Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1997/08/05
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]> What is the history of this situation? Is it traditional to buy chrome > lenses for a chrome body, and the titanium lens for the titanium body? In the 1950 and 1960:s the overwhelming amount of bodies and lenses were chrome. A small amount of black bodies were made, and for these there wer= e made some black coloured lenses. These early black lenses/bodies are rare and collectible. From the late 1960:s and on, most lenses were made in black, and stayed that way until a few years ago, until Leica realized that many Leica user= s wanted chrome lenses for chrome bodies. When the titan body came, along came also a bunch of titan lenses. So, today you have a choice. Some people mix chrome and black, and some don=B4t. I prefer black equipment, but if I find a nice chrome lens at a favourable price, I dont mind using it on a black body. For nostalgic reasons, I have chrome 35 and 50 mm Summicrons, because they look nice on my chrome M2. I have also the later black variants, that are the ones I mostly use on my black M4 and M6. If I was to buy a chrome M6 today, I would continue using black lenses, because they weigh a little less than the new chrome variants. But of course, the new line of chrome lenses have a very solid feel, and have a nice finish. It is really a matter of taste. Maybe the history in this is that black was considered "pro", in the 1970:s, and everyrone wanted to look like a "pro". But preferences change over the time... Regards, Hans - - - - - - - - Mail: hans.pahlen@mark.komvux.se Home: http://www.komvux.mark.se/hp635.htm - - - - - - - -=20