A Short Review of the MP

[MarkP]

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That being said, I won’t tell you what I recently had done to my m3.

 

So, what did you do?

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[Ouroboros]

Anyone who wants to take that blog post seriously, from either angle, should read this quote first: "The crux of my point is, however nice the Leica MP is as a camera, it’s not the right camera for me."

 

It's all the blogger really needed to say, possibly adding that you don't buy an MP with your head.

Edited May 8, 2018 by Ouroboros

[plaidshirts]

Surly or Surely?

:-)

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[jmr237]

Let's not beat someone up for putting himself out there with a large number of articles and reviews that help inform the community. Hammish's site is a great resource for people learning about film photography (both Leica and otherwise). Spend some time on it and you'll soon realize the level of depth and breadth. I've been reading it for many years and would put it toward the top of the list of quality, in-depth resources. Hammish is intellectually honest and does not have a bias toward Leica just because of the brand name or the price (it often seems like Leica enthusiasts prejudge cheaper alternatives or non-Leica alternatives). He is clearly an avid photographer, is willing to share many pictures of a personal nature, and as such has far more credibility than other, more prominent internet personalities.

 

Obviously we don't all have to agree with each other, but there's no need for the disrespectful, judgmental, and dismissive tone that comes across in some of the early posts in this thread. Those types of armchair quarterback reactions serve as a disincentive for thoughtful, high-quality content and dialogue on the internet.

 

I know that sounds kind of preachy, but I want to defend Hammish for his effort and his willingness to expose himself to criticism by posting his reviews.

[Hello]

Love your stuff Hamish. Keep it up.

Edited May 21, 2018 by Hello

[low325]

Hamish keep up the work and keep making vids!

[IkarusJohn]

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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.

You’re not.

[IkarusJohn]

Nice review, Hamish.

 

I totally agree with you on the MP, and the marketing nonsense. To be honest, I never read marketing text (and I loathe writing it about myself). So I don’t judge Leica for it. Everyone has to do it and it’s easy to ignore. The reality is, marketing aside, Leica does actually live up to the values I like in its products (if not qualify control). I’m fully invested in Leica products and never see myself reverting to Nikon or any other manufacturer.

 

I’m also not convinced by black paint (all my M cameras have been silver, but my M-D will be black) - I recall one forum member taking to his new black paint with emery paper. It looked frightful, silly man.

 

Cheers

John

[PFM]

As one who has danced around the thought of getting a Leica someday for quite a while, I didn't want to be put in the same boat as lots of folks who claim there is no better product out there.  There's always a camera that can do something better than a Leica.  And all the warnings about needing to get a complete CLA every time you buy a used Leica really put me off.  If they're so good, while do they always need fixing?

 

So I took a different tack.  I studied all the other Leica wanna-be models, trying out quite a few.  I even found a Yashica model that looks like an M with it's back door film loading, but has the same lens mount and shutter speed set-up as a IIIf.  Found I can take good photos with all of them, but there was always something telling me it just wasn't the same as the real thing.

 

I started with an R3, then found out the metering system only worked in Auto, so that got replaced with an R7 because by then Leica had ironed out a lot of the problems inherent in the earlier models.  That took care of the SLR side of things, but my main reason for wanting a M model rangefinder is the lens mount.  It by far has to be the quickest for changing lenses.  I do like my Nikon S2, but it is still fiddly when doing a lens change.

 

One evening while just looking, I did come across a CL with both lenses for what I saw as a decent price, considering what some were being asked for body only.  As it turns out, it was right in the ballpark on Collectiblend, so I don't feel bad.  Love the way it works, and the lenses are great.  I went on to get three wide angle Voigtlanders to use on it, along with the zoom finder.  But that M5 style strap arrangement just doesn't get it when you raise the camera to your face, only to get an eyeful of strap.  I put a 3D printed grip on it, but that just means two more things to juggle when doing a film change.

 

After more study, I determined the M4-P was next in line.  I'd handled a couple of Ms before, so the feel of the body was good.  Plus you add in the six bright frame viewfinder, and I was set to get one.  Mine came from Igor Camera, so no need to get it CLA'd.  Being black chrome was more to my liking, as I'd probably scratch a painted one more than wear it down to the brass.  It came with a slight ding, and rub marks above the strap lugs, so it was already broke-in.  Added a TomA Softie, and Rapidwinder for functionality upgrades, and a real Leica M strap that came in a box lot of camera parts eight years ago.  Always knew it would come in handy some day.

 

So now the M4-P and CL, the 40/90 Wetzlars, 15/21/28 Voigtlanders, and zoom finder all fit in a brand new $20 camera bag that no one would suspect holds such exalted gear.  And you know what?  I shoot them just like I would my Zorki, Canon, Nikon, or Yashica rangefinders.  Set the aperture, check shutter speed (I do Sunny-16 mostly), frame, focus, and press the shutter button.  Yeah, it feels different.  But not because it's a Leica, but due to it's build quality, size, and weight, plus the frame selector function.  It loads quickly.  And that rewind crank is the best.

