"The black paint has been generously and carefully worn to..."

[anitasanger]

"The black paint has been generously and carefully worn to produce the beautiful Leica black paint look, showing the golden brass underneath. Any additional scuffs or scratches are on the surface of the paint only that adds to the genuine well-used look."

http://cgi.ebay.com/Leica-M9-Black-...m_Cameras&hash=item1e61c6c513#ht_17466wt_1141

Why? Why do people purchase ridiculously expensive cameras that they have no intentions of keeping forever and purposefully abuse the finish with some type of abrasive to create a faux-worn look that looks ridiculously unnatural - and then sell? I'm incredulous. Is it even possible for a camera to naturally brass perfectly on the edges and nowhere else? I just don't understand how someone could take sandpaper to a brand new Leica. Does this seem like irrational behaviour to anyone else? :bang:

 

[anitasanger]

Allow me to disclose that I really can appreciate a naturally worn BP Leica. But to prance about with a faux-worn M would make me feel like some type of fraudulent poseur.

 

[Keith]

That is pathetic I agree!

Whatever floats your boat is OK by me but to try and convince people/potential buyers that it's an asset to the camera's appearance is beyond a joke. It perpetuates the theory/myth that a lot of top shelf Leica owners are nothing more than well heeled tossers.

😛

 

[Trooper]

I personally like it. It should bring the M9 to a price that is affordable for me. But alas, there seem to be some "well-heeled tossers" that are willing to pay far to much for a vandalized camera.

 

[anitasanger]

Hahaha. Agreed, I wouldn't have thought twice if it were not for the cheesy sales pitch proclaiming the damage as an asset! I hope Leica never creates a pre-used look camera offering similar to Fender's Relic series!

 

[fbf]

People do that. I have seen rich fellas did that to BNIB leica MPs.
Im not surprised. People do crazy things. 😀

 

[35mmdelux]

Some of us like the "patina" of a used camera - even if it is new.

 

[anitasanger]

One would expect a lofty discount Trooper, but I'm shocked to see seemingly abused Leica Ms fetching close to and sometimes higher prices than ones in close to mint condition! Example, here is a beater M6 on Ebay that is almost up to $1k! Dents, missing bumper, dents, scratches, scrapes, missing paint etc. I see nice M6s sell frequently for 900$ or so, and mint in the box m6 classics going for $1200-1400.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Leica-M6-TTL-Bo...ILM_CAMERAS&hash=item43a547e397#ht_834wt_1141

 

[Pablito]

"Distressed" furniture is all the rage. They pre-damage the stuff at the factory. Why is it surprising to see it with cameras?

 

[Trooper]

There must be my problem. I'll order an M9 tomorrow, and when it gets here I'll toss it down a gravel alley a few times and resell it for $10,000. I can then buy a clean M9 and a lens!

 

[Ranchu]

Doesn't look bad, might as well get started on it.

 

[anitasanger]

Some of us like the "patina" of a used camera - even if it is new.

And I can appreciate that. If someone is purchasing for life, I can understand them doing what they will to the camera so that it suits them perfectly. I'm just baffled by people that buy them and scuff them up knowing they will sell one day. (I know, they may have fell on unexpected hard times) And I'm sorry, but perfectly brassy edges with MINT paint everywhere else doesn't look like patina to me. Patina is an entire transformation that usually has some affect on every aspect of a surface. Dulling, brassing, scratching, fading, yellowing, etc.

I really do get it, brassing looks cool. I guess I'm just shocked that some people would rather create it than earn it. I guess I'm too old fashioned!

 

[nikon_sam]

I'm not a Leica fan but I am a camera person and this is so wrong on so many levels...
I've seen my share of used cameras and have never seen one with this type of wear pattern...it's like those people who buy faded & torn jeans instead of wearing them out themselves...Hey, next time you want to produce this "Used" look send it here...I'll do it right...

 

[anitasanger]

I'm not a Leica fan but I am a camera person and this is so wrong on so many levels...
I've seen my share of used cameras and have never seen one with this type of wear pattern...it's like those people who buy faded & torn jeans instead of wearing them out themselves...Hey, next time you want to produce this "Used" look send it here...I'll do it right...

Thank you! That's my point, if someone is actually using the camera, it WILL NOT brass in this manner. The only way it could happen naturally would be if someone sat it on a table and traced the camera's edges with their finger all day. Ha!

 

[benlees]

Fender guitars offers (offered?) very expensive tribute "custom" Strats which are copies of famously used and abused instruments played by famous musicians like Stevie Ray Vaughn and others. I find this quite strange! I prefer lumps and bruises collected from everyday life. But hey, they sell for lots!

 

[anitasanger]

While they do have artist guitars with simulated wear patterns to mimic the original guitar, there are others. Road worn, Time Machine, Closet Classic, etc. each exhibiting a different level of wear. Heck they are now even offering cheap Mexican Fenders pre worn. They look horrible, seriously like some guy took a belt sander to the back, shot it with some clear coat and called it a day. Horrible.

 

[Trooper]

Thank you! That's my point, if someone is actually using the camera, it WILL NOT brass in this manner. The only way it could happen naturally would be if someone sat it on a table and traced the camera's edges with their finger all day. Ha!

While I agree with the principle of natural wear, if I had an M9 I would likely caress it all day. So the faux distressing might be surprisingly accurate!

 

[anitasanger]

I'm with you, collect your own dents, dings and chips! Can you imagine your great grandchild asking you the stories of how your guitar got so beat up and having to lie? Hahaha.

 

[robklurfield]

Send me any black paint Leica in any condition and I will gladly wear some of the paint off AT NO CHARGE to you to achieve the patina that collectors so prize. Just give me 24 months with your camera and I promise I will return it with the look of actual use. In fact, I guarantee unconditionally that I will achieve this through a secret patented process (also known as actual use).

My opinion: if you want patina you have two legitimate choices lest you become a mere poseur. Pay mega bucks and buy a well-used classic. Or, buy a new or newish one and use the darned thing yourself. Personally, I'm enjoying the slow process of rubbing paint off the edges of my M8 (a black paint Panda) by using the heck out of it.

Of course, I also won't pay extra for blue jeans that some machine wore out for me.

 

[Leigh Youdale]

Why only the top plate? Why not do the edges of the bottom plate too?