arseniii
Well-known
After using my recently acquired MP for a month I found some things that i really dislike about it.
My first concern is the dust in the viewfinder. I heard that this is a common problem with MPs and my question is what would the drawbacks be of sealing the body? Not that I cannot live with the small dust but it keeps piling up over there...
Second, I really do NOT favor that covering "snake skin" as some may refer. Not only it is slippery and "hard" but also accumulates smells as hell. I am a smoker and after a month the body stinks as an ash tray (time to quit I guess). This never happen with M6 and M3 I've had before. Thus, my second question is what can be done to replace the covering. I looked at cameraleather's GRIPTAC replacement and I am curious what is it like in handling. I am afraid it will have the "rubber" feel to it. I'd say I prefer the covering that was used on M6. Is there any place in the US or Canada where the camera can be vulcanized?
Thanks in advance, AK
My first concern is the dust in the viewfinder. I heard that this is a common problem with MPs and my question is what would the drawbacks be of sealing the body? Not that I cannot live with the small dust but it keeps piling up over there...
Second, I really do NOT favor that covering "snake skin" as some may refer. Not only it is slippery and "hard" but also accumulates smells as hell. I am a smoker and after a month the body stinks as an ash tray (time to quit I guess). This never happen with M6 and M3 I've had before. Thus, my second question is what can be done to replace the covering. I looked at cameraleather's GRIPTAC replacement and I am curious what is it like in handling. I am afraid it will have the "rubber" feel to it. I'd say I prefer the covering that was used on M6. Is there any place in the US or Canada where the camera can be vulcanized?
Thanks in advance, AK
chenzhaohy
Member
1. I hated the viewfinder too and sold my MP. You can ask DAG or yourself to seal it with silicon. That's the only way !%#$*
2. I agree! The previous owner left the smell of cigar or pipe on camera and lasted for months. Smeels good actually.
3. I fell like MP can use same covering as M6 (not sure). You can also try Aki-Asahi Camera, #4008 is very nice to my taste. Ships from Japan, but still very cheap and fast.
MP just told us again that nothing can be perfect from leica. They left these bugs so that they can sell those expensive versions with "upgrades". Same story in M8-M8.2-M9-M9.2!
2. I agree! The previous owner left the smell of cigar or pipe on camera and lasted for months. Smeels good actually.
3. I fell like MP can use same covering as M6 (not sure). You can also try Aki-Asahi Camera, #4008 is very nice to my taste. Ships from Japan, but still very cheap and fast.
MP just told us again that nothing can be perfect from leica. They left these bugs so that they can sell those expensive versions with "upgrades". Same story in M8-M8.2-M9-M9.2!
Richard G
Veteran
Never liked the look of the sandpaper covering, and never wanted to feel it. Poorly sealed viewfinder full of dust. Unbelievable. The best MP might be an M2.
coelacanth
Ride, dive, shoot.
I'll probably send my MP before passport warranty goes out for finder cleaning and sealing, but the procedure should be easy enough for do-it-yourself.
For the covering, I changed mine with Aki-Asahi #4008 as soon as I got the MP from Paul. It is super nice and accurate cut. The texture is pretty close to original M3. I highly recommend it. It's only $22 including shipping from Japan, and the cut is, again, super precise. I just did the same on my M2 as well.
It's grippy but not rubbery.
For the covering, I changed mine with Aki-Asahi #4008 as soon as I got the MP from Paul. It is super nice and accurate cut. The texture is pretty close to original M3. I highly recommend it. It's only $22 including shipping from Japan, and the cut is, again, super precise. I just did the same on my M2 as well.
It's grippy but not rubbery.
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arseniii
Well-known
I wish you were wrong, I wish... :-(
arseniii
Well-known
I'll probably send my MP before passport warranty goes out for finder cleaning and sealing, but the procedure should be easy enough for do-it-yourself.
For the covering, I changed mine with Aki-Asahi #4008 as soon as I got the MP from Paul. It is super nice and accurate cut. The texture is pretty close to original M3. I highly recommend it. It's only $22 including shipping from Japan, and the cut is, again, super precise. I just did the same on my M2 as well.
It's grippy but not rubbery.
Your MP looks beautiful and very classy. Good job! I read the instructions on how to clean the VF and yes, it's simple. The decision is whether to seal it or not. As for myself I decided to go with the griptac (from cameraleather). Here at far North
it gets really cold and handling the camera in gloves demands something very "sticky".
Tom A
RFF Sponsor
The MP had a problem with dust seeping into the finder. The culprit was the rubber seal around the ocular on the back. Leica sent me a set of seals and it was simple and quick job to fix it. You can't take of the seal and reuse it after cleaning the finder. you have to rip the old one off and undo the three screws for the holding ring.
