MP changes in the lifespan

[grahamc]

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Hello

Has the MP experienced any functional changes since release?  

I am aware the sharkskin has changed (and also some examples had M6 ISO dials) .    Other than this do we know if any changes have been made that affect performance 

i.e ... Presuming no faults, from an operational perspective is there any good reason to buy newer versus older used MP ?   

Thanks 

Edited March 10, 2023 by grahamc

[69xchange]

10 hours ago, grahamc said:

Hello

Has the MP experienced any functional changes since release?  

I am aware the sharkskin has changed (and also some examples had M6 ISO dials) .    Other than this do we know if any changes have been made that affect performance 

i.e ... Presuming no faults, from an operational perspective is there any good reason to buy newer versus older used MP ?   

Thanks 

Besides the leatherette and iso dial as already stated… 

 

2020- brand new cameras comes with a leather strap instead of the older anti-slip rubber “14312” straps.

2022- rangefinder patch (when looking through viewfinder) and frame line corners/edges are now rounded instead of sharp corners.

These are cosmetic changes and don’t affect the function and these changes are both on the MP & M-A. One could say the round corners of the rangefinder patch can affect the “user experience ”. (Jk)

 

Edited March 10, 2023 by 69xchange

[Huss]

What does the pressure plate look like in the latest MPs?  My 'old' MP has a matte semi gloss finish.

[69xchange]

14 hours ago, Huss said:

What does the pressure plate look like in the latest MPs?  My 'old' MP has a matte semi gloss finish.

my pressure plate in my 2022 MP vs 2021 MP looks the same. Opened up my MP w/ film inside just for you @Huss

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Edited March 11, 2023 by 69xchange

[colint544]

Early examples of the current MP had a tendency for dust to collect in the viewfinder. The problem seemingly stemmed from the CNC machined top plate. This was a brand new design. The earlier brass top plate was made by a draw down technique where the brass was formed around a mold. 

Anyway, the new CNC machined top plate left a small gap at the curve to the left of the eyepiece where dust could get into the viewfinder. I've read of some owners filling this gap with glue. My understanding is that this was re-engineered, and is no longer an issue.

[250swb]

2 hours ago, colint544 said:

Early examples of the current MP had a tendency for dust to collect in the viewfinder. The problem seemingly stemmed from the CNC machined top plate. This was a brand new design. The earlier brass top plate was made by a draw down technique where the brass was formed around a mold. 

Anyway, the new CNC machined top plate left a small gap at the curve to the left of the eyepiece where dust could get into the viewfinder. I've read of some owners filling this gap with glue. My understanding is that this was re-engineered, and is no longer an issue.

That's another story from what I heard at the time. My 2002 MP went back for cleaning after about six months because of a large piece of debris in the viewfinder and not dust. At the time it was assumed the seal around the windows and/or viewfinder was letting dust in so Leica improved the seal, or that there was a component inside that was shedding debris and dust. Either way and whatever they did there hasn't been any dust in the camera since then.

The camera has a satin pressure plate held on with four tiny screws.

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[grahamc]

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Thanks @colint544 thanks Steve @250swb

I remember hearing the same thing regarding improvements to the eyepiece dust dealing , which is part of why I asked - as I’m looking at a 2006 MP

 

[LocalHero1953]

My Jan 23 MP also has a satin finish pressure plate with four screws.

I can see that the eyepiece overlaps the start of the curve around the top plate (looking from above). The eyepiece surround is actually shaped to match the curve and avoid a gap. I can't see how a difference between drawn and machined brass would affect this unless the top plate has different dimensions for each. 

[LocalHero1953]

Another question about changes in the lifetime of the MP.....

Has the shutter speed dial always been the same way round? anticlockwise from slow to fast speeds? It irritates me that it is non-intuitive in relation to the exposure meter arrows: I have to turn it, with my forefinger, in the opposite direction to the viewfinder exposure meter arrow, whereas the aperture ring movement direction is 'correct'. I understand the M5 and M7 shutter speed dials went the other way. I guess that in the end it will become a muscle-memory response, but it slows me up at present.

[Matlock]

13 minutes ago, LocalHero1953 said:

Another question about changes in the lifetime of the MP.....

Has the shutter speed dial always been the same way round? anticlockwise from slow to fast speeds? It irritates me that it is non-intuitive in relation to the exposure meter arrows: I have to turn it, with my forefinger, in the opposite direction to the viewfinder exposure meter arrow, whereas the aperture ring movement direction is 'correct'. I understand the M5 and M7 shutter speed dials went the other way. I guess that in the end it will become a muscle-memory response, but it slows me up at present.

The  M6TTL matches the M7. The MP has always been the same and matches the M1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 4-2, 4-P, M6 and M-A (and for that matter all the Barnack Leica's).

Edited March 11, 2023 by Matlock

[LocalHero1953]

4 minutes ago, Matlock said:

The  M6TTL matches the M7. The MP has always been the same and matches the M1, 2, 3, 4, 4-2, 4-P, M6 and M-A (and for that matter all the Barnack Leica's).

