Leica MP thoughts

[rmjranch]

Thinking about buying a Leica and 35MM Lens. Do not want to break the bank but know they are expensive. I only shoot film. A Leica person suggested an MP with a 35MM lens. What model to look for? How old? Price range? Which lens? Price range? I am NOT a collector. I want to use the camera.

 

[Jeff Bradford]

Zorki 4?

 

[pthornto]

First question would be, have you used a rangefinder before and are comfortable with using them? Buying an MP without knowing if you will get on well using it would be sad.There are lots of other, older leica bodies that are still working well...thinking M4, M2, M3...bodies can be had for under $1K. If you wanted an even cheaper interchangeable lens rangefinder the Canon's and Russian leica copies can give you an idea of the experience.

 

[karl]

Buy an M4 and a Canon 35mm f2 screw mount lens. Trust me.

 

[Theo Sulphate]

This may help:

https://www.cameraquest.com/mguide.htm

(the M4 info is further down the page)

 

[mshchem]

I had a beautiful M2 , and a M6ttl . I sold them because someone offered me a boat load of money . I love them but you are still stuck with a dinky negative.
They are the quietest camera made , with the rangefinder can focus in any light .
Buy a fuji 6x9 rangefinder for 500 bucks and you get a huge neg.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

MP is newer version of classic Leica M series. It doesn't really matter how old it is. Cameras from fifties will do the same as new MP. 35mm is good choice and also consist of wide selection between new and old.
I recommend rangefinder forum if you like to ask more details and cameraquest link above as well.

 

[Sirius Glass]

The first question is whether you prefer range finders or SLRs. If it is range finders, see the above posts.

 

[Alan9940]

If you do prefer rangefinders and you r-e-a-l-l-y want to go with Leica M, then you'll need to consider which lenses you plan to use. Not all framelines are available in the viewfinder for all lenses; depends on the specific Leica M and its viewfinder magnification. All that said, if you favor a Leica M then I'd recommend one of the older models such as M2, M3, or M4 as others have already suggested. A Leica MP, though beautiful and harking back to the engineering of days gone by, is terribly expensive.

 

[John Koehrer]

Just curious, is your Leica person suggesting new or used? And spending your $$ or his?

A lot of Leica users think the M3 was overall the best Leica made. You know what hey say about opinions though.
The biggest liability to the M3 is that you would need a 35mm lens with "goggles".
The M2,3,4,6 & MP don't. I favored the M2 & M4 myself. The M4 & later have a simpler loading system the the 2 or 3.

 

[nick_clark]

If you're keen to dabble with Leica, and you're set on a 35mm, and you're happy to use an external light meter or sunny 16, it's hard to go past a M2.

It's got the 35mm framelines and a great, uncluttered viewfinder, that classic mechanical tacticality, and it's usually the cheapest of the 'real' M bodies. Get one with a recent CLA, chuck a used Voigtlander 35mm Color Skopar on it, and I reckon you'll be pretty chuffed

 

[rmjranch]

Thanks everyone. I bought a new in box Nikon F6 body, from this person, for $1000. USA model. About $2500 from B&H. We were talking about film cameras and he mentioned the Leica MP, new or used. Also said they were VERY expensive & overpriced. Thought I would research with your help. I used to shoot pro and now just for fun. Only film, Medium format, Hasselblad, & Fiji 6X9, 35 mm mostly Nikon F5 and FM2. IMHO, with your feedback, these are great cameras but overpriced. Will not buy one, thank everyone for your comments.

 

[nick_clark]

We were talking about film cameras and he mentioned the Leica MP, new or used. Also said they were VERY expensive & overpriced.

Hmmm to be fair, if you're interested in Leica and concerned about cost, the MP is probably not where I would start looking - it is basically top of the tree and yes, overpriced for many of us. Put simply, I wouldn't dismiss the brand due to the price of the MP.

 

[mnemosyne]

With threads like this, I can't imagine how the expensive European firms manage to stay in business. I wonder how much longer it can go on. Otherwise, enjoy the new camera. Funny what tickles peoples' fancy. I'd take my Nikkormat over a trainload of F6's or Leicas. If I had Bill gates' money, I'd still keep the Nikkormat. Some things were just never any better. In the meantime, I'll wait for a Mars rocket mission. As soon as NASA has finished experimenting with rocket engines and re-discovers the F1.

