Zeiss ZM Finish - Black or Chrome?

[scottwallick]

Personally, I like the chrome ZM lenses. I agree that there isn't any functional difference, no weight difference based on finish, etc. The silver Ikon with silver lenses looks quite striking.

 

[jljohn]

Thanks everyone--I just ordered a black one. (I actually went to B&H's site to order a chrome version this afternoon, and they had sold out of the chrome earlier his morning--so black it is. Like I said earlier, I'm not too hung up on the color issue. I just wanted to make sure both were high-quality finishes.)

 

[robbeiflex]

Good choice, enjoy! Great quality on the finish of my black ZM and likewise its black Planar 50. I've only had them for a couple of months since brand new and not a scratch, which already says something due to a few days of travelling that were hard on the equipment. As a result I can't comment just yet on how nicely they will wear with time, but every mark tells a story so I'm sure it will only look better with time (to me anyway). 😀

 

[Bob Michaels]

RE: "Why do you need another m body if you already have an M6?" Several reasons. First, I am planning on using my Leica M(s) to (second) shoot weddings, and feel it unwise to have a single camera to rely on at weddings. Second, My M6 has been in and out of the shop with meter problems. Third, I want to mount each lens on a camera and be able to use both at the same time (well not precisely the same time).

May I offer a suggestion that when using two camera bodies that they be the same? They can different finishes, but shooting with a M6 and a ZI together can get confusing. Either get your M6 fixed and buy another one to match it or sell it and get two ZI bodies.

I have tried to two different M mount bodies and always found my "instinctive reaching" did not work. I now have two ZI bodies (one black, one silver) even though I only use them one at a time. It is much better when all of those instinctive reflex motions are exactly the same with both.

 

[jljohn]

Bob, I am confused. My thought was to get an M3 to go with my M6. I am not talking about a ZI and a Leica M. That certainly could get confusing. Do you think it unwise to use an M6 and an M3 together? Thanks for the suggestion!

 

[Mister E]

An M3 with a 50 and an M2 with a 35 would be a nice setup and shoot well together but I'd not mix an M6 in with either.

 

[Bob Michaels]

Bob, I am confused. My thought was to get an M3 to go with my M6. I am not talking about a ZI and a Leica M. That certainly could get confusing. Do you think it unwise to use an M6 and an M3 together? Thanks for the suggestion!

Actually, I got confused and forgot you were talking about a Zeiss lens, not body.

I have never shot an M3, so cannot comment specifically about how a M3 and M6 would work as a set. I would defer to others with actual experience. BTW, I am a believer in duplicates or close to duplicates for redundancy when in critical situations or traveling away from home.

 

[time]

I like ZM in silver more.
Less Leica copy and more original Zeiss style imo.

 

[Neare]

Zeiss lenses suit chrome more so, it's always been that way. Plus, I think it's nice that all your zeiss lenses would be in chrome and all the modern leica lenses in black.

That said, the ZM body itself is a body made for chrome. The black version doesn't look half as good.

 

[Benjamin Marks]

I am puzzled by the comments that black and silver ZM finishes hold up equally well. All of my black ZM and C/V lenses show brassing on the focusing rings, while the chrome ones seem to be doing fine.

Ben

 

[Penceler]

Chrome bodies, either for lenses. Don't laugh, I acutally "color code"my lenses (chrome = normal, black = wide or tele)! Very scary.

John

 

[pajamas]

i am considering the 25mm f2.8 for a black Nex5 body. I am wondering should I get the Zeiss lens in black or chrome? I think looks and wear wise, the chrome. Im only worried that a silver colored lens will be less stealthy. I have a X100 now and everybody seems to be staring at my camera 🙁

but the hoods are in black and filter mounts are mostly in black too - something to consider if use on a silver colored lens barrel

Any thoughts?

 

[steelydam]

I'm kind of torn right now. I have the ZM 35mm f2 in silver and looks perfect on my M2 but I just bought a black NEX3. I would have preferred silver but the local Mom&Pop camera store only had black and I wanted to buy it from them instead of a big mail order place, so I did. I know the color of the lens doesn't matter to the images produced, but I think black would have looked cooler - my black Voigtlander lenses look pretty sweet on it.

 

[pajamas]

I'm kind of torn right now. I have the ZM 35mm f2 in silver and looks perfect on my M2 but I just bought a black NEX3. I would have preferred silver but the local Mom&Pop camera store only had black and I wanted to buy it from them instead of a big mail order place, so I did. I know the color of the lens doesn't matter to the images produced, but I think black would have looked cooler - my black Voigtlander lenses look pretty sweet on it.

show us a pic of the black nex with the silver ZM 🙂

 

[steelydam]

OK, maybe I'm being a whiner. It actually looks fine but I do prefer black lenses on it.

 

[pajamas]

i like both.....leaning more on the silver lens, but with a black hood, things might start to look weird on the chrome lens barrel