Zeiss silver ring...why?

[-JQ-]

What is up with the bright shiny ring on Zeiss M mount glass? Does the hood cover this...filter...?

For someone who "needs"/wants black on black kit...that shiny silver ring is a non-starter.

I am fairly new to the M system but if L doesn't do it why does Z? Just marketing?

Something shiny on the end of something engineered to be resistant to flares doesn't work in my brain.

<now getting coffee for clarity of thought>

[haempe]

The chromed ring is the bayonet mount for the hood.
It's hard chromed, most scratch-resistant surface...
Other coatings would immediately show wear.

[segedi]

A black ringed filter covers it to a certain extent, but doesn't bother me. I even bought a chrome filter on accident (over the net) and don't really mind that either. And I have a completely black, no markings M7, except for the hotshoe and shutter release - didn't know you could order it with those black as well.

The Zeiss lenses are very nice. I have the 21mm f/4.5 and a 50mm f/2. They work really well and for price, they are REALLY good

[-JQ-]

Thanks for responses.

Hard chrome doesn't have to be shiny silver...and there are other "plenty hard" treatments for such a high friction (read: non-critical) application.

Maybe adding a black filter will help...or I assume the hood is black?

If I wanted to standout in a crowd out I'd be shooting a big white lens...ooops...

Thanks again...and more thoughts welcome.

[clayne]

Hardly a substantial reason not to own a specific lens. Unless it's mirror finish it's not going to cause any flare at all. Put a hood on it and it's a non-issue.

Personally I think silver tipped lenses look great, but it doesn't matter either way..

[rxmd]

Originally Posted by -JQ-

What is up with the bright shiny ring on Zeiss M mount glass? Does the hood cover this...filter...?

For someone who "needs"/wants black on black kit...that shiny silver ring is a non-starter.

I am fairly new to the M system but if L doesn't do it why does Z? Just marketing?

Zeiss has done that sort of design for a long time; the Contarex lenses in the 1950s were already in the same design.

The reason was supposedly the superior durability of the hard chrome finish for the lens bayonet; the argument was that the lenses were sufficiently flare-resistant anyway that it wouldn't make much of a difference, and if you were afraid of flare you should use a hood which obstructs the ring.

I guess the Zeiss lens designers didn't care too much about the aesthetics of black on black kits and whether the chrome ring was a non-starter for people who wanted them - the argument being that if in 1960 you wanted the best SLR lenses on the planet, you'd buy a Contarex without asking about the color of the filter ring. It's a bit of a bike shed sort of thing.

[Phil_F_NM]

The chrome ring doesn't make you any more visible than a black one would, don't worry.

Phil Forrest

[Paul T.]

You can always use tape.

Best to dress down like this fella if you don't want to attract attention.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/54704323@N02/5133646554/

[Bob Michaels]

I had to pull out one of my ZM lenses to see what you were talking about as I never noticed it in the years I have used them. But then I am one of those who would have to look down before I could tell you what color sandals I am wearing.

[Rico]

Originally Posted by rxmd

I guess the Zeiss lens designers didn't care too much about the aesthetics of black on black kits and whether the chrome ring was a non-starter for people who wanted them - the argument being that if in 1960 you wanted the best SLR lenses on the planet, you'd buy a Contarex without asking about the color of the filter ring. It's a bit of a bike shed sort of thing.

Zeiss lenses for Hasselblad, when black, most often sported a black accessory bayonet.

[rxmd]

Originally Posted by Rico

Zeiss lenses for Hasselblad, when black, most often sported a black accessory bayonet.

For the Rollei 66 and 6000 systems they didn't, the accessory bayonets there were chrome. I guess the systems manufacturers simply could have a say in the outer design if they wanted.