[ddp]

I've had both - and I'll give a brief history of my M experience to show how I arrived at my current setup. Thrilling, I know...lol.

M6 classic, bought used....loved it. Decided a I needed a backup body for big shoots & whatnot, got an M7. Figured the auto mode might be nice. Never really loved the camera though. MP is introduced, I handled one and knew it was what I was looking for. Sold the old M6, got an MP in black paint. Felt perfect - between the handling and the film advance lever, it was what I was looking for. Sold the M7 for an M3 SS and 90 APO Asph last year. Don't miss it one bit - for me, that extra 3mm was an issue. Ordered a 0.85 MP ala carte this year, and ultimately - I would sell my original MP for an MP3.

I don't have a problem with the auto functions on the M7 - but I prefer the clean look of the MP. Don't care for the red dot or nomenclature on the front of the camera, and I like the size of the MP better. It also feels more solid. That is purely my opinion. I also don't need TTL with the M's, or an auto mode. Again, that's my personal shooting style and I can work around any shortcomings this type of setup may have. I figure if I could work with a Hassy 500 CM and Vivitar 283 - an MP with SF20 is cake.

In my digital work - I use all tools available to me on those cameras....it's just refreshing and head clearing for me to work with the M's in the fashion I have chosen.