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Black MP 3 LHSA kit for good price?


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I am first in line to get a black paint MP 3 with the LHSA 50 lux ASPH, shade and Leicavit all new in the box. Ordinarily I would not consider it as I am not a collector, but a pro user. I have two M6TTL's and my only lenses are the 28/2 and 50 1.4 ASPH. I also own a mint M3 DS w/ matching 50 Col.

 

The seller is asking $5,000 and B&H is plumb out of them now, they used to go for $8,000. I saw a chrome kit go for $6,200 through buy it now on the bay, so I think this is a good deal.

 

Besides, I will sell one of my M6TTL's and my current 50 Lux ASPH to help offset the costs. I would really miss the built in shade, 46mm threads on the current lux, but I think I will manage..

 

Am I crazy or is this as good a deal as I think it is.....?

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That's a fairly impressive price for the kit - that lens alone is nearly impossible to find at this point. I say go for it and use it. You should be able to sell your 50 without a problem.

 

The MP 3 makes a great user camera....

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It does sound like a very good deal but I'm not sure why you'd want to sell you existing 50 ASPH in order to offset the cost of the black paint kit - especially as you note that you like the built in hood and 46mm filter thread of your existing lens. You might also find that the black paint 50 ASPH weighs a fair bit more than your existing 50. The MP3 will also have different controls to the M6TTL (e.g. shutter speed dial goes the other way) and that would annoy the hell out of me in a two camera set-up.

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does the bp 50 have aspherical glass? I was under the impression it had the older lux formula.

 

 

Paul - there are 2 "recent" BP version of the 50 'Lux - one is a pre-asph with a built in hood (that was available at the time of the M6 LHSA BP you recently acquired) and one that went along with the MP 3 kits. That 50 is indeed an asph - but has a detachable hood designed to mimic a much older design. Both lenses have the old style focusing barrels.

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It does sound like a very good deal but I'm not sure why you'd want to sell you existing 50 ASPH in order to offset the cost of the black paint kit - especially as you note that you like the built in hood and 46mm filter thread of your existing lens. You might also find that the black paint 50 ASPH weighs a fair bit more than your existing 50. The MP3 will also have different controls to the M6TTL (e.g. shutter speed dial goes the other way) and that would annoy the hell out of me in a two camera set-up.

 

Well, for starters, I just don't need some 6 grand in 50mm 1.4 lenses, I am going to be getting engaged soon and need to be somewhat pragmatic about it. Does anyone know just how much the LHSA 50 weighs over the regular one, I can't seem to find any more documentation about it...

 

As far as the MP 3 controls, I really don't have that hard a time with it, I have an M3 too after all.

 

Still trying to decide...

 

I am picturing how beautiful that kit will look after 20-30 years of loving use. There will never be another kit like it.

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The black paint lenses weigh what the chrome lenses weigh for the most part. Current Leica PDF's don't show that difference though.

 

Aside from the look of the MP 3 - I think it also handles superbly. It's become my main M body over my MP now...it feels more like an old M3 honestly....simply a great camera. I don't think you'll be disappointed should you make the choice.

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The black paint lenses weigh what the chrome lenses weigh for the most part. Current Leica PDF's don't show that difference though.

 

Aside from the look of the MP 3 - I think it also handles superbly. It's become my main M body over my MP now...it feels more like an old M3 honestly....simply a great camera. I don't think you'll be disappointed should you make the choice.

 

I'll do it!

 

It looks to be a great time to sell my other 50.

 

It's kind of too bad they did not either make it .85 or replace the 50 LHSA with a 35 1.4 in black paint.

 

I have been googling the MP 3 for a day or so and there really is not much on it, it would seem it is destined to become that rare..

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Leica has also produced the 90 AA Summicron in BP as well as the 35 Summicron asph in BP.

 

I'm sure you know the MP 3 only has the framelines for 35, 50 and 90. They are individual though, so it's a fairly uncluttered finder.

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Leica has also produced the 90 AA Summicron in BP as well as the 35 Summicron asph in BP.

 

I'm sure you know the MP 3 only has the framelines for 35, 50 and 90. They are individual though, so it's a fairly uncluttered finder.

 

I consider a 50 my long lens in Leica...but the 35 cron in black paint...now there's a grand idea..:-).

 

I get the kit Wednesday, I am really happy I went for it!

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Well, for starters, I just don't need some 6 grand in 50mm 1.4 lenses, I am going to be getting engaged soon and need to be somewhat pragmatic about it.

 

I think you misunderstand my point. I wasn't suggesting that you keep both 50s - I was simply asking why you'd want to replace a 50 that you already have with an optically identical lens that is heavier, lacks a built-in hood, and uses a different filter size than your 28?

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I consider a 50 my long lens in Leica...but the 35 cron in black paint...now there's a grand idea..:-).

 

I have a black paint 35/2 ASPH. I only bought it because it was available a fair bit cheaper than the regular black one. It's significantly heavier than the regular black version and comes with a poncy round vented hood (I ended up losing a chunk of what I saved in paying 75 quid for the much better rectangular hood). All things being equal, I'd have taken the regular black version any day.

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hmmmm....the weight of the bp lenses has never bothered me...i'm used to shooting with a D2X and a heavy zoom or a 300 2.8 for digital work. anything after that feels like a lightweight to me...then again, i throw the Noct on my M's on a regular basis, so I'm probably not the best guy to ask about this stuff...lol

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I consider a 50 my long lens in Leica...but the 35 cron in black paint...now there's a grand idea..:-).

 

I get the kit Wednesday, I am really happy I went for it!

 

I think this is an extraordinary deal! I got a silver set myself and love it. Enjoy in good health!

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hmmmm....the weight of the bp lenses has never bothered me...i'm used to shooting with a D2X and a heavy zoom or a 300 2.8 for digital work. anything after that feels like a lightweight to me...then again, i throw the Noct on my M's on a regular basis, so I'm probably not the best guy to ask about this stuff...lol

 

Fair point. In truth, the weight of my BP 35 is no great hardship but with the M system, if all other things are equal, I'll always take a lighter lens over a heavier one.

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You might also find that the black paint 50 ASPH weighs a fair bit more than your existing 50.

 

Nope, in the hand, happily, I can not tell the difference. And to boot, the LHSA 50 is smaller as it tapers in at the filter end.

 

It is a bit smoother in the focus but with a floating element design like the ASPH, alignments are critical so it is still well damped. On the regular one, using a tab just does not make sense because of the dampening. But on the LHSA 50, the old style ring is a very welcome change!

 

Now the tab on my 28/2? That focus on that is like a salamander in butter, a tab is a dream on that lens..:-).

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I am very glad I did this.

 

While very well built and smooth, I can tell it needs some breaking in. The frame counter is pretty tough and the ISO dial almost impossible to turn. The rewind knob is pretty tough to pull up, most likely from the anti-slack clutch. Not sure how I feel about the Leicavit yet, it is a little hefty and drags on the other advance lever a bit. It does make the camera easier to hold along the vertical though..

 

I have been shooting tons of jobs on digital and 6x9 this week so I am about half way through my first roll of Kodachrome 25.

 

What a stunning camera!

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For what it is worth I used to make my fingers bleed with lifting the MP rewind when practicing loading. Then I discovered pressing it towards the body with my index finger only, and sliding the thing up it came up easy. There will be a position your MP3 rewind will just glide up like velvet even if to lift it normally would still break your fingernails.

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Nice camera!

I would detach the scratch-protection stickers. This camera needs a used look very soon to suppress the "modern" battery cap ;)

 

The Vit is very helpful when you are doing vertical portraits - try it!

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