I'm Thinking Of Getting A Leica MP

Wanted what an MP does, and had the money to pay for one, at a slight stretch, but ended up going with a used Zeiss Ikon ZM at less than half the price of a secondhand MP. Just as capable, weighs less, easier to load while drunk. Cheaper to replace when I inevitably drop it. Very happy with my choice, since I'm only function-fixated regarding bodies (while remaining a sneering brand snob about glass), and I dislike more things about Leica M-series bodies than I like about them. It certainly left me with more money for film and travel.

With that said, I'd buy an MP this afternoon if I had silly money, simply to have one. But I have to wonder if it'd pull the birds half as well as my CL and my little black Zeiss Ikon do.
 
Slightly modified for relevance, but I'd think no one would notice the difference
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If you want an MP and merely owning one will make you happy, with respect, ignore the nay sayers and get one.
Don't try to rationalise it by saying well, what is a plastic cog in the M6 is brass in the MP - these matters are inconsequential. A film camera is a film camera, and in good condition, it doesn't matter what you get - its the film and the glass that matters. Its how it makes you feel - its a personal experience. I've got an M6 - perfectly servicable, however, I'm still getting an a MP, just because it makes me feel fuzzy inside.

And yes, I did spell rationalise with an "S" and not a "Z". ;)
 
I'm not sure I won't get an MP. This M3 repeatedly mentioned above will certainly never interest me. You see, I already have the best Leica ever made, the M2, a meter-less MP.

Embrace technology. I would get the M7 if I bought a new film Leica, especially for the accurate speeds and the quietness of the shutter timing.
 
I just passed the 8 year mark with my MP. I love the camera. No regrets. I'd also encourage you to get the Leicavit. Best accessory ever.
 
. . . . . bought one and have no regrets, except that I may have liked the chrome better, then again the black lacquer MP . . . . . .

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subsequently filled the chrome void with a used M6 TTL . . . . .

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Both are beautiful cameras . . . . .


Good luck with your decision.
 
I'm another who had an MP, sold it and went back to my M3. I do now also have an M2, M5 and M8 (plus Zeiss Ikon, CLE and R3a) which are all great. I do sometimes consider selling the lot and splashing out on a brand new MP (chrome) to downscale in a rather upmarket way.
 
MP's are the balls...esp the black enamel version with some brassing bleeding though the paint. They make you a better photog simply by slinging one around your neck!

Todd
 
I believe that both the M7 and MP are currently in production.

Personally, having had nearly all the models up to the M6TTL, when I decided I wanted another film M, I chose the M4-2. Didn't want any meter in the body, preferred the EARLY production series M4-2 finder (same as the M4 finder optics). Simple mechanical camera.

The M7/MP improvements on the M film line are nice, and the MP as an artifact is lovely. If that's what you want, go for it.

G
 
I got my chrome 0.72 MP in fall 2003 and it is a joy to own and use. I also have the Leicavit ion it. Mine looks like it did the day I got it, works as well as the current ones at twice the price now, so I like the fact it's a fine tool and fine investment. I am toying with selling several other Leicas (M2, M3, M4, ertc) to finance an A La Carte 0.58 MP...
 
I have a .85 a la carte silver. I now want a black MP .72. :D I know its just a lightproof box, but one with finesse. :)
 
I have an M3 and an MP - the MP cost a good bit more, but it is more enjoyable for me. The meter is nice, loading is a lot less fiddly, I can shoot a 35 or a 50 with the 1.25 magnifier, and the BP of the MP is much nicer than my chrome M3. And the MP feels perfect - weight, and proportions - compared to the M6's or the overstuffed digitals.

If the resulting image was all that mattered we would all be carrying Bessas - there's nothing an MP, M7,M7,etc. could offer that the CV can't.
 
Roger Hicks said:
If you don't want VF patch flare-out (very rare, but infuriating when it happens) you want an M3, M2 or MP (not sure whether they've changed the M7).

If you want the stronger, very slightly slower rewind knob, you want M2, M3, MP, or à la carte.

If you want a meter, you need M5, M6/6ttl, M7, MP.

I own M2, M4-P, MP; have owned two or three M3s (sold at a profit -- a very large profit for the black one -- because I use 35mm lenses a lot); and have used M6, M6ttl and M7. For me, the MP is easily the best compromise on features, smoothness, etc. Otherwise, M3s are smoothest but no 35mm frame lets them out for me, and because I like the 75 Summicron the MP beats the M2 even without considering the meter.

Cheers,

R.
Click to expand...

Hi Roger

Thanks for the detailed analysis. You seem to know exactly what I am thinking!

Regarding the M6, I have tried to like it. I agree with Roland that there is nothing a MP can offer that a M6 can't do.

I went as far as getting two M6 classic bodies and had both of them upgraded to MP flare-free finder (which is just adding a piece of condenser lens made of plastic). The contrast of the RF patch improved but the annoying RF patch flare out persisted. I was expecting improvement to at least M2/M3/M4 RF patch standard. But it wasn't so.

I know it is not a fair conparison as the VF/RF construction between M6 and the earlier M bodies are slightly different. But for me, I take photos of my kids at lots of window backlit situations (somehow this is my style) and more often than not, the annoying M6 flare-out keep occurring. Surprisingly, none of the earlier M bodies I used flared in the same conditions. Initially I thought I could compromise as I like the meter in the M6 but the flare-out is indeed annoying. To be fair, I never experience M6 RF flare-out in outdoor situations (partly due to hyperfocal shooting) after the upgrade. So there is improvement but not good enough to my expectations.

Hence I thought about a MP --- metered body + M2 styling. The MP RF patch quality (flare-out?) I have yet to try to see if it suits my shooting style. But the cost of the MP is high. Somehow contradicts my belief in spending on quality glass to some extent. By the way, I already like the lenses I have now - 35 cron asph + 50 cron v4.

I have also thought about a M6 TTL 0.58VF. I am assuming the VF should be improved over the M6 classics so perhaps the flare-out problem MIGHT be reduced but I am not sure. Perhaps someone can chime in on this.
 
I traded a Medium Format for a M6 TTL in 2000.
Believed my M3 was on it's last legs..well it , like me soldiers on.
I wish I had rather traded for a lens or two.
A lens more useful than another body.
 
I have traveled with MP extensively from cold Denmark to hot and wet Malaysia, mechanics of mp never fail me, not even once, although in times the meter battery went haywire. I taped sunny 16 chart on the back or in my pocket. If I ever want to get a brand new film camera, a la carte MP would be my only choice.

M7 is my go-to-camera for wide angel lens, particularly anything wider than 28mm. Because its AE, I feel confident that I can put my 21/4.5 on hyper-focal all the time, no need to fine turn focus. If it were on MP, I must either dial down the aperture or the shutter, a bit slower.

My advice is that buy MP now. If Leica continues producing MP, only logical to raise in price at some point. I bought MP brand new in 05, only paid half what it is now. If MP doesn't suite you, sell it on the market you can get 90%+ back. Otherwise you will never be happy without trying it.
 
I had an MP ... it was my "dream camera" ... camera went twice to Leica to get shutter / electronic problems fixed .... dream was over. I sold the MP and kept M4-P ... :)
 
Thanks to everyone for sharing what you think.
And also thanks a lot to the PMs that some of you guys sent!

It's all about choice, isn't it?
 
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