philipus Posted June 30, 2014 Share #41 Posted June 30, 2014 Advertisement (gone after registration) Rob, One thing to keep in mind is that the M6/TTL has a viewfinder that flares quite easily. This is something that some find irritating -- including me -- and something which other photographers don't mind or manage to work around by carefully centering the eye in the viewfinder. With previous M experience you may already know the answer to the question of whether you'd find this an annoying "feature" or not. If you would find that a flaring viewfinder would be a hindrance to your photography, then, with an M6/TTL, you would have to have it upgraded. This can be done by several service points, including Leica Customer Service. Prices vary but expect to pay 400-700€ in Europe with Leica costing the most (but offering a service of the camera at the same time). With an MP you wouldn't have to have this done. The mystical emotional qualities of an M are, I think, subjective. Some feel this, some don't. Whatever the photographer's connection with a camera, if any, it should fundamentally be a tool he or she wants to use and which maybe even instils photographic inspiration. If that amounts to an MP for you then that's what you should buy. But if you're more indifferent to whether it is an MP or an M6/TTL then in all likelihood you'd be perfectly happy with the latter. They both take exactly identical photographs, all other things being equal. Personally I use an M6TTL the finder of which I had upgraded by Leica CS. It is now the perfect camera and, being a Millennium, it looks and feels just like an MP à la carte (except that it is 2mm taller and has a much more user-friendly large dial ), all for quite a lot less, finder upgrade included, than a similar MP. Interestingly, though a bit off-topic, I have noticed that my M4's viewfinder actually flares. I have never seen this before until I began using my upgraded TTL, which is absolutely, completely and positively flare-proof these days. Whichever camera you pick, barring it being overrun by a truck, dropped from a building or something similar, it will outlast you and give you years and years of good service and pleasant use. Good luck Philip Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted June 30, 2014 Posted June 30, 2014 Hi philipus, Take a look here MP vs the others long term. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Guest Ansel_Adams Posted June 30, 2014 Share #42 Posted June 30, 2014 Prices vary but expect to pay 400-700€ in Europe with Leica costing the most (but offering a service of the camera at the same time). With an MP you wouldn't have to have this done. You can get this for around €200 in Europe. Interestingly, though a bit off-topic, I have noticed that my M4's viewfinder actually flares. I have never seen this before until I began using my upgraded TTL, which is absolutely, completely and positively flare-proof these days. This is because the MP has multicoated finder windows - the M4 can have these upgraded to MP spec also for about 120€ (normally included with M6 upgraded also). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pico Posted June 30, 2014 Share #43 Posted June 30, 2014 And, there is always wiggle room, e.g. Don Goldberg sells plastic rings that pop on to metal M eyepieces, so you can get, say, an M2, and still protect your glasses from scratches. s-a We can also drop by hardware store or locksmith's and get a pack of key-head thingies that works just as well. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
semi-ambivalent Posted July 1, 2014 Share #44 Posted July 1, 2014 We can also drop by hardware store or locksmith's and get a pack of key-head thingies that works just as well. [ATTACH]445093[/ATTACH] Are you being serious here, or is this dry Minnesota humor? I've never seen those key identifiers small enough to fit on my M3's eyepiece. If they're out there I'd appreciate the name of a vendor. thanks s-a Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
philipus Posted July 1, 2014 Share #45 Posted July 1, 2014 You can get this for around €200 in Europe. In the interest of the OP, where and are the multi-coated front windows included? /p Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Ansel_Adams Posted July 1, 2014 Share #46 Posted July 1, 2014 In the interest of the OP, where and are the multi-coated front windows included? /p YYeCAMERA Service Price or Malcolm Taylor Or CRR LUton Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pico Posted July 1, 2014 Share #47 Posted July 1, 2014 Advertisement (gone after registration) Are you being serious here, or is this dry Minnesota humor? I've never seen those key identifiers small enough to fit on my M3's eyepiece. If they're out there I'd appreciate the name of a vendor. Ace Hardware. Fifteen rings for $14 BUT the online order doesn't let you get the smaller ones, so visit them, or see below. Smaller ones here and here. I got mine from the local locksmith shop. