A Short Review of the MP

[Herr Barnack]

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From 35MMC comes a short review of the MP, which I wanted to enjoy but was left with a bad taste in my mouth due to the reviewer's repeated negativity about Leica. 

 

For a guy who claims to love his M cameras, he does a lot of bitching about the company who makes it possible for all of us to use and enjoy them; makes no sense to me, but there's a lot of nonsense floating about these days. 

 

The Leica MP – a review & some wider thoughts on “the ultimate tool”

https://www.35mmc.com/06/05/2018/leica-mp-review/

 

 

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[Ko.Fe.]

Google returns this new kid of the flock a lot. I'm finding his language as dopey as mine. He seems to trying to write about his impressions, but his sample photos are too huff. So, I'm not sure if his reviews are valid. I'm giving him credit for Rockwell quality of gear pictures. This is what Rockwell is good for .

[Ernest]

 

From 35MMC comes a short review of the MP, which I wanted to enjoy but was left with a bad taste in my mouth due to the reviewer's repeated negativity about Leica. 

 

For a guy who claims to love his M cameras, he does a lot of bitching about the company who makes it possible for all of us to use and enjoy them; makes no sense to me, but there's a lot of nonsense floating about these days. 

 

 

 

Hamish incorrectly says that the P in Leica MP stands for "Perfection," then argues at length his bias against what he views as the design imperfection of Leica black paint and hardly reviews the camera itself. The P stands for Professional. As G. Rogliatti points out in his book Leica - The First Sixty Years, "A special variant of the model M3, the LEICA MP (Professional), made its brief appearance on the market in 1956; it was a camera suitable for the press reporter as it was, by noting their suggestions that this camera was produced" (89). There was also an MP2 produced in 1959 and an MP SP (Special).

[abrewer]

The P stands for Professional. 

 

Correct.

 

Well, I guess I won't be becoming a "patrone" of Hamish's site now.

[semi-ambivalent]

And all this time I thought it meant Most Pricey.

[trisberg]

Hamish incorrectly says that the P in Leica MP stands for "Perfection,"

I don't think he claimed that, he said "Looking at Leica’s website, they never actually explicitly say what MP stands for – though it is implied on one of the subheadings on the main Leica MP website pages that it stands for “Mechanical Perfection”." He wasn't talking about the Leica MP from the fifties.

 

-Thomas

[Hamish Gill]

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From 35MMC comes a short review of the MP, which I wanted to enjoy but was left with a bad taste in my mouth due to the reviewer's repeated negativity about Leica. 

 

For a guy who claims to love his M cameras, he does a lot of bitching about the company who makes it possible for all of us to use and enjoy them; makes no sense to me, but there's a lot of nonsense floating about these days. 

 

 

 

 

Each to theirs - the bad taste I get is from prices/values inflated by marketing twaddle. Marketing twaddle is the nonsense I see I the world. 

Sorry you did't enjoy the post though. I had hoped that my overall point about finding the right Leica for the individual etc would have shined through my bitch  

 

 

Google returns this new kid of the flock a lot. I'm finding his language as dopey as mine. He seems to trying to write about his impressions, but his sample photos are too huff. So, I'm not sure if his reviews are valid. I'm giving him credit for Rockwell quality of gear pictures. This is what Rockwell is good for .

 

I am quite dopey - it's just a blog though. I just write what comes to mind. For gear porn, I can recommend my instagram account

 

 

Correct.

 

Well, I guess I won't be becoming a "patrone" of Hamish's site now.

 

Not even just 1 dollar?

 

I don't think he claimed that, he said "Looking at Leica’s website, they never actually explicitly say what MP stands for – though it is implied on one of the subheadings on the main Leica MP website pages that it stands for “Mechanical Perfection”." He wasn't talking about the Leica MP from the fifties.

 

-Thomas

 

Thank you!! For some reason, I am having more issue with people not reading what I actually said with this post... 

I said a naughty about Leica, which I think makes peoples eyes go blurry with anger so they can't actually read the words any more

[Hamish Gill]

Hamish incorrectly says that the P in Leica MP stands for "Perfection," then argues at length his bias against what he views as the design imperfection of Leica black paint and hardly reviews the camera itself. The P stands for Professional. As G. Rogliatti points out in his book Leica - The First Sixty Years, "A special variant of the model M3, the LEICA MP (Professional), made its brief appearance on the market in 1956; it was a camera suitable for the press reporter as it was, by noting their suggestions that this camera was produced" (89). There was also an MP2 produced in 1959 and an MP SP (Special).

 

I read yesterday that the P in the earlier MP stood for Professional, or Press as most pros back then were Press...? No idea how true that is, I read it on the internet. Books beat internet I think. I read that on the internet too...

[Mark II]

 

For a guy who claims to love his M cameras, he does a lot of bitching about the company who makes it possible for all of us to use and enjoy them; makes no sense to me, but there's a lot of nonsense floating about these days. 

 

 

I am afraid that I agree with Hamish on this. As someone who uses their cameras daily, the biggest issue that I have with Leica is their move to establish themselves as a luxury brand.

 

The numerous threads on this forum about both quality control and service times are a direct result of this, and combined with their pricing it is clear that their preferred target markets are for collectors and brand enthusiasts rather than working photographers.

[Hamish Gill]

Yep, Mark, sad but true - the more time i spend with the brand the more i realise it.

 

Here’s another post - this one will likely get a few people’s backs up even more

 

https://www.35mmc.com/25/02/2018/leica-mystique-brand-vs-camera/

[earleygallery]

I don't think the 'P' really stands for anything. It is indeed referred to by Leica as 'Mechanical Perfection' but that's just their own marketing fluff.

