jplomley Posted January 9, 2011 Share #1921 Posted January 9, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) Derek, being a denizen of Montreal myself, I fully understand the issues of M photography and winter. No joy no matter which way you slice it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted January 9, 2011 Posted January 9, 2011 Hi jplomley, Take a look here I love my MP. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
pharyngula Posted January 9, 2011 Share #1922 Posted January 9, 2011 As an amateur astronomer I'm use to cold nights and having to use my hands to operate stuff. Glomitts (my version comes from duluthtrading.com) with their retractable finger and thumb covers also make it possible for me to work with my MP on even the coldest days. Nothing like a brass rangefinder for sucking the heat out of your fingers though... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NB23 Posted January 10, 2011 Share #1923 Posted January 10, 2011 I don't get all this MP love. The small shutter speed dial is useless if you are wearing winter gloves. Having to manually adjust exposure just takes too long for rapidly changing conditions. Don't get me wrong, they look pretty and everything with all their fancy skins, but from a functional POV for the street genre, I put the MP back on the counter and ended up with a pair of M7's instead! I await the firing squad I kinda dislike the M7 and M6 big, ugly plastic dials. I agree the M7 is the king as far as ease of use but not in the winter where the Battery dies quickly. And the M7's Chrome is very cheap, wearing out very fast and even peeling in some instances. The MP, M2, M3, M4, M4-P, M4-2... All have the same exquisite speed dial. The Montreal winters kill my M7 and MP batteries very quickly. Luckily, the MP is fully mechanical so I can continue shooting. My favorite M is the M4P but the MP's Black Paint finish is more exotic, making it a joy to hold and touch. Probably like a M9, but I haven't had the chance to hold one. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wattsy Posted January 10, 2011 Share #1924 Posted January 10, 2011 I kinda dislike the M7 and M6 big, ugly plastic dials.The MP, M2, M3, M4, M4-P, M4-2... All have the same exquisite speed dial. M6TTL surely? The M6 has the same smaller dial as the MP, etc. but the MP's Black Paint finish is more exotic, making it a joy to hold and touch. Probably like a M9, but I haven't had the chance to hold one. No. The M9 is fat and feels ergonomically inferior to any of the film bodies. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jplomley Posted January 10, 2011 Share #1925 Posted January 10, 2011 The Montreal winters kill my M7 and MP batteries very quickly. Luckily, the MP is fully mechanical so I can continue shooting. You'll miss more opportunities fiddling with exposure than you will changing batteries. And don't forget, in a pinch, 1/60th and 1/125th are fully mechanical. I assume you are using Li batteries? I don't experience any serious battery drain in the winter. I'll average 20-25 rolls in the minus double digits. As to chrome vs black paint, who cares! Honestly, it's a camera meant to be used, not a glorified mantle piece. I've had my M7 for about three years and have put about 600 rolls of film through it. Still looks great, no significant wear, and I've never had a problem. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DerekF Posted January 10, 2011 Share #1926 Posted January 10, 2011 The Montreal winters kill my M7 and MP batteries very quickly. Luckily, the MP is fully mechanical so I can continue shooting. You'll miss more opportunities fiddling with exposure than you will changing batteries. And don't forget, in a pinch, 1/60th and 1/125th are fully mechanical. I assume you are using Li batteries? I don't experience any serious battery drain in the winter. I'll average 20-25 rolls in the minus double digits. 1/60th doesn't always help when you're shooting outdoors at night. The MP retains all of its shutter speeds without a battery. Anyway, I'm not sure what the point of this discussion is.. it all comes down to personal preference. We use what we like and what we're used to using, and considering this is the "I love my MP" thread, it's no surprise that the people who follow this thread will tend to choose the MP over others. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NB23 Posted January 11, 2011 Share #1927 Posted January 11, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) The Montreal winters kill my M7 and MP batteries very quickly. Luckily, the MP is fully mechanical so I can continue shooting. You'll miss more opportunities fiddling with exposure than you will changing batteries. And don't forget, in a pinch, 1/60th and 1/125th are fully mechanical. I assume you are using Li batteries? I don't experience any serious battery drain in the winter. I'll average 20-25 rolls in the minus double digits. As to chrome vs black paint, who cares! Honestly, it's a camera meant to be used, not a glorified mantle piece. I've had my M7 for about three years and have put about 600 rolls of film through it. Still looks great, no significant wear, and I've never had a problem. The MP