Am I the only one who love chrome bodies?

MFstooges · Nov 30, 2011

I learned photography in an era when black bodies were a hot trend. F3HP, FM2, X-700, F1N, A1 they're all produced in all black which was always more expensive than chrome version. I never understand the reason why they cost more. To me black body gets hot faster in a bright sunny day and I always see how ugly they are when they start brassing. Unfortunately when I finally had enough money to buy my own camera there were no choices other than black AF bodies!
Fast forward to 2011, now I have couple of Nikon chrome bodies and man I couldn't be happier! Nothing can beat the feeling when I'm out shooting with these gems. Almost like riding a harley with lots of bling-bling and clunking noise. And when you see the face from all the digiheads with their all black cameras....it's priceless.

guitstik · Nov 30, 2011

Nowadays, it's more expensive to chrome plastic but back in the day it cost more to paint metal. I think some cameras like XE-7 and XD-11 look sexy in black but my srT101 looks better in chrome. As far as I'm concerned, as long as the camera works and is reliable, I don't care. But I do like chrome.

mooseontheloose · Nov 30, 2011

I also prefer chrome -- never understood the preference for all black bodies (they seem cheaper-looking to me for some reason). Of course, newer cameras are all black so we really don't have any choice, and in the end it doesn't matter as long as the camera works. That being said, I have 4 chrome Nikon FE's (each one has replaced another), and I even have a chrome Holga because I like the look -- although I use the standard black one more because I like the lens on it better.

Brian Legge · Nov 30, 2011

I was ambivalent until my chrome camera started causing a bunch of reflections which wrecked the moment I was trying to photograph.

Okay, its only happened twice in a lot of shooting - and the chrome cameras get more recognition as being 'old cameras' which seem to put people at ease - so I guess its still a tossup for me.

Laurent · Nov 30, 2011

When I was younger, I prefered black cameras because they looked "pro" (it was back in the time when they charged more for a black one). Now I have a preference for chrome, at least for "classic" cameras (not sure my EOS3 would look better with chrome, but my AE1P sure does).

Jeff Kubach · Nov 30, 2011

Two of my 35mm slr's are black, cause that is the only color they came in. I do have one chrome body which I really like.

Jeff

Newt_on_Swings · Nov 30, 2011

I could go either way, chrome, black, champagne, they work well on my cameras. Most of the time I do prefer a less noticeable body and lens combo. I think any shiny camera or big lens elicits lots of stares on the streets which makes it harder for me to capture something candidly.

But pure aesthetics wise, it's hard to beat a classic chrome body for looks. Oh those chrome and leather folders and rangefinders, are just perfect.

dnjl · Nov 30, 2011

I very much prefer all-black over chrome, because chrome cameras are real attention seekers. Back when I had my chrome AE-1, I couldn't take one picture without ten people turning their heads and staring. You can forget photographing people that way.

zk-cessnaguy · Nov 30, 2011

guitstik said:
Nowadays, it's more expensive to chrome plastic but back in the day it cost more to paint metal. I think some cameras like XE-7 and XD-11 look sexy in black but my srT101 looks better in chrome. As far as I'm concerned, as long as the camera works and is reliable, I don't care. But I do like chrome.

One of the reasons the XD-7/11 looks so good black is the finish. It's not painted, but a very durable anodized finish, which is not prone to brassing.

Rick A · Nov 30, 2011

In 35mm's, I only have one black body, OM-4. All my OM-1's and OM-2 are chrome. My Mamiya TLR's are all black.

Jesper · Nov 30, 2011

I like my Nikons black and my Leicas chrome.
But that might have to do with getting lenses accordingly.
Black lenses for black bodies and chrome lenses for chrome cameras.

Just my personal taste

mono · Nov 30, 2011

No, me too!

chioque · Nov 30, 2011

I love my old chrome Leica's

LarryP · Nov 30, 2011

I generally prefer chrome but have to admit some bodies just look better in black to me. Case in point the canon FTb nice in chrome but love it in black.

resummerfield · Nov 30, 2011

I've always preferred black bodies, especially brassy ones! But the old chrome bodies seemed to look better after hard use.

Rol_Lei Nut · Nov 30, 2011

I also think that different cameras can look better either in chrome or black.

For a user, though, I definitely prefer black: it really does tend to be less noticeable.

darinwc · Nov 30, 2011

waltereegho said:
I very much prefer all-black over chrome, because chrome cameras are real attention seekers. Back when I had my chrome AE-1, I couldn't take one picture without ten people turning their heads and staring. You can forget photographing people that way.

Funny, thats why I like the chrome bodies!

No really, I do like many of my cameras in chrome. There are some that look pretty sweet in black, but it is used so often now it gets boring. All the DSLRS look exactly the same. They just dont have any character.

Steve Smith · Nov 30, 2011

guitstik said:
I think some cameras like XE-7 and XD-11 look sexy in black but my srT101 looks better in chrome.

I have the XE-1 which is the European version of the XE-7. It is mainly chrome but most of the prism cover is black. It too is sexy!

I used to only like black cameras but I think I prefer chrome now. In my father's collection there are two Nikon Fs. One chrome, one black. I prefer the look of the chrome one.

I think my three chrome Spotmatics would like a black Spotmatic F to keep them company though!

Steve.

BradleyK · Nov 30, 2011

waltereegho said:
I very much prefer all-black over chrome, because chrome cameras are real attention seekers. Back when I had my chrome AE-1, I couldn't take one picture without ten people turning their heads and staring. You can forget photographing people that way.

