My Latest M Frankenleica...

[thomasw_]

Hi Bill ---- Does the MP ,72 VF have the standard 6 brightlines or did you customize the framelines? Such a beauty! TW.

 

[Leica All Day]

Hey Bill,

Your camera is so cool.....I want one........

cheers, Michael

 

[Bill Blackwell]

--- Does the MP .72 VF have the standard 6 brightlines or did you customize the framelines?

The standard MP .72 finder has the same framelines as those in an M6. In my case, I kept the standard .72 configuration (six framelines).

Can you give us a bit more info on the different steps to proceed when doing such a (very nice and pro) job. How about the shell? - was it the same length as the M3 top????

It's really as simple as obtaining a base camera to work with (in this case, a "user" M6) and replacing the topcover. Any M topcover will fit on any M camera (with the exception of the TTL - M6TTL and M7 topcovers are interchangeable).

There is a slight modification required using an M3/2 topcover so the front part can slide undernieth the lens mount. Plus the RW mechanism needs to be changed out from the M4/6 "slanted" style to the M3/2 "post" style.

In my case, since I started with a black chrome camera, all of the knobs, shutter speed dial, etc. needed to be replaced to match the chrome topcover - or I could have settled for a "panda" look (but that's not what I wanted).

... how much did you pay for it???

Sorry, but I will not discuss in open forum how much money I have into it. All I will tell you is that it's probably more than you think!

 

[Debusti Paolo]

😱WOW Wow a lot of money!!!! I'm thinking big numbers....You're a very rich man....so remember of me for next xmast!!!!😀

 

[LeicaTom]

Yeah, I know doing this conversion is`nt cheap........I`m going to have quite a bit invested in mine too, but I think it`s worth it.

I don`t like the new MP and the MP3 and M6J are outrageously priced collectors items, nothing to work with everyday.

Tom

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

Cool. I'd say it's a Frankenpanda.

 

[Ken Ford]

Can I ask what a fair price would be for a NSN M3 top? I'd be painting it, so it wouldn't have to be pristine.

 

[Bill Blackwell]

Can I ask what a fair price would be for a NSN M3 top? I'd be painting it, so it wouldn't have to be pristine.

Fair price? Probably less that I paid - $275 ("Tonya" on eBay).

But the truth is they are getting harder and harder to find in any condition. I will tell you that if you plan on painting it, you can get a pretty trashy looking topcover to look pristine once it's painted because you can straighten it out and use fillers.

Shintaro, for example, has worked some pretty good magic of some old beaten topcovers. Just remember, if you paint the top you need to paint everything. And the more changes you make to the original camera the more expensive it gets.

This is my third Frankenleica, and probably the last - each one got more expensive to do (mainly because of the parts I needed to replace). Of course, DAG did the work on it.

 

[Ken Ford]

Thanks, Bill - I'll have to keep an eye out for a beater top.

I have two reasons for wanting to do what you did:

1. The cosmetics; and

2. I find I'm more likely to keep my grubby digits off the VF glass with my Me than with my M6.