Translates something like "Sometimes I wish I wasn't married to my wife." Many people, myself included, run hundreds of rolls of film through their MP body every year. The whole new Leicas are for luxuriant folks thing isn't very helpful to the original poster, or anyone else for that matter. I justify my MP by using it day in and day out.
... the fact that you run a lot of film thru your camera is somehow inconsistent with luxury? If I had an Aston Martin and drove it a lot, would that make the car any less luxurious?
I suspect you bought your MP because you are a discerning individual who prefers certain subtle qualities found in the MP and not in other M-bodies. Am I correct? Since those qualities are found only in the MP, and the MP presents a luxurious price (in the sense of a price well in excess of other M's), you needed to buy a luxurious camera. Ergo, in use you luxuriate in it.
I had one myself for a short time, btw. Wonderful in the hand. Too nice for me, so I swapped it for other gear. That's just me. Very glad to hear you enjoy yours.
The concept of justifying a luxury good is nothing more than a means to avoid remorse. You can't rationalize luxury. We buy luxurious things because, admittedly or not, we think we've earned or inherited the right ("I'm worth it"). Yes, it's clearly a form of narcissism, but what isn't to some degree, short of the life of Mother Teresa?
Am happily (luxuriously?) married to the same woman for 31 years, btw.
Either the M7 or MP should make a 35mm rangefinder shooter deliriously happy, in my humble opinion having used both. Need AE, get the M7 or (heavens!) a ZI. Don't need AE and have the cash, get the MP. Don't need AE and don't have the cash, M6 ttl or M6 or M5 or (heavens!) a Bessa. Don't need AE or meter, don't have the cash, M4, M4-P, M4-2, M3, M2. Whew.