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick_S Posted July 3, 2014 Share #48 Posted July 3, 2014 Ace Hardware. Fifteen rings for $14 BUT the online order doesn't let you get the smaller ones, so visit them, or see below. Smaller ones here and here. Thanks, that is a practical tip for spectacle wearers. Amazon also seem to offer the 13/16" small size listed under "Key Identifiers Small" is that the correct size? Nick Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Firefly Posted July 10, 2014 Author Share #49 Posted July 10, 2014 An update as much has happened since, just over a week a go I managed to visit a shop where I was able to handle both a M6ttl and a MP. In all honesty i'm sure the ttl could do everything that I wanted but holding the MP just seemed that bit different and the seduction was complete so my mind was made up. Back at home I searched the internet for MP's from pretty much every dealer I could think of, there never seems to be many available here in the UK but Richard Caplin had one in stock with a .58 viewfinder which intrigued me as I wear reading glasses now and I guess one day will need glasses all the time. I gave them a phone and established that it had been originally ordered through the ala-carte programme and apart from missing the usual 135 frames with this viewfinder it came to light that the 75 frames were missing as well which for me is actually a bonus as I have never hankered after 75mm or 135mm lenses but I get the bonus of a less cluttered viewfinder. The Salesman confirmed that everything else was as expected with no lurid covering or personal engraving, another plus was that it came with it's original packaging, strap, manual and spare/alternative battery covering. I was also told that although there was light brassing it was in very good condition with no dinks or dents present. From the serial number i'm quite happy that it shows some wear rather than just sitting in a display case somewhere gradually tightening up as at the end of the day its a mechanical tool designed to be used. A quick and gentle bit of haggling bought the price down, actually lower than any other advertised MP so I left a deposit by card and agreed to come by the shop and pay the balance and pick it up. Finally today I got there to pick it up and was met by a charming young lady who un-boxed it for me and I attached a lens that I had bought along with me and tried all the controls which to me anyway appeared to be silky smooth, it's also backed up with a six month warranty. Whilst there I bought some film as well and a S/H photo-equip rewind crank. When the time came to pay I was given a spare pair of batteries, one of the rolls of film, a branded lens cloth and a copy of LFI magazine which is a very pleasant gesture and quite unexpected, I shall be back again when other gear becomes needed. At the moment i'm like a dog with two tails, just need the rain to stop now so I can get out and about taking pictures. Many thanks for all your advise and thanks to Richard Caplan for a great deal, All the best, Rob Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sblitz Posted July 10, 2014 Share #50 Posted July 10, 2014 Great thing about mechanical cameras, go out in the rain and take some shots! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Ansel_Adams Posted July 10, 2014 Share #51 Posted July 10, 2014 An update as much has happened since, ...... Congrats on the new MP... don't be shy, post a few pictures of it! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Firefly Posted July 10, 2014 Author Share #52 Posted July 10, 2014 Congrats on the new MP... don't be shy, post a few pictures of it! Good Grief, that means a digital upload , one day I will get round to it, regards Rob Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrianUK Posted July 10, 2014 Share #53 Posted July 10, 2014 The other day I was wondering how this would pan out. Great news! Many congratulations on the purchase. Let us know how you get on with your new MP! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrh68uk Posted July 11, 2014 Share #54 Posted July 11, 2014 I bought my chrome MP from Richard Caplan, about five years ago, and it's also an alc version. It has the "Classic" engraving on the top (which, IMO, suits the chrome MP better than the serial engraving), Vulkanit covering and the 0.72-3 frame (35, 50 and 90 only). It's what I'd choose if I were making up my own, so it was a lucky find for me. I've just priced it up through the alc configurator and it's £4065 new! Needless to say, I didn't pay anywhere near that. It's my Neopan 400 machine (mainly). Love it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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