Charlie Johnson Posted February 12, 2011 Share #1 Posted February 12, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) I am using an M6 and quite happy with it. The lens flare is a little annoying sometimes, but liveable with most of the time. My question is....apart from ttl on the MP, and the improved viewfinder, what is so unique about it that would necessitate paying over £3000 for a new one or £2000+ second hand, when M6s are plentiful at +/- £1000? For around £250 the viewfinder could be changed to the MP one. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted February 12, 2011 Posted February 12, 2011 Hi Charlie Johnson, Take a look here M6/M6TTL vs MP. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Guest reiver Posted February 12, 2011 Share #2 Posted February 12, 2011 The MP is... massif. Bit heavier... realistic: Not much difference between M6 classic with MP viewfinder and MP. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xmas Posted February 12, 2011 Share #3 Posted February 12, 2011 Hi I'm prepared to be wrong... no TTL a classic meter brass top plate brass trap door IXMOO foul on chassis coated finder with M2 condenser i.e. no rfdr patch flare clutch on rewind knob - unneccessary with nob black paint option polished gears there should be ad copy on Leicas site... Noel P.S. M2 is cheaper P.P.S. replacement finder more then 250 I'd say Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
aesop Posted February 12, 2011 Share #4 Posted February 12, 2011 Hi I'm prepared to be wrong... no TTL a classic meter brass top plate brass trap door IXMOO foul on chassis coated finder with M2 condenser i.e. no rfdr patch flare clutch on rewind knob - unneccessary with nob black paint option polished gears there should be ad copy on Leicas site... Noel P.S. M2 is cheaper P.P.S. replacement finder more then 250 I'd say ...agreed, Noël - but how does the cheaper and meter-less M2 compare (functionality-wise) to an M6, M6TTL or MP? Would a like-for-like comparison not be more appropriate, despite the "saving"? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wattsy Posted February 12, 2011 Share #5 Posted February 12, 2011 what is so unique about it that would necessitate paying over £3000 for a new one or £2000+ second hand, when M6s are plentiful at +/- £1000? Lack of a red dot:). More seriously, I think the answer is partly good marketing (at least when Leica was still actively marketing the film cameras) and the fact that the MP has a gestalt that the other 'modern' M bodies don't quite attain. In a age of multiple gizmos and absurdly cheap Chinese manufactured goods, there is something attractive about using a finely manufactured tool that is stripped of everything we don't really need. As far as second hand prices go, the price differential presumably stems from simple supply and demand. The differential is possibly also distorted by the fact that the MP can still be bought new and the RRP has risen strongly in recent years (along with the rest of the Leica range). When the MP was introduced, you could still buy an M6TTL new and the price differential with the MP was more like 20%. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xmas Posted February 13, 2011 Share #6 Posted February 13, 2011 Lack of a red dot:). More seriously, I think the answer is partly good marketing (at least when Leica was still actively marketing the film cameras) and the fact that the MP has a gestalt that the other 'modern' M bodies don't quite attain. In a age of multiple gizmos and absurdly cheap Chinese manufactured goods, there is something attractive about using a finely manufactured tool that is stripped of everything we don't really need. As far as second hand prices go, the price differential presumably stems from simple supply and demand. The differential is possibly also distorted by the fact that the MP can still be bought new and the RRP has risen strongly in recent years (along with the rest of the Leica range). When the MP was introduced, you could still buy an M6TTL new and the price differential with the MP was more like 20%. Well the MP is nicer than a M6 by some margin, especially if you get a BP. a) it looks nicer if it is heavily used the gears are smoooooooth c) if wont corrode or spot like a M6 d) its finder spot wont flare and is brighter The only snag for me is no IXMOO (the Leica reloadable cassettes). The clutch on the rewind is unecessary (for a MP) it would be nice on a M6 though... Cause I dont use the M6 meter an M2 is cheaper a) the gears are smooth its finder spot wont flare c) less clutter on finder I'll give you there is a large cost differentlal the M6 is new and is in short supply, the M2 does not have a meter... Noel P.S. If you are really poor an M4-2 is even cheaper Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