Thanks - I can understand the unwillingness to change once internal meters came in. If only Oskar Barnack had thought 50+ years on when he came up with his original design.

[TomB_tx]

As a Leica user for 55 years the shutter dial direction has never bothered me, as I normally select a shutter speed based on the ambient scene before raising the camera, and then fine tune the exposure by lens aperture, which matches the VF arrows. But I know some (many?) work the other way, selecting an aperture for the DOF effect they want, or in recent years just leaving at max aperture all the time. But I started out with reportage, event, and sports photography where aperture was considered more for exposure correction and let the DOF fall where it may.

[LocalHero1953]

20 minutes ago, TomB_tx said:

As a Leica user for 55 years the shutter dial direction has never bothered me, as I normally select a shutter speed based on the ambient scene before raising the camera, and then fine tune the exposure by lens aperture, which matches the VF arrows. But I know some (many?) work the other way, selecting an aperture for the DOF effect they want, or in recent years just leaving at max aperture all the time. But I started out with reportage, event, and sports photography where aperture was considered more for exposure correction and let the DOF fall where it may.

This became an issue for me recently because I have recently acquired both a MP and a Summilux-M 75. I was running a couple of films through it to check both focus accuracy and performance wide open - set f/1.4 and adjust shutter speed. So on another occasion I may well set shutter speed first and then adjust aperture. And it should become muscle memory anyway.

Edited March 11, 2023 by LocalHero1953

[Matlock]

9 minutes ago, LocalHero1953 said:

This became an issue for me recently because I have recently acquired both a MP and a Summilux-M 75. I was running a couple of films through it to check both focus accuracy and performance wide open - set f/1.4 and adjust shutter speed. So on another occasion I may well set shutter speed first and then adjust aperture. And it should become muscle memory anyway.

Simply get an Elcan 50mm f2 or it's Light Lens Lab clone and you will find the aperture rotation is reversed, problem solved 🙂 . 

[Keops]

On 3/10/2023 at 2:16 PM, 69xchange said:

Besides the leatherette and iso dial as already stated… 

 

2020- brand new cameras comes with a leather strap instead of the older anti-slip rubber “14312” straps.

2022- rangefinder patch (when looking through viewfinder) and frame line corners/edges are now rounded instead of sharp corners.

These are cosmetic changes and don’t affect the function and these changes are both on the MP & M-A. One could say the round corners of the rangefinder patch can affect the “user experience ”. (Jk)

 

I am interested in rangefinder patch and viewfinder framle line changes. May I see a photo of these changes please? I have a 2020 MP that was from the last batch of that year and I couldn't get the leather strap Mine came with a regular strap.

[LocalHero1953]

1 minute ago, Matlock said:

Simply get an Elcan 50mm f2 or it's Light Lens Lab clone and you will find the aperture rotation is reversed, problem solved 🙂 . 

😬

[grahamc]

9 hours ago, LocalHero1953 said:

Another question about changes in the lifetime of the MP.....

Has the shutter speed dial always been the same way round? anticlockwise from slow to fast speeds? It irritates me that it is non-intuitive in relation to the exposure meter arrows: I have to turn it, with my forefinger, in the opposite direction to the viewfinder exposure meter arrow, whereas the aperture ring movement direction is 'correct'. I understand the M5 and M7 shutter speed dials went the other way. I guess that in the end it will become a muscle-memory response, but it slows me up at present.

I read several tips for getting used to this 'incorrect direction', and the one that really clicked for me was "turn the dial toward the arrow that is lit".  I never had a problem after that.    Large dial : move in direction of arrow, small dial: move toward the arrow. 

And yes the muscle memory does kick in soon enough .... I now often shoot a TTL and MP sometimes at the same time in one shoot and as soon s I feel the shutter dial muscle memory kicks in and I work the camera correctly according to the one in my hand.

Impressive if only in the sense that my muscles are smarter than me 😆 

 

Edited March 11, 2023 by grahamc

[madNbad]

16 minutes ago, grahamc said:

Impressive if only in the sense that my muscles are smarter than me 😆 

 

Prior to selling all of my Nikon gear, my favorite lens was the little 45mm GN because it was the only Nikkor  that would focus in the same direction as a Leica.

[jakontil]

have the film scratch feature on the new MP been resolved? i mean issues... i got a friend who had spent the last year or so only to send back and forth his new MP because of the issue.. very frustrating..

and the funny thing was, even he got another MP from different continent and it still did have the same issue

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[grahamc]

1 hour ago, jakontil said:

have the film scratch feature on the new MP been resolved? i mean issues... i got a friend who had spent the last year or so only to send back and forth his new MP because of the issue.. very frustrating..

and the funny thing was, even he got another MP from different continent and it still did have the same issue

But how else would my YouTube followers know I am genuinely shooting on "35mm" if there were no scratches ?  This is certainly a feature I do not wish to be fixed .  

I am patiently waiting for the 'vaseline on lens' firmware update also.

Edited March 12, 2023 by grahamc