kshapero
South Florida Man
Which Black Leica M's were black chrome and which are black paint. And how to tell the difference?
kshapero
South Florida Man
Seems the M7 is the only M that used both other than special edition M6's.
gdi
Veteran
kshapero
South Florida Man
I was told to stay away from Black Chrome as it does not wear well.
gdi
Veteran
I agree - I think they look pretty crappy after they wear. But, I am sure there are others who think differently. Of course Chrome or Black Chrome M4s should be much less than BP. I lloked for a good BP M4 and settled on a used MP...
kshapero
South Florida Man
benmacphoto
Well-known
Unless you're using a black chrome camera as a hammer, the finish is quite resilient.
Black paint does look nicer as it wears, but black chrome last much longer.
Black paint does look nicer as it wears, but black chrome last much longer.
kshapero
South Florida Man
Hey are the Fuji X10 or the Fuji X100 Special Edition Black body, black chrome or black paint?
Phil_F_NM
Camera hacker
There were very few black chrome M4 bodies produced so they can run just as much as black paint M4 bodies. I drool over them when I see them as they were the very last M4s to come off the Leica line.
Personally, I like the black chrome finish. It wears nicely over a brass body like the M4-2, M4-P and M8. It's far more scratch resistant than the black paint is. It also can be cleaned much more easily than black paint as it won't be affected by stuff like rubbing alcohol if you're needing to remove gunk from the body.
Phil Forrest
Personally, I like the black chrome finish. It wears nicely over a brass body like the M4-2, M4-P and M8. It's far more scratch resistant than the black paint is. It also can be cleaned much more easily than black paint as it won't be affected by stuff like rubbing alcohol if you're needing to remove gunk from the body.
Phil Forrest
AndySig
Established
Phil, I'm with you on this. I think that black chrome (especially on the M4) has a wonderful look. The black paint cameras look wonderful when they are new but part of the sales pitch for them is that the paint will wear off and the brass show through. In fact, why not produce them "pre-worn through to the brass" in the manner that you can buy jeans with holes ripped in them? To buy a camera with that in mind starts to look like affectation to me. Put simply, black chrome will probably retain its finish for a lot longer, maybe more or less forever if you look after the camera.
250swb
Well-known
You are confusing the issue now. The Fuji camera's will be powder coated. Some will call it paint so people understand it is a coating and not the colour of the material itself like ABS plastic. The Leica M9 is powder coated and it is still called 'paint' but it shouldn't be confused with the real paint on an MP. The powder coating is much tougher and won't wear anywhere near as fast as an MP's paint, unless somebody has used sandpaper to advance the wear.
Steve
kshapero
South Florida Man
Okay so how about the Voigt Bessa R*M bodies? They are black paint while the Voigt Bessa R*A bodies are a black powder coated? And those classic Nikon FM and FE's are black Paint? On and on.
250swb
Well-known
FM's and FE's are black paint! 
Steve
Steve
macmx
Established
I have a black chrome MP and I would choose this color again any day. The black paint is too glossy IMO.
gdi
Veteran
I have a black chrome MP and I would choose this color again any day. The black paint is too glossy IMO.
They do look good when new, but the ones I have seen and owned take on a dingy look with scratches or wear marks eventually looking like dirty aluminum. (And the later BC I had did wear quite easily, even a soft leather case left bright marks around the edges. But older BC bodies may have been much more durable for all I know.)
Personally, I would go with silver chrome over the black, if I didn't like black paint. But there is no accounting for taste; I really like the look of my steel grey M....
macmx
Established
Yes I see where you're coming from. I wanted my MP to be as low key as possible, thus no engravings and black chrome. Like I said, I though the black paint was too shiny and personally don't like the brass showing as it wears. I would be more inclined to get it repainted black enamel, if it ever wears ugly (my MP on the picture is only 4 years old). The examples I have seen from CRR look great IMO:
