The "chrome" Bessa T

[Terao]

Are the top and bottom plates metal or silver-painted plastic?
I really liked my deceased black T and need another one but they're much rarer than the silver ones...
Hmm, thinking about it, how easy would it be to swap the top and bottom plates and make myself a new black T from a silver one?
I know this is just vanity 😱

 

[clintock]

They are chrome plated plastic. Even have a layer of copper on them too I believe.
It should be quite possible to switch out plates. The silver ones are new for less than 200 dollars sometimes over here on this side.

 

[Nando]

According to Steven Gandy both black and silver T's have polycarbonate plates - its almost looks and feels like metal. I don't think that they're chrome-plated though. I think the polycarbonate plates are molded into shape already in the appropriate colour. I'm guessing this based on my experience with automotive parts made with polycarbonate - nearly all of it is made by injection-molding and its already in its appropriate colour. It's certainly possible that it is chrome plated but why would Cosina bother going through all the trouble?

Before I got my Pentax MX, I sometimes fantasized about getting a silver Bessaflex and then swapping its dials with those from my silver Bessa-T. I'd have a 'Panda' Bessaflex and Bessa-T with dials that look like the ones from the Heliar 101 anniversary model.

 

[Trius]

Terao: How did the black T meet its demise? I am still mulling over the T, and some of the problems/issues have me questioning it a bit.

Edit: Just read the other thread. Ooops!

 

[Terao]

Trius, don't think I did anything wrong, but it won't stop me from buying another...

 

[pvdhaar]

According to Steven Gandy both black and silver T's have polycarbonate plates - its almost looks and feels like metal. I don't think that they're chrome-plated though. I think the polycarbonate plates are molded into shape already in the appropriate colour. I'm guessing this based on my experience with automotive parts made with polycarbonate - nearly all of it is made by injection-molding and its already in its appropriate colour. It's certainly possible that it is chrome plated but why would Cosina bother going through all the trouble?

Dunno about anyone else's T, but the bottom plate on mine shows some abbrasion of the black finish. The underlying polycarbonate is a sick looking ghoulish grey. It even has a somewhat translucent shine to it! Let's hope it's light tight enough to keep my images from going bad. Of course I can always prime and spray paint the bugger again..

 

[Nando]

Hmm... I must be wrong then. I don't have a scratch on the polycarbonate yet. I did scratch the black shutter speed dial accidentally the full-size Tom Abrahamsson soft-release. If anyone is interested, the scratches on the dial reveal a shiny silver colour underneath.