Perfecting mechanical perfection (MP)

AA 4008:

The main body part is 1 piece. The kit will come with back panel piece and two pieces of circle patches for the battery cover (you use only one of them).

See my pic above for the actual look of the #4008. I believe I've posted #4008 vs M3 original covering shot somewhere. I'll post it here if I can find it.
 
I replaced both my current MP's with Griptac and love the feel, very secure. I have a wrist strap but don't use it when taking pictures and like the extra tackiness the Griptac gives. I also replaced one of my M7's with the Griptac and like the feel of it better than the original covering.

In fact, I just ordered several Griptac kits for replacing my Hasselblad A12 backs as I have dropped several of them just trying to quickly change magazines.
 
I'm not trying to convince anyone that MP is better camera than M6. It's just my take to arseniii's list:
1. Fast film rewind(M4 style). It's faster, easier to use imho
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IMHO, it's a trade off between rewind speed and durability & speedy draw from bag/pocket. I prefer M3 style for this. For the ways Leica Ms are often used, I don't think there is definitive answer one is better than the other. It's matter of what your needed "performance" is.

2. Black chrome is much more wear proof!
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I don't think this is performance matter. If you don't like brassing, BP MP is definitely not the right camera for you. But again, I just like traditional metal materials for my stuff. I prefer steel frame bikes over carbon/aluminum ones. I can take ding or dent, but I don't like cracks.

3. TTL flash compatibility (M6 TTL)
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If you need TTL, then yeah, MP or any other older Ms aren't for you, period. This is also depending on what you like, how you use your camera, not "performance" issue. I disliked taller profile of newer Ms because I don't use flash on Ms so the extra 2mm was just a drawback for me, personally.

4. Bigger s.speed dial. It's easy to switch shutter speeds with one finger.
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If you rely on built-in lightmeter for each shot (adjust dial while you aim, like "manual AE") and/or use other newer Ms (M7, digital Ms), this is definitely a big plus. But if you use older Ms and/or frame&shoot type (set dial before you aim), older dial works more than fine. Say, if I had an M2 and in the market for a newer metered M, I'd go for MP or M6 classic because of this.

So again, I'm not trying to fight or saying MP is superior than M6TTL, and when I first asked the question, I was thinking of your wetzlar M6 Classic (am I mistaken?). Comparing MP with M6 TTL, it's really matter of preferences and priorities (and I know you said "personally" arseniii ;) ).
 
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wjlapier said:
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?
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Oh I found my pic. It's a lame iPhone shot, but the black one MP with #4008, chrome one is M3 with original covering.

web.jpg


Feels very close, but #4008 is slightly more grippy. (AA's leatherette covering is a tad bit softer than completely solid Vulcanite on M3)

Overtime, the MP's AA covering has gained a bit of glossiness (slightest bit, only at the tips of bumps) around gripping area, which is very nice and classy IMHO.
 
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coelacanth said:
I'm not trying to convince anyone that MP is better camera than M6. It's just my take to arseniii's list:

IMHO, it's a trade off between rewind speed and durability & speedy draw from bag/pocket. I prefer M3 style for this. For the ways Leica Ms are often used, I don't think there is definitive answer one is better than the other. It's matter of what your needed "performance" is.


I don't think this is performance matter. If you don't like brassing, BP MP is definitely not the right camera for you. But again, I just like traditional metal materials for my stuff. I prefer steel frame bikes over carbon/aluminum ones. I can take ding or dent, but I don't like cracks.


If you need TTL, then yeah, MP or any other older Ms aren't for you, period. This is also depending on what you like, how you use your camera, not "performance" issue. I disliked taller profile of newer Ms because I don't use flash on Ms so the extra 2mm was just a drawback for me, personally.


If you rely on built-in lightmeter for each shot (adjust dial while you aim, like "manual AE") and/or use other newer Ms (M7, digital Ms), this is definitely a big plus. But if you use older Ms and/or frame&shoot type (set dial before you aim), older dial works more than fine. Say, if I had an M2 and in the market for a newer metered M, I'd go for MP or M6 classic because of this.

So again, I'm not trying to fight or saying MP is superior than M6TTL, and when I first asked the question, I was thinking of your wetzlar M6 Classic (am I mistaken?). Comparing MP with M6 TTL, it's really matter of preferences and priorities (and I know you said "personally" arseniii ;) ).
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That's not the matter of what is the better camera but which one I'd personally prefer in my daily use. And given the "troubles" I have with the MP(cover+dust) I think that M6 was a more convenient tool for myself to use on daily basis. If not all the above make a "better/worse performer" how else I can evaluate one over the other...

I was able to take the rubber eyepiece off and it looks like that would be an easy task to give it a clean myself. Eyepiece removal was easy so it's possible to put the sealing back in place after I was done. For now I will let it be as it is (without sealing the finder) cauze it does not really bother me at this point. Covering however does and I've already put an order to cameraleather's griptac, will see what is all about...
 
coelacanth said:
Oh I found my pic. It's a lame iPhone shot, but the black one MP with #4008, chrome one is M3 with original covering.

web.jpg


Feels very close, but #4008 is slightly more grippy. (AA's leatherette covering is a tad bit softer than completely solid Vulcanite on M3)

Overtime, the MP's AA covering has gained a bit of glossiness (slightest bit, only at the tips of bumps) around gripping area, which is very nice and classy IMHO.
Click to expand...

Thanks for posting this. The visual difference is really minor between these two. I will probably order 4008 as well and compare them both in person when they arrive. If I'd like one more over the other I will list the other one on eBay or smth...
 
arseniii said:
That's not the matter of what is the better camera but which one I'd personally prefer in my daily use. And given the "troubles" I have with the MP(cover+dust) I think that M6 was a more convenient tool for myself to use on daily basis. If not all the above make a "better/worse performer" how else I can evaluate one over the other...

