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Originally Posted by Seb V
This has been swimming around the forums ever since the MP came out. But I am interested in hearing the views of people who have actually owned or used both these fine cameras and ask you to come off the fence and say which one you prefer to use and why.
Seb.
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I've owned MP and M3 Leica for quite a while and owned an M7 for just a few days. Not as it seems maybe because the reason for return was that the pied dealer didn't tell me it had 'Test Camera Great Britain' painted on the top plate. The reason that I didn't buy another was that the M8 came on the scene and I've ordered one.
In those few days, I found the M7 was a VERY useable camera. Under fast paced and changing light conditions, the AE is a godsend. For more deliberate shooting, it's not quite as useful but the option to return it to manual is available. Battery useage is a non issue in my eyes as you plan for its replacement, or carry a spare.
The many exposures I took with it were spot-on and I'm confident that for general shooting I would rely on it 100%, maybe using a spot meter for low light stuff, but maybe not.
On the other hand, the MP is a beautiful camera and one to be treasured and used for tens of thousands of films. Respect for it grows as it ages and becomes sweeter. It is fantastically smooth and I think it might be more so than my M3 which is pretty damned smooth itself. It is 'mechanically perfection'. It fits the hand so well that you can take it anywhere, anytime. Try a wriststrap with any Leica, it doesn't have to hang round the neck.
The thing with an MP is that it is so utterly reliable and will serve you under any conditions and if you leave it in a drawer for three years, it'll be waiting for you. Batteries last so long that you have plenty of warning to get a new one.
The MP and M7 are both superb and either will provide decades of heavy use for you. IMHO, the only regret you might have is not buying the M7 for its AE and TTL capability, so that would be my recommendation to you.