Who has a Leica MP? Is it really awesome?

one thing i notice in my TTL is that there are two meter readers... one on top and one on the bottom. my M6 classic had only one.


peter_n said:
There's more than that but I don't remember what it is as it's seven years since I was making this choice. So to bump this I'm saying that I think the M6TTL either had less printed circuitry or a more flexible circuit board. Whatever the difference was the M6TTL meter system was considered a bit more reliable and accurate than the M6 classic. Someone correct me if I'm wrong please.
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Leica MP, Elmar-M 50mm f/2.8, Tmax400.

Erik.

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maddoc said:
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.... 🙄
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I currently own an A La Carte black chrome with ostrich skin that my wife gave me for my 60th birthday. For several years I owned three, the black chrome .85, Hammertone with Leicavit LHSA (won in the LHSA drawing) and a .85 red and chrome. All had Leicavits. I was working on a documentary in serpent handling g churches in Appalachia and put quite a lot of film through them. I really like them but like the other post my ALa Carte camera failed during a serpent handling shoot. I carried all three and fortunately shot much of the 2 day shoot on the other 2. The shutter wasn't capping when I wound the film.

Despite the one issue I've been very pleased. Now in comparison to other M's I curretly own and previously own, the MP is pretty much the same as all the others. My 55 year old M2 is smoother but it has 47 years of wear on the gears. The M6 I had for years was just as good as my MP's and it never failed. I also have a new to me mint M4-P and it's just as nice as the MP.

The short answer, they're all pretty much the same.

As to the MP being the very best 35 camera, I wouldn't say that at all. There have been some super fine 35 cameras made without the Leica name on them.
 
I have had M6, M6 TTL, M7 and MP.
They are all great and seemingly very similar but I like the MP the most and the M7 second. Either are great depending on taste.
The reason is:
1. M6 not as smooth in operation. Zinc top can develop corrosion bubbles which can not be repaired. Shutter speed wheel too stiff. Prefer single piece wind on lever. MP has more accurate meter, more refined/advanced mechanical system and anti-glare rangefinder. Rewind wheel neater design
2. M6 TTL is better, but adds more weight and 4-6 mm to the height. Otherwise MP advantages similar to M6.
3. M7 is great camera. Quality of faux leather is not as good, most 27, 28 and 29 models have peeling at the edges. Larger and heavier then MP. DX system not 100% reliable in both forms, nicer to have simpler camera like MP. Batteries don't last that long, always have to carry spares. MP, you can forget about battery. Does have slightly quieter shutter then MP.

MP is most beautiful IMHO 🙂
 
I agree that the MP is simply beautiful.

I'm thinking about getting either an MP (the purely mechanical aspect appeals to me a lot), an M7 (nice to have AE, but the plastic ISO dial ruins it for me), or an M6. Problem is that while an M6 would save a lot of money, I would be nervous spending such a large amount of cash on a used camera with unexpected lifetime and follow-up costs.

Question: is the mechanical shutter on an MP louder than on an electronic M6 or M7?
 
I had a black paint MP, which I traded in to help pay for my M240. Since I still have an M4-P, I have not really missed the MP.

While the M4-P does not have an on-board meter, it is in every other way equal to or better than the MP. While shooting in Mongolia, it was my MP that locked up, not my M4-P. Also - a clean M4-P will sell for $3000-4000 less than a new MP, which is no trivial matter for most of us.

The MP is a beautiful looking camera, though. If it is your dream to own one, don't let me pee on your parade. A guy* ought to have what he** wants in this life, if he** can afford it.










*Or gal

**Or she
 
giganova said:
I agree that the MP is simply beautiful.

I'm thinking about getting either an MP (the purely mechanical aspect appeals to me a lot), an M7 (nice to have AE, but the plastic ISO dial ruins it for me), or an M6. ...

Question: is the mechanical shutter on an MP louder than on an electronic M6 or M7?
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The MP shutter is no more or less electronic/mechanical than the shutter in the M6 – they are essentially the same. You should also know that the MP is no better than the M7 when it comes to the low quality plastic ISO dial on the rear.
 
giganova said:
I agree that the MP is simply beautiful. I'm thinking about getting either an MP (the purely mechanical aspect appeals to me a lot), an M7 (nice to have AE, but the plastic ISO dial ruins it for me), or an M6. Problem is that while an M6 would save a lot of money, I would be nervous spending such a large amount of cash on a used camera with unexpected lifetime and follow-up costs.
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ian_watts said:
The MP shutter is no more or less electronic/mechanical than the shutter in the M6 – they are essentially the same. You should also know that the MP is no better than the M7 when it comes to the low quality plastic ISO dial on the rear.
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From "plastic ISO dial" to "low quality plastic ISO dial" in a few short posts... gotta love the internet 🙂

giganova, if you want a built-in light meter in your film Leica you're gonna have to learn to love the plastic ISO dial (or at least be able to live with it), as the dial on the M6 is pretty much the same as the one on the MP i.e. all film Leicas that have a built-in meter have a plastic ISO dial. On the plus side, some M6s have been around for over 30 years and are still working fine.
 
I've used M6 M7 MP and ZI, ZI is the one I keep.
MP is perfect but I can't afford to hold it long, and I don't think it coukd justify the money, I would buy a M7/ZI and 35 cron with same amount of money
 
jonmanjiro said:
From "plastic ISO dial" to "low quality plastic ISO dial" in a few short posts... gotta love the internet 🙂

... you're gonna have to learn to love the plastic ISO dial (or at least be able to live with it), as the dial on the M6 is pretty much the same as the one on the MP i.e. all film Leicas that have a built-in meter have a plastic ISO dial.
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I described it as low quality because it is. Plastic per se isn't a problem nor does being plastic necessarily equate to low quality but the dial on the current MP is made from very cheap feeling material and is out of step with the quality of the rest of the camera. The dial on the back of the M6 (and the first run of the MP) is more befitting of an M camera.
 
ian_watts said:
I described it as low quality because it is. Plastic per se isn't a problem nor does being plastic necessarily equate to low quality but the dial on the current MP is made from very cheap feeling material and is out of step with the quality of the rest of the camera. The dial on the back of the M6 (and the first run of the MP) is more befitting of an M camera.
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Interesting point regarding the difference between the M6 and MP ISO dials. It's something I'd never paid close attention to previously. After comparing them just now, its hard to tell if there's any difference in the quality of the plastic, but I certainly agree that the M6 ISO dial is a better design.
 
Jeez, measurebation is boring.😛

Where is the discussion on using the camera you LOVE and why you love it? There is no perfect anything in this life the last time I did a reality check. LOL...

Really, I have not even thought about the ISO dial! Maybe Leica or someone else can fabricate a metal dial.??? 😕

Not that I would care at all but some may.
 
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