Would You Buy an MP Hammertone in LN Condition

KM-25 said:
Last June, Photographer Clay Harmon put his virtually unused Black Paint MP-3 LHSA kit on the RFF classifieds for 5K. I had remembered seeing that kit on B&H for 8 grand and thinking only if I win the lottery..

http://220.133.217.187/A002/005/LEICA/MM77/Leica Camera AG - Photography - MP 3 LHSA Edition.htm

So I PM'd him and put my name in the hat, first in line. I then thought about it, would I use it? Would I keep it in a humidor?

I payed him, pulled out the body, lens, shade and Leicavit from the pretty red box and put the new rig in my gear closet, the box is buried in storage.

I use it, nearly every day. There were only 375 sets made, the chrome's can still be found here and there, but the black paints are rare.

I am proud to say my kit is getting used, daily.
Click to expand...

My chrome MP-3 set gets used nearly every day (minus the Leicavit - I just don't like the balance with it on).

Absolutely awesome camera - my joint fave with my 'boggo' black-paint MP...
 
cmogi10 said:
Use it like it's made to be used.
Click to expand...

Interesting thought, that.

Is a limited edition collector camera in fact made to be used? Or is it made to put in a display case, with only the incidental side-effect that it's based on a camera to be used?

If it were better as a user camera, wouldn't it become a standard model?

Cheers,

R.
 
cmogi10 said:
hm, if it wasn't supposed to take pictures then it wouldn't be a camera of course.
But it is a camera.
Click to expand...

True. But if it was intended only to take pictures, rather than to be collected, wouldn't it be in standard finish?

I have no problem with people who want to use Hammerite Leicas, or gold-plated ones, or anything else; I have long toyed with the idea of having one of my M2s finished in fire-engine red paint. But basically, the only reason to buy a camera with a funny finish as a picture-taking tool is because you can.

Someone who does this is making one of a number of statements: "All cameras should be used, so I am using this camera," or "I am a rich twit who wants to show that I can afford to reduce the value of an expensive collectors' item by scuffing it up" or (the most commendable) "I rather like this finish, so seeing it's available, I have decided to take pictures with it rather than worshipping it from afar."

Cheers.

R.
 
Obviously you have a valid point Roger.
But is life all about standard finishes?
That hammertone finish MP is pretty cool. At this point in my life I couldn't even consider buying it to keep it mint, much less to use it and beat the hell out of it.

I like seeing camera's used, even if they're fancy and limited editions they're still camera's and it be a waste to stick em somewhere to let they're lubricants dry up.

You obviously have a valid point. I just like mine better.
 
cmogi10 said:
Obviously you have a valid point Roger.
But is life all about standard finishes?
That hammertone finish MP is pretty cool. . . .
Click to expand...

I don't think we're arguing at all. I completely agree with your general sentiment about using cameras, even funny-finish ones, and I'd happily use a Hammerite one, if I could afford it. It was just that one line about what the cameras were designed for which set me to wondering: what were these funny finishes designed for?

Edit: Cue usual Leica-bashers, I suppose...

Cheers,

R.
 
It's an interesting point,
At the end of the day I'd like to think that someone put that time and energy into making a beautiful camera for it to be used, maybe used a little more carefully, but used none the less.
 
Roger Hicks said:
True. But if it was intended only to take pictures, rather than to be collected, wouldn't it be in standard finish?

I have no problem with people who want to use Hammerite Leicas, or gold-plated ones, or anything else; I have long toyed with the idea of having one of my M2s finished in fire-engine red paint. But basically, the only reason to buy a camera with a funny finish as a picture-taking tool is because you can.

Someone who does this is making one of a number of statements: "All cameras should be used, so I am using this camera," or "I am a rich twit who wants to show that I can afford to reduce the value of an expensive collectors' item by scuffing it up" or (the most commendable) "I rather like this finish, so seeing it's available, I have decided to take pictures with it rather than worshipping it from afar."

Cheers.

R.
Click to expand...

Why use a Leica at all? Whatever focal-length you choose, there's another camera out there (even a rangefinder if you're being finickety) that will do everything it does for a fraction of the price of even a beater M2/3.

Whatever you say, we use Leicas cos we like them. And I use my MP-3 because I like it the most of my Leicas...

Any camera is designed to take photos. That is its reason for existence, no matter how 'rare' or 'pretty'...
 
cmogi10 said:
It's an interesting point,
At the end of the day I'd like to think that someone put that time and energy into making a beautiful camera for it to be used, maybe used a little more carefully, but used none the less.
Click to expand...

Ah... A much kinder and nicer thought than mine, so I was inadvertently placing myself in the camp of the Leica-bashers; a position in which I seldom find myself!

Cheers,

R.
 
jplomley said:
...plus the matching 35/2 Asph for 5K?
Click to expand...

Yes, I would ... if I not already had bought one. I frequently use mine and like it a lot. It has two advantages over the chrome model (I don't have experience with black models): the surface does not get so cold in winter and you don't see all these fingerprints. I very much like the hammertone finish. While it does not improve my pictures, it contributes to the fun. I often use the Hammertone MP with the Summicron 50 years 50mm lens. The price you mentioned seems fine.

Best, Joachim
 
Whoa, I can hardly believe that Tom! They seem really different to me. I wonder if the Leicavit that came with the MP3 is a different weight to the regular one? Next time I go down to the post office I should weigh these guys...
 
cmogi10 said:
Alright it does look pretty damn cool.
I'm still a sucker for black paint though 🙂
Click to expand...

Ya got me to thinking...never tried this combo before. Maybe the best of both worlds? 😀

Admit it, even if you hate the hammertone, doesn't this look kinda cool? Even a little?? 😉

original.jpg
 
You have to remember, about a month or two after the Hammertone LHSA was offered, the price was dropped to almost the price of a standard MP. The Hammertone has the correct top script plus a much nicer vulcanite covering. This was very important to ME because I don't like the standard MP sandpaper covering at all.

Also, it looks unique and in lower light quite unobtrusive. So, why not?
 
Most Leicas out there are being used for enjoyment of photography and not as full-time 'professional' tools these days. If you really like the Hammertone finish and it gives you a good feeling having it around why not go for it? Gray finished Leicas are few and far between, there is enough talk and thinking involved with choosing between black and chrome it seems, but gray as a third choice... why not? When this much money is involved its not just black and white, there is a gray area... 😉

If this camera has the Leicavit AND limited 35 Summicron (set) its a good price. If its just the camera and Leicavit its OK priced, a bit on the high end compared to a standard used MP with Leicavit.

I liked the idea of a Hammertone when I was thinking of an MP. The finish does vary with examples, can have a bit different color and texture, no two are exactly alike. I optioned for the 'other' gray finish, a limited Japan 50th M-Anniversry anthracite, which has a more modern sparkle/flat (depending on the light) finish.

I didn't buy it as an investment, its my most used camera, but it is nice to have and I enjoy it. BTW, I wouldn't have bought it for this kind of money (have to be practical too), black or chrome would have worked, but it was in the same range as a used MP with Leicavit, so why not have something different that I like, and the engravings, camera covering, finish do add pizzazz 😀
 

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