 

I guess it's just a nod to the past and nothing more.

 

I've read the linked article and think the writer makes some valid points. I guess he hasn't seen the Lenny Kravitz black paint model yet though.......

[Hamish Gill]

Don’t get me started on that musician branded camera - I can’t even say his name any more

[Rus]

I find the review making a lot of sense. Leica is not unknown for playing with and cashing in on ideas related to the "essence" of photography, whatever that may be. 

Surely just because one likes a brand and some of its products shouldn't mean that one can't ever criticise it in any way. Blind faith is the demand of a cult, not of a brand that prides itself on its appeal to thoughtful photographers. 

Edited May 7, 2018 by Rus

[Herr Barnack]

Each to theirs - the bad taste I get is from prices/values inflated by marketing twaddle. Marketing twaddle is the nonsense I see I the world. 

Sorry you did't enjoy the post though. I had hoped that my overall point about finding the right Leica for the individual etc would have shined through my bitch  

 

 

That was a valid point and I come from the perspective of a guy who originally owned an MP (2003 birth date) and an M-4P. 

 

I kept the M4-P and traded away the MP to help pay for my M240, the first digital camera of any kind that I purchased.  As for the MP, it is a very nice camera and is beautiful in appearance and it does get the job done admirably.  I found the M4-P to be equally as capable in terms of photography, though.  I needed an M240 so I sent the MP packing.  To me, there is no "holy grail" Leica M in current production; the only HG Leica is the original MP which sells for well into six figures for a pristine specimen.

 

I suppose a point could be made that all marketing is twaddle to one degree or another - the marketing folk want to present the product they are charged with promoting and selling in the best possible light and some of them get a bit carried away with the hyperbole. 

 

I find Leica's marketing of the M camera line nowhere nearly as offensive/obnoxious as is the daily assault of advertising we are forced to endure here in the U.S.  We can't even buy a tank of gas in peace without being forced to listen to a 6"x8" TV screen embedded in the gas pump preaching the glories of Speedway and the super duper deals to be had on Snickers candy bars.

 

Two things that I do find offensive are the painting of Leica cameras and lenses as the playthings of the idle rich, and the contempt that some people exhibit toward Leica and Leica owners because of the admittedly high prices of the gear - particularly the M lineup.  I have had the good fortune to be able to acquire a couple of M cameras and a small but nice selection of M lenses after 20+ years of judicious buying, selling, collecting, using and trading of Nikon and Hasselblad gear.  I am not an idle rich kind of guy - anything but.  I am an actual image maker; I make sacrifices - sometimes painful sacrifices -  for my photography.  I break my ass every day to advance my craft and hone my photographic style and vision. 

 

To look at it from another angle, I admire A. Lange & Sohne wrist watches - but I can't afford them.  I am not filled with blind hatred for Lange and those who own these masterpieces simply because I they are out of my financial reach.  That kind of thinking is the very definition of self-entitled childishness IMHO.  These days, we see a fair amount of that kind of obnoxiousness directed at Leica, mostly online. 

 

Adults who throw temper tantrums is one of the things I find most offensive of all - and I would hazard a guess that I am not alone.

Edited May 7, 2018 by Herr Barnack

[earleygallery]

It's not all Leica's fault though. When people who associate themselves with the Leica brand market $60K elephant skin camera bags, it does give the wider photographic community a false impression of what the majority of Leica users are about. Sadly it also suggests that there are some who fit the sterotype too well.

Edited May 7, 2018 by earleygallery

[Herr Barnack]

earleygallery, you are correct; there are a small minority of Leica users who do not do the vast majority of us any favors. 

 

That having been said, it is incumbent upon all rational, intelligent people to not tar and feather entire demographics of people based upon the indiscretions of a small fraction of the whole; that is a given.

 

The elephant skin bag debacle was truly a low point - but the fact remains that was one M user's mistake, and was likely 99% or more condemned on this and other photographic forums.  That 99% plus doesn't deserve to be condemned, too.

Edited May 7, 2018 by Herr Barnack

[plaidshirts]

I am afraid that I agree with Hamish on this. As someone who uses their cameras daily, the biggest issue that I have with Leica is their move to establish themselves as a luxury brand.

 

The numerous threads on this forum about both quality control and service times are a direct result of this, and combined with their pricing it is clear that their preferred target markets are for collectors and brand enthusiasts rather than working photographers.

 

I thought Hamish's criticisms were fair. They have crossed my own mind at one time or another.

[Hamish Gill]

@Herr Barnack, I think you and I would find a lot of common ground were we to chat over a pair of whiskys!

 

The M4-P is a pinnacle for me - no a holy grail, just a fine combination of features and functions. I own an m-a and struggle to “bond” with it knowing the m4-p amount ta to the same camera.

 

That being said, I won’t tell you what I recently had done to my m3. You’d probably spit that whisky at me!

 

As for the tantrum... did it come across like that? No more than your response, surly? (And I mean that to come across as a rational question, not an ad hominem dig)

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[Herr Barnack]

 

As for the tantrum... did it come across like that? No more than your response, surly?

 

@Hamish - in making that comment, I was not referring to your review; sorry for not making that more clear.  As you observe, we likely do share common ground on more than a few facets of the photographic life. 

 

Like Aesop's fox whose prize of succulent grapes was out of reach, some rail against Leica because they are out of reach.  If you want the grapes, buy or borrow a ladder - or maybe even build a ladder. 

[MarkP]

 

 

No more than your response, surly?

Surly or Surely?

:-)