How do I go about buying an MP?

I've used various Leica Ms since 1983 and the last was an MP. I recently sold it as I'm moving away from film to digital. My advise to you is this: don't do it for several reasons:

A used M6 will do nicely. The build quality of the MP is at best marginally better but definitely not worth the extra 4 $K. With the exception of a TTL meter, the camera is basically unchanged since 1953. The M5 is their best built body with a TTL meter. It also has the most sensitive semi-spot ever incorporated into a 35 mm camera with the possible exception of the late long discontinued Contarex cameras.

Any Wetzlar M body prior to the M4-2 has a better build quality, just ask knowledgeble repair people like DAG or Sherry Krauter. The MP may seem perfect but can still malfunction partly due to corner cutting from Leica as with the frame counter mechanism. This is not something you want to encounter if you've spent a ton of money. In Leica defense, at least they give a generous warranty period with a new camera but mine didn't malfunction until after the warranty expired.
 
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Why does it always come down to dollars and cents? How can you put value on something like an MP that you'll own for the rest of your life. And people say that an M6 is better? You can't buy new M6s. Anyway, if the OP want's to buy an MP I say go for it. We only live once, get the best Camera that Leica makes...

There'll be a thousand other ways to waste thousands upon thousands of dollars later on in life. An MP for a film/camera purist is not a waste of money.
 
Dont forget that the camera body is just a box, with a finder, shutter and a lens mount. What takes the actual picture is the lens!
The MP is nice, but not any better at this than the M6/M6TTL/M4P/M2 etc. A $5000+ Mp is ludicrous in my opinion. You can pick up a M6, a back-up M2 and a couple of lenses for that and still have enough for a bag full of film. I have MP's, M6's, M4P's and M3's and a lot of M2's. Probably 85% of my "shooting" is done with M2's! The flashing diodes on the M6/MP always bugs me - particular in low light - your eye is drawn to them and you loose concentration.
Yes, the MP comes from the factory with a slighter smoother advance than the M6 - but nothing that a couple of 100 rolls through the M6 wont cure. I bought my MP 0.58 when it was marginally more expensive than a M6TTL - and I had to replace the seal around the ocular as it sucked in dust and the filmpressure plate spring is a bit dodgy and keeps coming loose. Otherwise it works fine - but not any better than my M6's and M6 TTL's.
Spend the money on the lenses you want rather than the body. A $1000 M6 with a good lens will work better than a MP with a mediocre lens. Or just buy a couple of M2's, a 35 and a 50 mm lens and possibly a wide lens (21/25) and a good handheld meter and the aforementioned film. One rule that I always stick too - NEVER go on a trip with just one camera body - doesn't matter how good it is - Murphy's Law applies and it will develop some problem during that trip and leave you stranded. Later on when you join the rat-race of the working stiff's - you can add a MP to the stash for considerably less than a new MP is today! Leica prices always go up and down, sell on the up and buy on the down.
You also have the advantage today of a huge choice of "glass" from other manufacturers - and make no mistake - some of the lenses from Zeiss, VC and Konica put some Leica lenses to shame - and in the end it is what you do with the "box" and the "glass" that counts, not what it says on top of the camera body or the front ring of the lens.
 
SimonSawSunlight said:
have you used Ms before? have you had the chance to compare the MP to other models? if you're that short on money, you might find that the MP really doesn't offer you much more (nothing, if you ask me, but I agree that it looks good) than most other Ms especially with regards to the big extra you'll be paying. remember you need a good lens to make the camera worthwhile at all and those don't come cheap either.
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I agree. The M3 might be the pinnacle, although I am doubtless risking destruction here by saying that. Opinions vary. But Simon's point is a good one. Any M body that is mechanically in good shape will do, and he's right about the lens cost, as my bank account knows.

Have fun.
 
Add me to those who suggest getting a nice user M instead of an MP. With the cash you save you can get one or two nice pieces of glass (50mm Summicron and 35mm f1.2 Nokton would be a SWEET starter kit).

Those two lense plus a M2, M4, M4-P, M5, or M6 could probably be had for the price of a new MP. I know an MP is a totally gorgeous camera but in terms of utility the money is best spent elsewhere.

BTW, I agree with Venchka. I recently got an M5 and it's my favorite M out of all the models Ive used (M2, M3, M4-P)
 
I had traded few old Ms and Contax G2 but decided to bite the bullet and get brand new black paint MP, 35, 75 lenses in 2007 at slightly discounted price from an oversea dealer, it was $7,500 all-in blood-letting at the time. I couldn't be happier ever since. Never feel the urge to look at other cameras again, never feel the need to upgrade. A thousand rolls later, it still surprises me when the negatives came out.

You could game the camera but looking at alternatives, but you will never stop thinking about it. So if money is a short, cut back other expenses like coffee and dinning, share the rent with a mate, work at starbucks etc, the harder you work to get it, the more enjoyable when it finally arrived.
 
If you are planning on traveling, even more reason not to spend $5600. I almost took my nice gear on my world trip, and luckily i didnt. My hotel was broken into and my Nikon d40 was stolen. I couldnt care less about the camera, but my photos on the SD card were taken. Very sad. Trust me traveling with an M2 is so much smarter than traveling with an MP in other countries. In some places, that would literally be a couple years salary. Not to say thieves will know the difference, but they will steal anything and if your fortures run out, best they steal a $750 camera vs $5000+

Unless you are very wealthy, i dont see why a student whose never owned an M would need the flagship film body.
 
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Just because it can be bought new, the MP is not Leica's film "flagship".

M3 and M6 are the most successful Ms, in terms of production numbers and use - by a far margin.

Just depends how you look at it 🙂

Or think about it this way: I like the look, etc, of a 911 Turbo. But I would never buy one and drive it, would seem very waistful and risky to corner a US 150k car at max. performance. Because sh*t happens.


No idea about your finances. But as a rule of thumb, I suggest to only buy a camera if you can easily replace it when it breaks or is lost. Ideally use two, so (a) you can shoot with two, (b) you have a replacement when the camera needs service.

Just my 2 cents.
 
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ferider said:
Just because it can be bought new, the MP is not Leica's film "flagship".

M3 and M6 are the most successful Ms, in terms of production numbers and use - by a far margin.

Just depends how you look at it 🙂

No idea about your finances. But as a rule of thumb, I suggest to only buy a camera if you can easily replace it when it breaks or is lost. Ideally use two, so (a) you can shoot with two, (b) you have a replacement when the camera needs service.

Just my 2 cents.
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Flagship does not imply new, the definition of flagship generally means "most expensive" of the line/series of products. In this case, the MP is the most expensive production body M (film body)
 
ferider said:
From http://www.merriam-webster.com, flag·ship: the finest, largest, or most important one of a series ...

Whatever. Keep calling the MP like that and the OP will order one tomorrow.
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I dunno why you are being a hard ass about it. You're the one who said "just because it is new doesn't make it a "flagship". I can point you to another definition of flagship lol. Anyway, I clearly stated my opinion on why he shoudn't buy it, but the decision is really his.

And i actually agree with you about the other bodies. Anyway, carry on. I hope you get the camera that suits YOU best OP. good luck!
 
WOW I am overwhelmed with this much great advice, on both sides! Thank you, thank you.. I still have plenty of time to ponder, but keep it coming!
 
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