Where have all MPs gone

[herbet]

so who's buying all MPs from the market. I'm thinking about getting a used black MP but the very few ones available out there seem over priced. is there any rumour of the camera being discontinued or something? on the other hand there are tons of used M7s available and their price doesn't seem to have been affected by the recent increases.

[nobbylon]

I think those that have them, keep them, that's all. I think the s/h price has pretty much been stable for a while now and those buying s/h have realised it and snap the odd one or two that turn up quick when they do.

[vieri]

Agreed - those who have them, keep them. I am waiting for a second MP (new, not used - I had to go for new because, like you, I couldn't find a s/h one anywhere) and it's taking some two months to get a black one where I am based (Istanbul, Turkey) - if I'll have a say in it, you can be sure I will not be selling either of them on the other hand, M7 & M8 can be found relatively easy on the s/h market for whatever reason.

[PATB]

I want a second one too but can't afford it at the moment.

MPs are in high demand because the present owners not only want to keep them, they also want to get at least a second body!

[crbirchenhall]

I have been watching the S/H MP market and have noted the way the MPs are holding their value and the fact that there are more S/H M8s than MPs around. I agree the main reason is that MP owners want to keep them; that in part gives witness to the camera design but also to the fact that the decision to buy and use a film camera in this day and age is likely to be based on a careful reflection of the options. I am sure the M8 had a minority of impulse buyers.

Can I take this opportunity to raise a question? I have considered buying new and even going a la carte and for the following reason. Any MP I might buy would be a replacement for a D/S M3. I love the M3 finder for 50mm lenses; it is clean and functional. I noticed on a la carte you can choose a frame line combination where 35, 50 and 90 frames appear independently without 28, 75, 135 frames. (This is from memory as the configurator is down as I write). The difference from the standard frame configuration is small and the 50mm frame does not match the M3 frame. Has anyone used this option?

It has been suggested that Leica would reproduce the M3 frame configuration in a MP if I asked. Do you think this a crazy idea?

[jlancasterd]

Ffordes (https://secure.ffordes.com/index.htm) have two S/H black MPs in stock at the moment, both with 0.72x viewfinders. One is actually ex-demo.

[Rolo]

MP's are holding their price whilst M7's are dropping below £1,100.

I don't watch M6 prices, but they seem a reasonable buy for less than £900 used.

Rolo

[RITskellar]

Originally Posted by crbirchenhall

I noticed on a la carte you can choose a frame line combination where 35, 50 and 90 frames appear independently without 28, 75, 135 frames. Has anyone used this option?

I had an alacarte made with only the 35, 50, 90 frame lines visible. It was nice, but hardly worth a great deal to me by itself. A Leica technician could also make this modification for you for a modest cost, if perhaps you simply got a stock MP and had the 28/75/135 frame lines masked out.

Originally Posted by crbirchenhall

It has been suggested that Leica would reproduce the M3 frame configuration in a MP if I asked. Do you think this a crazy idea?

The highest magnification in alacarte is .85 which is close, but not quite as high as the M3. If you primarily use 50s and longer, then it's hardly a crazy idea.

Good luck!

[peter_n]

I think the M8 is probably a contributing factor to the M7s on the market. You would think that a person is more likely to trade up from an M7 to an M8 than their MP (if they have one).

Originally Posted by crbirchenhall

Can I take this opportunity to raise a question? I have considered buying new and even going a la carte and for the following reason. Any MP I might buy would be a replacement for a D/S M3. I love the M3 finder for 50mm lenses; it is clean and functional. I noticed on a la carte you can choose a frame line combination where 35, 50 and 90 frames appear independently without 28, 75, 135 frames. (This is from memory as the configurator is down as I write). The difference from the standard frame configuration is small and the 50mm frame does not match the M3 frame. Has anyone used this option?

It has been suggested that Leica would reproduce the M3 frame configuration in a MP if I asked. Do you think this a crazy idea?

I certainly don't Chris, especially if you're planning on keeping the camera. You see some strange (at least to my eyes) configurations with a la carte and it does make you wonder about the resale value. I have a regular 0.85x MP and love it for lenses > 50mm. I also have an MP3 that has solitary 35, 50 and 90 framelines and that VF is just wonderful. I might do what you're thinking about with my 0.85x but I use a 75/2 so I need that frameline with the 50. The 90 is solitary in that VF and I use the 35 on my 0.72x MP3. So I am all set. You might want to also look for a used MP3. Mine was pretty badly scratched on the back so it was dramatically reduced in price - no collector value.

[rob_x2004]

Couple of mint BP that looked mint went for jsut on 3k in ePray, and there have been / are a few silvers on both eBay and buy and sell here. Ive seen KB demonstartors advertised so there are quite a few around really. Saving a buck is ok, but one accident and your repair price takes you up into shop price anyway, so it gets to the point you might as well pay whatever a dealer wants and be done with it.

Plus non mint, the BP get barked up pretty easily and maybe people think they wouldnt get what they are worth if put up for sale, or would be trouble at auction against all the "this camera is my personal never used hard always looked after" mint condition silvers.

[harrisfoto]

I noticed that about 2 months ago Kurland in NYC had some MP's on sale for about $2,200. Now it seems like the price has increased, as noted above.
I was looking for a MP, but the M3's work so well, that I decided the better course was to continue to use my 2 M3's and put the money in lenses. Many people seem to use a 35mm without the goggles, just use the outer part of the rangefinder frame. I guess that it would make sense, if one wanted to use a 28mm lens

[chilihead]

I have them all in my basement.

[herbet]

Originally Posted by chilihead

I have them all in my basement.

hah! I knew it!

[abrewer]

They are all gone here:

http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-...ove-my-mp.html



Thanks

Allan

[MPerson]

Aperture have a nice mint silver in stock at the moment! I went in for a VC 40mm viewfinder for my black MP and a VC II meter for the CL.

Came very close but fortunately(?) the wife dragged me kicking and screaming out of there just in time. Still had the cold sweats, shakes and flashbacks last night

Aperture

[semrich]

B&H currently has a used Black Paint listed.