How many of you have not bought an M9 but would if a real chrome one came out?

[JayGannon]

“Gaffers tape is like the force. It has a light side, a dark side, and it holds the universe together.”

No I like to tape the logos on my cameras, no brand names showing, and then I throw two small bits onto the back on the film door in case something breaks and needs to be stuck back on in a hurr for a few hours.

 

[Phil_F_NM]

Looking at Leica's recent offerings and the paint on them, I think a chrome M9 would signal more of an "investment" into the camera than black or gray paint. The paint is nice, but nothing looks quite like a chrome M body. The bead blasted brass with heavy chrome plating lasts for decades. We're hitting close to a century with the first Leica cameras in the next decade and most of those have not been shelf queens, having been used for the first half of the 20th century. the chrome finish on cameras from Leica's early days is still holding strong while the black paint from yearling M9 bodies is already brassing for some users.

I agree that Leica should have offered a chrome version for the price. It should almost be like the ala carte program with MP bodies for over $7k USD, actually. Personally, I'd like mine with Leica script, serial # and Wetzlar engraved on the top.

I'd say be a bit enterprising & take the hardware off the body to have it all chromed. This is not expensive and the finish will last forever. Way longer than the service life of the M9 itself. While you're at it, have that "M9" on the front filled in with some bronze solder and smoothed over to give the camera an anonymous facade like the first several generations of M bodies. Now that would just look cool as hell.

If I had the money for it, I'd do just this.

Phil Forrest

 

[Ben Z]

We tend to compare the $7K cost of an M9 to the current ~$2-2.5K of a used M8, but in reality the fair comparison should be to the $6.4K price of a new M8.2 at the time the M9 was announced. Offering a full-frame with 18MP and numerous other feature improvements for only 10% more was a feat nobody expected. We all were figuring the M9 would be ~$10K at least. Look at the price differential between the 5D when it came out, and the 20D that was then the next step down. $3300 vs $1500, over 50% more. So if they had to do away with chrome plating and a sapphire LCD cover, it's forgivable in my book. Especially since both of those are directed at longevity, and no matter what anyone says now, in 3 years people will be crowing about their M10's and how much improved it is over the M9.

All that said, I don't care for the battleship gray paint, so I probably would've waited for a black one. Paint or chrome, I really don't care.

 

[jamato8]

It would be nice to see one but I would still go with black paint. The option is a fair one though, IMO.

 

[250swb]

The bead blasted brass with heavy chrome plating lasts for decades.

You are right it does last for decades before going all the way through to brass. But it only lasts a few weeks before it gets scuffed up like any other finish. The difference between a mint collectors chrome body and a 'user' is in the time it takes to remove the camera from the box. Lets not kid ourselves about 'investment' or even looking good for decades, some of those mystical M3's are plug ugly. A polycarbonate DSLR keeps its factory finish better than any alternative Leica finish, including chrome.

Anyway, if I ever get fed up with the brass showing on my black M9 (not that it shows any sign of brassing yet after nearly a year) I'll get a respray done and it will look like new again, unlike a chrome M9 (watch out for Photokina) 🙂

Steve

 

[Phantomas]

[/B][/I]



Of course one can always combine two hobbies to save money.

This baby has chrome and black finish! 😀

Oh my, what is THAT?! I want. And yes, I'd use it.

 

[Olsen]

I use to think that too. Yet I have been using the M8 for the last two weeks as my M9 is in Solms for a repair and I can tell you that I miss it a lot. More than I expected. The M8 is great but the M9 and full frame is way much better 😉

As for your initial question ... if I could afford two M9's, maybe I'll wait a little longer to get the color I want on the second one. Otherwise I'll just rush on the first one available.

Oh, no!

The M9 for repair? For what? The Red Line?

 

[Nemo]

I never would buy a paint M camera, if the paint finish is so soft. I prefer silver chrome color, durability, aesthetics, etc.