| Digital Leica M8 / M8.2 / M9 / M-E /Mono / M10 aka "M" Discussions about the Leica M8 /M 8.2 / M9 / M9-P/ M-E / M Monochrom / M10 aka "M": Leica digital M mount rangefinder cameras. Naming the new digital M the "Leica M" is VERY unfortunate as it will only confuse newbies with other Leica M cameras of the the past. Happily there is room for confusion with only the past 59 years of Leica M production ... since Leica introduced the Leica M system in 1953. All Hail for the Leica Marketing Department learning Leica M history! |
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View Poll Results: Black, Silver or not bothered.
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Black
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476 |
51.18% |
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Silver
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310 |
33.33% |
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Not bothered. Worthless question anyway!
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144 |
15.48% |
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Black or Silver? Poll |
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11-18-2009
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#1
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Film, the next evolution.
Ming Rider is offline
Join Date: May 2009
Location: The District of Lakes.
Posts: 281
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Black or Silver? Poll
Well here's another poll to get the blood pressure rising. 
When it comes to M cameras, are you Black or Silver and any particular reason why?
__________________
"All I ask for is an M5 with a fast 50, a roll of HP5 and a street to shoot her by." Ming Rider, today.
streetphotographyblog
Last edited by Ming Rider : 11-18-2009 at 04:09.
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11-18-2009
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#2
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Registered User
aboudd is offline
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Arlington, VA
Posts: 6
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This is the definitive answer ;-) ... yes.
When I was shooting with R8s - yes I know, the is an RF forum - , I had a bi-color for black and white film and a black one for color film.
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11-18-2009
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#3
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Film, the next evolution.
Ming Rider is offline
Join Date: May 2009
Location: The District of Lakes.
Posts: 281
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Quote:
Originally Posted by aboudd
When I was shooting with R8s - yes I know, the is RF forum - , I had a bi-color for black and white film and a black one for color film.
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Quite right, (in his best religous mothers voice) "We'll have no such mention of that fella in this house". 
Personally, I think Black M's take better pictures and Silver ones are great for when you've run out of `Just For Men` (more stealthy see). 
__________________
"All I ask for is an M5 with a fast 50, a roll of HP5 and a street to shoot her by." Ming Rider, today.
streetphotographyblog
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11-18-2009
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#4
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Registered User
ray*j*gun is offline
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Philadelphia area
Posts: 1,586
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Lol......I guess growing up the silver bodied cameras always meant expensive and professional so I still lean towards them. However I have a black M6 and M4P that I love the looks of so I guess we all have to grow up some time.
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Raymond
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11-18-2009
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#5
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Registered User
Al Kaplan is offline
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Miami, FL
Age: 70
Posts: 4,572
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Then the world went through a stage where black meant pro. Stealth is more a matter of how you handle the camera, not the camera's color. I suspect that a lot of photographers subconciously "show off" their cameras when out taking photos, the "look at me, I have a Leica" syndrome. You want to get yourself to the point where you can have several exposed rolls in your pocket after a few hours on scene and people remark "I never saw you taking any pictures tonight!"
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11-18-2009
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#6
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Film, the next evolution.
Ming Rider is offline
Join Date: May 2009
Location: The District of Lakes.
Posts: 281
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It's just my opinion, so don't beat me but I always felt the silver finish kind of, dare I say, cheapened them (slightly, just a bit). Like it was trying to be something it wasn't, ie. made of silver. Rather like gold colored cars.
The original Leica silver color was, I assume, the color of the metal used (Nickel ?) or was it alloy?
Oopps, I think i've opened another can of worms.
I would easily be the first to say that I do carry the M8 with just a touch of superiority (snobbery even). Afterall, that's one reason why I bought it.
__________________
"All I ask for is an M5 with a fast 50, a roll of HP5 and a street to shoot her by." Ming Rider, today.
streetphotographyblog
Last edited by Ming Rider : 11-18-2009 at 05:39.
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11-18-2009
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#7
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Registered User
wgerrard is offline
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 2,614
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Black. It's a taste that's reflected in most of my other little toys.
__________________
Bill
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This is my only legible signature.
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11-18-2009
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#8
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Registered User
ashrafazlan is offline
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 162
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RFF will lean towards black, LUF silver
Believe me, I searched. |
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11-18-2009
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#9
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Registered User
ray*j*gun is offline
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Philadelphia area
Posts: 1,586
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How one decides on fashion is always interesting and reflective of our culture and personal history. It seems that the manufactures of new gear (mostly digital) agree with black since plastic just looks better in black.
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Raymond
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11-19-2009
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#10
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Registered User
Incitatus is offline
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 44
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Unless your dressed up as a ninja and your exposed skin is covered in grease - a all black camera isn't gonna be more stealth than a camera with some silver on it
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11-20-2009
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#11
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Registered User
eric mac is offline
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 82
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Black camera= Black and white film
Chrome camera= chrome (slides) film.
Eric
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11-20-2009
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#12
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Registered User
lewis44 is offline
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 556
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Couldn't make up my mind, I guess. I've got one of each.
