Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2006/01/21
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Frank? He supposedly has three of every camera (Leica) ................. B. On 21-jan-2006, at 0:46, David C. Mason wrote: > At one point there was a small video on the web of some guys who > decided to ignite an old Next computer as it was in a magnesium > casing. The video was funny because they didn't know how to ignite it > or even if it was 100% magnesium or something else. They did > eventually burn it but it took some industrial help. > > I made a brief search but can't seem to find this video out on the web > anymore - pehaps someone wants to recreate it with a camera? > > > Dave > > On 1/20/06, Frank Dernie <Frank.Dernie@btinternet.com> wrote: >> It is still marketing b*llocks. >> Magnesium is not a good material for this purpose. >> Aluminium, brass, stainless steel, even zinc and polycarbonate are OK >> - magnesium will corrode. Even unplated aluminium cameras such as >> FOCAs don't look too good nowadays compared to their painted brass or >> chrome plated aluminium contemporaries. If anybody has a magnesium >> camera and chips the paint off it in the way that is commonly seen as >> "cool" on brass shelled Leicas it will be a mess of white powder and >> blisters in no time. >> Magnesium is of course much used in aerospace and motor sport but >> ONLY where its weight is a benefit. It is NOT used because it is >> strong - IT IS WEAK, it is not used for its resilience IT IS BRITTLE, >> it is not used where corrosion could happen unless a robust coating >> has been applied. >> Magnesium is weak, brittle and prone to corrosion. Its only benefit >> in cameras is a few grams weight saving and its cheapness to cast. It >> has replaced titanium as the latest buzz word camera body material. >> It is in no way as good as titanium for this purpose but many times >> cheaper to manufacture for such an application. >> Magnesium has been almost entirely replaced by composites in high >> tech engineering nowadays. >> If you must fall for the magnesium fashion take great care not to >> scratch the paint down to the metal! >> BTW it seems that the Zeiss Ikon camera is actually the latest in the >> line of Cosina collaborations, after Voigtlander. Cosina changed >> their plastic shelled "Voigtlanders" for metal shells which I am sure >> feel heavier. In functionality there will be no gain even if they >> feel a bit nicer. >> Your quoting from the manufacturers propaganda - they would say that >> wouldn't they? >> Frank >> >> On 20 Jan, 2006, at 22:45, Bill Marshall wrote: >> >>> This issue of magnesium alloy as the material of choice for the >>> outer cladding of the Zeiss Ikon has been treated as if it's some >>> kind of a scam by Zeiss & Cosina to substitute a cheap, corosive >>> material for the real thing or as if it's some kind of fashion >>> statement to sell cameras with a new glitzy "look" aimed at high >>> consumer appeal. >>> >>> The fact is that the top-of-the-line professional film SLRs made by >>> Leica, Nikon, & Canon all use magnesium alloys in their body >>> cladding - companies that pride themselves on the build quality of >>> their cameras & with reputations based on past results in doing so. >>> These are not disposable cameras, or digital wonders designed to be >>> replaced in 18 months, or point & shoots made to look sleek in >>> someone's purse. These are professional cameras for rugged use in >>> any environment. So at the very least, it can be fairly said that >>> the Zeiss Ikon is adhering to the highest level of state of the art >>> in its choice of materals. >>> >>> Any search of the internet for applications of magnesium alloys is >>> replete with the wide range of its applications & with technical >>> reports of how corrosion issues have been solved. Its uses range >>> form aeronautics to aerospace to missile technology to automotive >>> applications as well as cameras, computers, watches, & appliances - >>> in other words, in the most harsh & demanding environments as well >>> as in applications very similar to the uses for a camera. The >>> engineers in all of these arenas must know a thing or two. >>> >>> Zeiss Ikon reports on its website the envrionmental testing it did >>> to subject the camera to extremes of humidity, temperature, shock, >>> & vibration. But don't believe them. Here is what Nikon says about >>> the F6: >>> >>> "As you'd expect, the F6 satisfies the uncompromising standards of >>> reliability that professionals command. An aluminum-alloy die-cast >>> chasis, magnesium-alloy front body and covers (top, bottom) >>> . . ." (This is identical to the construction of the body of the >>> Zeiss Ikon.) >>> >>> "Harsh environmental testing: To ensure the camera could withstand >>> the most severe conditions and environments, the F6 has been >>> subjected to rigorous testing. The F6's . . . reliability is a >>> function of . . (the) right materials for the right place . . . Our >>> engineers considered countless situations for camera use, then >>> submitted the F6 to real life testing to virtually guarantee >>> exceptional dependability wherever and whenever photographers >>> shoot." >>> >>> Bill >>> >>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Leica Users Group. >>> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Leica Users Group. >> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >> >> > > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information