Re: [Leica] M6 black paint/brassing

["William Gower" <wgower@eco-tec.com>]

Regarding:

>>
>> RE: "Brassing is the whole point of the black paint camera......
>> isn't it?"
>>

More accurately, isn't "brassing" the whole point of a black painted /enamel
camera ? I'm sure we've all seen worn-out black chrome. Beautiful ? Yuck.

Trashing your cameras "pro" style is perhaps excusable only if you are a
PRO. Professional photogs actually WEAR OUT cameras. How many of you on the
list have actually worn out a Leica (or any camera for that matter) ? I
think black cameras SHOULD be black, not brassy. And let's be frank - a
brassy camera doesn't make you a veteran photojournalist.

I always figured that the whole point of a black painted body was a return
to a more traditional, warmer (perhaps not to be taken completely literally)
camera to hold. Black paint has a "depth" that black chrome cannot imitate.
Black paint speaks quality.

My original posting was regarding a LHSA camera that showed brassing after
only two weeks ! I'm sure SOMEONE on this list shares my opinion that is is
a wee bit excessive. I was wondering if perhaps the paint was defective. I
recall that the LHSA M6 had to be farmed out for painting as Leica didn't
have the capability to paint cameras anymore. Feel free to correct me on
this point.

I have a black enamel body that will be approaching 30 years old. It's my
favourite and (therefore by default) my main camera. I'm not a professional
- - I shoot maybe 5 or so rolls of film a month with it, but I travel with it
and, after all these years, it shows only minor brassing on the corners and
a few light surface scratches on the baseplate. In fact, the wear is so
minor that you really have to look at it up close to notice it. I don't
obsess over the camera, but I'm careful with it. I wipe it down every once
and a while, more so in the summer when mu hands get excessively sweaty. I
figure that it only makes sense to take care of things.

I agree - cameras are for taking pictures. Obsessing over a camera doesn't
make sense, but then again, brassing caused by carelessly rolling around in
a briefcase doesn't make that much sense either.


Just my $0.02....


William