Help me date this MP...

O

onesixeight

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Hi...

I'm looking to pick up a used MP...according to the seller, it has a serial 383xxxx. It's a black finish MP.

Thanks guys! 🙂

Chris
 
I don't think you can precisely date the MP by serial number. At least, that's what I've read. There were some minor changes that might help you determine if it's a newer or earlier model. But remember, the MP was only introduced in 2003. None of them are old. The changes have been very minor.

Do the MP serial numbers mean anything?

Leica MP production year

I think what matters is the condition its in now. If it's in good condition and the price is right, then I wouldn't worry about when it was made.
 
mine is 346xxxxx and was bought new in 2010 so I don't think you can date by number.
383's are late production though.
condition is what sets prices however even one that has brassing and user marks is probably only going to fetch a hundred or so less than a mint one. The ones imho to stay clear of are those that have been sand papered by wannabe Jim Marshall's.
I've seen pics of some with some straaaange brassing.
 
Thanks for the replies! The camera looks pretty much brand new and this is one of the latest serial numbers I've seen in my short search for an MP.

I think I'm gonna jump on this one 🙂
 
Yes, hopefully Al will start up the monthly gatherings again in September/October timeframe. Love the discussions and the presentations of work brought to the gatherings.

btw, I enjoyed your recent portrait postings on Flick with your Rolliflex 3.5. It that your son?
 
seakayaker1 said:
Yes, hopefully Al will start up the monthly gatherings again in September/October timeframe. Love the discussions and the presentations of work brought to the gatherings.

btw, I enjoyed your recent portrait postings on Flick with your Rolliflex 3.5. It that your son?
Click to expand...

Thanks Dan! It's actually my friend's son...no kids for me yet 🙂 I can't wait for the meetings to start up again...a great group of people!
 
...um that's interesting I actually thought it was the other way around since I have two a la carte in the 300xxxx range made in 2005/6 with textured plate and a regular 3511xxx made in 2010 with smooth. I also noticed that they changed the rangefinder arm's adjustment screw from the earlier slot type to hexagonal key type like M8/9 . One more difference between mine is the later one's baseplate disc that fastens to camera has an additional washer ontop..i have seen this on later m7 's aswell..presumablly to better position the film? Both my a la carte's suffer the dreaded eyepiece dust problem(imho the worst single design feature of the mp)...even after i attepted to seal them..the later regular one seems to be ok at the moment but haven't used as much. I will post pics to illustrate my points if i get time. Thanks
 
Dunno what the significance of the camera's date of manufacture would be. Got my MP in 2003, and it's worked just fine, other than one of the metering LEDs in the viewfinder going out, and needing to be fixed by Leica.
 
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