And I cannot understand why people stubbornly advocate their favorite SLR model whenever someone explicitly asks for a RF camera (or the other way round). The OP is a apparently a former pro photog and already owns Nikon 35mm SLRs, so I assume if he fancied a different Nikon SLR he would have simply asked for one, ugh ...

 

[Richard Man]

Leica user since 2004. A Leica M(anything) will last you a lifetime. Yes, you may have to give it a CLA now and then. The film loading is... different, but the results are as good as they get. Get the 35mm/2 ASPH. Expensive combo, but really if you are a user, you will love it.

 

[Huss]

Thanks everyone. I bought a new in box Nikon F6 body, from this person, for $1000. USA model. About $2500 from B&H. We were talking about film cameras and he mentioned the Leica MP, new or used. Also said they were VERY expensive & overpriced. Thought I would research with your help. I used to shoot pro and now just for fun. Only film, Medium format, Hasselblad, & Fiji 6X9, 35 mm mostly Nikon F5 and FM2. IMHO, with your feedback, these are great cameras but overpriced. Will not buy one, thank everyone for your comments.

Well, that's too bad. I also use the F6, FM2, other Nikons, the Fuji GW690iii amongst others and I love using film Leicas.
You obviously are a film man, and it behooves you to try a film M. Just so you can scratch that itch. You can get a really nice used MP (that has a buil in meter) for about $2800. Or you can get a really nice M6 (that has a built in meter) for about $1100. Or, seeing you already use a GW690 that does not have a meter, you can get a really nice M2/m3/m4/M4-2/M4-P for under $1000. If you buy any of these at this used price level, you can use them to your heart's content and then sell them (if need be) at no loss. How cool is that, you'd get to use a Leica for free! How is something overpriced if the cost of using it is zero?

When I use my F6, I think, dang this is an awesome camera. Look at all the stuff it has. when I use a Leica m, I think, dang this is an awesome camera, look at all the stuff is doesn't have.

 

[cliveh]

M2

 

[Alan Gales]

My problem with Leicas is (correct me if I'm wrong) that for the price you can get a Hasselblad 500c/m and a 35mm SLR.

If I bought a Leica, I would want an M3 with 50mm and maybe a 90. The M3 is said to have the brightest viewfinder of all Leicas. Of course an M3 isn't the best choice to use with a 35mm lens.

 

[cliveh]

Then buy a Hasselblad 500c/m and a 35mm SLR, but you wont have a Leica. Also, what makes you think the M3 has a brighter viewfinder than an M2?

 

[Alan Gales]

Then buy a Hasselblad 500c/m and a 35mm SLR, but you wont have a Leica. Also, what makes you think the M3 has a brighter viewfinder than an M2?

Yes, you are of course right. I wouldn't have a Leica. It really does come down to what you prefer.

Scroll down this article to The Viewfinder. Dead Link Removed

I've also read where Ken Rockwell among others have said the same.

 

[Huss]

My problem with Leicas is (correct me if I'm wrong) that for the price you can get a Hasselblad 500c/m and a 35mm SLR. .

I hear ya. My problem with a beautiful woman is I can have two ugly ones for the same effort.

;p

 

[Alan Gales]

I hear ya. My problem with a beautiful woman is I can have two ugly ones for the same effort.

;p

Now that's funny!

 

[Alan Gales]

My problem with Leicas is (correct me if I'm wrong) that for the price you can get a Hasselblad 500c/m and a 35mm SLR.

I'm sorry guys if I came off sounding like a jerk. I didn't mean to. It's just that Leica is so expensive.

 

[Huss]

I'm sorry guys if I came off sounding like a jerk. I didn't mean to. It's just that Leica is so expensive.

You didn't Alan! Thanks for having a sense of humour. I feel the same way, and sometimes think I may have done things differently if I had better information on hand at the time e.g. bought more Voigtlander lenses than Leica lenses

 

[Alan Gales]

You didn't Alan! Thanks for having a sense of humour. I feel the same way, and sometimes think I may have done things differently if I had better information on hand at the time e.g. bought more Voigtlander lenses than Leica lenses

That's good!

I say Leica is expensive but so was my 8x10 kit.