A little game: MP or M3?

After selling my M2 three years ago, I recently bought another in anticipation of selling my beloved M6.

Not certain if I'm evolving or devolving. Are we not men?
 
If I'm getting it for my collection, I'll get an MP a'la carte.

If I'm getting it for taking pictures, I'll find the cheapest M4-P (or M6 if I *had to have* a meter) and use the rest of the money for lens and film.

To me the *only* redeeming value of an M3 is that I can sell it quickly (putting on anti-flame suit :D :D )
 
I would go the M3 in this case.
Personally I do like metered bodies but, I don't like LED displays.
For myself I use M5, one with stock frame lines and one with M6 frame lines.
Never have tried an MP or any of the unmetered M's so the M3 is of interest.
The M6 metering light show in the VF was not so good so I passed it on .... :(
 
I wish I had a perfect condition M3 to compare & use. I now only have an M2 and MP. The Zeiss' viewfinder is "identical" in concept to the M3, and it was very nice indeed.

I use the MP 95% of the time since I got it. Not sure why, there's no practical reason for it. In fact:

+I find the finder inferior in some ways (lines not as consistency clear and contrasty as the M2, prefer yellow over white patch).
+I even had a misload on my first reload on the MP (while on horseback in the snow, that was fun). In fact I had more misloads with the MP than with the M2 (0).
+it's impossible to keep those flush viewfinder & rangefinder windows clean from fingerprints. Even the coating makes it harder to remove finger smudges.
+plastic frame illumination window and frame counter annoys the crap out of me.

I think the reason I use the MP more are:
+gentler on my (plastic) eyeglass lenses.
+frames are smaller, easier to see with glasses. I just need to lean in more for "proper" framing.
+easier to change shutter speeds with the tip of my index while walking.
+slightly better in dim environments (for framing, not necessarily focusing)
+it's black, I want to see it brass!

Meter is a non-issue, the MP has no battery. I use a Gossen when in doubt.

I wonder why Leica has not brought back the old-style M3 viewfinder. I would seriously consider that. But no rounded corners please!
 
Seriously? Like the up-talk kids say these days? Seriously?

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'Nuff said.
 

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M6 TTL.

I like how the shutter speed dial is easier to turn and turns the way that the meter arrows point. To me it is more natural and I have both an M6 classic and TTL.

Remember that the MP is just an expensive re-release of the M6 with a viewfinder upgrade. If you feel like paying an extra $2000 for glossy paint and a flare-less finder, that is fine. Even as I mock it, I find myself falling prey to their marketing, but then remember that I would have to sell my 50mm Summicron and M6 just to get an MP body, and for what?

Do you already have a lens? Remember that the lens takes the picture, not the camera body which is just a dark box which holds the film. All other details are creature comforts and dependability. Definitely don't buy an MP before considering how much your lens will cost.
 
So, Akiva, I think there are more answers than just M3 or MP. For example:

Black Paint MP! IF I had the money. Nothing else in that price range works for me, just the black pain MP.

Green M3 until I win the lottery.:angel:

But if I won the lottery, I would certainly buy both.:)
 
thomasw_ said:
Given the dichotomy the OP sets, I'd go with the M3 over the MP .85x -- due to the fact that the red dot/arrows in the VF drive me to compositional confuzzlement while shooting in low light situations or they slow me down by how often they advise me to adjust (usually in useless small increments) my aperture or shutter speed. This is assuming I am wanting a body for shooting a 50/75/90 etc...

To my mind the best all-round M (which, for me, has to be without an in-camera meter) would be a M4-P. Its 28/35/50/75 lines do any framing I might want and its a simple no nonsense M that never distracts me while I am composing. I just had my M4-p buffed, too; so now it looks as good as it functions for me!
Click to expand...
Urg, you could take the battery out of the M6.
 
dave lackey said:
So, Akiva, I think there are more answers than just M3 or MP. For example:

Black Paint MP! IF I had the money. Nothing else in that price range works for me, just the black pain MP.

Green M3 until I win the lottery.:angel:

But if I won the lottery, I would certainly buy both.:)
Click to expand...
I vote for my M3 but secretly love the MP.
 
Another vote for a used M6
- CLA
- Masked 135/75 Framelines
- MP Upgrade
- MP/M3 Advance Lever
- Re-Skin it

Then use the rest of the $$$ on "another" craigslist fridge & a ___ load of film :)
 
^ this is exactly what I did, plus made it into an "M6 black dot anti-panda". :) and no regrets. Will go for an MP only when the money is no object and I can do something similar a la carte.

Cheers,
Rob
 
I choose the Black Paint MP (traded in a used M7 to make the purchase)

. . . . . a short time later I picked up a mint Chrome M6 TTL VF 0.85.


Most often have a 35 or 50 on the MP, and a 75 or 90 on the M6.

Others in the past have complained about small speed dial (MP) vs big speed dial (M6 TTL) and the need to move in the opposite direction with the MP and in the same direction that the arrow is pointing with the M6 as being problems. I find no difficulty moving from one camera to the other. Enjoy having two film cameras with different focal lengths when out for a walk.

A plus to the M6 TTL when it comes to loading film, for me it is just easier and quicker to load a new roll with the M6 TTL.

A plus to the MP is the film rewind, for me I find it easier to use then the M6 and I like the look of the camera better.


What ever works for folks, I don't think they can make a bad choice.
 
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