Who has a Leica MP? Is it really awesome?

Erik van Straten said:
Awesome.

Erik.

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kinda OT question, but from the pic above it looks like you have a stringed strap. am I right? if so, how do you like it? I'm thinking about getting one from Gordy's...
 
The MP is Leica's demonstration of the law of diminishing returns.

Choosing the M6TTL over a Zorki, you pay an extra $1200 or so and get a pretty excellent camera.

Choosing the MP over a M6TTL, you pay another extra $1200 or so and get a rather marginal increase, and partly a decrease if you like the M6's shutter speed dial or non-knob rewind.
 
I had one, wanted one badly and liked it quite a lot until the first time it had to be sent to Leica for repair.... 🙄
 
kshapero said:
[MP] How much better than an M6? ...
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It's a rebadged-retagged M6 classic. The MP has the RF condenser added back (taken out half-way into the M4-2 run) and a brass topcover (woohoo) - and various other sundry items such as ‘real’ paint that rubs off ...

The condenser can be added to your M6 for less than $200.
 
Akiva, if you want another opinion, an opinion from someone who works on Leicas, give Sherry K. a call. She'll let things rip on this question....
 
I'm going to be honest here, and this is only one humble MP owners opinion.

There are tangible differences (the finder being one of them), and there are intangible ones. To me, the MP is as much about owning what seems to be the last film camera that Leica made. There is almost a century of history buried in this, and I'm not going to lie and be cool about it: I appreciate Leica and what they have done. Owning the MP lets me take part in that history in a way that suits me. There are plenty of photographers out there that says that "it's all about the picture", and they are right. I feel pretty confident that the M6 would do exactly the same thing as the MP. But I just LIKE cameras, and I appreciate the extra thought that went into the MP. And to me, it has next to nothing to do with the pictures. I guess a part of me is what is referred to as a collector.

But, again, it is not easy. I find that I rationalize whatever gear I currently own. And I'm not objective about this. If I owned the M6, I'm sure that I would tell you that the differences are miniscule. 😀
 
emilsand said:
I'm going to be honest here, and this is only one humble MP owners opinion.

There are tangible differences (the finder being one of them), and there are intangible ones. To me, the MP is as much about owning what seems to be the last film camera that Leica made. There is almost a century of history buried in this, and I'm not going to lie and be cool about it: I appreciate Leica and what they have done. Owning the MP lets me take part in that history in a way that suits me. There are plenty of photographers out there that says that "it's all about the picture", and they are right. I feel pretty confident that the M6 would do exactly the same thing as the MP. But I just LIKE cameras, and I appreciate the extra thought that went into the MP. And to me, it has next to nothing to do with the pictures. I guess a part of me is what is referred to as a collector.

But, again, it is not easy. I find that I rationalize whatever gear I currently own. And I'm not objective about this. If I owned the M6, I'm sure that I would tell you that the differences are miniscule. 😀
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Good answer!
 
emilsand said:
I'm going to be honest here, and this is only one humble MP owners opinion.

There are tangible differences (the finder being one of them), and there are intangible ones. To me, the MP is as much about owning what seems to be the last film camera that Leica made. There is almost a century of history buried in this, and I'm not going to lie and be cool about it: I appreciate Leica and what they have done. Owning the MP lets me take part in that history in a way that suits me. There are plenty of photographers out there that says that "it's all about the picture", and they are right. I feel pretty confident that the M6 would do exactly the same thing as the MP. But I just LIKE cameras, and I appreciate the extra thought that went into the MP. And to me, it has next to nothing to do with the pictures. I guess a part of me is what is referred to as a collector.

But, again, it is not easy. I find that I rationalize whatever gear I currently own. And I'm not objective about this. If I owned the M6, I'm sure that I would tell you that the differences are miniscule. 😀
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Agree! I bought mine used and sold my M6 to help fund it. I'm not a touchy feely geek but the MP just feels better than the M6 to me, YMMV. When I bought mine I was looking at a black paint M4 (repaint) and it was close to the same price, I pulled the trigger on the MP and never looked back.

Todd
 
Epitomy of Leica RF bodies.

The gears were improved over M6 models which went to steel over brass to accomodate a motor. They were a slightly rougher transport and that was improved with the MP.

You will get a camera with new shutter and it will not need a CLA.

It will have the mylar light shields that are permanent.

The condenser lens was put back in the RF system so never a white out.

The meter circuit is improved.

