PATB Posted January 20, 2007 Share #1 Posted January 20, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) I received my MP and 50mm cron from bhphoto this morning. Gave me the excuse to go home early and play with the kit. I have about 21 shots of Ilford XP-2 through it right now. Can't wait to reach 36 tomorrow for a quick 1-hour development just to see if everything is fine. I just love operating the camera. My only regret is not being able to afford one when I was younger. Oh well, it is never too late for anything. The 50mm is just perfect on the 0.72 viewfinder. I am sure the 35mm will not do it for me as I will not be able to comfortably see all the frame lines. I guess my next lens is going to be a 28mm, using an external viewfinder. Anyways, I wear glasses and use my left eye to take pictures. I prefer to have the wind lever plushed to the camera so I can get as close to the viewfinder as possible. I discovered that when not helping the wind lever back after winding, the lever snaps back to the plushed position. In the long run, am I going to hurt the MP by not supporting the lever as it returns back after winding? Here's a pic of the MP taken with my Nikon D40 with SB600 flash. I am completely new to Leicas, rangefinders, and fully manual camera in general (my other film camera is a Nikon N60). In the last couple of hours, I managed to a) forget to set the ISO to 400 for the XP-2 for the first 10 shots (I will always remember to set the ISO from now on!) and waste 15 minutes wondering why the meter always indicated under exposure (the cap was on; in my SLRs, cap on results in nothing in the viewfinder!). So any tips you can send my way would be greatly appreciated. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted January 20, 2007 Posted January 20, 2007 Hi PATB, Take a look here Just received my MP -- quick question. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
illuminatus Posted January 20, 2007 Share #2 Posted January 20, 2007 The quick wind lever and hot shoe mount are both made of metal. Snapping the lever probably won't damage anything except your black finish. I don't like doing it, so I release the lever slowly. If you think that's too cumbersome, you might want to consider Leicavit. Shooting with a Leicavit is an interesting experience. The only accessory that I found useful was the accessory viewfinder magnifier. This becomes quite handy for any lens longer than 50mm. The detachable rewind crank looked nice, but it didn't make rewinding any easier. I found it more difficult to rewind after installing it on my MP because the handle is too small and it kept collapsing into the crank because of the spring. I hope this helps. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ddp Posted January 20, 2007 Share #3 Posted January 20, 2007 Congratulations! Nice to see another film camera purchase. I can also add to the experience of using the Leicavit....it becomes weirdly natural after a period of shooting. I can work quite quickly with it actually. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
abrewer Posted January 20, 2007 Share #4 Posted January 20, 2007 Congratulations Pat. I remember some of your earlier posts and the care you took in choosing a camera. You'll love this camera. In time you will find it impossible to leave home without, much less part with. Tips: Find one film you really like and use it exclusively...saves the embarrassment of forgetting to set ISO, for example Practice focusing every day, even without film in the body. It requires your attention to become good at it. Return the focus ring to infinity after each shot. It makes rotating back to focus a "one-way" maneuver, and faster. Shoot at f4 for group shots and f8 only in emergencies. Seriously, the wider apertures are where the beauty of these lenses lies. Compose and focus are primary. With film you can rely on its two-stop latitude to pull your exposure through. Never use the camera without the strap where it belongs: around your neck. Always extend the hood when shooting. It protects the glass as well as from flare. Thanks. Allan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ron110n Posted January 20, 2007 Share #5 Posted January 20, 2007 Congrats with your new MP and Cron 50. Now you can shoot utilizing available light without the slapping mirror. A few very affodable add-on's. First thing I buy when I have a new M is a Soft Release button. There are tons of them at eBay ranging from 10 to 15 dollars. My M6 and M7 has the chinese after market which does the job. My M2 has our colleague Luigi's (Leica Time) soft release that I bought from his eBay store. I will also recomend an M hand grip and there are tons at eBay. The