I was able to take the rubber eyepiece off and it looks like that would be an easy task to give it a clean myself. Eyepiece removal was easy so it's possible to put the sealing back in place after I was done. For now I will let it be as it is (without sealing the finder) cauze it does not really bother me at this point. Covering however does and I've already put an order to cameraleather's griptac, will see what is all about...
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I hope you didn't feel I was trying to convince you or saying your points aren't valid argument. I just wanted to tell another point of view about the differences.

As for the covering and VF dust, I totally agree. I immediately re-covered mine, and I knew I wanted to do it even before the MP actually came. ;)

I'm also leaving the VF alone without sealing for now for the same reason you said. And for the record, what we are talking about is between the VF block and the eye piece where you can reach by removing the eyepiece, not the actual VF/RF block itself that would be a xxxxx to remove dust from.
 
arseniii said:
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).
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Put the body in a plastic bag with some freshly mown (but not wet) grass - this will remove tobacco smells from most objects.
 
coelacanth said:
Oh I found my pic. It's a lame iPhone shot, but the black one MP with #4008, chrome one is M3 with original covering.

web.jpg


Feels very close, but #4008 is slightly more grippy. (AA's leatherette covering is a tad bit softer than completely solid Vulcanite on M3)

Overtime, the MP's AA covering has gained a bit of glossiness (slightest bit, only at the tips of bumps) around gripping area, which is very nice and classy IMHO.
Click to expand...

Thank you Sug for the pic. A while back I ordered the Griptac and didn't like the feel of it. I was about to send my MP to Leica for the Vulcanit, but I think I'll try the AA 4008 first.

Bill
 
Here is another shot of #4008, this time on my M2. Again, another iPhone shot from the cafe where I'm at right now.

If you like classic Vulcanite look without dealing with a huge mess in future re-covering, this is really your best bet. If you are put off by Japanese-only website, click "English Page" link on the top right. (or just here: http://aki-asahi.com/store/)

web.jpg
 
CLE-RF said:
.....
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?
.....
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Please be careful with judging how common a complaint is, from reading postings in fora like these. Reading newsgroups and fora about interest topics can be like visiting a hospital: inside the hospital the majority of people are troubled with illness, while outside the hospital the majority of people are healthy. And there are a lot more people outside the hospital than inside.
I bet that there are a lot of completely satisfied MP owners who never post here, because they don´t have any problems with their camera that they need to solve.

I have only owned my MP for a couple of months, but I can say this so far:
My MP has been with me to a lot of places - also dusty environments - and I still haven´t got any dust in the viewfinder. And by the way: mine is a very low serial number, so probably an early specimen.
I was also thinking about exchanging the covering, before even buying the camera, but as soon as I handled it in the shop I knew that I loved the original covering.
Regarding the thoughts about the rewind mechanism: I bought the quick-rewind-device to clamp on the rewind button, when I bought the camera, but I haven´t used it yet. I like using the button too much.

Actually, I think my MP is mechanical perfection.
 
I keep reading of the viewfinder dust problem but have yet to actually meet anyone who has suffered it. My MP serial is 2881### and remains dust free. It is out with me everyday, no matter what the conditions.

My son has had his MP with him on his tours of Afghanistan with no problems and is an earlier serial number.
 
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zerobuttons said:
Please be careful with judging how common a complaint is, from reading postings in fora like these. Reading newsgroups and fora about interest topics can be like visiting a hospital: inside the hospital the majority of people are troubled with illness, while outside the hospital the majority of people are healthy. And there are a lot more people outside the hospital than inside.
I bet that there are a lot of completely satisfied MP owners who never post here, because they don´t have any problems with their camera that they need to solve.

I have only owned my MP for a couple of months, but I can say this so far:
My MP has been with me to a lot of places - also dusty environments - and I still haven´t got any dust in the viewfinder. And by the way: mine is a very low serial number, so probably an early specimen.
I was also thinking about exchanging the covering, before even buying the camera, but as soon as I handled it in the shop I knew that I loved the original covering.
Regarding the thoughts about the rewind mechanism: I bought the quick-rewind-device to clamp on the rewind button, when I bought the camera, but I haven´t used it yet. I like using the button too much.

Actually, I think my MP is mechanical perfection.
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I agree with your opinion, i feel my MP perfect, the original covering having more grip than the one on my M6 and M7 and also easthetically very beautiful!
 
Finally, my camera is to my liking now! Griptac does it beautifully for me... I also removed the dust from the finder myself, was a 30min task!

Here a some pics just of the "body shop"

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U18329I1263225450.SEQ.0.jpg
 
Looking really sweet,arseniii!

I'll probably do the dust removal after my short trip to France. I read somewhere that there is a tiny drop of glue, not all around initially. Did you use glue to put back the eyepiece?
 
There was a problem with some of the early MP's with dust seeping in around the eye-piece. From what I have heard, mainly on the first 0.58's. Mine is an early one - and it had it in *****s. I asked Leica for a replacement seal and did the job myself. Not a big deal at all. So far it has kept tight.
 
marke said:
So how does one go about disassembling the VF and cleaning/sealing it?
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I believe what we are taking here is really the outside of VF assembly, just between the eyepiece and the rear end of VF block. You can take off the rubber ring from eyepiece, unscrew three (?) screws, clean the dust off, seal (optional) or just put the eyepiece back on.
 
Tom,

Do you think the seal from Leica is breakable? I mean can you take the eyepiece off again if you have to?
 
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