I read this message on the internet. Leica is coming out with the blackpaint as an standard option.

Is that true?

James L.

-- James L. (sigpe57@yahoo.com), April 19, 2001

Answers

I hope so.

-- Chris Henry (henryjc@concentric.net), April 19, 2001.

Let me guess what your favorite Rolling Stones song is....

-- Jay (infinitydt@aol.com), April 19, 2001.

I heard they were working on this at Solms, trying to figure out how to do it (with the needed milled brass top and bottom plates), without having the price go through the roof. A guy I am (sort of) close with at Leica, NY told me that he thinks it could be soon.

Something about that creamy looking black paint makes me want to pick my little LHSA sucker up and take pictures with it. Maybe it's the Jim Marshall in me (I wish)...

-- Steve Hoffman (shoffman2@socal.rr.com), April 19, 2001.

That's the reason I am not getting the blackpaint at this moment. It's just too tempting to want to shoot pictures with it.

James L.

-- 063057 (sigpe57@yahoo.com), April 19, 2001.

I had a black enamel M4, and didn't use it much because it was too easily scratched. The black chrome finish introduced on the M5 was a significant improvement, IMHO. If Leica totally reverts to a painted finish just because collectors prefer the way it looks, they have done real users a considerable disservice. (Personally, I prefer the appearance of the satin chrome models, but when I bought my M6 it unfortunately wasn't available.)

-- Bill Mitchell (bmitch@home.com), April 19, 2001.

Bill, Come on. You know some folks like the look of a worn black paint camera, with all of that shiny brass showing through. I kind of like the look myself. When the black chrome gets scratched it looks UGLY. At least this way, a Black Leica's can develop some character. Of course, that is assuming one uses it. For all the money a LHSA Black Paint costs, if one doesn't use it, it becomes the world's silliest paperweight...

Just my opinion...

-- Karla Dudley (karlanoc@socal.rr.com), April 19, 2001.

Hey Bill,

My (sort of) buddy at Leica NY told me they had every intention of keeping the Black Chrome, so rest easy.

-- Steve Hoffman (shoffman2@socal.rr.com), April 19, 2001.

Karla is right. I like your paperweight anoalogy of a camera that is solely been used for collecting. I really enjoy going to Samy's Camera in Los Angeles to take a look at the Leica blackpaint edition that is sitting in the shelve. What a beautiful piece of art for $3,000. I am satisfied with my M6 TTL which I use on the daily basis.

James L.

-- James L. (sigpe57@yahoo.com), April 20, 2001.