POLL - Silver or Black: That is the question.

[amateriat]

i am not sure whether a black body really is more unnoticed, because pulling out a camera in place i live instantly attracts attention, passenger, passerby, security guard, railway stuff, etc do see "it" when they see a "real camera" even though you are just doing snapshots of your friend, they don't mind cell phone doing dirty snaps underskirt, but they mind a real camera and i am often asked whether i am a reporter, i am not and you know the rest of a story

(some snips)

All the vintage-Contax folk in the audience: you'd better sit down for this.

Walker Evans went so far as to paint his Contax flat black to make it less noticeable for his subway shooting. Some of you, no doubt, know this already. Did this help in the making of his photographs? Apparently he thought so, and who am I to argue otherwise? 😀


- Barrett

 

[Magnus]

Silver for me.... I have all my equipement in silver, bodies and lenses.... I couldn't even start to explain why... but I do so much prefer the chrome to black....

 

[Magus]

Post deleted by posters request

 

[MarkM6]

Walker Evans went so far as to paint his Contax flat black

Barrett,
Thanks for the info.... Mr. Evens had silver (or chrome) RF.... You are correct, who are we to argue?

😀

 

[ruben]

(some snips)

All the vintage-Contax folk in the audience: you'd better sit down for this.

Walker Evans went so far as to paint his Contax flat black to make it less noticeable for his subway shooting. Some of you, no doubt, know this already. Did this help in the making of his photographs? Apparently he thought so, and who am I to argue otherwise? 😀


- Barrett

As myself a Contax off-spring in the audience, who by chance is black painting his Kiev 2a black right now, I agree.

It is obvious. Black diminishes apparent size. Not only cameras but also cloths, cars, etc. Don't you see it ? If you don't, its' because its' black!

A thrilling example is when you mount a Universal Turret Finder. The chrome one immediately focus the attention of the public. Painted black, its 5 mini-lenses are unvisible. The same with the two windows of the body. In black they are not visible.

Cheers,
Ruben


PS: Isn't a story about HCB painting or taping his Leica black ?

 

[cameosis]

mostly black lenses on mostly chrome bodies.

 

[einolu]

I am glad we are having this discussion.

I can't decide myself, both look so nice, especially if we are talking about a Leica MP. My Bessa R is silver, though it is plastic silver, I like the way it looks (from a distance).

 

[MarkM6]

...especially if we are talking about a Leica MP...

Yes, I agree 100%. My M6TTL is black... But when I saw a Silver MP, up-close at Samy's Camera in LA, I was mesmerized... it really is a shame to cover up such a fine metal with a paint.

That being said, may be it, the beauty of silver chrome, is the reason why most people notice! 😉

 

[dreamsandart]

eenee-meenee-mynee-moo... 'personal style' black paint, but then chrome looks so 'classic' cooool, but than again black chrome has a fine more 'modern gun metal' look... best to have 3 cameras with one of each and sleep better at night! M7 black chrome, an M3/M2 in chrome and a MP in black paint. But if I had to have just the MP... Black [a la carte black chrome].

 

[Shadrash]

Well, I went for a black paint MP... but the more I look at the chrome MP, the more I like it...

I guess we want what we don't have.

 

[emotepix]

MPs are black!

MPs are black!

Hi there
MPs are meant for pro use -- ie they should be discreet, quiet, unobtrusive. I had an M4P that was always kept taped up - shiny things always attract attention, especially when rapidly being moved to eye level...
However, my M2 is and always has been silver. I use it for personal shots, i.e. those where my presence is part of the equation. If I wanted to "not be there" in the Heisenberg sense, then I'd probably prefer to go black.

Of course, having said all of that, it's definitely the attitude that counts. I remember once going through a crowd in a park taking shots with an old (silver) wind-up half-frame Canon Dial, and I mean going right up to people and taking their pictures -- and later having them not remembering or believing that I had taken their pictures at all. "That wasn't a real camera, was it? Thought you were just fooling around, you didn't really take any pictures, did you? With that toy?"

 

[Dougg]

Well, I went for a black paint MP... but the more I look at the chrome MP, the more I like it...

Makes good sense to have one of each... for easy distinguishing them, as for different film, or a different viewfinder magnification... right? 😀

 

[MarkM6]

Hey....

Hey....

Dougg,
Could you please post a full size photo of your little Cat? Cat lover here. 🙂

 

[MarkM6]

You give me more reason for a Silver body.

You give me more reason for a Silver body.

I had an M4P that was always kept taped up...

You see; one could always easily "tape it up" a Silver MP. 😉

 

[Dougg]

O.t.

O.t.

Dougg,
Could you please post a full size photo of your little Cat? Cat lover here. 🙂

Delighted to oblige, Mark! His name is Ruff, and he's now full-grown, long-legged and lean. And magnificent (that's what he likes to hear)! 🙂

 

[MarkM6]

Ruff's got attention...

Ruff's got attention...

Delighted to oblige, Mark! His name is Ruff, and he's now full-grown, long-legged and lean. And magnificent (that's what he likes to hear)! 🙂

Dougg,
This is what my friend Katherine wrote back when I send Ruff's portrait;

damn, that is one sexy cat - really really cute....

The e-mail list included a lot of my friends... they all adore Ruff.

Ruff is one good looking cat! 😎

 

[Doug]

Thanks! I told him all this and he purred, taking it as his due. 🙂

 

[MP/CLE]

I have a chrome mp and m7 and a black cle. I ended up on a recent trip feeling more comfortable with a black cle for its inconspicous impression, while my chrome mp remained in the bag. Again, we always want what we don't have, and that leads me to a black mp/m7. Now, should it be black chrome or black enamel? The black chrome on the cle has held up very well (i.e. no brassing, deep scratches), while enamel paint getting worn off a camera over time and use would certainly develop an appealing patina. With the m7, a black camera is chromed while an mp is enamel, to reverse either would require an a la carte order, which would inspire other changes (metal film advance lever on an m7, angled film winder on mp)... I'm working up the money for an a la carte order now... but still not sure which black to get: chrome or enamel?

 

[MarkM6]

For a MP?

For a MP?

...but still not sure which black to get: chrome or enamel?

If you are a true Leicaphile aka a purist, it has to be in the black enamel... Isn't MP the closest Leica to the M3, or at least trying to be?

I think MP will be the last Film Leica RF ever make... so make it count! 😉