It's a shame it looks so pretty...Black Paint YE

I absolutely agree. As a regular camera it's too expensive. As a collectible, it's worthless.

I see there are several chrome bodies available for under $175. I think I have several finishes of spray paint in black. Maybe I'll try one in satin for $600, or maybe an all-white super gloss! :)

There seems to be a trend, and it's growing way out of control. This time with Canon P L39 screw bodies...

www.ebay.com/itm/192892549143 - multiple solid colors

www.ebay.com/itm/193471224845 - 2-tone

www.ebay.com/itm/383454260493 - fire engine red

Even the leatherette is painted...!?!?! CLA them and replate the chrome to turn them back into trustworthy usable cameras to last another 25-50 years... that would draw me in as a buyer. This is just so wrong, in so many ways.

I've done some with a colored/patterned cover that was not manufactured as basic black, too. I may have spray painted vinyl or leather when I was about 7 years old, and after a few weeks when it starts to flake off or peel, I got the lightbulb moment that it probably wasn't a good idea. These just reminded me of my early 'experiments' in creative coloring.

Thanks for the link to the article bp_reid ... The repainting work's done by Kanto in Japan for Bellamy and some of his clients, and from the looks of what they do (a corrected link, that works) it is very profesionally done, and pretty appealing. It's unfortunate that someone else takes that same basic idea and obliterates the quality aspect of the repainting work just to cash in. There's no pricing posted on what Kanto charges that I can see, so there's no way to compare their service to other late comers from Taiwan, Hong Kong, and elsewhere. It's custom work when done by them, since they strip the chrome and CLA it like they would a Leica - which they're factory authorized to repair... so I imagine it's not exactly cheap.

I do have a Canon 7 that would look really good in a matte charcoal repaint, but I shudder at how much it would cost to get it done right.

My ex-wife would quickly say that I'm not the best with setting priorities, so I'm the last one to ask. My stomach would tell me to do the veggies first, my desire to not kill myself or others would mean the EGR gets the wrench first, but my eyes would be happy to see a slick new look on the 16. In other words, I'm doomed, but I'd have a snappy lookin' camera. :)