Leica MP Anthracite hard used ? And scanner recommendations ?

[proenca]

Hi there,

Im getting stupid thoughts - to get a Leica MP Anthracite.

My leica path started with a Leica M7, got FABULOUS shots with that thing.

Then got stolen and since I always lusted for a MP, I got one.

Although from all Leica cameras was the more demanding and it shows since it was the one which I have by far the worse pictures, it was BY FAR the one I smiled when using.

Even my wife says it so : I had a different look when using it. You could see I loved the thing. I loved the build, the recoking, the material, the precision. It was a different league than the M7, cant precise why but was.

Then I sold the thing ( my wife was furious since she wanted to buy it , she said I would regret it ) and bought a M8.

Fab camera but... I miss my MP.

I trully do.

I've seen one now for sale, a MP Anthracite and the price its SOMEWHAT ok.

How they age with use ? I loved that my "old" MP which was bought new was starting to brass.

I love the anthracite and it WONT be a collectors toy - it WONT sit on a box or shelf, it will be used.

Also, which good film scanner ( yes I like scanning my film ) do you recommend for someone who uses a Macintosh ? Leopard system.

Im looking at the Epson V700/750 or Plustek 7500.

I would like to a good scanner that imports the files, I can give them a light treatment in lightroom ( cropping and removing dust and scratch ) and there you go.

Any of these ( or others ) scanners import into RAW files? Lets say DNG ? So you can sort of treat it as digital files from a digital camera ?

I know I can import as a TIFF and lightroom will be non destructive.

And I also know if the wife sees a 2.500 pounds bill for a Leica MP Anthracite she will kill me. And no, getting her a jewel is NOT an option.

 

[Bill Blackwell]

...it WONT be a collectors toy - it WONT sit on a box or shelf, it will be used...

That's what they're made for - to take pictures with. FWIW - the anthracite plating is not particularly robust. The finish over the strap lugs will wear to brass fairy quickly. And IMHO, this finish doesn't look particularly pleasing when worn.

... And I also know if the wife sees a 2.500 pounds bill for a Leica MP Anthracite she will kill me. And no, getting her a jewel is NOT an option.

You might want to rethink this. A Leica M6 takes pictures just as well as any MP and you'll have plenty on cash left over to spend on your wife.

 

[proenca]

That's what they're made for - to take pictures with. FWIW - the anthracite plating is not particularly robust. The finish over the strap lugs will wear to brass fairy quickly. And IMHO, this finish doesn't look particularly pleasing when worn.

Well, to be honest, who does it look when worn ?

Black MP's when used have a gold layer underneath.

Silver MP's when u sed have a well, silver layer underneath

I've searched and searched and cant find a MP Anthracite used. Is it gold or silver underneath ? Can someone post a picture of a used one ? ie, worn ?

 

[mfogiel]

I will put your soul to rest. If you like taking good pictures, then buy first a good scanner (Nikon CS 9000) before it is TOO LATE ( most scanners are being discontinued), and DO NOT show the bill to your wife. Then you can buy a Zorki, and finally you can buy a good lens, like one of these SM Leica or Zeiss pieces of glass that hold theri value after 50 years. This will let you take great pictures (and print them too). If on the other hand, the object is to be FONDLING something, then my advice would be to buy a broken Rolleiflex on the cheap, and exercise yourself with the wind crank every now and then... On a more serious note: why not sell the M8 and get both the MP and a scanner which will do it justice? You will be able to buy the "next" digital thing in a couple of years for a fraction of the price anyway.

 

[heiyu]

Please don't waste your money with the Epson scanners. Altough they are very flexible in terms of supported formats, but for 35mm scans the Nikon Coolscans (V/5000/9000) are the best you can get for desktop scanning. The images are extremely sharp, shows more detail than the Epson and doesn't have the problem with film curling up creating newton rings; even with lower resolution. (The Epson scanners aren't capable of resolving more detail around 2000dpi. Your files will get bigger; but doesn't reveal more detail.

I'm using a Coolscan V now after using a Epson 4990 for some time. I got it secondhand for a very decent price. And that's what I would also suggest. The Nikon drivers are written for PowerPC but they run in Leopard on my Intel Mac Pro using Rosetta. The performance is not optimal, and it gives occasional lockups (about 3% of the scans). But still I wouldn't go back to the Epson ever again.

