Another M Body - MP / M7 or . . .

dcsang

dcsang

Canadian & Not A Dentist
Local time
5:42 PM
Joined
Jun 16, 2005
Messages
4,548
I'm looking to add another M body to my kit.

The reason is, I'd like to offer a "B&W film only" package to my wedding offerings.. yes, I know, some may say I'm crazy but I think it's kind of cool no?

Anywho, I have my M7 and I have been mulling over adding another M7 (because the AE is awesome imho - now if only Leica would put AF on their M's ;) ) but I am open to considering other M bodies. I could then have a wide on one body and a normal or perhaps 90mm on the other.

I have been eying / considering an MP as well. My reason is, I would lose the AE which may (or may not) bug me but I would gain the mechanical functionality since the M7, if the batteries go kaput, is only giving me 1/60 and 1/125 to use.

Riccis has also suggested to me an older M, such as an M3 or M2 but then I don't have the metering capability (not that a hand meter wouldn't be available to me - Sekonic 308s).

So.. what say you lot? I'm open to suggestions here on what you guys/gals think may be a good addition for such usage.

Cheers,
Dave
 
If you carry two bodies, the second body doesn't need the meter, IMO.

There is nothing better for 90 than an M3, Dave .....

If, however, you pick 75 instead of 90, another higher-mag M7 is probably best.
 
I think 35mm B&W for weddings can be gorgeous... You can be very sharp and grainless, or exploit real big grain for that old, artsy look... Cool results, and cool, light equipment...

Cheers,

Juan
 
I lean towards the MP when you absolutely must have only the best in reliability. That is if you can spring the money (one is in classifieds for $2400.)
 
I agree with back alley. Since it is for business make one black & the other silver that way you will not confuse the films when the cameras are in use. As far as batteries go buy a few and stuff them in the bag & leave them there. You need the 75/90 framelines for portraits ergo a camera with those framelines.
 
Roland,

do you think one of those 1.25x magnifiers or the 0.85 M7 would be any different or are the 90mm Framelines that crappy?

Cheers,
Dave
 
dcsang said:
Roland,

do you think one of those 1.25x magnifiers or the 0.85 M7 would be any different or are the 90mm Framelines that crappy?

Cheers,
Dave
Click to expand...

Dave, have a look at your M7. I don't like the shape (just middle lines along the 4 edges) of the 90 lines.

With the M3 you have a beautiful large solid rectangle, and with M2/M4 you have middle segments and corners. If you shoot 90 a lot, these are much easier to use than "modern" 90mm framelines. Of course if you use 90 only occasionally it doesn't matter. But I see you running around with one Leica on each shoulder, one having a 35/50 and the other a 90 :)

Hope that makes sense.

Roland.
 
Last edited:
What do you use for your digital wedding plans?

If it's a dSLR(s), why not get a matching film SLR & use that for the short telephoto shots, & use wides on the M7? An SLR w/telephoto (prime or zoom) & RF w/wide(s) was the classic photojournalist combo (until the '80s?) for a good reason.

I have nothing against RFs or getting another M body, but if this is a business decision you can save yourself a lot of money by just getting an old film body, e.g., a Rebel if you're a Canon guy or whatever the Nikon equivalent was.

If you're wedded (no pun intended) to another RF body & don't really need to use the 90mm that often, I would suggest getting 1 or 2 Hexar RF bodies for the wide side & use the M7 w/a 50, 75, or occasional 90.

dcsang said:
I'm looking to add another M body to my kit.

The reason is, I'd like to offer a "B&W film only" package to my wedding offerings.. yes, I know, some may say I'm crazy but I think it's kind of cool no?

Anywho, I have my M7 and I have been mulling over adding another M7 (because the AE is awesome imho - now if only Leica would put AF on their M's ;) ) but I am open to considering other M bodies. I could then have a wide on one body and a normal or perhaps 90mm on the other.
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
Dave,

I'd say look at a ZI. You really like AE and I think while another M7 might be good I just think you will really like the ZI finder.

B2 (;->
 
Dave - Given that the shutter speed dial turns in the opposite direction to the M's (2-6 -except M6ttl) & MP's - it would make more sense to me to get another M7 as others have suggested - especially of you are having to work under "Wedding" conditions
 
If I was in your shoes I'd go with another M7 maybe with different magnification or an m6ttl so you have the shutter speed dial turning in the same direction on both cameras.
 
M7 or MP

M7 or MP

I think I read that the MP will allow mechanical perfection, while the M7 offers photographic excellence. I would guess it depends what you are after.

I have had just as much go wrong with my MP (2 trips to Solms) as I ever did with my M6. My M7 after 5 years of pretty constant use has never caused any concern for reliability and never needed specialized attention.
 
The M6TTL is the only other Leica M whose shutter speed dial will work "correctly" for you based on your M7. Doing a quick peek at some used sites, it seems the M6TTL is a bit scarce now. It was made in 0.58x, 0.72x and 0.85x, just like your M7.

I have one and the batteries for the meter last several years. Can't remember when I last replaced them. If it's important for your livelihood, just replace them, along with your smoke detector batteries, on one of the daylight saving changes each year.
 
Wow guys... thanks :)

There's a whole whack of options here.
I would consider the Nikon film body but, I guess, I want to limit "big gear" that I carry if I'm shooting a film wedding - I'll be running a lot - I do regularly with my D700/grip and whack of lenses - and lemme tell ya.. I'm SORE the next day :D

Anyway, the M7 I have now is 0.72..

Roland, I really appreciate your view on this :) Thank you so much.

I'm going to consider the second M7 or an M3 right now. I think Roland actually nailed the idea.. one body with the 35/50 and the other with the telephoto :)

Cheers,
Dave
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom