In article <4fjcj6$4nm@rebecca.albany.edu>, dr8192@CNSVAX.ALBANY.EDU says... (about posts about "Titanium" cameras)

> Data definitely derived from printed
> material by someone who has never used
> a Titaniun model of anything .....
>
> If the cover plates are about 6% of the
> weight of a camera with lens, and you
> save maybe 1/2 the weight of the covers,
> then you save *about* 3% of the weight
> in your hand, and only about 1% or 2%
> of the weight in your bag. Of course
> you save about 90% of the weight in your
> wallet with a Ti model of anything, so
> maybe that is what ARH means above !
>
> Advertising, and Pop Pres, seem to want
> us to believe that Ti models are super
> strong super light versions hewn from
> solid blocks of Titanium by lasers that
> focus all the stars in the galaxy to
> carve a camera from this wonder metal.
> I'll take plastic covers any day.
>
> Regards, David Rosen
> dr8192@cnsvax.albAny.edu

(I always enjoy DR's humor - which is usually to the point!)
Being an owner of two "Titanium" f3's (only the top and bottom
covers, prism cover, and [allegedly, but I don't believe it]
the back are titanium), I was interested in your post. I bought
one F3T new, thinking it would be a good user and investment,
but, since it sits on the shelf to avoid marking it and prices
haven't risen as expected yet, it has served neither purpose
very well. The other one was used when I bought it at a good
price, and is mint but for a crease in the prism cover (!).
Attempts to straighten out the crease taught me how tough
titanium is! Placing the flat end of a screw-driver on the
dent and giving the screw-driver a good whack with a hammer
was needed to make any "impression" on the dent. With brass
covers, I can often straighten dents with bare fingers, they
are so soft. (Makes one wonder what caused that dent in the
F3T....). Plastic covers do not dent, of course, but they do
shatter if struck hard enough - and they show wear in a short
time from normal handling, unlike painted or chromed metal (so,
keeping a "Plastic" camera in mint condition is impossible if
it is used at all). And the "Titanium" F3 is not noticeably
lighter than a "Brass" F3 (or heavier than a "Plastic" f3, if
there were one), just somewhat more durable, and (potentially)
more valuable when eventually sold.
Hope This Helps