For this you will pay 3x to 5X the cost of an M6.

The only downside besides price is the MP will not take the Leica brass film cassettes and the early M6, not late, models will. This makes a difference to those who load their own film. They last forever and never scratch film. Difficult to find. And you do not send them a commercial processor. They will most likey loose/damage them.
 
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They are all mostly the same, and gives you the same feeling after the shutter is released. 🙂

I have 2 MPs, one 0.58 and another 0.85. My 0.58 MP is my first Leica. Bought it because I can't find a decently priced M6 with 0.58 magnification. Also, after looking at many used examples, the M6 felt so rough compared to MP. Once I touch the MP in the store, I immediately took out my credit card and put my marriage in jeopardy 🙂

The second one was an impulsive buy as it was the last 0.85 in Singapore before the ala carte thingy.

I eventually bought a used M6. And you know what? It has a smoother film transport than my MPs. I never noticed any viewfinder flare too. Shutter sounds a bit different but I like it a little better. I take it out to play a little more as it is lighter.

There may be some "awesome" M6 out there that are properly serviced, used and cared for, just take a bit of searching. And anyway, the difference between MP and M6 is marginal, but the PRICE difference (wow!) is not.
 
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I received this PM:
"
Quote:
Originally Posted by John Doe
Hi Akiva,
Just thought I'd share my 2 bits off the forum. I had a M6 0.85 classic that Sherry worked on since it had been dropped. I had her upgrade the finder while she was at it.

A like-new silver MP 0.85 came along and I bought it and sold the M6. The MP feels heavier, the winding feels tighter, and the MP shutter sounded like a 'cluck' while the M6 was more 'clack'. The MP meter was a bit brighter and had the center dot while the M6 had only the two arrows. The MP had the M3 solid wind lever while the M6 has the plastic one.

The MP was from a collector, so almost no rolls through it. The shutter capped at high speeds. I had it adjusted, and after a couple months it came back. During this time the M6 I sold went back up for sale and I bought it back. After having the shutter re-adjusted on the MP I sold it.

The difference between the two was small. I couldn't see a difference between the finders. The sound a feel was a little different. I spoke with Sherry about my concerns with the MP being finicky, and she went off on how there are things in the MP she thinks are cheap and how the M6's are put together better. It's highly anecdotal, but ever since she gave my M6 a once-over, I've never had a problem with it. I just trust it more, and the difference between the MP I had and it were not enough given the $1600 difference that I sold the MP for.

Like all the Leica's, if you get a good one you'll have very few problems. Over the life I've had my M4 (about 8 years), it has been nothing but trouble, while the M6 has been rock steady.
Best,
John Doe


I hear this more and more. my M7 was nothing but trouble, my M6 works like a top all the time. I am sitting tight. Thanks
 
its not a re-tagged M6, but a reworked one. Whether you feel the upgrades/changes are worthwhile only you will know, but it most definitely is not just a $200 condensor upgrade different. I regularly shoot two MPs and two M6s and find the MP finder miles better (note the MP windows are also coated, whereas the M6 is not) and both the MPs are noticeably softer/quieter in a dead calm. I find the MPs feel much more solid in my hand and I far prefer the knob rewind. Takes longer on average but less fiddly and never slips and unravels. When blowing out of your *** the M6 rewind is too fiddly with its teensy weensy knob and lever.

Were I to get them free, I would shoot all MPs, but I could not justify the price differential when I needed extra bodies. The M6s are great, really great, but to me not quite as good (for me) as the MP.
 
I have had two mods done to my M6: MP finder, and SL2 rewind, nice heavy brass. It does make the camera feel better.

MP or M6, I'm not saying the M6 is just as good. I am just saying that my well known (and very smooth) M6 is as good for me as an unknown MP can ever be. Because its proven it's reliability. 🙂

Like lenses - if you have one you like, don't sell or trade it ....

🙂
 
The film advance on my MP is almost as smooth as my M3, but the M3 has had 35-40 years of use to 'smooth' it out.

My MP has brighter frame lines than my M6 had, is it measurable? Hell if I know!

Did my M6 cost less than my MP? F*ckin-a-skippy it did but who cares?

Look, most people are going justify what they have because no one wants to be thought a fool for how they spend their money.

If you want an MP, get one. If you don't... don't! 😉

P.S. Is it awesome? Yes! and I'm slightly more awesome now than all the M6 owners, so take that! 😉

Todd
 
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