Black VS. Chrome camera bodies.

[skahde]

Speaking from the early days, there was a reason why professional cameras were black and consumer cameras were silver. The pro cameras were brass bodies. This didn't loook good, so they were painted. Black was the obvious choice.

Don't think so. It is easy to put a chrome plating on brass but it is *much* harder to put a durable black coating on brass which comes close in durability (well used black Leica M3 and an MP are worn to the brass today in most cases with only little coating left). Aluminium can be anodized black without any problem which keeps very well.

Therefore, following your line of argument, amateur cameras would have been black and pro cameras chrome.

Best

Stefan