Sell everything and get an MP a la carte?

[KM-25]

and next to an MP the M6ttl IS second-best -- if you can't afford what you really want.

Not mine, I had the MP finder put in, 90 & 135 frame lines removed, installed an ultra custom version of griptac and much prefer the black chrome finish / canted rewind, larger shutter dial for handling as an actual working camera, not a show piece.

All for the low price of $1,450 including a full CLA. No desire for a black paint MP and I get to keep the other $60K in working tools I have including all the new CFi / CFe lenses I just upgraded to in my blad system.

 

[David Hughes]

And which one did you keep?

I was explaining this to a friend who has more gear than me: I want to be able to head out the door and pick up my one camera not have to make a decision about which camera to take. I have only one set of eyes and fingers and so can only use on at a time. . .

I don't have to make this sort of decision either, I pick the one with film in it. Now and then, but not very often, I decide it would be unsuitable and pick another.

Going back to food, best to prefer what's in the larder and ready and then consider the time the cook has free...

Regards, David

 

[giganova]

I would do it, go for it! You will find it very liberating to only have one body and a few select lenses. What's the point of having so much gear laying around if you can only have one camera around your neck anyway? Sell everything, keep the MP with you at all times, and you'll never miss a great shot.

 

[KM-25]

keep the MP with you at all times, and you'll never miss a great shot.

Totally, my M6 easily does that as good as someone's Luigi half case'd MP does.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Not mine, I had the MP finder put in, 90 & 135 frame lines removed, installed an ultra custom version of griptac and much prefer the black chrome finish / canted rewind, larger shutter dial for handling as an actual working camera, not a show piece.

All for the low price of $1,450 including a full CLA. No desire for a black paint MP and I get to keep the other $60K in working tools I have including all the new CFi / CFe lenses I just upgraded to in my blad system.

Then again, I much prefer BP to (hideously ugly) black chrome. I don't care much for the easily bent rewind crank, either. Does that make my heavily used MP a "show piece"? Not really. It's the photographer who decides whether it's a working camera or a show piece. Don't impose your fantasies on others who actually use their cameras.

Cheers,

R.

 

[Roger Hicks]

I don't have to make this sort of decision either, I pick the one with film in it. Now and then, but not very often, I decide it would be unsuitable and pick another.

Going back to food, best to prefer what's in the larder and ready and then consider the time the cook has free...

Regards, David

Dear David,

Exactly. There are two ways to think about things: in the real world, or in terms of absolutes. I prefer the real world.

Cheers,

R.

 

[KM-25]

Don't impose your fantasies on others who actually use their cameras.

Cheers,

R.

The cheers part is almost comically placed...🙄

So we both use our cameras, big whoop. Will the person spending 5K to have his or hers customized use theirs as much?....anyone's guess huh. I would not spend that on something I make a full time living with unless it was because of the value it has as a working tool, not the cosmetics, hence it was an easy decision to make to spend 10K on a digital back for my Hasselblads.

I had an MP3 kit for awhile, the one with the 50 Asph and while it was nice and all, I sold it because it was too pretty, I need the pictures to be pretty, not the camera...

 

[Roger Hicks]

The cheers part is almost comically placed...🙄

So we both use our cameras, big whoop. Will the person spending 5K to have his or hers customized use theirs as much?....anyone's guess huh. I would not spend that on something I make a full time living with unless it was because of the value it has as a working tool, not the cosmetics, hence it was an easy decision to make to spend 10K on a digital back for my Hasselblads.

I had an MP3 kit for awhile, the one with the 50 Asph and while it was nice and all, I sold it because it was too pretty, I need the pictures to be pretty, not the camera...

Well, yes, that was exactly my point.

I repeat: Don't impose your fantasies, or even your experience, on others who actually use their cameras: I earned a living with mine (mostly Leicas) for decades. Be equally hesitant to impose your fantasies or experience on those who want a camera just because it's beautiful and will therefore (they hope) inspire them. It may or may not inspire them. But it's the hope that counts.

Cheers,

R.

 

[nikonhswebmaster]

Well this has been an enlightening thread. I found out Roger *probably* does not like sweet pork as much as I do. My love developed in Chinatown's cheaper dives where sweet may trump quality meat.

And support for my dislike of black chrome.

 

[wjlapier]

Buyer beware: My MP had several issues when I owned it. Jammed shutter. Loose top plate. Wouldn't load a role of film sometimes.

The ala carte M7 I owned went into Leica NJ twice. DAG twice. Loose top plate again. Jammed shutter. Big chunk of dust in VF/RFer. Slipping shutter. Film not loading again.

Never had these issues with my first Leica a M3. The M6 I owned twice was way more reliable than the MP or the M7.

Could be me, but I lost confidence in the MP/M7's after the third time to repair.

But, If you really have your heart on a ala carte MP do it. Sell it all and get the MP. Good luck!

