The siren call of the black MP

antistatic

antistatic

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Hi, I'm a first time poster who is trying to resist the lure of the black MP. I have had an interest in photography for about 13 years (strictly as an enthusiastic amateur). I started with a Nikon N70 however I traded it for a Nikon FM2n and some prime lenses. I loved that camera. I still have scars from when I fell on rocks when shooting but the Nikon did not miss a beat.

About 9 years ago I bought a Minolta CLE with the 3 Rokkor lenses (28/40/90) from a local camera dealer. What a camera! It has recorded some very important events in my life including the birth of my two children.

As my children grew (and started running too fast), I started wanting autofocus again. I went back to Nikon and have had a D70s and now a D300 with a bunch of lenses. The D300 is a fantastic camera and I thought I was set for a while.

But not so long ago I was reading a magazine with a friend and one of the props in a photo spread was a Leica MP. I was explaining my friend what made Leica M series such great cameras and I started to hanker for the simplicity of the rangefinder. I have since shot a couple of rolls of XP2 through the CLE and it has been like rediscovering and old friend. With the D300 it is hard to go unnoticed yet the CLE is so unobtrusive. I am also used to taking heaps of photos when shooting digital and just keeping what come out OK. With film I find I think about each photo so much more. I also have a greater sense of satisfaction when I nail a good shot with the CLE.

So anyway I am back in love with rangefinders and with film. Then I see that a local Leica dealer has a black MP for what seems to be a good price (even compared with prices on the auction site). The MP is the current Leica that appeals to me most. I don't need flash so I don't need TTL metering. If I really need aperture priority I will shoot with the CLE. I do want in-camera metering. For macro, super fast auto focus etc I will use the D300. I love the fact that the MP is so solid and well made. I also like the idea that it will take the Rokkor lenses. And it's a Leica!!

Now the rational side says stick with the CLE and that a new body (even if it is a Leica) will not make me a better photographer. The irrational side says "MP, MP, MP".

Bearing in mind that I know that in the end it can only be my decision, any advice, opinions, similar experiences etc would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks for reading,
David
 
Resistance if futile! 😀

Seriously, the MP is a great camera, I am selling one of my M8 (mint, btw) to get a second MP instead. Black, of course.

Get it, you'll never look back! 😀
 
Well, I wouldn't resist it, unless it's a really painful financial stretch. If you don't get it, you'll constantly be thinking about it. Get it, and you can think about taking pictures instead.

(Guess what: I have a black MP...)

(I also have 2x M2, one M4-P and an M8. Someday I'll sell the M4-P and M2 and put the money towards another MP).

Cheers,

R.
 
Well plenty of folks here will say the MP is a waste of money, that the M6 is just as good if you need a meter, but that you don't need a meter, and so a M4-2 is the way to go. I don't agree with this. I've shot M7's, MP's, M6's and an M5, and have to say that in my opinion the MP is certainly a more solid camera*. I work nearly daily with an MP, and several days a week with a combination of M7's and MP. The M6 felt tinny, the M7/MP feel solid. If a meter is something you need (as I do) you won't go wrong with an MP. I'd say if you like it, go for it.

* As requested by the OP I'm giving my opinion, so I don't need to hear how wrong I am in your opinion
 
You are doomed. Enjoy your MP, and welcome to the forum.

I have to whole-heartedly agree with sepiareverb. I had a very late M6 classic that felt rough, tinny, and frankly a bit lame in comparison to my M3. The MP is a much nicer camera. And as one who has broken the angled rewind cranks on both cameras I owned that had them (an M4-P and that M6) I much prefer the knob rewind of the M3/2/P; it's more robust, and doesn't lose tension if your fingers slip off. I think the knob rewind, and the MP in general, is a far prettier and more elegant camera, too- for whatever that's worth.
 
I agree with the above two posters. Get the MP before someone else does. I use two and they are fantastic cameras and I say that as a previous user of M6 and M7 cameras. Welcome to the forum BTW! 🙂
 
I have a black chrome unit ordered a la carte and love using it. I hope yours is either .58 or .85. Framelines on the standard mag can be annoying. I really wish I would've bought the MP3/50 lux kit when they were more plentiful/afforable. At one point Tony Rose was selling them under $5k. Seems so cheap now.
 
Mp, Mp, Mp, Mp, Mp, Mp, Mp!....
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I own an MP and the Hexar RF. I love them both but unlike the CLE, the Hexar RF has an AE lock, meter's in manual, built-in motor, metal shutter and top speed of 1/4000. The finder optics aren't quite as perfect as the MP but nothing else is. There are two other things about the MP I really like such as the meter display and mechanical solidness. If it had a metal shutter and higher top speed, I'd only have one RF camera instead of two.
 
Yeah, with me it's either/or concerning my D300 or an M camera. Right now I do a little internet stock, but if that path becomes too onerous I'll ditch the D300, wonderful as it is, for an M.

Of course, the more basic consideration is film or digital. I think either is fine as long as you believe it's right for you.
 
When I decided to start shooting film I did a lot of reading on forums and came to the conclusion that the MP was for me. And by way of agreeing with Vieri, we had lunch together last week and of course talking about cameras, I told him if I could only keep one of my cameras without a second thought it would be the MP, it's black paint by the way.
 
get the MP, it's what you want isn't it? I have a BP MP and it's my standard go to camera. The CLE is a great kit and valuable if you were to have to sell it to fund the MP, esp. with all three lenses.

Todd
 
Having a camera that you enjoy shooting will encourage you to shoot more. Given an inclination toward reviewing one's images and noting what makes us happy about it and what we feel we need to improve upon, shooting more often leads to being a better photographer.

My 2 centavos...
 
Everything is said, but I want to throw in another thought:
I´m a happy user of the MP (black paint) since five years and I didn´t regret it any time. It is such a fantastic camera, rock solid, brilliant viewfinder, perfectly ballanced in my hands, and sooo beautiful...!

With my interest in rangefinders in general, I tasted many other of the same technical family, there are: Minolta CLE, Leica M3, M4-2, M4-P, M5, M6, M6 TTL, M7, M8, Konica Hexar RF, Nikon S3, Nikon SP etc...
For me (in the meantime I bought a second body, an M5, actually a third body joined my party, the great M8) the one and only is...
the MP
since five years...

Greetings
Bully
 
Well said, Bob. I have owned a couple of MPs; I had a .58 MP and I now have a standard .72 BP MP.

An awesome all-round camera, I use it just about everyday and I LOVE using it! It is handy to have the MP's in-camera meter for shooting in social situations, but I do regard the M2/M3 bodies I own -- which are w/o meters -- very, very highly, too. The thinking and problem solving with just sunny 16 can render you brilliant results that are quite satisfying. Of course you can get that experience with the MP, too 😉

If finances are no stumbling block, go black with the MP!
 
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