your thoughts on Chrome lens getting noticed more than black lens for street

[froyd]

Daniel,

Chrome lenses capture more beautiful images. once you know that, you'll accept their more conspicuous appearance.

In earnest, though, some of the comments above do contain a grain of truth. Since you own both a black and a silver lens, I believe you when you say that you get noticed more with the silver barrel mounted on your camera. However, I wonder if your greater familiarity with he 35mm FOV makes you a faster, smoother shooter with that lens, whereas the 50mm is harder to pre-visualize and you end up taking longer framing a subject. Also, on a .72 finder the extra room to the sides of the 50 frame lines can make you more likely to raise the camera to your eye and wait for the composition to come together inside the frame lines, thus having your camera up to your eye for longer.

 

[John Rountree]

Your eye is automatically drawn to the brightest part of a scene. If you have a chrome lens you will be noticed more than with a black lens. People who are actually looking at you will see the brightness of the chrome and be more likely to notice than a black lens that is somewhat obscured by the your hands and the shadows around your face. Other factors matter too, but again, you always look to bright areas.

 

[jsrockit]

I think people notice my bald head before they notice any chrome lenses...

 

[Sid836]

I don't think that chrome or not makes any difference. Leica or not would make a big deal and that would be to those that know something about these. Else, my industar might be chrome, but also of almost no value. When people look at my poor FED those that know what do not give a damn, and those that know nothing throw an awkward look as if I am carrying something obsolete and scrappy.

 

[furcafe]

I have mostly chrome cameras & lenses, but also many in black.

I've never experienced any difference in treatment from non-photographers. Some photographers & photonerds notice when I use an old-fashioned camera + lens (e.g., any RF or TLR), but whether it's black or chrome has made no difference.

1- do you notice the same as I that it gets more notice? 2- whats your thoughts on my options…. Thank you as always in advance. Daniel

 

[Calzone]

I think people notice my bald head before they notice any chrome lenses...

Like John I stand out in a crowd, and I tend to get noticed more than my camera(s).

Also I find this to actually benefit my street photography because the street is a stage and interacting with your subject is part of the performance. Also often will suggest I take their picture after engaging with me.

Understand that I have a preference for extra heavy chrome lenses for both their weight and build quality.

Cal

 

[shortstop]

If you wants really be unnoticed change viewfinder and don't point with your eye the subject. But this means use a TLR. To me, if you point a person doesn't matter if your tools are chromed or black. if you're in the bush you never ever stare into the eyes of the lion.

 

[xxloverxx]

I think that people in general are so sensitive to the presence of cameras these days that the colour makes little difference. I say this from experience using both chrome and black lenses —*people just recognise the shape of a camera.