has one single advantage compared to the other Ms, which is its Black Paint. That's its desired feature. That's why the BP M4s and the Special edition M6s in BP go for high money. Ridiculous, maybe, but that's the reality so we have to accept it. Obviously, you don't care for BP and this is why you don't understand all the love the MP gets. This is also the reason why you don't own a MP and it is also the reason why you didn't start this thread. I own a MP and an M7. I love them both. But it is a fact that the M7's Black Chrome finish, as well as the M8's Black Chrome finish are extremely cheap and have nothing to do with the older Ms Quality. Back then you could use a M4-P or a M5 to death, carry them in your pockets everyday for years, Bang them in a bag, throw them in sand, rub them, sleep with them, rub them some more while watching TV, fondle them in your free moments and never get down to the Brass. Never. But now, anyone can brass a M7 or M8 with light, occasional use, which is completely ridiculous IMO. I remember missing a BP M7 last year by a few seconds. It got sold in record time for a superbly low price. Still today I can't get over it. It was beautiful! And nothing beats a BP Leica that gets brassed from your own hands, from traveling the world. This is why I purchased a MP and altough I don't particularly like it nor see the big deal mechanically when compared to other Ms, I certainly love to hold it and use it. Black paint has this special warm, sticky feeling. A true joy to hold. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
menos I M6 Posted January 11, 2011 Share #1928 Posted January 11, 2011 It is an interesting discussion about the two major turning points for and against one or the other model. I do not own an MP (yet). I am on the lookout for my second hand dream MP, which would be either a BP or a silver chrome completely naked MP without engravings or logos with 0.85 finder. I love my BP M8.2 for it's great finish, getting more and more dear to me with every scratch, scuff and brassing - I guess, I can fully understand the preference for BP over Bchrome. I do use a black chrome M7 and love it. Jeff's points about the M7 are 100% valid. All discussions about battery life and mechanical over electronic are completely meaningless to me, as the spare batteries are just too small, light, cheap and convenient, to get in every small shop from Shanghai downtown to remote Chinese villages. I carry spares in every photo bag and don't recognize them. I also carry a set of spares for the Motor-M, which in combination with an M7 is one of the greatest inventions of camera history, and still a very compact, light and especially silent one. It transforms the Leica M7 into a very fast, intuitive shooting machine for every light, temperature and weather condition, I shoot in. I am not a sole AE shooter, but use preferably AE in most quick situations. I switch to manual exposure from frame to frame, as necessary and use both modes interchangeably. I wish, I could already say "I love my MP!", but I will sit this out, until a great deal arrives at my porch, as the M8.2, M6 and M7 do not ask for any real need of an MP. It would be rather an enjoyable fancy toy with the potential of morphing into a well used tool for certain work. For film, this is clearly the M7 for me at this moment - for film and action, it is a Nikon F5 though ;-) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
honcho Posted January 11, 2011 Share #1929 Posted January 11, 2011 Can someone please post a shot of their MP? Black or chrome, I don't mind! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill Posted January 11, 2011 Share #1930 Posted January 11, 2011 Quite. This isn't supposed to be a thread re-hashing old prejudices, preferences and half-truths. Regards, Bill Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jplomley Posted January 11, 2011 Share #1931 Posted January 11, 2011 This isn't supposed to be a thread re-hashing old prejudices, preferences and half-truths Half-truths? You lost me Bill. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill Posted January 11, 2011 Share #1932 Posted January 11, 2011 Sorry Jeff, wasn't referring to you. I just have no time for statements such as "The MP has one single advantage compared to the other Ms, which is its Black Paint." etc. Regards, Bill Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stealth3kpl Posted January 11, 2011 Share #1933 Posted January 11, 2011 Sorry Jeff, wasn't referring to you. I just have no time for statements such as "The MP has one single advantage compared to the other Ms, which is its Black Paint." etc. Regards, Bill Yes, where does that put the silver ones? Pete Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MPerson Posted January 11, 2011 Share #1934 Posted January 11, 2011 Talking of batteries reminded me when I got mine 6 years ago I shot a test roll with 12 frames using the onboard exposure meter, took the battery out and shot 12 more with my Weston. I never did put the battery back in but still carry the bloody spare in my bag! 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/267593-i-love-my-mp/?do=findComment&comment=1555251'>More sharing options...
