M6 - Black or Chrome

M6 - Black or Chrome

  • Black

    Votes: 443 61.9%

  • Chrome

    Votes: 273 38.1%
  • Total voters
    716
This is why a lot o'folks think that people who own Leica camera's are nuts. If you find a chrome one that is cheaper use tape, if you must.

An acquaintance once mentioned that I should never buy a Leica because I'll be in the company of people that care to much.

Seemingly so, and far to often about all the wrong things.
 
My girlfriend gave me an interesting perspective on this when she noted, without prompting, that black paint Leicas are notably "flashy" and look like "jewelry for men." Made me think that the notion of 'stealth,' as a quality inherent to a black top-plate, is kind of a delusion.
 
Just from practical perspective and my personal experience: chrome shines in the sun reflecting to the surrounding and attracts often unwanted attention.
Black however, draws much less attention by itself unless dynamics of shooting is taken into account (which is same case for either black or chrome cameras).

Besides in my eyes black M6/M7/MP look much more mature and solid...🙂
 
Maybe thats why I have been taking rubbish pictures ever since I put black tape on my M2...thats a relief. I thought it was me.

I would get a black one. Much as people argue and whine, a black camera does make a difference compared to a shiny chrome one.

But aethetically? for the looks of the camera? I like the chrome.

IF it didn't matter - why would they make them in two colours? Huh? Hey? 😛
 
For the same reason that they make cars in different colors?

If somebody wants to spring for the money to get my M2 painted bright yellow by whatzizname? Shintaro? and have Cameraleather put a fuschia skin on it, I'll dig out one of my brightly colored 1970's vintage "guitar strap" neck straps. Then I'll challenge anybody to an afternoon's street shoot using two rolls of Tri-X each.

Camera color doesn't matter!

http://thepriceofsilver.blogspot.com
 
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"Black is black" according to Los Bravos. Craftsman never offered black chrome socket wrenches and I wouldn't trust my car to a mechanic who had a set in black paint. "I want my baby back!"
 
Neither chrome nor black, my M6 is a titanium with leather covering imitating ostrich skin. Why ? Because when I had to change my M4, this model was the most interresting regarding price, state, etc...in the shop. My first M4 was chrome for the same reasons. My ( always in life ) Nikon F is chrome, my D700 and R-D1S are black, no choice.

Would I buy an digital M(X) in the future ? Probably. The color ? Thinking about it I think it doesn't matter if the camera works properly.
 
I am in the "color does not matter" camp. I used to prefer black but when I finally got an M I couldn't afford to be picky and got an M6 Panda which is essentially chrome. However, my next body will most likely be an M6 in black. I would like to get a black MP but they're still quite expensive. I am interested in seeing if a black body makes any difference as far as "noticeability" goes. The whole time I've shot my M6 I haven't gotten any, "That camera looks expensive" comments. Only, "Is that a Leica?"
 
I currently have a black M6 TTL, mainly as that's what the store had when I bought it. If I buy a second body (which seems likely once I get a couple more lenses) it will be chrome so I can easily tell the two apart. I did this when I bought a second Nikon FM2, of course my wife immediately took the Chrome FM2, leaving me with the F3HP I bought at the same time. 🙄 Hopefully she doesn't do that if I buy a second Leica! 😱
 
I somewhat prefer chrome, they age better because wear and scratches don't show up as much. But I find black chrome to be very beautiful too, quite a different finish than any other brand of camera offers, and it does make for a less eye-catching camera (although fans of Leicas also tend to spot a black one).

The color I use is somewhat more influenced by availability than an actual preference though. My first M6 was black because I found one locally. My current M6 is chrome, because I could get a new TTL .58 model for a good price.
 
Mine is chrome, I could just as easily get along with a black one though. Not sure about that whole "black is more stealthy" thing, I shot exclusively with a silver g2 kit for years with only a handful of inquiries. My chrome m6 hasn't gotten so much as a second look. Maybe I'm not trying to be stealthy though.
 
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