Whose Leica has the most brassing?

[HuubL]

Here's my beaten m4-2, Peter at CRR Luton was less than complimentary about its state, inside and out, when he received it for service, but that it would soldier on for a good while longer...

Whoever said an M4-2 is a lesser camera. If a M4-2 can withstand this kind of abuse it sure is a worthy Leica M! It doesn't brass, it silvers! Why do we regard brassing tops and silvering just worn?

 

[Tom A]

Ben gorgeous M4-2! I know how long it takes to wear in (or out) a M4-2/M4P. One of my original M4 P's looked a bit like yours, but I had it repainted "crackle" finish black and it now looks a bit boring, but some more film through it should help with that.
Oh, cant you hear the collectors cringing at this thread! I also did a couple of shots of 2 nikon SP's that I have. They are the same vintage, but as far apart as you can get when it comes to looks. Our Flickr site "Tale of two SP's" tag should get you there. I am working on and with the clean one so it ultimately will match the other one.

 

[drewbarb]

"Outdside" Magazine once showed a picture of contributor Abbas holding a seriously brassed chrome M camera (M3? M2?). Talk about a beat-up beauty- just gorgeous. Anyone else see that shot, or have a link? I think by now we've all seen the pictures of Jim Marshall's M4 and other brassed black M's like Tom's, but how about other pictures of brassed chrome M's?

As for vulcanite- Morgan writes a good piece on his cameraleather website -
"Vulcanite can be a source of anxiety to the Leica owner. Those with pristine vulcanite will worry about keeping it so, and a minor chip can send the owner into a fret from fear of more deterioration. ....Many Leica owners fear losing their vulcanite, but they almost never miss it when it's gone."

He has a point. I was stressed when the first bits of vulcanite flaked off my first M3. It's a regular shooter I use nearly every day, but it was inherited in mint condition from an elderly relative. I replaced the covering with black lizard skin from them, and love it. Never looked back; all my M cameras get new skins when the time comes.

 

[projectbluebird]

How much film do I need to shoot to get my chrome M3 to look like that?
I've put hundreds of rolls through and all I've got is some brightmarks.
I have lost a few chips of vulcanite, though!

 

[Ara Ghajanian]

Wow! These are some good replies so far. I shouldn't have made this a competition of "the most brassed". I just want to see well worn Leica M's.

Ben and Tom A., I can't wait until my M6 looks like one of yours. That's what I get for paying more to get a cleaner camera. I could have saved $300 and been on my way to brass heaven.
Ara

 

[Tom A]

Ara, just spend the $300 on film and continue shooting. One day it will look like Bens and mine!

 

[splitimageview]

Here's what my M3 looked like this morning:

Here it is this evening:

 

[erikhaugsby]

Here's what my M3 looked like this morning:
//
Here it is this evening:
//

Stunning paint job!

 

[maddoc]

~~ Here's what my M3 looked like this morning:

Here it is this evening: ~~

Great job ! Your M3 looks beautyful ! What kind of paint did you use ?

 

[splitimageview]

Thanks for the comments...I need to shoot a few rolls now, to see how well it holds up. I'm really happy with the results, especially how the dings in the top plate are now gone...

The paint is a generic matte black, baking enamel paint. I like it better than a glossy paint, as on my Shintaro M3, as it doesn't show fingerprints.

 

[cmogi10]

Not mine...not yet
But just you wait 😉

 

[Matthew Allen]

Here's what my M3 looked like this morning:
(...)
Here it is this evening:
(...)

Wow! What's your technique for the lettering? It looks very crisp.

Matthew

 

[sirius]

Hi Everyone,

I love the look of brassed cameras. Here's my contribution...a few threads that also feature some beauties...

Elliot Erwit's camera:
thread link

Gary Winogrand's beautifully brassed CHROME(!) M4:
http://www.cameraquest.com/LeicaM4G.htm


Some crazy guy that took sandpaper to his m6:
http://photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=008Qdq

Some misc leicas I found with google...

cheers

 

[findwolfhard]

Here's what my M3 looked like this morning:Wow

Here it is this evening:

WOW, I`m definitely impressed!
best regards Wolf! Will enlarge on that, but must go to bed now, its past midnight!
THANK YOU!
regs Wolf

 

[RdEoSg]

Sadly the M6 isn't brass so I will never get that puuuuurty brassy look.



Until I buy my coveted M4 someday. When I am seriously considering, then I will ask how to tell if it is a brass version or a zinc version. 😛

 

[notturtle]

wanting to take photos and regarding the camera as a tool helps too! I mean, who would ever consider a pretty BP camera more impressive than a room full of amazing photographs? My main reason for preferrign BP is that is has much more grip than BC or SC.

 

[LChanyungco]

wanting to take photos and regarding the camera as a tool helps too! I mean, who would ever consider a pretty BP camera more impressive than a room full of amazing photographs? My main reason for preferrign BP is that is has much more grip than BC or SC.

you may get a little more grip if you hold it by the vulcanite :angel:

 

[notturtle]

you may get a little more grip if you hold it by the vulcanite :angel:

LOL - yes, but my hams are not that precise. Strangely I find the BP has more inherent grip than the vulcanite/shark skin unless wet.

 

[adrianzg]

how abt a screwmount? 🙂

 

[Erik van Straten]

This is the 39th production M2, made in 1958. It is completely in original condition.

Erik.