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I love my MP

abrewer

By abrewer
in Leica M-A / M7 / MP and Film M

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menos I M6

menos I M6

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Thanks so much for your replies! Much appreciated.

 

Thanks for the info on the matte black finish, didn't know that!

 

I do love my 50mm with my Nikon, so I imagine I'd feel the same with it on a Leica! What are some other "general purpose" focal lengths to look out for? Maybe a 35mm?

 

Pricewise, It'd be great if I could keep the body alone under $2000... Since I'm going used, this shouldn't be much for a problem. eBay seems to have some nice deals on the M3, M6 and MP. It's the lenses that'll take a big chunk of my change, hence why I can only afford to go with one at the start.

 

What are the main differences between the M3, M6 and MP, from a technical standpoint? Will the quality of images differ greatly from one model to the next?

 

I do appologize for all these silly questions! I'm very excited to dip my feet into film photography seriously. I've got a Nikon F75 for film stuff and an old Ricoh, but I know this is a totally different league- a league which I'm very anxious to start exploring! It's like I'm heading out on a whole new journey :)

 

Thanks again, folks!

 

The image quality will likely not differ between the cameras (that is the nice thing about old film bodies opposed to digital ;-) ).

 

From a user standpoint these are the big differences:

 

M3:

- no internal meter - you have to meter your exposure with your eyes or with an additional light meter

- widest frame visible is for a 50mm lens - anything wider needs an external viewfinder or the "goggles of older wide lenses (very cumbersome)

 

M6:

- internal meter

- angled film rewind - arguable easier to rewind, but also easier to damage with rough handling

 

MP:

- same, same but different than the M6

- basically an M6 with the classic style film rewind knob, an upgraded viewfinder (less prone to finder flare in difficult light), nicer made external controls, brass top and bottom and reportedly tighter tolerances in production

- 2 − 3 times the cost for a used body, compared to the M6

- exactly the same operation with meter, film advance, shutter speed as M6

 

There is also the Leica M7, which at the moment is placed in between used M6 and MP prices.

 

It has an electronic shutter, added aperture priority auto exposure program (selects the shutter speed automatically) and goes for about 1200 − 1800 EUR used.

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Xmas

Xmas

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The image quality will likely not differ between the cameras (that is the nice thing about old film bodies opposed to digital ;-) ).

 

From a user standpoint these are the big differences:

 

M3:

- no internal meter - you have to meter your exposure with your eyes or with an additional light meter

- widest frame visible is for a 50mm lens - anything wider needs an external viewfinder or the "goggles of older wide lenses (very cumbersome)

 

- the finder wont flare easily

note The M3 has a near 1:1 finder which is easier to use both eyes open if you are right eyed, you still can use both eyes with the lower mangnification finders with practice.

 

M2

- M3 with lower magnification finder but no flare comparable to M7 finder or M3

- 35m finder mask

 

 

M6:

- internal meter

- angled film rewind - arguable easier to rewind, but also easier to damage with rough handling

 

MP:

- same, same but different than the M6

- basically an M6 with the classic style film rewind knob, an upgraded viewfinder (less prone to finder flare in difficult light), nicer made external controls, brass top and bottom and reportedly tighter tolerances in production

- 2 − 3 times the cost for a used body, compared to the M6

- exactly the same operation with meter, film advance, shutter speed as M6

 

There is also the Leica M7, which at the moment is placed in between used M6 and MP prices.

 

It has an electronic shutter, added aperture priority auto exposure program (selects the shutter speed automatically) and goes for about 1200 − 1800 EUR used.

 

I use M2s most of time, cause it is rare that I don't use a 35mm, cant really use a 5cm, HCB used a 5cm, too hard for me.

 

You can get an add on rewind crank for the MP or older M3, M2, except for the very early M3s, which dont have a location bush.

 

Noel

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mdozier

mdozier

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Niandra,

The finder in the MP's is a bit better than the original finder on the M6 "classic", you can have the finder upgraded on the M6 easily enough.

 

I got my M6 classic years ago, then later added one MP and then a second MP. FWIW, I still use the M6 right along side either MP and always will. If you can't find an MP within your budget you won't be disappointed with the M6.

 

About the lens, I got a 50 'cron initially and quickly added a 35. If you are headed to Paris and want to shoot street as well as scenic I would recommend a 35. I personally think it's extremely flexible and forgiving with the wider view and I personally love that focal length on a Leica. Having said that, you really can't go wrong with a 50 either; I have and use both. For me there's enough difference between 35 and 50 that I find plenty of uses for both.

 

In short, I don't think there's a wrong decision here.

 

All the best.

matt

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Guest dk_samurai

Guest dk_samurai

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Does anybody have experience using both the "shark skin" (aka. roofing paper) and the traditional vulcanite? I'm curious as to which one of the two would provide the best grip surface? I know griptac would be best, but what about between vulcanite and shark skin??

 

/David

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Guest Digiuser

Guest Digiuser

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I use both the covers "Dachpappe" and Vulcanite. If new the grip of Dachpappe is better than Vulcanite but becomes a bit slippery after years of use. The grip of Vulcanite stays the same over the years.

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peter_n

peter_n

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It's the standard cover.
Oops. My bad. :o
Does anybody have experience using both the "shark skin" (aka. roofing paper) and the traditional vulcanite? I'm curious as to which one of the two would provide the best grip surface? I know griptac would be best, but what about between vulcanite and shark skin??
I use an MP3 which has the modern vulcanite and also an MP. IMO the vulcanite had a better grip than the standard MP covering, but I hated the dachpappe and got the MP covered in Griptac. If I ever wear the cover out on the MP3 I'll put Griptac on that too.

 

Leica should seriously consider putting Griptac on their bodies.

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Guest dk_samurai

Guest dk_samurai

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Thanks all for your replies reg. the vulcanite vs. shark skin! I'll likely switch ol' sharky to vulcanite the day my MP needs servicing.

 

/David

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RITskellar

RITskellar

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Thanks all for your replies reg. the vulcanite vs. shark skin! I'll likely switch ol' sharky to vulcanite the day my MP needs servicing.

 

/David

 

Yes, the current Leica vulcanit provides better grip than the standard Leica MP sharkskin, and I happen to think it is far more attractive than either the sharkskin or griptac.

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el.nino

el.nino

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Yes, the current Leica vulcanit provides better grip than the standard Leica MP sharkskin, and I happen to think it is far more attractive than either the sharkskin or griptac.

 

I was about to get my sharkskin replaced with the pseudo-vulcanit, but after a lot of thinking i decided to keep the sharkskin. looks way more elegant. the vulcanit looks kinda dull to me, like shiney black plastic (actually that's what it is). but i like the old original vulcanit which is by far not as shiney.

 

please don't beat me. :D

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