Can anyone w/ experience

[steve garza]

comment on the durability of the MP ( a la carte), lacquer finish? Am correct in undertsanding this is different than a black paint finish? I assume a lacquer would be somewhat more resistant to fading/brassing.

 

[phototone]

Commonly, all "paint" on a metal camera body is usually lacquer. I think it is just a different word for the same thing. Not to be confused with Leica's "black chrome" which is a sort of anodized surface.

 

[x-ray]

I think the a la carte is black paint just like the regular models. I purchased 2 a la carte MP's this year with one in chrome and the other in black chrome. The new black chrome is certainly much nicer than the old black chrome on my M6 classic. I think the newer is more satin in quality and the old is much more slick. The new looks more mat in finish and deaper in tone. The old M6 seemed thin in comparison. It might be the difference in zinc vs brass in the MP. I don't really care for black paint but many do.

 

[Ben Z]

My black paint MP wasn't an a la carte (in fact it was a demo and cost <$2000 at the time, without a mark on it, I wouldn't ever have considered popping for an a la carte) but in the year and a half I used it (I'm guessing around 150-180 rolls) it did not wear gracefully to a smooth "patina" or softly-brassed edges. All it did was get scuffs and spider marks like a black car run through the $1 car wash a hundred times.

 

[steve garza]

The black chrome is advertised as "highly resistant" I'm considering one now because they will continue to go up and at some point may be un-obtainable. Since I have an M2, I'd like to be able to "go both ways" with lens finishes. I'm also considering which covering to get. The fancy leather ones are nice, but I assume they'll get funky w/ use...like a pair of leather pants?? What's the standard covering like? Has anyone tried the ostrich, lizard or vulcanit coverings?

 

[ywenz]

The fancy leather ones are nice, but I assume they'll get funky w/ use...like a pair of leather pants??

Lol.. great image in my mind.
perhaps you can get pleather camera covering?

 

[steve garza]

I think I'll oder some stainless steel studs on it just for looks!!!!!