Lust and Money = a-la-carte or am I mad?

Thats a lot of dough for a camera, so definatley buy it now, because as others have said and I am now living, once the ring goes on it's all over........
You could buy a used one and use the rest of the $$ for some jewels for the lady....then she won't notice YOUR purchase.
 
If I had the resorce to fund a new a-la-carte body I would do so, so do it while you can.

If you've got the cash, then what's the big deal, or do you need a hand choosing a colour?

Cheers Andrew
 
You only live once. If you have the money now and you expect to have great joy from a customized camera (and you should) - buy it, use it, love it.

On the other hand your cusomized MP looks a lot like my M6 with an MP film winding lever and tape over the "Leica" and red dot. Even with a CLA and customized framelines my camera came in at around $1400...
 
First of all, congratulations on marrying an American. ;)
Secondly, I would suggest seeing what is available from reputable dealers in the US. You could fly to NYC for a long weekend, buy a used MP and film, see the sights, take some pictures, eat a few a la carte meals, buy a nice gift for your partner (very important), for less than a new Leica MP a la carte.
The other option in the same price range is an M8, however an MP (or even an M6) will always be a perfect companion to any digital body that you may buy in the future.
Good luck!
 
BigSteveG said:
Buy it in the USA and use a student ID for a 20% discount (see...you can afford the flaming red leather on it after all). This is not about justification...it's about satisfaction!!!!!!!!!
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can you give more info or provide a link to the %20 student discount?
 
I would absolutely do it, it is a long time investment that you can give to your grandson or daughter. :)
My personal dream is a black MP with classic parts and the most simplest viewfinder with only the 35, 50 and 90mm lines. And with no engraving on any part. I don't need the fancy Leica-script on the top plate. :)
 
To repeat what Barrett said above you really need to know that you will be happy with what you get for the rest of your life, like with a wife for example. ;) I think the only downside to an a-la-carte is if you want to sell it. Your pool of potential buyers is automatically reduced once you configure something to your own taste because you need to find someone who thinks what you have done is cool. I thought about a-la-carte when I got my last M7 but eventually bought a bog standard one and promised myself I'd get a vulcanite cover for it if it turned out to be a good buy. I think a-la-carte is great if you're not too concerned about possibly losing a good bit down the road and if you're really happy with your choices I'd still say go for it.
 
buy a used one...
save your money for film and development, if you end up loving the used MP, you can sell it for the same price you bought it just about (as long as it doesnt get the hell beat out of it) and then get the custom MP...
 
Do you want a reasonable advise? Hmm, that´s hard.

If you have the money and you like or love to have exactly this camera, buy it, have fun and don´t look back. There a lots of possibilities to spent a that great amount of money but do you really want know?

I assume there is no one around but you who will ever think of giving you a MP a la carte as a present for any occasion. That´s a very good reason to buy it on your own.

Thomas
 
Dr. Z, while I enjoy rooting for you to spend your money as much as the others, I offer you an alternative view.

A brand new a'la-carte MP with no historic or sentimental values is *not* $6000 worth of camera. It can't be.

You're paying mostly for a name, boasting right, and a "hand-made" craftmanship that won't make a bit of difference in your pictures.

If you really think it's worth $6000 to spend on those, then get it, and spend more money on lenses *and* insurance.

Most people, when they cooled down, or when they run out of "friends" to impress, will think it's absurd and regret it.

A used M4-P will cost you $500-600 USD, has a red dot, and will bring up the quality of your photos just as much as the MP. Spend the money on a good Zeiss or Leitz or Hexanon lens and the rest of it, travel with your wife, and lot's of film. Speaking for myself, I'll be a heck a lot more impressed :D
 
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shadowfox said:
...a'la-carte MP with no historic or sentimental values is *not* $6000 worth of camera. It can't be... :D
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You're absolutely right! An a-la-carte camera similarly configured would run closer to $4,000. And if you contact Popflash.com (Tony Rose) you might save some money.

shadowfox said:
A used M4-P will cost you $500-600 USD... :D
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This, too, I would like to see. Where can you buy a used M4-P for $500-600 USD that isn't beat to hell and in dire need of a CLA? :D
 
When the black paint LHSA came out a few years ago, I bought one. I too had second thoughts...is this a good thing to do, spending this much money? It was a great piece and satisfying when it finally arrived, but I ended up being so concerned about keeping it pristine that I never really used it, so I sold it.

I then put the money in other bodies and lenses...$6k can buy a lot of very nice used Ms and lenses, if you look carefully, and you'll get just as much or more enjoyment by using them instead of being concerned about that first scratch.

My €2.
 
I had a similar dilemma. I was going to buy an ala carte MP, then I saw the LHSA MP3 as it was coming out. I ultimately decided to get a new LHSA MP3. It is a very nice camera. I will tell you, as I have mentioned elsewhere, I hate the plastic on it - the battery cover and the ISO selection dial on the back. I know most people don't mind them, but they look really out of place on such as expensive and well made camera. Truth to tell, I enjoy shooting with my M4 and M5 much more, and I think they feel better as well. The M5 is deffinitely under rated. It has one of the best meters I have ever used on any camera, as I too prefer an onboard meter. Much more intuitive than these stupid meters with just a bulls eye and an arrow on each side. All that said, I now have an MP3 and all of these other Leica. My preference is to shoot Digital (R-D1 when it comes to a RF), but I make myself use the MP3 when I want to shoot film, because it cost so much. But I still prefer the M4 and M5.

Buy it. You can always sell it later. And buy it from the US. Why spend the extra money needlesly.

/T
 
digitalintrigue said:
When the black paint LHSA came out a few years ago, I bought one. I too had second thoughts...is this a good thing to do, spending this much money? It was a great piece and satisfying when it finally arrived, but I ended up being so concerned about keeping it pristine that I never really used it, so I sold it.

I then put the money in other bodies and lenses...$6k can buy a lot of very nice used Ms and lenses, if you look carefully, and you'll get just as much or more enjoyment by using them instead of being concerned about that first scratch.

My €2.
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gotta agree with this...it is better to walk around with a camera that you are not concerned with, then one that feels like a liability...
 
BillBlackwell said:
You're absolutely right! An a-la-carte camera similarly configured would run closer to $4,000. And if you contact Popflash.com (Tony Rose) you might save some money.



This, too, I would like to see. Where can you buy a used M4-P for $500-600 USD that isn't beat to hell and in dire need of a CLA? :D
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Bill, $4000 is still a lot of money that can be used to travel across the globe.

As for $500-600 M4-P, it may be a fluke in my favor, so what's the "realistic" number for you then? $600-700? or $700-800? ... it still doesn't change the point in my post one bit.

:D
 
In your shoes, I would pick a used M of my choice and spend the rest of the money on the lens, film and the rest to take my wife out to dinner. :)

Perfect, beautiful cameras are meant for the showroom, forever pampered and never used while beautifully used cameras are a joy in the hand and an extention of your eye. I find it better to show off my photos then my camera. It is pretty embarassing to see better pictures in Cousin Ed's $600 PnS then those taken with your $6000 customised Leica.

Samuel
 
Dr Z, do as you please... buy the camera, by all means, but then use it, don't fret over scratches or dings, and enjoy it instead. It was made for you, it should fit your taste and preferences. Go ahead, buy it!

What happens? Are you having second thoughts? Something nibbling your brains, feeling strangely guilty? Well... don't buy it. It has to be either totally satisfying or else it's not worthy.

To me, the fact that you posted this as a question tells me it's not satisfying. You have still some qualms. Don't buy it. Don't look back. And take care! :)
 
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