Black or Silver? Poll

Black or Silver? Poll

  • Black

    Votes: 646 50.7%
  • Silver

    Votes: 426 33.4%
  • Not bothered. Worthless question anyway!

    Votes: 203 15.9%

  • Total voters
    1,275
Both...like to think I have a system but a lot is circumstance:

Black M4P with 50mm Summicron (black)
Silver M6 classic with 35mm Biogon-C (silver)

Champagne (silverish) Mamiya 7II with 65mm
Black Mamiya 7II with 80

I keep the wider lenses on the silver bodies. I tend to prefer black but this is what I ended up with through trades and cameras I couldn't pass on. The M6 as taught me to appreciate silver.
 
if you have a leica painted black're not afraid of chipping, because under no brass, but for me the leica chrome is more beautiful. I vote silver.
 
I've pondered this question many times, having owned a silver chrome, black chrome, black paint, and grey finishes on my Leicas. I personally liked them all, but if I had to make a choice (a tough one), I liked the silver chrome the best, and the black paint the least. The black chrome is a close second favorite, though. It really depends on the day, though!

However, I personally just like the colder (more metallic?) feel of chrome on my fingers than the softer paint feel.

I use, though, they're the same to me. Whether I'm using a black chrome + black dot + black lens combo or a silver + red dot + silver, what really made me more "stealth" is how I acted rather than the camera I used. Smoother and "non-guilty" behavior did more for me than anythign else, and the more I shot on the streets, the better I got at this. (Although when I used an external viewfinder, I always seemed to attract more attention, stares, and questions). In all my years of shooting, though, I've never had any altercations on the street because of taking photos. Oddly, there was this one lady who insisted I delete the photo I allegedly took of her, when I really didn't (so I guess that doesn't count). Oh, for the record, I was using a Steel Grey M9 at the time, with a 15mm external viewfinder!
 
When in doubt, get one of each!

14350290643_d9d9cb16c1.jpg
 
1) Black body + Silver lens
2) Silver body + Silver lens
3) Black body + Black lens
4) Silver body + Black lens

They all look good, tho.
 
Usually Silver (chrome) body with Black lens.

It works for me - as black lens is easier to read for distance scale y f-stops.
 
Black because I know there's black tape, but I'm wanting to know if anyone's gotten a hold of silver tape to cover the labels on their silver Leica...

Something I never understood, sticking tape on your camera, except to keep it from falling apart....
 
I ended up with a black M and silver Summicron collapsible, but the color scheme was mostly by chance, because I wasn't sure which 50mm lens I'd end up liking most when I bought the black camera, and the collapsible was the only silver 50 I tried (I sold the black Summicron in my avatar.) I think it looks pretty cool. I guess I could paint the front half of it black to complete the HCB look. :eek:

2769690889_3c5e3938d4.jpg

I love that picture.
 
I tend to like black because it shows scuffs less. It also feels less "flashy" than chrome, as it reflects a bit less light. Most of my lenses are black, so there you go.
 
I have a M6 silver
I have a M8.2 Silver

Both cameras I found for a good price and their body were nearly new . So I got them and I like silver Leica :).
 
Now shooting a Black M6 and a Silver M2.
 

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I prefer silver for cameras. It seems more durable, though scratches will become obvious. Black paint doesn't seem to adhere well to corners and edges, where it tends to rub off. This is most noticeable on the wind lever, for example. I see a lot of this wear on the ridges of lens focus and aperture rings too.

I did have a chrome 35mm Summicron ASPH once. It was very compact but dense and heavy! The black lenses are lighter in weight.
 
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