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Randy
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11-20-2009
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#13
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nobody special
Bob Michaels is offline
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Apopka FL (USA)
Age: 69
Posts: 2,938
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I am in the midst of editing 27 rolls of Neopan 400 from a trip. Half were shot in a black ZI, half in a silver ZI. Lenses were swapped around.
Anybody want to speculate how much difference I can tell between the film shot in the black body and the film shot in the silver body?
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11-21-2009
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#14
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Monster Rancher
Avotius is offline
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Chongqing, China
Posts: 3,328
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if its an M9, I want that silver gray color, M5-7 black, MP silver, M2-4 silver.
Why? I spent the money on it, why the hell should I not take advantage of the color options? You going to buy a car? No color options. Like that?
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11-21-2009
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#15
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Registered User
goodtimes is offline
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 711
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I was just going to say that the silver M9 looks like cheap plastic...
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11-22-2009
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#16
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Registered User
Austerby is offline
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Fircombe
Posts: 908
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I'm usually a chrome man myself but I have to say that the M8.2 in black with that black Leica logo and shiny leatherette covering looks fantastic.
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Austerby
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11-22-2009
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#17
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Registered User
Vics is offline
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: California, USA
Posts: 2,355
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Black paint for the weight. The only M I have is a chrome M3.
Vic
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11-23-2009
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#18
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Moderator
jsrockit is offline
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: NYC
Age: 39
Posts: 11,764
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Al Kaplan
You want to get yourself to the point where you can have several exposed rolls in your pocket after a few hours on scene and people remark "I never saw you taking any pictures tonight!"
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Why? I'm not in training to be a spy. |
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11-23-2009
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#19
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Registered User
Talex is offline
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 90
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I would love to have a black M3-they just look stunning IMHO. I currently only have chrome M2 and M3. Thinking of sending my M3 to Robert for painting, but his prices are holding me back a bit.
__________________
Nikon F3, Nikon F4, Nikon D700, Nikonos V
28/1.4 AFD, 24/2.8 AIS, 28/2.8 AIS, 50/1.4 AIS, 105/2.5 AIS, 70-210/4 AIS, 28-70/2.8 AFS, W-Nikkor 35/2.5, SB-600, Nikonos SB-105
Leica M2, Leica M3 SS, Leica IIIf
Zeiss ZM 28/2.8 Biogon, 35/2.0 Summicron, 50/2.0 Summicron DR, 135/2.8 Elmarit, VC 15/4.5 Heliar, Industar 26-M 55/2.8, VCII meter Fuji GA645Wi
Contax G2, Zeiss Biogon T* 28/2.8, Zeiss Sonnar T* 90/2.8
www.talexphoto.com
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11-23-2009
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#20
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Registered User
Al Kaplan is offline
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Miami, FL
Age: 70
Posts: 4,572
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I like my pictures of people better if they just go about their business.
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11-23-2009
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#21
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Registered User
BTMarcais is offline
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Alameda, CA
Posts: 689
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Honestly? I'm just happy to have a Leica. I never thought I'd be able to afford one (still not sure I can), and somehow I now have TWO and a bunch of lenses.
FWIW, the bodies are chrome, as are most of the lenses (the two ZM lenses I have are black).
It doesn't really matter though, I'd be perfectly happy with black too.
or even Tom's purple one... http://www.cameraquest.com/TAnotcoll.htm (scroll half-way down the page)
-Brian |
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11-24-2009
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#22
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Registered User
Brian Sweeney is offline
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 15,160
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ming Rider
It's just my opinion, so don't beat me but I always felt the silver finish kind of, dare I say, cheapened them (slightly, just a bit). Like it was trying to be something it wasn't, ie. made of silver. Rather like gold colored cars.
The original Leica silver color was, I assume, the color of the metal used (Nickel ?) or was it alloy?
Oopps, I think i've opened another can of worms.
I would easily be the first to say that I do carry the M8 with just a touch of superiority (snobbery even). Afterall, that's one reason why I bought it.
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Leica's, and many other cameras, were originally painted black as the process of producing a chrome plated body was not widely available. Once the process was economical, use of chrome was widespread as it is more durable than paint.
Black painted cameras were preferred by studio professionals as it did not reflect light that might make its way into the photograph, and war photographers preferred Black painted cameras as chrome cameras make easy targets.
Last edited by Brian Sweeney : 11-24-2009 at 01:40.
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11-24-2009
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#23
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RFF Sponsoring Member.
jaapv is offline
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Hellevoetsluis,Netherlands
Posts: 7,201
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Vics
Black paint for the weight. The only M I have is a chrome M3.
Vic
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Huh? Chrome and black cameras weigh the same to the gramme. It is only some lenses where it makes a difference. |
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11-24-2009
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#24
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Registered User
David_Manning is offline
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Aledo, Texas
Age: 47
Posts: 995
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How about the perversion of a black body and a chrome lens?
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11-26-2009
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#25
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Registered User
amoz is offline
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Antwerp, Belgium
Age: 32
Posts: 203
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I will always love my chrome MP, but I have a black M9 on order.
I have two lenses, a chrome 35/2 and a black 75/2 --both were bought second-hand, so I didn't really have as free a choice. I guess I will end up with a good mix of chrome and black, I don't care too much.
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