secret of shooting flash free utilizing available light is a good steady yet comfortble grip. 1/15 of a sec hand held on your MP is peice of cake. Battery, If you still have your old hand held meter you use for your older film camera, with an MP, you don't even have to worry about battery loosing charge if you always carry one. For three incidents I lost charge with my M6. I pulled my Sekonic hand held, aim the lumisphere to the subject, enter the info to my M, then ... vola!!! Sometimes I think it's even faster that way. The plastic cover below your MP. "Never" remove it. It protects the bottom of your MP, but most of all, removing decreases the resale value. Just like removing that plastic serial number cover on a Rolex. Btw, I shoot Nikon F3 and Pentax before I was stung by a Leica bug. It won't take long and you will be stuck with Leica. =) Enjoy your new toy! -Ron Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon Larbalestier Posted January 20, 2007 Share #6 Posted January 20, 2007 The plastic cover below your MP. "Never" remove it. It protects the bottom of your MP, but most of all, removing decreases the resale value. Just like removing that plastic serial number cover on a Rolex. -Ron Removing the shiny plastic from the base was the first thing i did! I don't plan on re-selling it A friend of mine has modified the rewind crank lever replacing the small pull up handle with a longer rigid brass one. Works very well. What i will be doing is removing the slippery covering and replacing it with the vulcanite version of the MP3. Lecia UK can do it for a reasonable price. I've removed the 75 and 135 framelines and it makes using the 50 and 35's much easier on the eye. For me anyway Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnkuo Posted January 20, 2007 Share #7 Posted January 20, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) Congrats! You may want to consider getting an aftermarket strap with a protector as the OEM one with the hard plastic will soon scratch the black paint finish unless that's what you are looking for. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PATB Posted January 20, 2007 Author Share #8 Posted January 20, 2007 Thanks for the tips, please keep them coming! I decided to check out ebay after Ron's post and I was shocked to find so many Leica gadgets available! I ordered a Luigi soft release (concave, stainless) and a hand grip. One thing about the ergonomics, coming from SLRs, is that I am missing the extension on the right side. The hand grip and soft realease are cheap enough that it wouldn't hurt the pocket to try them out to see if they make a difference. About releasing the lever, I did more tests and found that the lever is just above my glasses when extended out. Coupled with the fact that my thumb joint and nose touch my face before the lever does in extended position, I can leave the lever extended during shooting. This allows me to support the lever as it returns back after winding. Need to get acclimated to the MP so I am putting the SLRs away for now. I was using my film SLR for a photography class, but am going to use the MP instead to get more familiar with it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Bernd Banken Posted January 20, 2007 Share #9 Posted January 20, 2007 Hi Pat, congratulations to you for your good decision. After all these years of SLR you have to train your eye/brain to bcome familiar with the new rangefinder system. As I have to do as an old Nikonian... Especially to focus on eyes it's more difficult with my M6 because the lines are "softer" compare to lines of buildings or other hard-edge items. The version I have is the 0,72 but there is no problem to see the framelines of the 35mm, I wear glasses and look with the left eye. Only 28mm frames are not visible for me. My M6 pulled me back to develop film after 35 years, so my beloved Ilford HP5 stays in the fridge:D Here one of the first shot for the event "A day in the live of a Leica" Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! All tricks mentioned above from the RF specialists will help to come closer to your MP in a short time you'll see. @Simon: I'm happy to meet you here, have a successful 2007 and pls. post more pics here in this forum:rolleyes: Cheers Bernd Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! All tricks mentioned above from the RF specialists will help to come closer to your MP in a short time you'll see. @Simon: I'm happy to meet you here, have a successful 2007 and pls. post more pics here in this forum:rolleyes: Cheers Bernd ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/13941-just-received-my-mp-quick-question/?do=findComment&comment=147166'>More sharing options...
