Help me. I'm about to sell my MP for an M6...should I?

R

rich815

Guest
I bought an almost MINT MP from Tamarkin almost 2 years ago for about $2200. It's gorgeous, beautiful, smooth, silky, yadda yadda. I love it. However, I find myself, one, thinking that was a lot of money for a camera body, and two, I often am nervous taking out such an expensive camera to shoot in the old "other side of the tracks" industrial and seedier street areas that I like to shoot. I also find myself worrying about getting it all dinged up though if I keep it I imagine it will one day be worn, brassed and really worked in. As long as it works I could not care less for the look really, I am careful though with such a pristine body.

So a few months ago it got me thinking: Although the MP is one awesome camera many people (especially those who have an M6) say the MP is nothing but an over-priced, slightly better built M6. Others (especially those who have an MP) say the MP is better built (worth the price difference) and smoother-working than an M6 and also has higher quality interior parts. Not having used an M6 much I wonder.

Today at a local camera store (respectable, old school-type) I came across a user-condition classic 0.72 black-body M6 with VG+ 50/2 type 2 rigid Summicron for $1499 USD. The lens being worth about $400-500 or so this makes the M6 about $1000-1100. The M6 seems in good shape mechanically, it has been "looked over" by one of the two store's buyers, and the place has a good reputation locally. It is slightly brassed on the corners but otherwise looks and feels pretty good. Other than the different film advance lever I'd even say it felt very much like my MP in terms of film advance smoothness, shutter sound, etc.

Should I do it? Should I get this decent user M6 (which I'll likely use more and worry less about) and sell off my MP (which I should be able to get close to $2000)? Thoughts?

And if perhaps I should do it is this a decent price for a classic M6 in such condition?
 
Well, the MP was meant to be used. If you are babying it, and not using it, then yes, I'd sell it and get something you don't think you'll worry about as much.

Of course, you already got it at a good price. I personally would just suck it up and use the MP.
 
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Stop worrying and use your MP. Why trade in a greater for a lesser? And if you are that worried about getting robbed while out and about have it insured. Then just go shoot and stop obsessing about it. 🙂

/T
 
I agree with Tuolumne, just take the camera you have, which is one of the finest cameras made, and go ding it up, I mean use it..... you'll lose money everytime you sell or trade. either through taxes, commissions, or consignement fees. If you trade it you'll end up with a battered M6 with a small amount of cash.... usually less than you might think.
-Rob
 
Now... in a different vein, don't worry about the MP. It was meant to be used, so go ahead and use it. Why go through the hassle of selling one piece of gear and purchase another? Just don't leave your camera alone, don't place yourself in risky situations or places and that'll be it. Otherwise, you'll find yourself wondering later whether you should take out your M6 or sell it to buy a Bessa...

Seriously. Enjoy life! 😀
 
Rich, as you pointed out, there is no magic to the MP. Yes, it is better made than the M6, but to me, one of the most important things it has going for it is that it is new. Personally I would keep the MP.

If I were buying one, I would consider THIS M6. Also, I would wait till the Leica price increase in July before selling the MP.
 
If worrying about the MP is stopping you shooting, buy an M6. Otherwise, as others have said, just use the MP.

Ian
 
I have been exactly where you are. I have a chrome MP and an older black Wetzlar made M6 that I use regularly. My thoughts: the more you use the MP, which means pushing through the collector barrier into the confident user arena, you'll be glad you kept the MP. Not because it is a better camera per se, but because you'll be using it for its intended purpose as a fine photographic tool and you'll become one with it, something I feel a collector can never do (collectors keep therir possesions in their heads but away from their souls). So use it, take care handling it of course, but use it. And as you you use it more and more, you'll find it becomes a trusted friend and you'll be past the collector "gotta baby it/not use it" phase. And then you'll be free to REALLY enjoy it.

I will soon be selling a number of older mint Leica M3 and M2 bodies that have sat around, only exercised and admired. But I'll keep my MP amd M6 and M4 to use and enjoy. Because using them is the best.

