Leica MP production year

[zerobuttons]

Is there a correlation between Leica MP serial numbers and production years? If that is the case, has anyone listed information about this? I tried searching, but didn´t find anything relevant.

Thank you in advance for any help.

 

[Turtle]

I cant help directly but would venture that the only thing to try and get on a used MP is a sealed viewfinder. I have both sealed and unsealed bodies and working in Afghanistan dust does get in.

 

[35mmdelux]

Such a list is not made avail to the public at this time. MPs were made avail begin 2003 with ser# 285xxx. Roughly 10,000 annual production run (est). This might help approximate your camera's age.

 

[coelacanth]

My MP that I got from Paul is an early production model with M6 style ISO dial. (288xxxx) I don't know when that changed to the current style though.

I can see good amount of dust in the eyepiece (not deep in the VF), but it doesn't affect the view in actual use. I'll probably have it cleaned when it needs a CLA next time.

 

[35mmdelux]

My MP that I got from Paul is an early production model with M6 style ISO dial. (288xxxx) I don't know when that changed to the current style though.

I can see good amount of dust in the eyepiece (not deep in the VF), but it doesn't affect the view in actual use. I'll probably have it cleaned when it needs a CLA next time.

I stand corrected. 2003 production started ser #288xxx as Sug stated. The beefier M6 style ISO was used on the first 1000, before Leica when to cost streaming measures and used a cheaper ISO dial.

Just noticed my M7 not only has dust in the eyepiece, but it also has a eyebrow hair in it! Never noticed it, until light shined a certain way yesterday.

 

[Mackinaw]

When I bought my 1954 production-year M3 back in 1995, there was so much dust in the viewfinder that camera was virtually unusable. My MP, serial number 289XXX, has no dust in the viewfinder.

As to zerobutton's original question, I purchased my MP, new, in 2004.

Jim B.

 

[coelacanth]

And from what I've read, cleaning the eyepiece is quite easy. you just have to deal with 3 small screws and a rubber piece attached (there is a tiny bit of glue involved). I've also read that Leica told an user that they can seal it when the camera is in for CLA, but someone else was recommending keeping it as is so that you can clean it easily as dust gets in again sooner or later.

And again, the actual VF/RF part is pretty much spotless so it won't get in your way at all.

 

[zerobuttons]

Thank you all for your answers. That does help me estimate the age of the MP I´ll be looking at in a few days, when visiting a dealer. If buying it, I would actually be the first owner, but I happen to know that he has had it lying around for quite some time.

 

[Erik van Straten]

Leica MP 2923069 (2003), Summicron 50mm f/2 collapsible, Tmax400 printed on Ilford MGIV fb.

Erik.

 

[zerobuttons]

Leica MP 2923069 (2003), Summicron 50mm f/2 collapsible, Tmax400 printed on Ilford MGIV fb.
.....

Nice. Really nice. Both equipment and photo.

 

[Erik van Straten]

Thanks, Zerobuttons!

Erik.

 

[Erik van Straten]

Leica MP 2923069 (2003), Summicron 50mm f/2 collapsible, Tmax400 printed on Ilford MGIV fb.

Erik.

 

[zerobuttons]

Thank you all for your answers. That does help me estimate the age of the MP I´ll be looking at in a few days, when visiting a dealer. If buying it, I would actually be the first owner, but I happen to know that he has had it lying around for quite some time.

I bought the camera today. It turned out it was serial number 288072X. It was part of a kit with 35+90 Summicrons. All three parts are black paint. I saved quite a lot compared to the sum of all three parts bought from new separately. I couldn´t get any specific explanation when asking about the reason for this price reduction on the kit.
The camera serial number seems to indicate that it is from an early MP production batch, and it has the film speed dial with two scales which I have seen people claim was replaced with a dial with only the ISO scale very early in production.
I have posted pictures of the parts here:
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1177322&postcount=3525

 

[peter_n]

That is some kit! Congratulations on your purchase!! 🙂 I use the BP 35 and love it, but I also bought the regular lens hood for the front, I can't stand that circular thing. Absolutely great lens though. See how you like the 90, it is heavy. I had the 90AA too, but sold it as I wasn't wild about the close-up performance, and replaced it with the 75AA which I love. I find the 35 & 75 make a terrific working pair. That looks like a heck of a buy you got there...

 

[dogberryjr]

Nice package. I love the look of the black paint lenses. Every time I see an MP though, I have to wonder why Leica chose that covering for the body. I see Griptac or a buttery black leather in my MP's future.

 

[coelacanth]

Congrats!!! That's a superb kit you've got there. Wow your MP is even older than mine (2889xxx) I believe the ISO dial on our MPs is from M6. I think these two scale dial looks more "classic" and I like it.

That 90 Cron is a monster. 😀 I really love my v3 Cron 35 and "thin" Tele-Elmarit 90.

 

[coelacanth]

Nice package. I love the look of the black paint lenses. Every time I see an MP though, I have to wonder why Leica chose that covering for the body. I see Griptac or a buttery black leather in my MP's future.

I highly recommend Aki-Asahi's #4008 covering for MP. It's much more classic like M3 (very similar texture) and gripier than that shark skinish one too. I recovered it as soon as I got the camera from Paul.

 

[250swb]

My MP is 288064x with the M6 style dial and it went back to Solms for a clean because of a big flake of crap in the edge of the front window. It wasn't 'dust' and it didn't obstruct the view, but once seen it kept focusing my eye on it. It cost about £60 to have it removed. I can't believe there were only 1000 made in that spec, sounds like hype to me.

Steve

 

[zerobuttons]

That is some kit! Congratulations on your purchase!! 🙂 I use the BP 35 and love it, but I also bought the regular lens hood for the front, I can't stand that circular thing. Absolutely great lens though. See how you like the 90, it is heavy. I had the 90AA too, but sold it as I wasn't wild about the close-up performance, and replaced it with the 75AA which I love. I find the 35 & 75 make a terrific working pair. That looks like a heck of a buy you got there...

Thanks, Peter. Yes, the 90AA Summicron is really heavy, but I believe I´ll be able drag it around anyhow. Whether it was a good buy, I´m not sure, but this kit was fitting my wishes for a Leica M kit pretty close, and I think I´m well equipped for years to come with it.

 

[zerobuttons]

Nice package. I love the look of the black paint lenses. Every time I see an MP though, I have to wonder why Leica chose that covering for the body. I see Griptac or a buttery black leather in my MP's future.

I also considered that when I was thinking about ordering an à-la-carte MP, but as soon as I first tried handling the standard MP covering a couple of months ago, I realized that I could easily get used to that.