Customer Reviews

MP 0.72 Black Camera

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I started with a used M4 back in '84, which I regret selling, then years later I bought a M6ttl, which had crazy high battery consumption (new battery ever 8 rolls or so) and I always hated the higher height (vs a M6). I sold the ttl right away when the MP came out and I've been delighted ever since.

Everything about this camera is near perfect: the build quality, the view finder, sound of the shutter makes one drool, the black paint is way better than the old black chrome. yes it take longer to rewind the film but I'm not shooting sports with this camera, this is my street camera and it doesn't kill me to spend an extra minute to reload. The battery consumption is now reasonable (1 battery lasts through dozens and dozens of rolls of film), and the meter is surprisingly accurate. I love photographing with this camera.

Not so sure I would buy one now, I "only" paid $2,100, but it sure is a nice camera.

Although I am a fan of Leica rangefinder cameras and lenses, I have mixed feelings about this camera. Without question, it is the best designed, most robust, manual "M" rangefinder camera Leica has built since the original M4 from the late 1960's and early 1970's (Indeed, "MP" stands for Mechanical Perfection.). Indeed, it is the first Leica M camera since the legendary M3, M2 and M4 to have its top and bottom plates manufactured from brass. However, it does not handle nearly as well as a M4 or M6 with regards to rewinding film (The spool rewind knob is the worst designed feature on this camera; Leica engineers opted for this instead of the rewind crank which has been a standard feature of Ms since the M4 stating that the camera would be more rigid, and thus, structurally sound. It's an argument I find very unconvincing. If you opt for a custom made MP via Leica's new A La Carte program, you can get a M4/M6/M7 style rewind crank at an additional charge, which isn't cheap.). But film advance is the best I have handled for any M camera, especially with the newly reissued Leicavit rapid winder built for this camera. Aside from these changes and a newly redesigned rangefinder window which is a major improvement over previous designs with respect to flaring, the MP is a modified, greatly improved version of the original M6 camera. If you insist on owning the finest mechanical 35mm rangefinder camera, then the Leica MP is the one for you, preferably one with a black paint finish, since it wears well after heavy usage. Otherwise, I would recommend buying either a new M7 camera or considering a used M6 in excellent working condition.

...if you had to purchase one film camera, then this would be it...

...this is a hand-made classic that is destined to appreciate in value over time (in much the same way as fine, hand-made, mechanical watches and automobiles appreciate in price, except at a fraction of the cost, and with/without the collapse of the usd)...

...in essence, this is purchasing a piece of history from the company that, for all intent and purposes, invented 35mm photography...

...the "mp" represents the quintessential iconic paradigm of leica's mechanical genius...

...the mp also serves as a portal to the digitized world, since its lenses (actually, all leica "m" lenses) are interchangable with the new digital m8...