koray Posted February 14, 2011 Share #7 Posted February 14, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) Check the following recent post, a reply to your question with photos from inside both cameras: Leica MP differences... - Photo.net Leica and Rangefinders Forum Cheers, K. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
alun Posted February 15, 2011 Share #8 Posted February 15, 2011 Charlie, I think you have more or less answered your own question, really. The brass top plate does make for a different handling experience (my M7 feels different and heavier to my M6TTL, for example); and the MP finder is an improvement (again, I have one in my M7 and do see the improvement over the regular finder in my M6TTL). BUt neither of these things would (at least currently) make me pay for a used MP, much as I might like one. Used M6 bodies (even TTLs) can be had currently for about one-third of the price of a used MP. I would nonetheless like to own an MP one day -- mainly as it is in all likelihood the logical end of the line -- the summation -- of the mechanical rangefinder M. BUt if your primary interest is taking pictures then you can do this equally well with most M bodies costing a fraction of the price of an MP. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
400TX Posted February 17, 2011 Share #9 Posted February 17, 2011 If you have extra cash to spend, spring for the MP. If you are on a budget, get the M6. Don't forget to take a look at the M4-P also (but keep in mind that it has no onboard light meter). I have been well pleased with mine. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JBA Posted February 18, 2011 Share #10 Posted February 18, 2011 My first M was an M6. Then I stretched the budget a bit and got an MP. Liked it so much better for so many almost intangible reasons that I bought two more MPs when I found them too cheap to pass up and then sold the M6. No regrets. Unless you really need TTL flash capability, get the MP. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lincoln_m Posted February 20, 2011 Share #11 Posted February 20, 2011 If you don't need a meter then a good M2 as Noel says is a very good option. If you do need a meter built in then the MP has a better one that the M6 or M6TTL, i.e it should last for many films now the electronics has been improved. The M6TTL ( and M7) have the extra circuit board for the TTL flash metering control and are 2.5mm taller. The MP is also 1oz lighter than M7, not sure if it is lighter than M6TTL (Zinc top plate) or M6. I'd also say the MP is made during better quality control times. The M6 that I've seen seem to have a lower quality shutter speed dial. The problem for us these days is that prices have gone up over 50% in the past 6 years while salaries may have increased 15% if you are lucky not including perhaps 1 year without work in the past 6, or only theoretical inflation level pay rises. If I had to make the choice today I'd find it very difficult to cough up for the £3K even though the MP (or M7) are quality cameras. I was lucky I bought an MP for £1850 back in 2004. (Now you need to pay them over £150K + £100K expenses just to get out of bed. Oops sorry wrong forum for that discussion.) I have a similar difficulty with the prices of lenses. I see items like the 24mmf2.8asph is nearly 60% more than the price in 2005. Used prices have increased at higher rates than new. The way I justify these expensive purchases of Leica kit is to say, If I sold I'd get 80% back. So if you bought a £2K used MP and had to sell it would cost you £400 because you should get 80% back. So a £400 risk on such a desirable item is not so bad. Of course buying a £3000 new MP might have a much bigger loss should you need to sell in the short term. The MP holds it's value better than the M7 or I expect the M9 in the long run and if you use it a lot I suspect a Silver one will look less used than a Black Paint one given the same usage. MP are beautiful pieces of engineering in your hands giving you extra pleasure when using them. The only reason your images may be flawed would be your technique not the equipment. I hope you can find a quality used one that'll be with you forever, then the initial outlay won't seem so great. Regards, Lincoln Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mby Posted February 20, 2011 Share #12 Posted February 20, 2011 Hi Charlie, all differences as per Leica CS are posted here, albeit in German only: http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/film-forum/134736-leica-m6-vs-mp.html#post1408190 Google Translate doesn't do a bad job on it: http://translate.google.de/translate?js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&layout=2&eotf=1&sl=de&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.l-camera-forum.com%2Fleica-forum%2Ffilm-forum%2F134736-leica-m6-vs-mp.html%23post1408190 Best regards, Michael Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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