One has to go, Leica MP or Nikon FM3a

[Finglas]

Colleagues,

I use manual focus film cameras since 1981. No autofocus and no digital.
In 2003 I began slimming down on my collection and in 2009 I pared things back to where they are today. But I have 2 excellent cameras with their lenses but now I rarely get to put them through their paces. Indeed I wonder, seriously, if I need both going forward.

I have thought about this a lot, but not spoken my mind as such. The RFF community here over the past decade never scorn or dish out nonsense advice. So with that, allow me make a few comments on my cameras a lens and lets see where I can go forward.

Nikon FM3a, with 3 lens, a CV 40 f2 ulton SL1, CV 75 f2.5 SL1, 50mm f1.8 nikkor mkIV.
Leica MP, with 3 lens, Leica summicron 50mm f2, 75mm f2.5 summarit, Konica Hexanon 90mm f2.8m. As you can see there is a lot of common lens in scope for both the RF and the SLR.

I find I only use 12-15 rolls of film each year now, can't seem to do more alas.
I use Slide Fuji Provia 100f, Reala 100 asa (dwindling stock in fridge) Fuji Acros 100 asa.

Leica MP, is .85 mag VF, chrome, tan covering, is a joy to hold and use.
Focus is very easy especially in poor light. Loading film never a problem.

Nikon FM3a, for me this is quicker and easier to deploy, the match needle diode exposure meter is a joy too (coming from 28 years with an FE) it's second nature to me. The self timer button is used, (the MP hasn't got one) multiple exposure not so.

Size and weight almost the same, for me they're non identical twins.
Alas my circumstances have changed, out of work a long time, eye sight poorer
and I think will remain hard pushed to use a dozen rolls a year - it makes little sense now to keep both of these in use.
I can't really say which is better - they're equal to me. Selling either - to keep the other the Leica will raise more funds, for film, scanner, repairs etc.

BUT I wonder if I will be torn with regrets if I lose the Leica MP.
Has anyone had similar history in past and how did you solve such a conundrum? Keeping both has been the default option the last 3 years - but I am not so sure I can keep both long term, now it's decision time.

What do you folks think, any pearls of wisdom out there?

 

[redisburning]

why don't you buy an FM2 from KEH.

if it will legitimately substitute for the FM3a then there you go. if not, return it.

the Leica will give you more money, but the lenses you have are better IMO. personally, without changing the lneses, based on what you have, Id keep the MP. any lenses, and I'd get an F3HP with some Zeiss ZF lenses (I sold my M2 to do just that).

 

[dof]

Keep the one you're more emotionally invested in. If you have equal attachment to both, then the practical arguments regarding cost of replacement, opportunity cost, etc. hold more sway.

I think Red has some good advice regarding the FM2. It's a great camera. Likely the best advantage the FM3a has over it, is age.

As for the practical side of things, I imagine that availability of slide film and places to process it may diminish rather quickly relative to C41 and B&W films. This erodes some of the advantage that the FM3a's automatic metering offers.

All the best with your conundrum. The MP sounds like it's beautiful.

 

[madNbad]

Keep the MP. Since you're not using extreme wide angle or telephoto the rangefinder focusing is more accurate as your eyes age. Or, simply put one kit away for a couple of weeks and see if you even miss the other. Good luck.

 

[Coopersounds]

why don't you buy an FM2 from KEH.

if it will legitimately substitute for the FM3a then there you go. if not, return it.

the Leica will give you more money, but the lenses you have are better IMO. personally, without changing the lneses, based on what you have, Id keep the MP. any lenses, and I'd get an F3HP with some Zeiss ZF lenses (I sold my M2 to do just that).

I would do this.
Keep your lenses, get a newer body.
If you call the cameras non identical twins, it seems that the more expensive one would make more sense to go.

 

[John Bragg]

Both cameras are a joy to own and use, however I think the Leica should be the keeper, since it is harder, (more costly) , to replace. Since cashflow is an issue, you would regret losing it and not being able to afford another if you had regrets later on.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Nikon is just another SLR.
But here is no another Leica.
Let Nikon go and buy 35mm lens for Leica 🙂

 

[f16sunshine]

With your lens selection and the fact you use a .85 MP I would say you are very much like me.
I prefer the ability to selective focus. My Widest RF lens is 40mm.

In your case I would recommend you let the RF go and stay with the Nikon.
SLR focussing and framing for 50 and longer lenses is much more accurate and preferred.

To hell with emotional choices. Keep the tool that delivers more keepers. You will know better than us.

