M6 or MP?

Nachkebia

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Hello!
I have been thinking about my second rangefinder body really deep 🙂 I own ZI so I want second body maybe fully mechanical, so I can get new M6 and used MP in a same price, I just want sugestions which and why, maybe even used M7? anyhow think loud, thanks in advance! 🙄
 
I think a used MP will be more expensive than an 'as new' M6. (I have seen used MP's around the £1400-£1500 mark while 'as new' M6's go for around £900 - UK prices).
 
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Magus : wow! that cleared alot of things up! Thanks alot! I also love the look of MP, no logos no types clean and simple, great to hear about the shutter sound 🙂
 
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OK, that makes better sense, a new old stock M6 vs an MP.

Two points,

If you intend on using 35mm lenses and longer on this new body, I would not buy a .58 viewfinder M6. If you can handle one, see how the 35mm framelines fit for your eyes on a .85 viewfinder, or go with a .72 mag viewfinder.

That said, my answer would be to find a used M6 for $1,400 or less in mint condition.
 
As a user of both the MP (currently) and M6 years ago, the differences are in improved rf optics and coating making the MP more resistant to rf patch flare and improved meter LED display with a center dot betwen the 2 triangles vs just 2 triangles for exposure determination. Mechanically there are some minor tweaks making the MP smoother in advance and supposedly better shutter performance but still not as accurate as the M7. The M6 does have the angled rewind crank making rewind a bit faster. If you want mechanical reliability free of battery dependence, the M6 or MP is the way to go. I'd go with the MP if in mint condition. If the M6 is new with a 3 yr. passport warranty, that may make it worthwhile instead. Having used the M7 for a day on a Leica shoot, I found it to be the one of the best excecuted AE camera I've ever tried.
 
I also prefer the MP and I voted for it in Magus' poll. The MP looks better and the simplicity of the design harks back to the glory days. I was never particularly keen of the red logo and its omittion is a welcome design decision as far as I am concerned. It's debatable though whether the MP is better operationaly than the M6. However many users report a smoother function (and I trust Magus' musical ear when he says that the shutter sounds different).

The dilema between the MP and the M6 is more pressing only if you are considering an M6 in mint- condition and a new MP. From a user point of view the M6 is a good choice as it can be had for a bargain these days. But if you are looking for similarly priced cameras then the financial advantage of the M6 over the MP is not to be had, and so you should opt for the one that makes you happy (and, if I read you correctly, that one is the MP).
 
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Excellent information and suggestions as usual! I think I will MP! christmass that is! if I can grab lux 50mm too that would be a dreammass! 🙂
 
Go for ther MP and have the best of both worlds. OR....get anothe Zeiss body and spend the rest on glass. That's what I did. I had the M7 and Zeiss and liked the finder on the Zeiss better. P.S. Thanks for all the good posts to the forum.
 
A lot of issues were fixed with the MP. Not mentioned was the better internal lightshields. Even a new old stock M6 may be prone to dried lubracants. The cameras are designed to be used, not sit in a box.

The MP is a far better choice.
 
I'm new to Leica's, but here's my take. If you have the money, buy an MP. I bought an M6 classic in really nice shape for $900. To me, the $1000-1500 I saved over an MP is significant. But I'm sure you've considered the price differential.
 
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