Hello,

Maybe it's too early to ask this question and it's not gonna improve pictures taking, I still like to ask what others feel, especially most of us own a M6.

The "only" thing interests me from the new M7 is the "brass" top plate, since the dimension is the same according to the report. Can I replace the M6TTL black Zinc top plate with the new black brass top plate from M7?

I don't care it's 6 or 7 on it, I'll black-tape it anyway, but I just too much in love with the beautiful old brassy looking Leicas.

Maybe Leica NJ or Sherry can make some fortune by upgrading top-plate and viewfinder windows for M6TTL owners, I think $300~500 is a reasonable price and "a lot" M6TTL owners would like to do it, but it may harm the selling of M7.

price formula : M7 = M6TTL + M2 Am I missing something here?

Fred

-- Fred Ouyang (yo54@columbia.edu), February 27, 2002

Answers

I don't think "a lot" of M6TTL owners would want to pay 300-500 for that non-functional switch...

-- Matthew Geddert (geddert@yahoo.com), February 27, 2002.

I too love the worn brass look, but let's remember that zinc is stronger than the old brass. I was frankly surprised that Leica brought it back. Nostalgia? A new alloy? Reversion to manufacturing that is driven more by collectors than shooters?

-- Patrick (pg@patrickgarner.com), February 27, 2002.

Even if I'm not interested in the proposed, here are my 2 cents: I don't see why. One can currently order a top plate replacement for $300 or a Bottom Plate would be $247, from Leica NJ. Good luck! cheers,

-- Patrick (svenburg@yahoo.com), February 27, 2002.

All stuff and nonsense. Black brass top plates to get the 'old' look. Another minus for the M7 (but I may just order one). But has anybody realised, that with the M6 TTL Leica, UK, are offering a custom engraving service. Create your own 'special edition' for £90!

-- Steve Barnett (barnet@globalnet.co.uk), February 27, 2002.

Does a black chrome plated brass top actually wear like a black painted brass top. Isn't the black M7 black chromium like the regular M6/M6TTL> I would not expect it to look like a worn black painted camera. Hasn't the bottom plate of the M6TTL (and M6) been brass all along?. My several year old black M6 has quite a few marks from use and has rub marks on the black chrome but the bottom plate is not "aging" like a black paint camera might. Not sure $300 for an M7 top would be a good thing, now perhaps the same amount for a black leica "red" dot ; )

Robert

-- Robert Ardinger (rardinger@kc.rr.com), February 27, 2002.

Fred, lemme put it this way: (a) Brass is no better than zinc, just more nostalgic; so if you really need it, just get it. (b) I myself would never cough out a lot of dough subsequently just to change zinc into brass; I'd spend the same sum on getting a new lens or on getting more film.

-- Michael Kastner (kastner@zedat.fu-berlin.de), February 27, 2002.

The Black chrome M4, M5, M4-2 and most of the M4-P had brass top plate.

When they wear, they are as ugly as the M6, because under the black chrome there is a kind of grey coating.

Only brass plus black paint will wear nicely.

Lucien

-- Lucien (lucien_vd@yahoo.fr), February 27, 2002.

OK! so after all, it's not brass with black paint... doh! just killed my last fantasy of M7.

Most Leica users have experience with Auto-everyting, so a little Auto on M7 is a good feature yet to convince M6 users to switch, but not every of us has experience to use a new(affordable) black-paint all the way to brassy old looking. ^^

Fred

-- Fred Ouyang (yo54@columbia.edu), February 27, 2002.

Hello:

Yes, you are missing something: It's called photography for nevrotic people....

Have you seen Ebay sales?

Bonne Nuit!!

X.(R user, not better!)

-- Xavier d'Alfort (hot_billexf@hotmail.com), February 27, 2002.

For everything you ever wanted to know about brass and zinc top plates, see this link for a recent addition to Andrew Nemeth's brilliant FAQ site:

Right here!

-- Giles Poilu (giles@monpoilu.icom43.net), February 27, 2002.

I'll bet you anything this was Hermes' idea. Next thing you know we'll be facing special-edition brassed-black-paint motif neckties, get yours now for only $175 (or add $200 for extra brass).

-- Anon Terry (anonht@yahoo.com), February 27, 2002.

Steve,

As I understand it, Leica UK only "screens" the Leica logo on. It is not an engraving as zinc doesn't cotton too well to being engraved.

Giles is right about Nemeths FAQ site . It is a must for anyone with interest in Leica.

There are advantages for both zinc and brass. I understand that zinc top covers don't take paint to well, hence all the recent black paint versions form Leica had brass top covers.

Once Leica has met the initial surge in production demand for the M7, I suspect that come '04, you'll see an engraved 50th anniversery model M7 in black paint. Hopefully it will be just a run of the mill M7 with paint, and not a limited edition outrageously expensive, collectors only version as was the Millenium Edition.

Best,

Jerry

-- Jerome R. Pfile, Jr. (JerryPfile@msn.com), February 27, 2002.

Steve, As I understand it, Leica UK only "screens" the Leica logo on. It is not an engraving as zinc doesn't cotton too well to being engraved.

The flyer that came from Leica said 'engraved', by craftsmen, no less, on the empty space on the top of the top plate. I think they do mean engraved, as they point out that a new top plate can be fitted should you want to sell that camera. Otherwise I imagine a rag with a bit of paint stripper would revert the camera back to normal.

-- Steve Barnett (barnet@globalnet.co.uk), February 28, 2002.

This what you need : a LEICA M4 BLACK PAINT PROFESSIONALLY VERY USED

-- Lucien (Lucien_vd@yahoo.fr), February 28, 2002.

ASSUMING the M6 stays in production - I would expect Leica to shift the M6 to the same (brass) cover as the M7 once the stock of zinc covers runs out. It's cheaper to run one production line for one kind of cover than 2 very different processes (spin-cast zinc vs. CNC machined brass) at lower volumes.

-- Andy Piper (apidens@denver.infi.net), February 28, 2002.

Lucien

Does the Brooklyn Bridge go with the camera for $2480?

:)

-- MikeP (mike996@optonline.net), February 28, 2002.

Hello Fred. I think the return of the brass top plate is a clever "exchange of nostalgia" for the whirring mechanical shutter gears.Thank God Leica has retained the iconic cloth shutter even though there maybe less sentimental Leica users who wish for a higher speed metal shutter. Regards.

-- Sheridan Zantis (albada60@hotmail.com), February 28, 2002.

FYI, the Millennium M6 sold originally for about $2700 new (not for long though), not a whole lot more than the price of the M7. It would be nice if they made the new AE camera in black paint over brass!

-- Emanuel Lowi (mano@proxyma.net), March 02, 2002.

Emanuel,

As I noted above. Hang on and I think you'll get your wish for a black paint M7 in a couple of years. Both the 50th year M anniversery and catching up with M7 demand will coincide about that time.

However, I'll still wager that Leica will make it at least a 50% premium over what regular finish M7s are going for new. Leica realizes that the old 5% or so premiums that new black paint M2s, 3, and 4s brought decades ago are long gone and they will no doubt take advantage of the collector value and price accordingly.

I wish they wouldn't but hold no hope that they won't. As I recall, even the black paint Milleniums and LHSA version didn't get rebates or Leica Day discounts but could be wrong of course.

Kind of hope I'm wrong about their approach come a couple of years but I wouldn't bet against it.

Best,

Jerry

-- Jerome R. Pfile, Jr. (JerryPfile@msn.com), March 02, 2002.