 

[Pioneer]

My advice. The MP will be easiest to use as your eyes continue to age.

 

[Robert Lai]

My own Nikon and Leica (and Rolleiflex and Zeiss Ikon) experience

My own Nikon and Leica (and Rolleiflex and Zeiss Ikon) experience

A few months ago, I was in a similar situation. Jobless, and bills piling up.

My response was to sell my Leica M7 an Nikon F3, Rolleiflex 3.5F, and all of my Zeiss Super Ikontas. The F3 gathered peanuts in resale value, and I regret selling it. The loss in functionality vs what I got in terms of money wasn't worth the trade off. In terms of lenses, the manual focus Nikon F mount lenses won't get much on the resale market. You may as well keep them. They'll still get you an image 90%+ as good as a Leica lens.

The M7 lead to a sale at a loss, but it did give me a fair chunk of change when I needed the money. Ditto my 35mm Summicron ASPH in LTM, and my 50 mm Summicron (latest pre-ASPH) version in LTM, as well as 135 Apo-Telyt, etc. Leica gear gets cash flow fast.

In the end, these are all just material things. When you need to feed a wife and children, and keep the house from foreclosure it is easy to jettison whatever material things you need to sell in order to survive.

 

[Juan Valdenebro]

Ears vs. Eyes...
If you don't do street shooting or if you don't require low shutter sound, sell your M gear.
But if you feel your eyes are trusting less and less the SLR focusing, sell your F gear.
Or if you enjoy both ways, sell everything and get a Bessa R3A with the 40 1.4 and a Nikon FE2 and the 105 2.5...
Cheers,
Juan

 

[Colin Corneau]

That's not a bad idea - keep one body for one lens (say, the MP for a wide angle) and the Nikon body for one telephoto lens...sell the rest.

You get to keep both AND let some gear go to raise a bit of cash.

 

[Godfrey]

Colleagues,

I use manual focus film cameras since 1981. No autofocus and no digital.
In 2003 I began slimming down on my collection and in 2009 I pared things back to where they are today. But I have 2 excellent cameras with their lenses but now I rarely get to put them through their paces. Indeed I wonder, seriously, if I need both going forward.

I have thought about this a lot, but not spoken my mind as such. The RFF community here over the past decade never scorn or dish out nonsense advice. So with that, allow me make a few comments on my cameras a lens and lets see where I can go forward.

Nikon FM3a, with 3 lens, a CV 40 f2 ulton SL1, CV 75 f2.5 SL1, 50mm f1.8 nikkor mkIV.
Leica MP, with 3 lens, Leica summicron 50mm f2, 75mm f2.5 summarit, Konica Hexanon 90mm f2.8m. As you can see there is a lot of common lens in scope for both the RF and the SLR.

I find I only use 12-15 rolls of film each year now, can't seem to do more alas.
I use Slide Fuji Provia 100f, Reala 100 asa (dwindling stock in fridge) Fuji Acros 100 asa.

Leica MP, is .85 mag VF, chrome, tan covering, is a joy to hold and use.
Focus is very easy especially in poor light. Loading film never a problem.

Nikon FM3a, for me this is quicker and easier to deploy, the match needle diode exposure meter is a joy too (coming from 28 years with an FE) it's second nature to me. The self timer button is used, (the MP hasn't got one) multiple exposure not so.

Size and weight almost the same, for me they're non identical twins.
Alas my circumstances have changed, out of work a long time, eye sight poorer
and I think will remain hard pushed to use a dozen rolls a year - it makes little sense now to keep both of these in use.
I can't really say which is better - they're equal to me. Selling either - to keep the other the Leica will raise more funds, for film, scanner, repairs etc.

BUT I wonder if I will be torn with regrets if I lose the Leica MP.
Has anyone had similar history in past and how did you solve such a conundrum? Keeping both has been the default option the last 3 years - but I am not so sure I can keep both long term, now it's decision time.

What do you folks think, any pearls of wisdom out there?

If I get what you're saying correctly, the purpose of selling one or the other is to raise cash to get you through a crunch time. Both cameras work for your photography, and both cameras are pretty similarly outfitted.

My take on this: they're just cameras, Leica or Nikon or whatever. If the goal is to raise money and have equipment that fulfills your desire to make photographs satisfactorily, and both cameras make you happy, sell the more valuable one of the two. That raises more cash and leaves you with another great camera kit that you like.

