M7 or MP

[pfoto]

I use both M7 and MP bodies. I don't notice the blinking led in the M7 VF, in fact my problem with that camera is that I more or less ignore everything that blinks in there. If I'm using chromogenic film I can get away with it. 🙂 OTOH the MP has a display that you can't ignore, so oddly enough I seem to make fewer mistakes with the MP. If I had to choose one I think it would be the MP.

 

[sepiareverb]

The MP doesn't compensate the brightness of the VF display for ambient light like the M7 does. Not a concern outdoors, but indoors the MP display can be too bright for my eye. I may just be used to the M7. As to the blinking LED I was very bothered by it at first, but now I can pretty much ignore it. Main drawback I see to it is that it is used for too many things- exp. comp. set, no film, ISO changed, and most important- battery going south. Since I've settled into the camera I rarely forget to return exp. comp. back to 0, but I do shoot HP5 at 320, so the light is there a lot, and it no longer delivers the intended warning.

 

[Roger Hicks]

My black paint MP is indeed the closest I have ever had to my black paint M3, which I bought sillty-cheap and swapped for a new M4-P because I use 35mm lenses a lot. The MP is not as smooth as that M3, but very close indeed (and a LOT smoother than the M4-P).

AE is a nice option -- I use it far more than I expected on my M8 -- but to those who say it's easy to carry spare batteries, I'd add, it's at least as easy to forget them, and do you want to be (for example) in the Forbidden City in Peking furiously scrabbling for spare batteries, only to find they're in the hotel an hour away? Or worse still, that they're at home, 5,000 miles away, so you have to buy more? Fortunately my wife had a set with her.

There have been plenty of times when I've grabbed a camera at short notice to go and photograph something, and the batteries have been somewhere else. Luckily I've never been caught. For the M8 (battery life under 1 day if you're shooting much) I carry a spare battery in the watch-pocket of my Levis but I'm glad I don't have to carry another set, at all times, for my MP.

Put it this way: my wife is considering an MP of her own, and I'd really like a second one (I'd sell the M4-P and one M2, the one without the Rapidwinder) to put towards it). Neither of us is even thinking about an M7.

As for BMWs, the R90S is quick and looks beautiful but I sold mine and kept the R100RS (1977) that I was running alongside it (I had one in California and one in the UK). One of the most beautiful bikes of all time, and it gets ridden in all weathers -- just as my Leicas (and my Alpa) get used everywhere. I can't be having with 'high days and holy days' bikes or cameras.

Cheers,

R.

 

[elude]

In my Opinion the M7 is a slightly different Leica M, and so is digital one; semi-automatic mode are really tricky for real good exposures.

 

[nobbylon]

Since seeing this original post I was thinking back to why I started down the rangefinder road. For me it was all about decision making and being back in control of focus, depth of field and exposure. I'd become too reliant on af and ae and my original experiment with a bessa r2 convinced me I really didn't need either. With ae I was constantly overiding the meters decision in tricky lighting anyway and felt that this constant thinking process was distracting me from what I was actually seeing and wanting to photograph. Now I just take an initial reading and then modify accordingly. I personally have had less duff exposures since going back to manual. I'm still not spot on at guesstimating exposure like most of you meterless photogs but i'm getting there!
When i'm in snapshot mode with my D70 I always seem to have my thumb on AE lock.
For this reason I would say go for the MP as although you can still use the M7 in manual, there is more to go wrong with electronics etc.....

 

[panos]

mp mp mp mp mp mp mp mp mp mp mp mp mp mp mp mp

just because it looks better.

thats m opinion at least

all the best,
p

 

[Bill Blackwell]

Having owned and used both the M6 classic and the MP I think those that say there is no difference are just wrong. There is an immediate and clear difference in the feel of the MP in the hand that is utterly more substansial and precise than the M6. No M I've ever handled winds on as smoothly as my MP. You can kid yourselves, but you can't kid me.

I wonder who is kidding whom?

Allow me to reiterate: There is no practical difference.

I have also used both cameras. As to the "feel" of the cameras, the cassis between the two are identical - only the body coverings are different (neither are extraordinary). Body weight between the two is essentially the same. Add, of course, the "velvet gloves" for the MPs black paint finish or it will rub off in short order.

Other than the RW mechanism, only the material used for the topcovers is different (brass on the MP vs. zinc alloy on the M6). Also be aware the MP has an inferior eyepiece design when compared to any M camera preceding it (including the M6).

The M6 finder can be upgraded with the flair resistant condenser for less than $200. The shutter mechanisms are identical.

Oh yes, I have to mention the MPs "smoother film advance." I have to give you this one, but since you can buy two mint M6 classics (and have change for at least two CLAs) to one new MP, I would ask you, how much is that smoother film advance worth?

“Opportunity” cost of a new MP -
$1,500 - mint M6
$ 200 - finder upgrade
$ 290 - CLA
$2,005 - BP, brass topcover, M3/2 RW, smoother film advance, & engraving.
$3,995 - New USA MP

Don’t get me wrong – I have an MP (and I really like it) that I got in partial exchange for an M6 classic. But I am not fooling myself into thinking I have anything but a rebadged, retagged M6 classic with a smoother film advance, an inferior eyepiece, and some brass and engraving thrown in for the extra $2,000 I paid for it.


IMHO, you should just keep the M6 and get the finder upgraded (or buy an M7).

 

[LeicaM3]

MP.
Built better, no AE, functional w/o battery.
Not as smooth as a M3, but as close as one can get.