 

I plan on getting a lot of use out of the pair.  But I'll still keep using my other cameras.  Wouldn't want my Zorki's to get lonely.

 

PF

[IkarusJohn]

I’m lost. Do you want a Leica? Or are you worried about what other peoople might think? Or do you think other cameras are better?

[ianman]

There's always a camera that can do something better than a Leica. 

 

Something? As in take a photograph?

[PFM]

I’m lost. Do you want a Leica? Or are you worried about what other peoople might think? Or do you think other cameras are better?

I aspired a long time ago to wanting a Leica.  I always thought they were too expensive for my budget though.  I needed something I could afford to get the job done now, and Nikon was and continues to be my favorite brand.  But I always knew there would come a time it would be easier to get into the Leica system.  I've owned quite a wide array of cameras, and there are snobs for every brand out there, so I'm not worried one bit what someone else thinks about my owning a Leica.  As much as believing it's the best camera, well, I'd hate to try and shoot night time sports from a distance with one.  There are a lot of good cameras out there, Leica just happens to be one of the better ones.

 

PF

[PFM]

Something? As in take a photograph?

Ever wonder why you don't see fisheye lenses for Leica mounts?

 

PF

[IkarusJohn]

I aspired a long time ago to wanting a Leica. I always thought they were too expensive for my budget though. I needed something I could afford to get the job done now, and Nikon was and continues to be my favorite brand. But I always knew there would come a time it would be easier to get into the Leica system. I've owned quite a wide array of cameras, and there are snobs for every brand out there, so I'm not worried one bit what someone else thinks about my owning a Leica. As much as believing it's the best camera, well, I'd hate to try and shoot night time sports from a distance with one. There are a lot of good cameras out there, Leica just happens to be one of the better ones.

 

PF

Sure - cameras have different strengths. Leica cameras are what they are, and they work for some and not others. They are photographic tools after all. They give me tremendous pleasure, as I suspect they do you - otherwise, why would you aspire to own one? Edited August 28, 2018 by IkarusJohn

[ianman]

Ever wonder why you don't see fisheye lenses for Leica mounts?

 

Nope, why do you ask?

I'm not interested in them at all, but you can find info here if you are.

[Herr Barnack]

On 8/28/2018 at 12:39 PM, PFM said:

I aspired a long time ago to wanting a Leica.  I always thought they were too expensive for my budget though.  I needed something I could afford to get the job done now, and Nikon was and continues to be my favorite brand.  But I always knew there would come a time it would be easier to get into the Leica system.  I've owned quite a wide array of cameras, and there are snobs for every brand out there, so I'm not worried one bit what someone else thinks about my owning a Leica.  As much as believing it's the best camera, well, I'd hate to try and shoot night time sports from a distance with one.  There are a lot of good cameras out there, Leica just happens to be one of the better ones.

 

PF

M cameras and lenses are too expensive for a lot of M owners and I include myself in that - but somehow we still mange to find a way or make a way to become M camera/lens owners. 

Each type of camera has specific types of photography at which they excel and specific types of photography where there are clearly better options available.  If you try to shoot an NFL game from the stands with an M camera, you are not going to get the best results that you can; sports photography (most sports, that is) are not where the M camera excels.  A photographer has to select the right tool for a given shoot. 

That having been said, M cameras and lenses are the best at several things, including reliability, longevity, design, crafysmanship and build quality.  They are also arguably the best at documentary, street, travel, family and everyday photography. 

No doubt I will be lambasted by someone for saying this but after 17 years of M camera shooting,  those are my perceptions that have been supported by my personal experiences.  My only real regret is that I did not come to the M camera system earlier in my photographic life.

Edited October 2, 2019 by Herr Barnack

[phototrope]

On 5/8/2018 at 1:54 PM, MarkP said:

Who are you calling Shirley?

 

Surly or Surely?

:-)

 

Edited October 5, 2019 by phototrope

[PFM]

I've been busy, and things sometimes don't go as planned so have not visited the Forum for a while.  Just thought I'd catch up on things.

All philosophy aside, I dove a bit deeper into Leica ownership.  I wanted to get the CL back into the mode of being a separate kit, so I added a VC Color-Skopar 35/2.5; Konica M-Hexanon 50/2; Tele-Elmarit-M 90/2.8; and Elmarit 135/2.8 to the M4-P for the system bag, then split the CL; Summicron-C 40/2; and Elmar-C 90/4 into a small bag for day trips and such.

Then I remembered a plan to get a IIIf made the same year I was born to celebrate my actual retirement.  That would be a '53 Red Dial, and seeing as I have 35 and 50mm covered in LTM, all I needed to add was an Elmar 90/4.  I also replaced the metric VIOOH with one calculated in feet to match the lenses.

Took the IIIf out yesterday to accompany my Zorki-1e/Jupiter-8 combo I was using for Red Oktober, and it was amazing how easy it was to blast through a 24 exposure roll after I finished with the Zorki.  Well, not really, as I did forget to remove the cap a couple of times.  This getting old really is for the birds.

I'll be posting results in the Film section as they come in.

PF

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M