Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1998/09/22
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]It is my opinion that much of what we are seeing in this regard (the use of titanium in consumer products) is a cunningly subtle ploy to pray on the consumer's apparent need for the highest in hi-tech toys. If I'm not mistaken, someone recently marketed a basically plastic bodied camera clad in titanium. There are titanium pens and watches now. People associate titanium with the most advanced air-frames, rocket components, etc. I will admit to owning a Nikon F3T which has a solid titanium base and top plate as well as prism housing. I've had it for almost ten years and carried it all over the world and I must say that the camera has no dents. However I must also say that the metal does not seem to hold the black finish very well as there are a number of very small spots where the metal shows through while my normal F3 has no such spots. But I think I'm now mature enough that I would not again pay the extra money for a titanium camera (body or lens). It is true, however that brass is an inherently softer metal than titanium and, in theory, more prone to denting. However I have my doubts about how beneficial a titanium coating would be, which (I believe) is what Leica offers. Bruce S.