M7 versus MP

[JoeFriday]

as I'm just too lazy right now to actually look up the info (which is a bit odd, as I normally live for that kind of thing), can anybody summarize the differences between the M7 and MP for me? I'm aware of the cosmetic differences.. but how about the features/functions?

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

as I'm just too lazy right now to actually look up the info (which is a bit odd, as I normally live for that kind of thing), can anybody summarize the differences between the M7 and MP for me? I'm aware of the cosmetic differences.. but how about the features/functions?

An MP??

M7: all-electronic shutter. MP: a "new" all-mechanical camera (including shutter), with a light meter. Like an M6, but in the spirit of an M4.

Both have a cloth shutter. M7 has the big, "correct" way dial (i.e. the "wrong" way from the M2, M3, M4, M4-P, M5, M6...)

 

[kbg32]

Brett,

M7 - Aperature priority and metered manual. Battery dies, you are left with 2 shutter speeds - 1/60 and 1/125.

MP - metered manual. Battery dies you still have a mechanical camera.

 

[JoeFriday]

so the M7 has auto exposure but the MP is fully mechanical.. why couldn't they do both in one? the perfect M... call it the PM

 

[SDK]

M7 more accurate manual shutter speeds, especially 1/1000s, no slow speed escapement whine, AP Auto, TTL flash.

MP manual with digital meter requiring less power than M6 bodies, No TTL Flash, more noisy less accurate than M7 shutter.

Love my M7s, carry spare batteries.

 

[Graham Line]

Doesn't the M7 have the angled M4-style rewind crank instead of the vertical M3-style knob of the MP? I don't really travel in new Leica circles.

 

[John Rountree]

Actually the boys and girls at Leitz tried for many years to make an sutomatic camera with all manual features but they abandonned the project. To make the camera a reality would have required them to greatly enlarge th size of the "classic" body. And while it is true that the shutter of the M7 has two fall back speeds without the battery... who cares? Just carry a spare set, it's really not too hard.

 

[sf]

Actually the boys and girls at Leitz tried for many years to make an sutomatic camera with all manual features but they abandonned the project. To make the camera a reality would have required them to greatly enlarge th size of the "classic" body. And while it is true that the shutter of the M7 has two fall back speeds without the battery... who cares? Just carry a spare set, it's really not too hard.

that's right. Spare batteries are never a problem. They take up little space, at least, and these high end cameras don't blow through batteries too quickly. I've had the same batteries in my RF645 since December 10th or so of last year, shot at least 50 rolls since then, and the little battery checker hasn't even begun blinking. The M7 isn't like a DSLR. It isn't going to require batteries once a day or once a week. That it requires a new battery a handful of times per year at most, is hardly a thing to fret. Look at it this way : the batteries that you would be feeding the spot meter for the MP, they can go in the M7 instead.

Of course, I would love to have an MP only because it IS fully mechanical. I like that. The ultimate machine in rebellion against the digital age. Very organic and natural. Like a Rolex. And, it seems to me that the MP will be a longer lasting design, that it will survive the years more easily than the M7 and that you'll find people to fix your MP in the future and might have trouble with the M7. But who knows.

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

Who's fretting about anything?

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

BTW, I really loved that Bronica RF, when I tried it out a few weeks ago. I really really want one. *But*...I only have so much money...

 

[ch1]

Why do some folks here have "battery phobia"?

Or, more to the point. why do some folks here have "button battery phobia"?

Have that many really experienced critical battery failure? Do those who have lack pockets and camera bags?

Just curious - I've never had a battery die out where I didn't have a replacement.

 

[JoeFriday]

I had the battery die in my QL17 a month ago.. but that was my fault for leaving it in Auto mode for a week or more.. I didn't realize the battery was dead until I tried to use it at 5am when it was highly inconvenient to find a replacement.. but I solved the problem by bracketing.. granted, I would have likely missed a 'once in a lifetime' shot, but in my situation, it worked out fine, albeit with 1 out of 4 photos being properly exposed.. still, I'm happy if I have that high of a percentage of shots worth looking at anyway

 

[peter_n]

so the M7 has auto exposure but the MP is fully mechanical.. why couldn't they do both in one? the perfect M... call it the PM

Brett the M7 has aperture priority auto exposure which is what you want. Almost 3 years ago now when I bought my first RF (an M6TTL) I looked at all the Leica models and decided what I really wanted was an M7. I couldn't understand what the MP was about (still can't actually) because what I really wanted was a modern camera, or at least the nearest thing to a modern camera that Leica made.

I bought the M6TTL with the understanding that it was a mechanical M7 for a lot less money and so it was my trial camera in a sense. I ended up really liking it and eventually got an M7 but I still have (and love) the M6TTL. If you're choosing between a mechanical and electronic Leica I think your choice should be between the M6TTL and the M7. They both use the same batteries too! 😉

 

[JoeFriday]

thanks for the info and suggestions.. I'm not really looking to buy either one.. at least not for a while.. but I was kind of confused as to why there were the two different models currently being sold

so, it seems that the M7 and ZI are nearly the same (aside from perceived build quality)?

 

[amateriat]

I've used electronic cameras of one sort or another over the last 20 years, but I think it's the Hexar RF that's proved the most amazing to me, simply because of the amazing number of rolls you can run through before the two CR2 cells poop out – at least 100, by my count (official claim is/was 140). I don't get battery jitters – I just carry a spare set in the bag for either body.

In terms of how long the camera's electronics will hold up, that's anyone's guess...but I also have an inherited Olympus OM-2n, hardly a spring chicken, and still working just fine. It must be going on 25-30 years old.


- Barrett

 

[ClaremontPhoto]

Actually the boys and girls at Leitz tried for many years to make an sutomatic camera with all manual features but they abandonned the project. To make the camera a reality would have required them to greatly enlarge th size of the "classic" body.

Cosina managed it just fine with the Voigtlander R2A and R3A.

 

[Dougg]

Jon I'm at a disadvantage in not actually having used the R2A and R3A, but Cameraquest's specs on the camera sez: "Like most electronic shutters, if the batteries die, the camera dies. "

 

[sf]

Who's fretting about anything?

no one. That was a comment in general about the anti-electronic thinking. I actually am one of those anti-electronic types, but that ideology is really without warrant. I am very happy with the Bronica's gentle use of power, though.

Kind of a good reason to invest in a leaf shutter camera without any electronic movements except the little leaf shutter. That is one thing I have against the Xpans. Auto film advance.

For my skill at judging light levels (very poor), $10 on batteries twice a year is a perfectly reasonable investment.

 

[Simon Larbalestier]

There is an interesting debate about the MP and M7 currently over on the Leica Customer Forum
under the thread title "Best M?" - not wishing to direct anyone off the RFF site - but i've found lot of useful info from this particular Leica forum.

 

[ClaremontPhoto]

... $10 on batteries twice a year is a perfectly reasonable investment.

George! What batteries are you using? I just bought a card of ten button cells (LR44's) for €7.50. No brand, made in China, but they work just fine.

Of course that wasn't in a camera store, it was in a Chinese shop and they were shelved between the religious statues and the duct tape.