Lens mounts were traditionally made of chrome-plated brass. For many years
the Nikon F was the only camera with a chrome-steel (stainless-steel?)
mount. The Olympus M-1 was unusual in that it, too, had a stainless-steel
mount.
Brass is not as long-wearing as stainless steel, and the plating gradually
wears off. But it was used because it was much easier to machine than
stainless steel.
For the same reason, plastic is replacing brass in cheaper cameras. Plastic
costs a lot more than brass, but it requires no machining (ie, hand labor)
at all! It pops out of the mold and is screwed to the camera. (I wouldn't be
surprised if the mount is actually part of the body in some cameras.)
Industrial plastics are tough, but they will wear faster than stainless
steel. No pro photographer who's always changing his lenses would ever buy a
camera with a plastic lens mount.
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