NB23 Posted January 11, 2011 Share #1935 Posted January 11, 2011 Sorry Jeff, wasn't referring to you. I just have no time for statements such as "The MP has one single advantage compared to the other Ms, which is its Black Paint." etc. Regards, Bill Dude, relaaax. Life is supposed to be beautiful. What's an internet forum if it isn't to talk about all and nothing? And besides, if it wasn't for its black paint, the MP would really be a warmed up M6 with a few minuscule features such as a brass top instead of Zinc (wow!) or an old style film-rewind knob (wow, that's so new, what an upgrade!). Like it or not, the MPs popularity is in its BP finish, the silver and Black chrome ones being quite unpopular and which is confirmed by a quick glance through the photos posted. Again, Chillax. Go out for a walk. Or better yet, go out and make money if time is so important and you don't have some spare time to read people's statements on an internet forum. Or stay tuned and you'll have the chance to view a photo of my MP very soon. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill Posted January 11, 2011 Share #1936 Posted January 11, 2011 (edited) I have no problem with statements per se, old chap, just with ones that are arrant nonsense rooted in personal insecurities. Have a nice day now. --o-0-o-- Enough hijacking. Shall we get back to the point of the thread? Edited January 11, 2011 by bill Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NB23 Posted January 11, 2011 Share #1937 Posted January 11, 2011 I have no problem with statements per se, old chap, just with ones that are arrant nonsense rooted in personal insecurities. Have a nice day now. --o-0-o-- Enough hijacking. Shall we get back to the point of the thread? Well, a quick browse from pages 75 to 99 revealed almost 2 times more pictures of Black MPs Versus Chrome MPs. It's supposed to mean something... But if you insist, I will give you a friendly, no, a brotherly hint: the Psychology degree Diplomas they used to include in the Cracker Jack boxes were not real. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
honcho Posted January 11, 2011 Share #1938 Posted January 11, 2011 Lol!!! @ this forum! Well done, MPerson. That's the way to hoof the dreamers off the thread. Take care not to start an argument about silver vs black painted batteries, though. ;-D Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill Posted January 11, 2011 Share #1939 Posted January 11, 2011 Must be something in the water today Never mind, Ned. I forgive you for not comprehending that yours is not a representative sample. Meanwhile, back in the real world... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NB23 Posted January 11, 2011 Share #1940 Posted January 11, 2011 Must be something in the water today Never mind, Ned. I forgive you for not comprehending that yours is not a representative sample. Meanwhile, back in the real world... No, mine is not a representative sample: It's the real world's examples I'm giving you. Seeme to me you just want to argue for the sake or arguing. This whole thread, which is 97 pages long, shows a rough 2:1 (if not more) BP advantage over the chrome models. Same goes for all the "MP love" threads in all the Leica forums I've seen. Just go at rff and pnet and count them. I did so I know what I am talking about. I'm curious though... How's life in your "real world"? What's the sky color like? Pink? Fuschia? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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