 

[KM-25]

Well, yes, that was exactly my point.

I repeat: Don't impose your fantasies, or even your experience, on others who actually use their cameras: I earned a living with mine (mostly Leicas) for decades. Be equally hesitant to impose your fantasies or experience on those who want a camera just because it's beautiful and will therefore (they hope) inspire them. It may or may not inspire them. But it's the hope that counts.

Cheers,

R.

I'm not buying it, my experience is what forms my opinion and my opinion is as welcome as any other on here. Mine is not an imposition but merely an opinion based on direct experience.

The OP had to know this would be a hot topic and that may includes some flames. Live and let live, but if you ask for opinions, be prepared for a variety of them.

 

[tightsqueez]

Buyer beware: My MP had several issues when I owned it. Jammed shutter. Loose top plate. Wouldn't load a role of film sometimes.

The ala carte M7 I owned went into Leica NJ twice. DAG twice. Loose top plate again. Jammed shutter. Big chunk of dust in VF/RFer. Slipping shutter. Film not loading again.

Never had these issues with my first Leica a M3. The M6 I owned twice was way more reliable than the MP or the M7.

Could be me, but I lost confidence in the MP/M7's after the third time to repair.

But, If you really have your heart on a ala carte MP do it. Sell it all and get the MP. Good luck!

My experience as well. The MP and M7 have been the most unreliable Leica cameras I have ever used, including digital.

 

[tightsqueez]

I'm not buying it, my experience is what forms my opinion and my opinion is as welcome as any other on here. Mine is not an imposition but merely an opinion based on direct experience.

The OP had to know this would be a hot topic and that may includes some flames. Live and let live, but if you ask for opinions, be prepared for a variety of them.

Yeah, I'm a little disorientated why your particular viewpoint is imposing. What are you forcing?

 

[______]

All for the low price of $1,450 including a full CLA. No desire for a black paint MP and I get to keep the other $60K in working tools I have including all the new CFi / CFe lenses I just upgraded to in my blad system.

I don't think you would have had to sell your "other $60K in working tools" to get an MP instead of a tricked out M6 if that was the way you had wanted to go. I'm really glad you have all those new CFi/CFe lenses in your "blad" system. Now you are a real photographer.

 

[LChanyungco]

"After ammassing quite a lot of gear and having lots go through my hands I'm thinking of selling everything. I would replace it all with one MP a la carte."


If this is what you're thinking after going through all that gear then it really is what you should do. There's no logic in all of this gear b*llsh*t. Just be prepared for the possibility of wanting to sell the a la carte down the road.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Yeah, I'm a little disorientated why your particular viewpoint is imposing. What are you forcing?

The opinion is perfectly valid.

The fantasies are first, that professionals don't use Leicas and second, that there's no point in buying one camera that looks better than the other, even if they are functionally identical.

The former is simply nonsense and the latter implies such a bleak, utilitarian world that few of us would want to live in it.

Cheers,

R.

 

[Roger Hicks]

"After ammassing quite a lot of gear and having lots go through my hands I'm thinking of selling everything. I would replace it all with one MP a la carte."


If this is what you're thinking after going through all that gear then it really is what you should do. There's no logic in all of this gear b*llsh*t. Just be prepared for the possibility of wanting to sell the a la carte down the road.

Exactly. But if you do what makes you happy, instead of settling for second best, there's a better chance that you'll be happy -- at least for a while!

Cheers,

R.

 

[twhittle]

The opinion is perfectly valid.

The fantasies are first, that professionals don't use Leicas and second, that there's no point in buying one camera that looks better than the other, even if they are functionally identical.

The former is simply nonsense and the latter implies such a bleak, utilitarian world that few of us would want to live in it.

Cheers,

R.

Thank you all for your insightful and varied input.

For me this question was about workflow and clearing out distraction from my life. A one camera one lens system would allow me to focus on making prints and not worrying about formats/ colour vs b&w/ rangefinder vs anything else...

Yes it perhaps is utilitarian to discuss the merits of a black paint over chrome, but I am interested in having a tool which will burnish and carry the marks of use.

Ultimately, I have just ordered a couple of bricks of 120 HP5+ and will be just using my Mamiya 7ii this Christmas holiday. I think this combo could be the winning ticket.

 

[KM-25]

I'm really glad you have all those new CFi/CFe lenses in your "blad" system. Now you are a real photographer.

Yeah, they certainly do work better with the digital back in terms of sheer image quality with the improved inner baffling and focus a lot easier in this cold weather, although not too bad today at 12F just before sunrise.

It's a key system for me so keeping it updated is money well spent.

 

[DanskDynamit]

This plan will almost certainly:

1. Produce the highest number of quality photos

2. Generate the most happiness

3. Be the cure for the OP's GAS

4. Almost certainly be ignored!

😉

aww... 😀
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