M6 - Black or Chrome

M6 - Black or Chrome

  • Black

    Votes: 443 61.9%

  • Chrome

    Votes: 273 38.1%
  • Total voters
    716
Black all the way! It really comes down to what you like more. Unless your wife is paying for it, there is really no reason to get the chrome.
 
I have a silver chrome M6 classic. Having used black and silver cameras, I would say that silver definitely attracts more attention. Black chrome is my favourite finish. When the boat comes in, I would like an M7 a la carte, with a 0.58x finder, in the standard black chrome, but without any dot or script.
 
I don't have one, but I voted black because that's what I want if I get one; black -- to use with mostly black CV 35mm F/1.4 Nokton. I noticed, however, that there are quite a few black ones with completely worn out coating for sale, while the silver ones seem to be in better condition; this is a completely unscientific observation of course.
 
Maybe the black ones are used while the chrome ones are shelf queens 😉. I voted black for stealth and they don't look as bad if the finish starts to bubble.
 
Does anyone have a good photo of a worn black chrome M6? We all know how black paint/brass Ms wear but I've yet to see a clear picture of worn black chrome.
 
Villanova said:
Does anyone have a good photo of a worn black chrome M6? We all know how black paint/brass Ms wear but I've yet to see a clear picture of worn black chrome.
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It looks gray. Not very attractive. The good news is that it takes a lot of wear to turn them gray. Mine are still fine. Of course, if it wears right through to the metal, then you see metal; and the metal may be zinc, not brass, depending on the model.
 
sc_rufctr said:
BLACK because you can tape over the logos easier.

If you've ever spent any real time on the street or in social gathering you'll understand why this is so important.
For me the less attention I bring to myself the better. 😎
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For months I was shooting with a black-taped M9 in front of a friend. Not a word was said apart from, 'is that an old camera?' Then one day, I brought my silver chrome M7 (no tape) for the first time. He looked at it, did a double take and said, 'I didn't know you had a Leica???'

I love how a chrome M looks, but I am aware of its visibility to others. It would also appear to wear a little more hardily, or less visibly, than a black chrome version. I must be in the minority who think that brassing in a black Leica is NOT a desirable trait. Give me a hardy coating that resists damage any day.

The question I would ask is, am I buying this for my own aesthetic pleasure, or for stealth and utility in shooting? If the former, silver chrome. Black for the latter.
 
M6 - Black or Chrome

My first Leica was a black M6 TTL, one of the so called Japanese editions that have the Leica script painted (not engraved!) on the top plate. Going through a divorce I had to drum up some liquidity so sold it. A year later, my financial position is a little better and I have just purchased a silver M6 classic. I tossed between wanting a black chrome or silver one for a few weeks, but in the end thought that the silver body would be more versatile with lens selection as I think silver lenses on black bodies are more indiscrete than a silver body ever will be. And ugly. As a case in point, a Canon 50/1.4 LTM looks especially suited to the silver M6 as both play with black and silver tones. And a bloody good piece of glass too, obviously. However, yes, that red dot certainly does stand out more on the silver which I do not like. Whatever. Glad to have a M6 again and running Ektar and HP5 through it weekly.
 
Keeping a 10-year old thread alive... Interesting to see the original poll, and responses over time. I have a 0.72 M6TTL in silver and a 0.85 M6TTL in black chrome. Between the two, I prefer the look of the silver chrome one a bit better.
 
Vin Vermier said:
No question - silver chrome. Why own a Leica RF if it doesn't look like the one you've probably always pictured in your mind? Fans of black will usually point out that black is less obtrusive looking and therefore will not attract as much attention on the street or make you the target of unwanted attention by hoodlums and ne're do wells. Gimme a break.
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Yeah, this pretty much nails it for me, too.

The photographer him/her-self will determine how much attention is attracted far more than the camera paint.

I think in this day and age, where everyone is over-saturated with media and photography and being hyperaware of image making, this is a non issue anymore.
 
I had a black and a chrome M6 classic and the only time I picket up the chrome one it was because it was loaded with the film that I wanted to use on a particular shot. Black just seemed to be the camera that I always picked up first. Black it is for me. - jim
 
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