Actually, I think the attention issue is related more to camera-type than just the "black vs. chrome issue." I do my street shooting with a pair of chrome M6s; and I have never found that people pay too much attention to what I am doing. Those few who do take notice, either do not care or (more likely, in my view) do not take the little Leicas seriously (or to be a "threat" of any sort).
Insofar as preferences: I own both black as well as chrome bodies (2 black F2ASs, a black F3, a black F3Hp and of course a black F5 as well as a chrome F2AS, a chrome F2A and 2 chrome F2s (DE1s). With the exception of one of my F2AS bodies, all show their history; the chrome F2 bodies - which range from 71xxxxx to 80xxxxx - all have aged much better, despite similar levels of use and abuse. And yes, like you, I have found that as soon as I hit the shutter button, heads turn (an MD2 drive - but even the sound of a typical 35mm SLR - is not exactly subtle).

MFstooges · Nov 30, 2011

BradleyK said:
Actually, I think the attention issue is related more to camera-type than just the "black vs. chrome issue." I do my street shooting with a pair of chrome M6s; and I have never found that people pay too much attention to what I am doing. Those few who do take notice, either do not care or (more likely, in my view) do not take the little Leicas seriously (or to be a "threat" of any sort).
Insofar as preferences: I own both black as well as chrome bodies (2 black F2ASs, a black F3, a black F3Hp and of course a black F5 as well as a chrome F2AS, a chrome F2A and 2 chrome F2s (DE1s). With the exception of one of my F2AS bodies, all show their history; the chrome F2 bodies - which range from 71xxxxx to 80xxxxx - all have aged much better, despite similar levels of use and abuse. And yes, like you, I have found that as soon as I hit the shutter button, heads turn (an MD2 drive - but even the sound of a typical 35mm SLR - is not exactly subtle).

So did you find the chrome finish stands better on abuse? I never had a black metal body except one F3 that I bought used, and it has brassing on the corners. I've seen a lot of beat up black bodies but not too many chrome.
But I agree with some folks here that black finish has its own beauty too for some models. And those beat up black bodies, they're just like transported from war zone!

agw · Nov 30, 2011

All my Leicas are silver chrome. All my Nikons are black.

If I were to get another Leica (hmm, an M6 maybe...), it definitely would have to be chrome.
I would like to get a nice, silver chrome finish Nikon F2 or FM3a.

So, I guess I actually like silver chrome more than black (paint or otherwise).

Even all my M-mount lenses are silver finish (including the new ones).

rolleiman · Nov 30, 2011

Seen recently advertised here in UK by the same dealer:

Leica M4 body in chrome.......£595. .......Leica M4 body, black paint version.....£1,200.

Crazy!!!!

agw · Nov 30, 2011

rolleiman said:
Seen recently advertised here in UK by the same dealer:

Leica M4 body in chrome.......£595. .......Leica M4 body, black paint version.....£1,200.

Crazy!!!!

There were much less black paint M4's made than silver chrome finish, so they are much more "collectible". Also, not all black M4's are black paint. Later they used black chrome finish, the same as which was used afterwards on M4-2, M4-P, M6 black models. It wears down much differently from black paint - instead of nice brassing you get quite an ugly "graying" when the black chrome starts to wear down. Due to this, black paint Leicas are by some favored over black chrome models (among the black ones).

Les Sarile · Nov 30, 2011

How about brass?

Normally, I acquire one of these classic cameras primarily based on functionality and cosmetics as secondary. However, if I like it, then I try to acquire one in better condition. But in the case of the Pentax MX, I had to acquire a black one too because it is simply sharp looking camera.

Poisson Du Jour · Nov 30, 2011

Black is sexy. And it comes up gleaming with a polish I've buffed out thousands of scuffs and marks from black bodies over the years, the latest my Pentax 67 (even the seller can't believe it is the same dirty camera he offloaded to me on eBay). Never tried polishing chrome, but for black, I was smitten by it many moons ago.

In the 1980s, black was considered reserved for professionals on an hierarchical scale. If you owned a black body, you stood out, sort of were revered. All part of the culture of that era. Chrome was passé. Uni students would have their Pentax K1000 and Minolta SRT101s; others higher up in the pecking order like the President of the camera club I was a member of at the time, angled madly for the tech-laden Canon A1, F3 or FA. If you had a choice between chrome and black, black always looked a lot more sexier and impressive, especially amongst the Sunday set with their crisp, chick white Country Road shirts, corduroys, RM Williams belts and gold bling. It stood out. It screamed boldly, "Look at moi! Look at moi!". I've owned two chrome FE2 bodies some time between 1989 and 1991 (in my student days) before going to Canon's T90 (1988), then the EOS 5 (1994) and then the EOS 1N (1996). My very first camera (1979??) was a chrome OM10, then OM2n. Black bodies are polycarbonate, helping to absorb and dissipate shock. And design wise, they are curvy and sympathetic to hands. It's true black bodies will absorb heat, distorting top plates, LCD displays and even the mirror box. Chrome reflects light and thus heat. Maybe no good for surveillance, either, when you don't want a flash of shiny metal giving your position away. And so, on and on we can conject and conspire about the merits and pitfalls of each. Today, I appreciate the beauty of the chrome and black bodies and wouldn't be so silly to pick one over the other based solely on it being chrome or a "plastic fantastic".

Am I the only one who love chrome bodies?

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