If you only scan 35mm I would look for the much cheaper Coolscan V or 5000. Performance wise they are quite similar; the 5000 has a small advantage with a better dynamic range and slightly less grain due to multi sample scanning (can't see the difference on print). Also the 5000 is twice as fast, and allows batch scanning accessories. Btw. the Coolscans are using LED's instead of a cathode lamp, so no warming up time for the scanner. =)

Good luck with you choice!

 

[maddoc]

When you sell your M8 you might just get enough money to buy another used MP but getting a good film scanner is quite necessary.

For a small comparison, I have recently scanned one frame taken with my 90mm Summicron-M pre-ASPH on Acros100 (developed with Rodinal 1:50) and scanned with both, my Epson V700 (in 4800 dpi and 6400 dpi) and also my Coolscan 4000ED (in 4000 dpi with single pass and 16x pass). All scans without any sharpening, and safed as JPG can be seen here (Original files, size up to 11MB):

V700, 4800dpi

V700, 6400dpi

LS4000ED, single pass

LS4000ED, 16x pass

 

[matt335]

just on scanners....

just on scanners....

There are also other forums here on scanners.....but.....This is all so subjective. If you have loads of cash to spare then buy whatever. But if you do not then an epson scanner will be a good place to start. Sorry to disagree with heiyu. getting into the leica market and then buying a scanner can be expensive. for personal use the epson is adequate, and if you want to print large (beyond 15inch) size prints then get them professionally scanned.just my two cents worth

 

[amateriat]

Let me get this much off my chest: IMO, buying a limited-edition Leica, then buying a relatively low-end scanner, is absolutely looking through the telescope from the wrong end, akin to to driving a Ferrari on cheap retreads and no-name, low-test gas. Things like anthracite Ms have an eye-candy factor, I suppose, but if the price for such exclusivity gets in the way of buying a film scanner that will get at least nearly as much out of a piece of film as something like a Leica–and I mean any Leica M–impresses onto that piece of film, I say it's time to look to a less-exalted Leica, confident in the knowledge that, all else being equal, image quality from the camera remains the same. Hell, if you go for an obviously used-but-not abused M6 (I'm assuming here that you want an M with a built-in meter), not only would you have change left for that better film scanner, you might even have change left for a lens. And, being an M in somewhat "user" condition, that takes the anxiety out of putting that first scuff-mark or scratch inthe finish; it's been conveniently done for you already. Oh, the places you'll go!

(And, yes, you really should've sold the MP to your wife, but I've browbeaten you enough for one night. 😉)


- Barrett

 

[aizan]

i saw one at the camera expo several years ago. it had a bit of wear on the front corner above the viewfinder. if memory serves, there is a silvery plating underneath the anthracite lacquer.

 

[pmu]

Im looking at the Epson V700/750 or Plustek 7500.

Forget flatbeds for 35mm. Period. Also forget it for 120 too.
Try to find used Nikon Coolscan or Minolta Scan Dual. Any version of those scanners are better than those Epsons.

http://rangefinderforum.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1061855&postcount=4

I would like to a good scanner that imports the files, I can give them a light treatment in lightroom ( cropping and removing dust and scratch ) and there you go.

Any of these ( or others ) scanners import into RAW files? Lets say DNG ? So you can sort of treat it as digital files from a digital camera ?

I know I can import as a TIFF and lightroom will be non destructive.

Just scan as a 16-bit/ channel TIFF and import to LR and convert it to DNG in LR. LR uses lossles compression and you can choose that it destoys the original TIFF after successful conversion. I have all my scans and digital originals as a DNG done with this method...

 

[Freelander]

What ever you decide here is a comprehensive review of the two epsons you mention . also a comparision to a Nikon scanner.

http://www.photo-i.co.uk/Reviews/interactive/Epson V700/page_1.htm

 

[gdi]

What ever you decide here is a comprehensive review of the two epsons you mention . also a comparision to a Nikon scanner.

http://www.photo-i.co.uk/Reviews/interactive/Epson%20V700/page_1.htm

That site gets referenced a lot in the flatbed vs. dedicated film scanner threads - they seem to draw the fairly uncommon conclusion that the Epsons are as good or better than dedicated film scanners. It appears the reviewer doesn't get the best from the Nikon.

Here is a different result by a person very familiar with Nikons. Look at his links to samples...

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/re...ssage=30243142