Considering the M9...

[gdi]

Would I be crazy to pass on an immediately available Grey one to wait for 2 months for Black?

I like the look of Grey, but read that it doesn't wear very well, and I like vulcanite better than M8-ite...

Opinions?

 

[Keith]

If I wanted black ... I'd be waiting for black!

Chrome's good but I don't know about that grey ... nice colour for a filing cabinet! 😀

 

[Gregoryniss]

i'd wait. It's quite the investment so it might as well be exactly what you want. and if you got grey, you'd still always be wanting a black one...

 

[aizan]

of the two m9 paint finishes, i prefer steel grey. it looks refined and luxurious. the m9 black paint is on the shiny side, which is nice if you like that sort of thing.

 

[Steve Bellayr]

In the past the Chrome wore better than the Black. However, with the Steel Grey this issue is not resolved. If black is what you desire, then you should wait. The wait will not be too long at this juncture. Afterall, 7k is quite an investment and you should be completely satisfied.

 

[jamato8]

There have been stores getting the black. I had a notify when in for Adorama (I believe it was them) and they had a black for a short while but then I got rid of the notification as I have one. Another small store also let me know they had one about 1.5 months ago. I would call around and I bet you can get one in a short time. I really like the black I have and if it brasses that is fine with me.

I just got the thumbs-up. this is a needed item IMO.

 

[GrahamWelland]

i'd wait. It's quite the investment so it might as well be exactly what you want. and if you got grey, you'd still always be wanting a black one...

This is so true ...

 

[gdi]

Well I had initially thought I would get Grey - I have a black m8 and thought I would give the alternate a go. I am beginning to lean toward going Grey so I don't spend any more time waiting since summer if here.

Thanks for the input.

 

[jamato8]

I don't think black or grey will effect the images. :^)

I would like to see a grey M9. I had to order mine by mail as nothing in this area would stock something this expensive. San Fran but I don't get down there much.

 

[tlitody]

Isn't gray the new black? Or was it white? Maybe you should wait for the special edition, there's bound to be one. Isn't life so difficult today having to make such tough decisions about what color camera to buy.

 

[jaapv]

Would I be crazy to pass on an immediately available Grey one to wait for 2 months for Black?

I like the look of Grey, but read that it doesn't wear very well, and I like vulcanite better than M8-ite...

Opinions?

I don't like the grey, so that would be a reason for me to wait, however, the jury is still out on the wearing, so that wouldn't bother me. Nor the covering - I will rip it off anyway in favor of Cameraleather.

 

[gdi]

Isn't gray the new black? Or was it white? Maybe you should wait for the special edition, there's bound to be one. Isn't life so difficult today having to make such tough decisions about what color camera to buy.

I already have my pre-paid order in for the first special edition - I am hoping it will be gold leaf with matching Summilux...

 

[gdi]

I don't like the grey, so that would be a reason for me to wait, however, the jury is still out on the wearing, so that wouldn't bother me. Nor the covering - I will rip it off anyway in favor of Cameraleather.

I like the look and it doesn't really matter much to me - other than the practical aspects of durability. And you are right, the grip material will only be a small nuisance and easy to "fix".

 

[dreamsandart]

...the m9 black paint is on the shiny side, which is nice if you like that sort of thing.

"shiny" it isn't. I keep hearing references to how the black paint on the M9 is like anything Leica previously has offered... and it isn't. Its quite a flat black, closer to look of the 'black chrome' finish than the recent paint work on the MP/M8.2, and so far for me much more durable.

If you like black, wait or look around for immediate gratification. If it doesn't make any difference get what you can.

Maybe its my classic Leica ideal, and that I have and have had older BP film cameras, I just like the black look, and when the paint starts to wear it has a nice golden highlight elegance to it - 'classic aged' I could call it 😉

As for the 'steel gray M9', I thought of one myself, but black was the one, and only one, they had for me. Happy that was the way it was, easy to 'choose', and really what I wanted. I just sold my MP 'gray' anthracite to help pay for my M9, and although I thought it looked great new, with the light use on it I can't say it would be 'beautiful' in the long run, just beat (if that makes any difference). The gray has a black under-coat primer, so its gray to black to brass - three in one!. Also the steel gray is now suppose to have an improved paint work, tougher than the first run that came out, which from what I heard was a bit 'thin skinned' 😱

Good luck, what ever you decide you'll be happy with a wonderful camera.

 

[gdi]

"shiny" it isn't. I keep hearing references to how the black paint on the M9 is like anything Leica previously has offered... and it isn't. Its quite a flat black, closer to look of the 'black chrome' finish than the recent paint work on the MP/M8.2, and so far for me much more durable.

If you like black, wait or look around for immediate gratification. If it doesn't make any difference get what you can.

Maybe its my classic Leica ideal, and that I have and have had older BP film cameras, I just like the black look, and when the paint starts to wear it has a nice golden highlight elegance to it - 'classic aged' I could call it 😉

As for the 'steel gray M9', I thought of one myself, but black was the one, and only one, they had for me. Happy that was the way it was, easy to 'choose', and really what I wanted. I just sold my MP 'gray' anthracite to help pay for my M9, and although I thought it looked great new, with the light use on it I can't say it would be 'beautiful' in the long run, just beat (if that makes any difference). The gray has a black under-coat primer, so its gray to black to brass - three in one!. Also the steel gray is now suppose to have an improved paint work, tougher than the first run that came out, which from what I heard was a bit 'thin skinned' 😱

Good luck, what ever you decide you'll be happy with a wonderful camera.

Thanks - good rational points. I decided that since the actual color doesn't matter to me I would go ahead and order the Grey. I will probably keep my Luigi half case for it, to protect the finish as much as possible . (Though the case has left a bright mark across the top back of my black M8.) That also eliminates the negatives of the M8-type covering.

The Grey should ship early next week. Now the selling spree of my film classics must begin!

 

[Mudman]

I like the look of the grey.

 

[dreamsandart]

One thing I about the steel gray is that it looks nice and 'natural' with both chrome (especially) and black lenses. My wide angle lenses are chrome 24/28/35 (and a black 35 Summilux aspherical) and gray and chrome is very cool 😎

And a plus for the gray could also be that in hot sunny conditions it stays cooler itself not being a heat attracting black.

 

[gdi]

Just to update --

I highly recommend The LeicaShop in Vienna!

From order placement to my hands was about 6 days. They shipped the Steel Grey camera as soon as they received it Monday and it was delivered yesterday. Add the extremely favorable (at least for recent times) $/€ exchange rate and it worked out great.

Oh yeah - the grey looks pretty darn good and I am glad I went with it - thanks for the input last week.

 

[ramosa]

i'd wait and get the one your want. otherwise, you'll likely regret your haste in days, months, years to come.

 

[barnwulf]

It's a big investment. Get the one you really want! If you get what's available but not the one you originally wanted, you will always be saying, "I really wanted a black one."