I've learned over many years that they're all just cameras, no matter how costly or whatever. I sold my favorite Hassy 903SWC in 2004 because it provided cash to move forward with at that time which I couldn't raise any other way. I missed it, so last year I bought another one. I use it every so often, like it just as much as the original one I had, and that's that.

Don't get attached to equipment if you want to stay focused on your photography, in other words. Be sure you understand your goals, and work to their best advantage.

G

 

[x-ray]

If I get what you're saying correctly, the purpose of selling one or the other is to raise cash to get you through a crunch time. Both cameras work for your photography, and both cameras are pretty similarly outfitted.

My take on this: they're just cameras, Leica or Nikon or whatever. If the goal is to raise money and have equipment that fulfills your desire to make photographs satisfactorily, and both cameras make you happy, sell the more valuable one of the two. That raises more cash and leaves you with another great camera kit that you like.

I've learned over many years that they're all just cameras, no matter how costly or whatever. I sold my favorite Hassy 903SWC in 2004 because it provided cash to move forward with at that time which I couldn't raise any other way. I missed it, so last year I bought another one. I use it every so often, like it just as much as the original one I had, and that's that.

Don't get attached to equipment if you want to stay focused on your photography, in other words. Be sure you understand your goals, and work to their best advantage.

G

Very good advice. I've become less and less attached to stuff and agree one camera is about as good as another. I find I can use about anything made in the past fifty or sixty years and make excellent images.

 

[arseniii]

Never sell an MP you'll eventually get another one...
I learned my lesson the hard way 🙂

 

[sparrow6224]

I think the first thing you should do is the research to see what you'll get. My impressions -- very off the cuff notions, better way to say it -- is the FM3A will fetch at least $375, the VC lenses $300-400 each, and the 50 Nikkor Ai only about $65. Let us say, conservatively, $1200 for the lot.

The MP will get you $3000 or more. I don't know which Summicron you got. That could be anywhere from $800 for the rigid to minimum $1500 and likely more for the most recent one. The 75mm, I'd guess $1500 minimum as well. Hexanon I have no idea. Anyway you're over $6000.

I would keep the Leica, if the $1200 were enough. On the other hand if the money continues to be needed you'll feel great pressure to sell the Leica stuff anyway and end up with nothing.

If you do sell the whole lot, I advise you go to KEH online not for an FM2 but for an FE, which has the needle (so great) and takes non-Ai lenses. And I'd find the Ai'd Nikkor-HC 85mm f/1.8 and that could take care of you for whatever you need to do. You could get those two for $300. In a pinch you could use the Ai/AiS 85mm f/2 but it's not quite as beautiful.

 

[Monochrom]

Hi...this is an easy answer...the nikon must go 😎

 

[nobbylon]

John,
I've sold 2 MP's to date. I didn't regret either sale and I will not buy another. It's way too much cash for a film body. I'd sell the MP and replace it with a decent M2 for a 1/4 of the price. With film it's all about the glass. Many will gush about MP this and that but in the end it's a film box and no more.
Pride of ownership is what makes an MP purchase seem worthwhile, nothing more.
Leica did a great job when they marketed the MP and many are still convinced it's better than anything else. It's not. I'm about to start selling off all my Leica and Nikon film boxes and just keep an F5 and a soon to be aquired F6. I'm attempting a non emotional detachment!
You shoot MF so I'd stick with the FM3 or indeed sell that also and get an FM2n.
It sounds like you just want to streamline. Good luck with the decision and remember that you can always buy another MP. There's loads of them and they are not hard to find. Prices for .72 seem to have dipped a little and your .85 has probably risen.
regards john
PS to all MP owners, droolers and gushers, I'm honestly not an MP basher! I really like them but just really can't find any value in them and think an M2 is the best choice for Leica glass with film. Of course if one doesn't care about value for money then it doesn't matter and an MP could be the right choice however so many are wrapped up in cotton wool in case a scratch or 2 de values them that I don't believe that's true in a lot of cases either!

 

[mfogiel]

I have both these cameras. MP 0,85x is ideal for 50mm. FM3A in your case, is ideal with 75mm. The CV Heliar 75/2.5 is one of my favourite lenses of all time. 50mm Summicron is a benchmark. So it comes down to your utility: weighing your shooting prefrences ( general photography=50mm, portrait=75mm) against cash (MP=more, FM3A=less)

 

[aizan]

since it doesn't sound like it makes any difference whether you use an slr or a rangefinder, i'd sell the mp and rf lenses. i might also swap the fm3a for an fm2n for extra cash.