My Leica ranking:
M3>>M2>MP>M4>M6>M4-2>M7>>M8

Have owned them all (except for M5) at some point. Currenly have 3 of the list above.

I am with Roger Hicks on the battery issue.
If it (e.g. M7) does not work w/o batteries it is of no use to me. YMMV.

 

[Yammerman]

I had this decsion to make lucky for me and while I use AE on my SLR's I have found a real pleasure in using my M2 without even the benefit of a meter.

So the MP appealed to the purist in me. The electronic aspect of the M7 dispite tempting uluimatley left me with a feeling of redundancy. I like bells and whistles as much as the next man but in this type of camera the way it made me work and think was so different. I just wanted to continue that journey with a modern version of what I'd been using but without the electrical bits and any writing on the front.


Not all that logical I'm sure but I'm as happy as a man could be.🙂

 

[qruyk12]

I have had the M6 and a borrowed M7 for a short while. I recently purchased a used LNIB Chrome MP .85 and I really like it.

Only reason I see buying the M7 is for AE. remember the M7 is just a brick when the batteries die. The MP keeps going with or without batteries.

 

[Bill Blackwell]

... remember the M7 is just a brick when the batteries die. The MP keeps going with or without batteries.

Well, not quite. There are two mechanical speeds (60 and 125) that can be used on a dead battery.

 

[BillP]

My M7 sips battery, but in case a new set is needed, I have spares at all times in my TA Rapidgrip.

Regards,

Bill

 

[RayPA]

I have both. Both are great. Get the M7.



.

 

[Ororaro]

Well, not quite. There are two mechanical speeds (60 and 125) that can be used on a dead battery.

Yeap! and with a Summilux, those 2 speeds are enough for all needs in all situations, be it f1.4 or f16.

Of course, having access to all speeds is best, but 1/60 and 1/125 is enough.

 

[paragon]

The odds are narrowing - yesterday it was about 3 to 1

 

[sepiareverb]

I wonder who is kidding whom?

Allow me to reiterate: There is no practical difference.

Practical difference? No, they do the same thing. But then so does a Bessa.

I have also used both cameras. As to the "feel" of the cameras, the cassis between the two are identical - only the body coverings are different (neither are extraordinary). Body weight between the two is essentially the same. Add, of course, the "velvet gloves" for the MPs black paint finish or it will rub off in short order.

My MP is black chrome, and I'm not talking about looks.😱

Other than the RW mechanism, only the material used for the topcovers is different (brass on the MP vs. zinc alloy on the M6).

I think the kidded is the kidder here. Leica has stated they looked at all the parts when designing the MP, and made them from materials best suited for the intended use.

Also be aware the MP has an inferior eyepiece design when compared to any M camera preceding it (including the M6).

This is the early M7 is it not?

The M6 finder can be upgraded with the flair resistant condenser for less than $200. The shutter mechanisms are identical.

I got the upgrade for my M5, and got the 75 framelines too, was a little bit more than $200, but close enough.

Oh yes, I have to mention the MPs "smoother film advance." I have to give you this one, but since you can buy two mint M6 classics (and have change for at least two CLAs) to one new MP, I would ask you, how much is that smoother film advance worth?

I believe the smoother film advance is the result of superior materials and/or construction, and I really doubt the MP film advance is the only part that has been built more carefully.

...IMHO, you should just keep the M6 and get the finder upgraded (or buy an M7).

You'll note I said I'd get the M7 not the MP.😀

 

[gberger]

I started with a IIIc many,many years ago, graduated to an M4, then to an M6 and finally to my present M7.

Yes, I like the AE, and I use it often; however, there is one feature of the M7 that the MP lacks, viz., very precise shutter speeds. Since I shoot 'chromes 95% of the time, decent exposures are appreciated.

I can set the M7 on 1/250 and know it's on 1/125 - - and not on 1/75 or 1/300. Since I use an incident meter to calculate exposures, I can set an f-stop to within 1/2 or 1/3 of the desired value. So, I only have one variable in the exposure equation - - not two variables.

My M4 was great for B&W, where I had control of deleloping and printing - - I could have a shutter speed off by 15% -20% and I could compensate. Try that with Astia.

Yes, I appreciate those who will opt for the MP, or who already have one - as I loved my M4. I also agree withe poster who suggested getting rid of the 75mm frame lines. I sent my early M7 to DAG for an update on the viewfinder, and, for an extra fee, he removed the 28mm, 75mm and 135mm frame lines. Now, my viewfinder is uncluttered. (Iuse an external Zeiss 25/28 viewfinder).

George (The Old Fud)

 

[sepiareverb]

I'm actually surprised to hear the MP bashing. I always got the impression it was the camera than made all the M5-hating-M3-is-the-best-thing-Leica-ever-did folks cream in their every-ready cases.

 

[Ororaro]

I'm actually surprised to hear the MP bashing. I always got the impression it was the camera than made all the M5-hating-M3-is-the-best-thing-Leica-ever-did folks cream in their every-ready cases.

Actually, I voted for the MP. But if one owns a M3 or M2 the M7 is the best complement. If one owns a M6, then the MP is the best complement.

I'm not sure this is bashing. It's more a point of view depending on the angle.

 

[sepiareverb]

I agree the M7 is a great compliment to a fully manual camera- whichever one it is. I have nothing against the M6- it is a fine camera- I just don't think nor believe it is an M6 in an M4's clothing.