Black or Chrome ?

[dee]

Faced with the choice , I opted for traditional chrome - as my head is stuck in the 50s , it did not make sense to spend a small fortune on a black camera , just like all the others out there .

However , in the past couple of weeks I have been able to observe the effect of a chrome Leica , and it's black twin ...

No , I have not bought a black M 8 , but a Leica Digilux 3 and Pansonic L 1 body .

These are considerably bigger and less dee'srete than my M 8 , but around Soho in London , it's quite evident that the chrome M 8 gets more attention than the L 1 - even with that enormous Leica zoom .

Despite it's size , I am virtually ignored with the L 1 , but the Leica disrupts those quiet snapshots - I thought that few would recognise a Leica and the red dot , but i don't think thats true - the Leica attracts attention , suspicion and "' Nice camera '' comments , the L 1 does not .

I would also surmise that a chrome camera is so unlikely today , that it's immediately noticeable , whereas in the 70s it was the norm.

The slightly modified L 1 will be treated to a more dee'screte 35 f 3.5 macro lense for street work - when I am too lazy , of my eyes are not up to my still much prefered M 8 / Voight 35 f 2.5 Classic .

i can perceive the better quality of my M 8 shots , but the twins are perfectly adequate for general photography , if that is not a capitulation to the mediocre !

dee

 

[tbarker13]

I love my chrome model.
I will say that I do tend to get a comment here and there when I'm out with it. But the nice thing is that those comments are all something along the lines of: "
"Wow, that looks like a really old camera."
or
"Hey, my dad used to use a camera like that when I was a kid."
or
"Does that thing still work?"

I find that it sort of disarms people as they don't take it all that seriously. It's more of a curiosity than a threat.

 

[dee]

I guess , Tim , that it was just this element that convinced me to go chrome - emphasising the 50s style - the Dig 3 echoes this as no other DSLR , and many will not notice the size difference .

dee

 

[sniki]

I do prefer black models, anyway friends of mine point out that crome ones definitely win on glass wear (black or crome) dual-purpose contest.

sniki

 

[Mike Ip]

I initially wanted a Chrome M8, but some how ended up with a black one. I too find the black to be more discreet. I guess the chrome just catches the eye more?

 

[Leicaliker]

Made my choice last week, my heart said chrome, reminded me of my M3 and M2s of days gone by but decided that black would be more discreet. With black you can always pop some electrician's tape over the dot and "M8" if yiou are in parts of the world where you don't want people to know you are shooting with a camera which costs the same as a small car! I love candids but always feel a little conspicous so will always try to be as discreet as possible. However, the chrome is very beautiful.

 

[neelin]

When there's a reaction, I get responses like Tim's.

Old (51) dudes with film cameras are not a serious threat, and can be ignored (or treated like pervs depending on what they're focusing on).

Hitchikers Guide to the Galaxy definition of the earth 1st Edition "harmless" (2nd edition "mostly harmless")

 

[dee]

I have been getting the old camera fascination for a Digilux 3 designed a couple of years ago - and I love it - the Black L 1 ? May as well be invisible !

To be able to explore / experience this with a £250 extra L 1 body over the used Dig 3 is fascinating !

 

[grduprey]

Since i already had a chrome M6TTL, I decided to get a Black M8. Neither seem to draw much attention, but when they do it si nice old camer is the usual response. However, my Titanium 35 Summilux sure looks sexy on the Chrome M6TTL, but on the M8 it does not have the same effect. ;-)

Gene

 

[Digital Dude]

I’m new since November but I definitely like the retro appearance of the chrome. I started out with a black 28-cron and just recently received the silver/chrome 50-lux. It is soOoo nice looking together. Yes, most comments are that of “still shooting film, are ya?”.
Regards,:angel:

 

[dee]

One aspect of the Dig 3 pretender , is that it's a whole lot less worrying to take out and about London's Soho than the M 8 ... and it does offer something of a similar experience ... howls of protest anyone ? It's just that the manual controls are similar - unlike any other be-devilled DSLR - or any other digital camera except the Epsom !

I love them all , 'cos , quite simply they open up a deestorted world for me .

Thanks for all the replies .

dee

 

[dee]

One aspect of the Dig 3 pretender , is that it's a whole lot less worrying to take out and about London's Soho than the M 8 ... and it does offer something of a similar experience ... howls of protest anyone ? It's just that the manual controls are similar - unlike any other be-devilled DSLR - or any other digital camera except the Epsom !

I love them all , 'cos , quite simply they open up a deestorted world for me .

Thanks for all the replies .

dee