MP Dreamin'? Not any longer.

[Rafael]

No I didn't buy an MP. However, like many people around here I suspect, I have long considered the MP to be a dream camera of sorts. Anyway, a couple of weeks ago, I bought an M2 that was freshly back from a CLA by Youxin Ye. My thought was to use it as a second body with my 0.85x M6. Up to this point, I have been primarily a 50mm shooter. So, it never occured to me that the M2 could supplant the M6 as my primary camera. But in the last couple of weeks, every time that I have gone out with only one body, it has been the M2. This camera is closer to perfection than any camera I have ever used. I have even started using 35mm lenses more often and now seem to be using one at least as often as I use a 50mm.

I don't intend this post as any type of challenge to MP owners. From everything that I have read and seen, the MP is a marvelous camera. And obviously, it offers certain features that are not available in the M2. But I have got to say that these couple of weeks with my M2 have really diminished any desire I might have had for an MP, especially when you consider that a great price for a used MP will buy at least 3 CLA'd M2s.

So, my question to all of you who have experience shooting a nice CLA'd M2 and an MP is, does it really get any better than this?

 

[Keith]

All I can say is ;

"M2 ... for the occasions when less is more!" 😀

 

[ferider]

🙂

On the upside the M2 has DOF marks and better framelines (90mm are great,
framelines are more accurate at 1m and above).

On the down-side it is a bit slower to load.

Glad you enjoy it.

Roland.

 

[LazyHammock]

I had the same experience with an M3 - I sold my MP to a member here shortly after buying the M3. For a 50mm user there is not much to beat an M3.
Nick

 

[back alley]

marc,
i have never used an m2 but have always been intrigued by them being a 35mm guy for so long.
but i do know the feeling of a comfortable machine in my hand and know that it's hard to beat.
enjoy!

joe

 

[maddoc]

🙂🙂

I sold my MP to get an M4. I can't tell about the M2 (but also got an M3 recently again) but my M4 and M3 are somewhat smoother compared with the MP and I like the less cluttered VF of both of these cameras more. The MP is newer and has an on-board meter but otherwise I can't see any advantage in daily use that's why I sold mine.

 

[RayPA]

I don't think I've held an M mount Leica that I didn't like (well, the M5 was kind of odd). They all feel great to me. At some point discerning and discriminating between Ms is kind of a perverted luxury (fer chrissakes some people still have to use APS p&s cameras! 🙂 ). You've found the one for you. That's good. I'm not big on the whole spool-loading, so my preference is with the M4 and up (or a modified spool M).

 

[Stoneaxe]

Congratulations on what sounds like a fantastic camera. The old time M'ers I have consulted with tend to prefer the M2 above all others it seems.

If the framelines are the same lovely bright full ones like the M3 or M4 they sure beat the ones on the MP. I don't regret buying the MP for several reasons but I absolutely hate the framelines after getting the M3 and playing with my friends M4. The MP's are dim and only suggested with partial frames making compostion a little tricky.

Anyone with an MP out there who has had the framelines replaced with something like the M2 or M4's? Who did it and how much? My MP is the .85 so I don't expect wider than 35 or course. Just wondering.

 

[maddoc]

~snip~ At some point discerning and discriminating between Ms is kind of a perverted luxury (fer chrissakes some people still have to use APS p&s cameras! 🙂 ). ~snip~

Good point you made. On the other hand, discerning and discriminating between M cameras due the different features (meter / meter-less, VF-differences, film-loading) makes some sense to me, since these features have an influence on the handling of the camera. Thinking in that way, the mega-pixel race of the DSLR-fans is more a kind of a perverted luxury, IMHO.

 

[mfunnell]

I love my M3, and think an M2 would really suit me as its companion. I have to stop having expensive thoughts like that!

...Mike

 

[RayPA]

Good point you made. On the other hand, discerning and discriminating between M cameras due the different features (meter / meter-less, VF-differences, film-loading) makes some sense to me, since these features have an influence on the handling of the camera. ....

I absolutely agree. This was my point. After all, I prefer quick-load M cameras. This is a luxury I never envisioned back when the closest I ever got to an M camera was my view through a steamed-up display glass. 😀


.

 

[Mean Panda]

I like my MP. Unfortunately, my MP is always seated at home. I personally don't like to rely on the built-meter, and I don't like the annoying triangle LED indicator. I prefer M3 with its .91X and SUPER bright and clean finder which make it so easy to focus with a 50. M2 and M4 are both great to use, but I like the M4 slightly more, because it has a quicker film reload system.

 

[maddoc]

~snip~ I like my MP. Unfortunately, my MP is always seated at home. I personally don't like to rely on the built-meter, and I don't like the annoying triangle LED indicator. ~snip~

That was the same for me ... 😉

 

[Paul C. Perkins MD]

I've had my M2 since 1971 and the straight M4 for the past two years. I've never really warmed up to the "quick loading" mechanism of the M4. My longest lens for theeither camera is a 100mm. The more I have read about the "New MP" the more comfortable I've been with my two old workhorses.

What would David Douglas Duncan have shot?

Paul

 

[BigSteveG]

I have both and prefer the MP. It's a little smoother to operate and the shutter is more quiet. With the chrome 35 lux asph, the M2 is a heavy Bas*^$d.

 

[thomasw_]

I own the MP, a M3 and M2. They all rock, but the MP is my favourite lightbox. I think this might be more to do with the fact that I use mostly my 25 FL lens on it; and I enjoy that lens a lot right now.

 

[Nando]

I have an MP and an M3. I love shooting with this combination. I have considered the M2 but since I already have an .72x MP, I thought that I wouldn't use the M2 as much as I would like. An MP mated to a 35 along with an M3 to a 50 is about as good as it can get I think.

 

[Marc-A.]

The M2 is a wonderful camera. I love mine, but I will part from it as I got a ZI lately. Too bad I can't keep them both 🙁
But I know one day I'll have a M2 again.