R, chrome or black- Any difference in finish quality?

[Krasnaya_Zvezda]

I intend to purchase an R within a few months, can't decide on the chrome or the black--- is there any difference in quality or durability between them? Might help me make up my mind.

 

[Fedzilla_Bob]

I'm glad I have the black version. If for some reason it is scratched it will be scratched through to black. Although, I haven't heard of any owners with the silver version complaining of scratches.

 

[Krasnaya_Zvezda]

So underlying the silver is black? A scratch would show through as black on a silver one? Doesn't sound good.

 

[GermanB]

AFAIK, the top base is plastic painted silver or black so it makes no difference ... my black R has a paint splaterring and it shows a bright (metal-like) paint. Someone here at RFF said that under the bright paint is the whity plastic, I cant recall who mentioned it...

 

[Aperture]

Remember....once you go black, you never go back.
One vote for the black paint, dropped it, rubbed it, and definitely smeared it, but the paints holding fine, no problems and looks great.

 

[titrisol]

They should be exactly the same underneath... is just like buying a red or blue or green car.

never undersgtood why people love all-black cameras myself, the chromed ones look better

I intend to purchase an R within a few months, can't decide on the chrome or the black--- is there any difference in quality or durability between them? Might help me make up my mind.

 

[gc1]

Someone here at RFF said that under the bright paint is the whity plastic, I cant recall who mentioned it...

I think it should be BJ Bignell who mentioned a white layer. He had a wipeout on his skateboard and his poor Bessa R went flying. 🙁

 

[GermanB]

You're right gc1, my memory has a (very) limited space 🙂

Barret

 

[gc1]

You're right gc1, my memory has a (very) limited space 🙂

Barret

Well, it was really quite some time ago. It's normal to forget. Perhaps your mind had been filled with more important issues. Such as G.A.S perhaps? 😛

 

[GermanB]

... Such as G.A.S perhaps? 😛

may be, many wishes but none realities :bang:

I must stop dreaming... back to topic.

sorry Krasnaya_Zvezda

Barret

 

[BJ Bignell]

The Bessa R top and bottom plates are plastic, so if you dig deep enough, you'll find ugly, translucent white plastic. This applies to both black and silver paint Bessas. It appears, however, that there is some other paint beneath the black, so as you wear off the paint, it looks like the camera is brassing... Just like a real Leica! 😉 I don't know if this brassing effect is available on the silver Bessa.

I would refer you to my "Road Rash" thread, but you can't really see the effect that well in the crappy pictures I posted; it's mostly just the plastic colour showing through anyways.

 

[Bertram2]

I intend to purchase an R within a few months, can't decide on the chrome or the black--- is there any difference in quality or durability between them? Might help me make up my mind.

Bought a chrome R 3 years ago because I was told the black paint is wearing out fast. The R is still like new after about 100 rolls, the black L I bought a 1,5 years ago is still like new too tho after about 50 rolls roughly estimated.

In general all this build-quality-talk is quite out-of -place IMHO and driven by those who cpmpare it to a M Leica. This is complete nonsense, the price gap tells us already that this is not a M. A Besa R is now about what a CLA is for a M.

"You get what you pay for" is also out of place here, considering the price gap again you get much more than you pay for. It's a reliable and perfect working camera and it will last much longer than it's price let's us assume.

The paint of MPs wear out also after a quite short time as I was told, but then it is called brassing . 😀 Maybe the black CV lenses lose a bit paint relativley fast, I don't own some tho and cannot give any forecast.

Best,
Bertram

 

[Krasnaya_Zvezda]

I appreciate all the replies and the good info. If there is no real difference between the two, I'll probably go for the chrome; I think those look good with either black or silver lenses, whereas the black bodies don't go well with silver lenses.
I know, it really doesn't matter, but what the heck.

 

[Fedzilla_Bob]

OK, one last try... Come to the dark side...

And try not to mind the "digital" bag behind it.

 

[Krasnaya_Zvezda]

OK, one last try... Come to the dark side...

And try not to mind the "digital" bag behind it.

Like I said, Fed---- I just can't abide those silver lenses on the black body.
Now, if maybe the lens had "Digital" written on the side, might make a difference.
Or better yet, "Turbo Digital".

 

[rich815]

For my street work I find that less people notice my camera when its black. Many more people eye it in my hand, even when held at my side, when its chrome (I use The Sling for my rangefinders). Just easier to see. If a more stealth approach to your photography is needed that might be an important factor.

 

[Roman]

Well, I have a black Bessa R, and a silver L (Gandy didn't have any black ones left) - and I'd definitely go for the black camera, no matter whether you want to put on silver, pink or fluorescent green lenses, the silver body is just SOOO tacky, looks like cheap'n'cheesy plastic sprayed silver, not like'real' chrome or steell - I taped my whole L with black gaffer's tape because I could not stand the silver...

Roman (who still loves the silver plastic of his Pentax MZ5n - so much nicer than the CV silver plastic...)