Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1998/09/22

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Subject: Re: [Leica] Lens wt vs finish->Now question about titanium
From: "Bruce R. Slomovitz" <brslomo@erols.com>
Date: Tue, 22 Sep 1998 06:45:13 -0400

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.