hamey Posted January 20, 2007 Share #10 Posted January 20, 2007 Congratulations Pat. You have the perfect Photografic combination. A Leica camera and Film. Cheers. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rolo Posted January 20, 2007 Share #11 Posted January 20, 2007 Pat, Congratulations. The first thing you should know is that the moment you receive your camera is the moment you like it the least ! It justs gets better from there. It a beautiful piece of engineering that always feels good to hold. Next, please make sure that strap protector is all the way home. I don't use mine, but I recall it being pushed on further. Secondly, the plastic rubs the paint and looks unsightly just there. Place a piece of black electrical tape there if you have any concerns. I don't protect cameras particulary and a well worn MP is a joy, but lug strap marke are horrible. I use two straps - a Luigi soft leather neck strap which has a leather washer at the lug to avoid the above , or a thin nylon wrist strap which I prefer for street shooting as the camera is always to hand yet hidden. I have a convex 'softie' which is highly recommended. Read the net reports as to why many favour that over the concave. With a softie you use the second joint of your finger to fire and although it may sound strange, it is perfect. I'd suggest you ask Luigi to change to a convex in black. He is good and won't hesitate. Enjoy this camera. Do all that others say above. Whilst your shooting your first few rolls, i suggest you get the film processed and scanned to CD at a the 1 hour shop. Skip the prints for the time being and save the cash for the enlargements you want. Also, suggest that the Leica lenses are fabulous wide open, more so than any other range. Don't do what I did and work for 3 years thinking that everything should be shot at the very best aperture f5.6/8. Get into that region and whilst superb, other cameras can get close. Wide open and not much gets near. Go out and shoot a film at f2 - it's all you need. :-) Best Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Metroman Posted January 20, 2007 Share #12 Posted January 20, 2007 Pat I hope you enjoy the MP. I got mine four months ago and whilst all the advice above is worth considering I would advocate you to wait awhile before buying extras you may not need. After putting a couple of rolls of Rollei Retro 100 through I found I was re-evaluating the way I was shooting and I am still doing so. I don't want or need to shoot x number of frames a second or even a minute so the Lecavit or clones are not something I need. I bought the Soft Release button but didn't like it with the MP but find it is very good on my CL. I bought the MP because I wanted mechanical simplicity, superb engineering, reliability, clean design and a low profile. You will enjoy the MP experience but maybe take time to understand using it, composing and shooting and as you do you will know what extras to you really need. Enjoy.................. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JCT Posted January 20, 2007 Share #13 Posted January 20, 2007 Wow, congrats! It's a beauty-- I'm already planning on investing in a similar set-up with next year's bonus . I'm hoping to find the time this weekend to finish my first roll through my "new" M3 and hit the darkroom. Enjoy, JT Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmazariegos Posted January 20, 2007 Share #14 Posted January 20, 2007 Congratulations on a that beautiful setup! you willl again find yourself more intimately involved with your photos! Hope all is well for you! regards. You will not really damage anything with the winding lever returning in a snap or slowly. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon Larbalestier Posted January 21, 2007 Share #15 Posted January 21, 2007 Hi Pat,@Simon: I'm happy to meet you here, have a successful 2007 and pls. post more pics here in this forum:rolleyes: Cheers Bernd Hi Bernd were you referring to me? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob_x2004 Posted January 21, 2007 Share #16 Posted January 21, 2007 Pat, unless there is something amiss with your right eye, learn to use your right with the MP. I am goofy eyed too, but I found it so easy to re learn with the MP. While you have to learn the frame lines and other skills you might as well learn to see with your right. It isnt rocket science, just an aquired skill, and no where near as difficult as .... well ... anything. It is the all too simple answer, and well worth the effort, with the amount your shooting frees up by being able to see what is going on with your left eye, not breathing into your hands, being able to wind without shifting the camera. In the beginning you may have to squint your left a bit until you strengthen and dont see the superimposed left image over the frame. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Bernd Banken Posted January 21, 2007 Share #17 Posted January 21, 2007 Hi Bernd were you referring to me? @ Simon: Yes:) Bernd Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mwilliamsphotography Posted January 21, 2007 Share #18 Posted January 21, 2007 Excellent choice! Welcome to the past, when photography was simpler than your DVD player, and easier than programing a digital coffee maker : -) Lots of good tips offered here. As you move forward into the past, try a real B&W film ... embrace film grain, for it is the very thing that differentiates it. Tri-X Pro is my recommendation. The MP is a sweet camera, I even sold off some digital gear to swing getting a MP3. Just my fetish opinion, but "snapping" the winding lever is one of the tactile pleasures of a M camera ... and in my experience does no harm what-so-ever. I've shot a zillion weddings with a M, and often am moving at great speed ... no time for babying the tool. Enjoy! P.S. Here's a shot with my previous Black MP and 50/1.4 Black Paint @ f/1.4... I call it "Santa's Machine" ... it was taken at a Model Engineering Expo. I've included a detail to show how good these lenses are even in the corners : -) Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/13941-just-received-my-mp-quick-question/?do=findComment&comment=148142'>More sharing options...
abrewer Posted January 21, 2007 Share #19 Posted January 21, 2007 Fabulous examples Marc. That 50ASPH "look" is special. I'll sit here patiently and wait for LCT to correct me that the pre-ASPH is better! Thanks for sharing. Allan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lambroving Posted January 21, 2007 Share #20 Posted January 21, 2007 Marc, Not great art maybe, but a cool, topical shot nonetheless. Nice tones. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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