Most of the "dusty" ones I have seen have for some reason or another been 0.58's.
Most of the "dusty" ones I have seen have for some reason or another been 0.58's.
dogberryjr
[Pithy phrase]
I like the look of Griptac okay, but I do not like the feel. It's grippy and secure, but it doesn't feel good. I really like the Levant leather from Cameraleather. I used it on an F3 and it's what I will use on my MP when I finally decide to replace the original covering.
gilpen123
Gil
Is this a real problem with all MPs or only in certain production batches or 0.58 VF only? I am looking at getting an MP 0.85 in the near future. I have read some issues here on shutter failure as well, never happened with my M2/M3 though.
coelacanth
Ride, dive, shoot.
I thought this dust in vf was an issue with early production MPs. (mine is from the very first batch of 1000). The light meter was replaced in it's earlier life, never experienced shutter problem of any sort.
I'll deal with dust in the future but that has never got in my way in actual use.
I'll deal with dust in the future but that has never got in my way in actual use.
peter_n
Veteran
Yes I also think the early models. I have two recent ones and neither exhibits the problem.
arseniii
Well-known
I am not sure what "early production" is but in my estimate mime was produce in around 2006 and S/N is 3006xxx. If they would have made an M3 with an expo meter I'd go for it over the MP with no doubt(dreams, dreams)! MP is a beautiful camera but my ex-M6 was much much MUCH a better performer than the MP... Tho, the joy of use of an MP is abundant!
thomasw_
Well-known
I have had four different MPs and never encountered the dust troubles. I read somewhere it was an issue only with the first MPs.
I agree the default sharkskin for the MP begs to be replaced: it sucks. My preference is for black Griptac. To me it is the way the MP should have been manufactured.
I agree the default sharkskin for the MP begs to be replaced: it sucks. My preference is for black Griptac. To me it is the way the MP should have been manufactured.
coelacanth
Ride, dive, shoot.
I'm curious. What makes you think the M6 was "much much MUCH a better performer than the MP"? I, too, had an M6 (HM), and I was happy with it, but I don't think it was better in actual use than MP. I personally prefer M3 style rewinding knob over M4 style (I don't need that much of speedy film change), and other than that, I can't think of any significant performance differences between M6 and MP.
Again, I'm just curious. I can happily shoot everyday with any Ms (never handled M5 though!)
maddoc
... likes film again.
arseniii
Well-known
1. Fast film rewind(M4 style). It's faster, easier to use imho
2. Black chrome is much more wear proof!
3. TTL flash compatibility (M6 TTL)
4. Bigger s.speed dial. It's easy to switch shutter speeds with one finger.
sanmich
Veteran
Tom,
Who should I contact to get a couple of these seals?
and Is there a DIY info on how to install one of these?
Thanks!
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johannielscom
Snorting silver salts
+1 vote for GripTac to replace the asphalt roofing paper . I don't think it's 'rubbery' at all, and looks the real deal. I stuck it to my M3 and might do the M6 with it as well.
I talked to a bloke at Aperture, London over coffee, who told me he was sure Leica have applied less paint on the MP's to have the brass show sooner, since this is the look certain Leicaphiles seem to like. Anyone who can corroborate this?
The RF dust is a common complaint it seems, a rather silly move on Leica's part IMHO. Earlier M's always were sealed, right?
I have an M3 lever on my 0.85 Classic M6 and thats good enough for me. And a lot cheaper too!
. I don't think it's 'rubbery' at all, and looks the real deal. I stuck it to my M3 and might do the M6 with it as well. I talked to a bloke at Aperture, London over coffee, who told me he was sure Leica have applied less paint on the MP's to have the brass show sooner, since this is the look certain Leicaphiles seem to like. Anyone who can corroborate this?
The RF dust is a common complaint it seems, a rather silly move on Leica's part IMHO. Earlier M's always were sealed, right?
I have an M3 lever on my 0.85 Classic M6 and thats good enough for me. And a lot cheaper too!
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ferider
Veteran
The zinc shell is less prone to bumps than brass though, Andy. More durable; when hit hard enough it cracks.
Like I've said before, I do prefer my M6 with MP finder and brass rewind crank over an MP, and not due to financial reasons.
To each their own of course.
Regarding the OP, I can recommend AA's 4008. Very functional and looks great.
wjlapier
Well-known
Is the AA 4008 cover one piece covering the front to back, or two pieces like cameraleather? Looks like original cover of my M3--does it feel the same?