I'm Terribly Tempted...

[SolaresLarrave]

... by titanium lenses...

Does anyone here own one? Are they heavier, more resistant to scratches and dust? Does someone have one on a silver chrome M body?

Just wondering...

Thanks in advance! 🙂

 

[Ben Z]

AFAIK they're not Ti through and through, it's a thin plating. Like the silver chrome this requires the mounts be entirely brass, so they also are quite a bit heavier than the black-chrome lenses. They shouldn't be any different wrt dust because the construction design is the same as are the internal lens "cells" which many of the newer lenses seem to be some kind of very tough plastic (not the lens elements themselves of course). I can't say from personal experience how they do or don't resist scratches but the Ti bodies seem to be about the same as the silver chrome bodies in that department. From a looks standpoint, I think the Ti lenses look a little odd on any body but a Ti (though black lenses seem for some bizarre reason to look better on a Ti body than the inverse). Since only a few of the lenses are/were available in Ti you almost have to be picking lenses based on finish in order not to end up with a mixed set, while almost every lens from the late 60s on has been made in black anodized.

 

[butch]

Titanium is 57% of the weight of stainless steel. I know the CM has a titanium shell but there are some gray areas with things made of Titanium and things that are coated with Titanium, for example the Contax G series, if memory serves. Titanium is one of the reactive metals and burns easily. It can only be welded to Titanium by normal arc weldments. It has a bad memory in that you can roll it into a tube and if you don't weld it that same day it will just about unroll itself by the next day. It's highly resistent to corrosion and thus a good finish for tropical and coastal climates. Kinda pretty in its way but loses hands down to black paint over brass.IMO

 

[SolaresLarrave]

Ben, Butch, thanks a lot for your learned replies. Only one clarification: I didn't pick the lens. The lens "spoke" to me. And I've been trying to ignore it. However, in case I pay attention, I simply want to know what I may be getting into.

Worst of it all... I managed to save some funds. 😱

 

[Ronald M]

Bright chrome was put on the zinc base metal tops on late M4 P, M6, and then they went back to brass with I think the MP. They market these as having M6 windows as if this was an advantage. Slick.

To get bright chrome to stick to zinc alloy, apply some intermediate metal like copper or nickel. That is if it will not plate directly.

 

[Kim Coxon]

Go on do it! You know you want to. Resistance is futile!

Kim

 

[butch]

By no means take my response to be against your getting a Titanium Leica product. Just wanted you to know that some products that claim to be Titanium are just coated and not really of Ti. There may be some actual items out there that are but I don't think so. The lack of heft in the CM makes me think it is, at least in the shell. It would still be a Leica no matter its coating but "all that glisters is not......"

 

[dreamsandart]

The Titanium lenses are the same weight as the new chrome and black paint versions built on the same brass mount with a finish that I would say looks more titanium in color plating than the actual metal, and holds up like the chrome.

As for looks... I think they look very nice on a black body, remind me of the old black body and nickle parts Leicas of the 20s/30s, on a chrome body it was not the best match.

 

[peter_n]

I have read that the titanium does not last as well as chrome but but that is on forums such as this.

 

[SolaresLarrave]

Butch, no problem. Kim, Thanks a lot... Those are fighting words! 🙂

In any event, I have learned something today. Again, thanks to all!

 

[Magus]

Post deleted by posters request

 

[Captain]

The metal is nearly impossible to work with, as butch correctly notes. (Same goes for the Nikon F3/T and the FM2/T - they were only titanium plated.)

Nonsense Magus, Leica may have just coated brass panels with a fine layer of titanium but Nikon did NOT. When the F3T was released it was advertised to be lighter than the regular F3HP. Nikon had been working with Titanium since the 50's and was well versed on using the material. If you check the link below even the camera back was Titanium and they left the film memo holder exposed to prove you still had a titanium back. I have F3T Champange and once replaced one of its panels and when I picked it up from Nikon spares they showed me how much lighter it was than a regular brass F3 panel. If it was just coated it would weigh the same. It was even quoted by Nikon as being 99.6% pure titanium for the F3 model of 1982/82. Nikon had made titanium cameras before the F3 and were well experienced with it. Their etched titanium curtains of the FM2, FE2, FA were far more complex to manufacture than a simple body panel. It was only enviromental concens for the etching process that they switch to alternate materials.

Have a read here, you may finally admit Nikon did something Leica never could LOL.

http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/classics/nikonf3ver2/variations/f3t/index.htm

 

[butch]

I remember the all Titanium M6 of which Magus spoke. Sultan of Bruni, maybe? A pre-ala carte, ala carte. I think it is the only real, Titanium Leica aside from the CM and I'm just mildly persuaded about it. True enough some of the Nikons of the past had Ti panels that made up portions of the shell, and I think the anniversary F5 has a Ti VF housing. Maybe some G2's? I think just about anything else that claims to be Ti is going to have a coating which is tantamount to paint. I saw a few years ago where there's a company in Arizona or thereabouts, who by setting TNT charges strategically on Ti plate, could fuse it to a dissimilar metal. The city fathers of Solms might look dimly on such.

 

[BillBingham2]

FWIW, while my wifes PowerBook is just a year old, it is holding up very well to her abuse, no use. Very light, looks good and keeps ticking (thank God, she's addictited to it now).

B2 🙂->