M7s is the rewind knob. I just prefer the one on my M2. Works better for me.
Also I find the old style advance lever more beautiful, the newer ones are ok too.
So since I want black, everything points towards a MP, but I do not like the shiny black paint really. Also I'm not a fan of the brass shining thru on the corners. I want black and not steam punk vintage.

Is anyone here that actually ever ordered a black chrome MP thru ALC?

(my dream would be one with M2/M3 style ergonomics, without engravings in black chrome .. only there is no way I'm putting 4.3k€ on the table for this)
 
If you got an M6, you could swap the advance lever for an older style one, but I think you're stuck with the rewind. I guess if it really means a lot to you, you could get a user MP and have it repainted.
 
thegman said:
If you got an M6, you could swap the advance lever for an older style one, but I think you're stuck with the rewind. I guess if it really means a lot to you, you could get a user MP and have it repainted.
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thanks! well this question is rather out of curiosity.

I'm certain I can't afford a MP no matter what finish. I'll rather buy a M6+preAsph 35 Lux. Or so.
 
Yeh, I gotta say that I like the black chrome finish too. I may be one of the few that likes the look of worn black chrome

I have a BP MP and it is a nice camera, but sometimes I feel like I need BP lenses to match! 😉
 
By coincidence I e-mailed Leica last week if they can do the conversion, and yes, you just send your MP camera to them and they get back to you with a price quote. I'm also one of the few people who's not a fan of black paint finishes. I got a used silver chrome MP and once I have the funds in 2-3 years I'll ask Leica to change it to a black chrome finish.

-David-
 
I have three black chrome MP bodies. I ordered two of them myself, a .58 and a .72 both with the M7 rewind and covering and no engravings. I got the third second hand through the classifieds some three years ago or so, a .72 with MP rewind, full engravings and vulcanite.

The .58 and the second hand one are really beginning to look like I like a black chrome camera to look, the .72 I ordered is only a year and a half old, but I shoot the dickens out of it so it will catch up soon. I'll admit to preferring the black chrome over any of the other finishes. My M7 has very worn chrome- it was my main camera for several years and looks it.

DavidKKHansen said:
By coincidence I e-mailed Leica last week if they can do the conversion, and yes, you just send your MP camera to them and they get back to you with a price quote.
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Where are you located? I've tried several times to have mods like this done to various cameras and been told it can't be done by Leica NJ. Just recently tried to get my M9 bodies redone in black chrome, now that the monochrome is like that. I think the home office is more open to this kind of thing.
 
(my dream would be one with M2/M3 style ergonomics, without engravings in black chrome .. only there is no way I'm putting 4.3k€ on the table for this)
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just a heads up on the topic

http://www.apertureuk.com/leica.html

]Leica MP 0.72 (A La Carte) Black Chrome, no Leica script on the plate #3009xxx Exc++ 2390£

I guess this is what you're looking for right, and slightly below 3K in eur...

I guess it won't last long... I'd call them immediately if you're interested
 
k__43 said:
I'm on the hunt for a used black M6, maybe even a used M7 which would stretch my budget quite much.
What I do not like about M4-M7s is the rewind knob. I just prefer the one on my M2. Works better for me.
Also I find the old style advance lever more beautiful, the newer ones are ok too.
So since I want black, everything points towards a MP, but I do not like the shiny black paint really. Also I'm not a fan of the brass shining thru on the corners. I want black and not steam punk vintage.

Is anyone here that actually ever ordered a black chrome MP thru ALC?

(my dream would be one with M2/M3 style ergonomics, without engravings in black chrome .. only there is no way I'm putting 4.3k€ on the table for this)
Click to expand...

Would it cost a lot and would it be technically feasable without too much hassle to take everything from a user M6 and install it inside the boby of an M3 then ?
I'm thinking this is only about the summed up price of each body plus the labor hmmm?
 
maitani said:
just a heads up on the topic

http://www.apertureuk.com/leica.html

]Leica MP 0.72 (A La Carte) Black Chrome, no Leica script on the plate #3009xxx Exc++ 2390£

I guess this is what you're looking for right, and slightly below 3K in eur...

I guess it won't last long... I'd call them immediately if you're interested
Click to expand...

thanks! great offer, lovely camera .. still too much for my wallet. this is also twice as much as cheapo M7s change owners around here.
 
k__43 said:
.....
Is anyone here that actually ever ordered a black chrome MP thru ALC?
.....
Click to expand...
I would never order a black chrome MP. It wouldn´t go with my black paint lenses 🙄

Seriously, I have seen several black chrome MPs in threads here. Have you looked through the "Let´s see your M" thread?
 
I ordered a black chrome MP ALC Several years ago and wouldn't trade it for two black paint versions. It has the .85x vf, black ostrich leather and my signature on the back. Actually my wife ordered it for me. I had and sold a chrome and red leather MP and retro LHS Hammertone kit. Sold the Hammertone and red leather after finishing a project and only have the black chrome MP and a 1960 M2 that I've had much of my career. Also bought a steel gray M9 this year but wish it was available in black chrome.

I had a couple of other black chrome cameras over the years and the black wears much faster than silver chrome. My M6 black chrome got so thin you could see the zinc casting through it.
 
sepiareverb said:
Where are you located? I've tried several times to have mods like this done to various cameras and been told it can't be done by Leica NJ. Just recently tried to get my M9 bodies redone in black chrome, now that the monochrome is like that. I think the home office is more open to this kind of thing.
Click to expand...

I'm currently in Berlin, so I contacted Leica HQ directly. They said I could either send the camera to Solms myself, or go through an official dealer in Berlin. They have all the parts in stock for a conversion, and the conversion would take around 3 weeks (but not in November and December, where they have more than the usual service requests).

If you're interested, drop Leica Germany an e-mail and perhaps send the camera in yourself?

-David-
 
Interesting, I never liked the black chrome; I much prefer paint or just silver chrome. The slight wear on my BP MP just appears to reveal the quality brass underneath, the wear on my old black chrome M8 just looked ugly. BP feels better to my hand as well.

But it's good that Leica offers options for most tastes.
 
k__43 said:
I'm on the hunt for a used black M6, maybe even a used M7 which would stretch my budget quite much.
What I do not like about M4-M7s is the rewind knob. I just prefer the one on my M2. Works better for me.
Also I find the old style advance lever more beautiful, the newer ones are ok too.
So since I want black, everything points towards a MP, but I do not like the shiny black paint really. Also I'm not a fan of the brass shining thru on the corners. I want black and not steam punk vintage.

Is anyone here that actually ever ordered a black chrome MP thru ALC?

(my dream would be one with M2/M3 style ergonomics, without engravings in black chrome .. only there is no way I'm putting 4.3k€ on the table for this)
Click to expand...
You'd rather have a grey camera with silvery bits where it's worn, then? Have you ever seen heavily worn black chrome? I have a black chrome M4-P, and black paint MP and M9, all from new, and the ugliest wearing-in by far (in my opinion of course) is the M4-P. Silver wears in OK (I have an M2 and an M8) but I just prefer black.

EDIT: I'd agree with gdi about the feel of the finishes, too.

Cheers,

R.
 
DavidKKHansen said:
If you're interested, drop Leica Germany an e-mail and perhaps send the camera in yourself?

-David-
Click to expand...

I suppose I may give them a try after the first of the year...

Roger Hicks said:
I'd agree with gdi about the feel of the finishes, too.

Cheers,

R.
Click to expand...

Absolutely opposite here. The paint is much slipperier in my hand, especially once glove weather arrives. But in the end I'd much rather shoot with a slippery M than a DSLR! 🙂
 
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