Please help me decide on a lifetime investment (MP vs M7)..

The M7 is too limited when your batteries are drained. I suggest the MP and a Bessa R2A. Get AE in an inexpensive Bessa. Save fully manual operation for your Leica.
Eric
 
Tuolumne said:
Has anyone around here ever really had a battery fail (in a non-digital camera) at some crucial juncture? I never have in 20 years of shooting. I think that concern is way over-blown. It's just not a reality. You are more likely to run out of film when you most need it than run out of battery power. Think about it.

/T
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Yes. Years and years ago on a Canon A-1, and more recently on a Mamiya 645. That's why I always have a spare batter tucked away in the bag for any electrical camera.
 
Tuolumne said:
Has anyone around here ever really had a battery fail (in a non-digital camera) at some crucial juncture? I never have in 20 years of shooting. I think that concern is way over-blown. It's just not a reality. You are more likely to run out of film when you most need it than run out of battery power. Think about it.

/T
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Yes - Lithium battery in my GR-1s, which was not showing any signs of low battery, gave up rather inconveniently in the cold one morning ... however other than than cold killing some alkalne meter batteries in my M6, that's the only lack of battery power I've suffered in twenty years.

However, recently enforced RoHS Lead free solder processes have not had sufficient time to establish reliability. Higher temperature solder profiles increases stress on components and PCB boards and is more brittle - that's why for Aerospace, Military and life support applications there has been no change from Tin/Lead solder. Consumer Electronics manufacturers have no choice but to follow RoHS regulations.

So for a long happy future, go for the MP.
Mechanical ingenuity has no substitute
 
///Alan Astonish said:
Like yourself, I'm having a difficulty choosing between the two because I'll be needing one for schoolwork.

I know for a fact that AE can be fooled by funny lighting, such as dappled sunlight and highly reflective surfaces for instance. Depending on where you decide to meter in combination to the darker and lighter values, I'm sure you know your picture(s) would be over or underexposed.

What I've found which helped me more in practice than any auto exposure system is EV metering. Since the shutter speed and the aperture are directly correlated to one another, all you need to know brightness of the light which correlates to a number, allowing you to set your camera to aperture priority or shutter priority depending on the subject.

Generally, I've found M cameras to be VERY robust (mine is over 50 years old!) and I'm sure you'll be happy with whatever camera you choose.
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Since according to your avatar you are going to kill yourself anyway what does it matter? And, hey what school course requires a Leica for your home work? Nice?
 
neither "lifetime" nor "investment"

neither "lifetime" nor "investment"

Zzbog said:
<snip> A lifetime investment, as they call it. <snip>
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Reconsider the term "lifetime investment". No camera is either "lifetime" nor an "investment". Maybe a large expenditure that you hope you will have fun with for a long time. But not "investment" for sure as that assumes some economic profit. Likewise probably not "lifetime" unless you quickly meet some unfortunate demise.

Of course, no problem with you spending the money for a M7 or MP "just because you want it". We all do that. Just make sure you are not deluding yourself.
 
I would go with the MP. If you plan on using this camera for a lifetime, a few weeks learning manual mode will not make difference.

My Minolta Hi-Matic 9 seemed like a lifetime investment. Spent the whole Summer of 1969 mowing lawns to buy it. I still have it, still works on Manual and Auto, and Essex will still repair it. It stays next to my Nikon SP and Leica M3.
 
I would ,in fact I have just bought a chrome M6 body in mint condition. Then you will be able to make your major investment in the optics, after all that is why we buy Leica cameras isn't it. It is all about the glass
 
I would look at an S3-2000 with a CV 25/4, Nikkor 35/1.8 (reissue), 50/1.4 millennium and a 105/2.5, but that is me.

There is something wonderful about the fell of a Leica and between the two you picked I would go with an MP.

B2 (;->
 
The Leica MP is the best imho
no electronical shutter = no problem for replacing a piece
Plus, the black lacqued MP is so sexy :)
 
I would go with an used M7 or M6 TTL (since you want a meter). The MP sets you ~ 800$ (buying used) above an M6TTL, money that can be spent well on lenses ...

From my - personal experience - the MP is NOT a lifetime investment ... ;)
 
I think this whole discussion is somewhat misguided; the key variables are not investment value or lifetime functionality: for a modern Leica buyer the concept of rocking is essential. The MP rocks; there is no other recent film camera that rocks like the MP rocks, unless we talk about the very hardcore M2 or M3. So I recommend getting the Leica that rocks out in the most thorough-going fashion, which is the MP. For added stealth and sex-appeal, I recommend obtaining your rocking MP in black, because once you go black you can't go back! Did I mention the MP rocks ;)
 
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thomasw_ said:
I think this whole discussion is somewhat misguided; the key variables are not investment value or lifetime functionality: for a modern Leica buyer the concept of rocking is essential. The MP rocks; there is no other recent film camera that rocks like the MP rocks, unless we talk about the very hardcore M2 or M3. So I recommend getting the Leica that rocks out in the most thorough-going fashion, which is the MP. For added stealth and sex-appeal, I recommend obtaining your rocking MP in black, because once have black you can't go back! Did I mention the MP rocks ;)
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I'm kinda going to have to agree on this one.
 
zzbog, that dslr is great for learning exposure. Take it off P or Auto, and use if full manual. You'll get near instant feedback on the exposure you selected. After a week, or so, I think you'll have a good feel whether you should go battery-less, mechanical but metered, or one with AE.
 
I learned on a DSLR, and I recently made the jump from a DSLR automatic everything to an M6, which doesn't have AE and I am quite happy with it.

I've been shooting with my Leica for maybe 2-3 months now, I don't miss my DSLR at all. AE isn't as a big deal as you think it'll be and it'll prolly become a moot point. Although the M6 has a light meter, I just try to use the Sunny 16 rule, and use the light meter as a reference point...once you have that figured out, AE won't even really matter....go for the MP.

If I had the money I'd do it...
 
marshallM4.jpg


rock on. :cool:
 
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