IML: I dig the Sun Ra avatar pic you have. Wonderful!
 
Michiel said:
Wouldn't the reason to buy a M6 instead of MP be the extra aperture priority feature?

(I'm not Leica knowledgable, but that's what I thought was the main difference 🙂)
Click to expand...

You are referring to the M7.
 
Having owned an M6 and then moved "up" to an MP, I can say that the differences are minimal. If you are a Leica user, however, it's the little differences that make a difference. The somewhat drab finish (imo, of course) of the M6 always left me cold. My MP feels just right. I bought my MP used, and it already had signs of brassing and use, so using it daily is not a problem for me.

The MP, as you know, is not mechanically better, save for the improved finder. (My M6, by the way, had a finder that was just fine, and the change to an MP finder was not dramatic for me.) I have talked with DAG about the mechanical robustness of the MP vs. the M6, and he tells me that--save for the finder--the MP is not a better camera, mechanically speaking.

Recalling my own use, I think it's pretty hard to "brass" an M6, so an M6 that shows edge wear has definitely seen healthy use. Not a bad thing, just somethig to be aware of down the line.

Like you, sometimes I wonder about what it means to carry such expensive kit, and sometimes I wonder if I am not better served with only one camera--in my case, a CLA'd M4, which has a slightly better finder than the MP, imo. If you are used to working with handheld meters, why not go classic, such as M2, M3, or M4?
 
One other point. If you are worried about dinging it get a Luigi half case for it. A magnificent piece of craftmanship on a par with the MP in quality and protects the most vulnerable parts of the camera. I know that I feel much less cautious about going out with the MP when it's in my Luigi case.

/T
 
I was in almost exactly the same position a bit over a year ago. Black MP bought as a demo...except that I used mine and within a year it really looked it. No luxurious patina of brass, just a mass of superficial spiderweb scratches. Sold it for what I'd paid (thanks to the new prices having risen astronomically in the meantime), bought not one but two M6's from KEH in BGN (eBay Mint- 😀 ) and a Voitlander 28 Ultron (also BGN, perfect glass) and had enough change leftover for a brick of film. No regrets whatsoever. I never noticed the "improvements" on the MP and the rewinder was a total PITA that forced me to buy the added crank. Don't get me wrong the MP is/was a great camera, but 2 M6's and a lens and some film are of more use to me.
 
Don't get me wrong the MP is/was a great camera, but 2 M6's and a lens and some film are of more use to me.
Click to expand...

Rich - $1500 is a good price for the body/lens. What's wrong with having the MP and the M6? {angel-devil-angel-devil...devil}

- John
 
1. If you're worried about taking an MP into a rough part of town won't you be just as worried about taking an M6 there? Most people only know Canon, Sony, and Olympus... they have no idea what a Leica is anyway.

(Aside: I lent a Leica Minilux to a friend to go photograph some products in a shop. We were planning to use the photos on eBay. When he got back he told me that he hadn't used my camera because the shop owner had a better one... a Canon APS, and he'd used that instead.)

2. As I understand it your MP is black paint and will brass over time. The M6 is either black chrome or black enamel (cannot recall which) and will not brass.
 
I purchased my MP a la carte late last year. It's showing small signs of use and I'm fine with that. It's my camera right out of the box. It feels great....the VF is much better. Not just more flare resistant....much brighter than the M6.(that also includes the so called VF "Upgrade". All the process does is render the VF more flare resistant...not brighter. And I did upgrade from the M6 to the MP. Your proposed trade is not really that equitable. Just save your money for more equipment if that's what you're after.
 
Rich,

Not to complicate matters, but how about something like the Leica CL to buy as a knock-around camera? Keep the MP and use the CL for the seedy excursions. You can get one with a working meter for about $400 or so, and it is smaller and will likely draw less attention. I know it isn't a "real" Leica M, but I like it.

Chris
 
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