Leica MP or M7
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iNotion
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Here. http://www.cameraquest.com/mguide.htm#M4-2 and M4-P
A good read for you. Almost all the answers, you need to get a Leica.
A good read for you. Almost all the answers, you need to get a Leica.
M7 is more functional with the AE. MP is more collectible as the consummate mechanical M film RF. If you are more interested in the product, ie the photograph, get the M7. OTOH, if you are more interested in the process, ie photography, go with the MP. Seriously though, you cannot go wrong with either. 
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xylestesins
New Member
It depends on your shooting style.
Quick and mobile or slow and contemplative?
Some people wait for the shots, some people move to get the shots. Either way works for street photography
It's meter & wait vs move and auto-meter.
And which do you shoot more? There are hardcore B&W purists who refuse to run a single roll of color film through their camera. A leica MP, would perhaps be more suitable. There is no need for constant metering if you are experienced enough with rough eye metering.
I love to shoot slides at night and in all sorts of lighting, and i do not like to reveal my camera for long. I try to keep it quick and simple. I own a Bessa r2a right now, and hope to own a Leica M7 someday too :thumbsup: The only reason i look at my shutter speed in the VF is to prepare for how long i'll need to hold my breath/hands for
Quick and mobile or slow and contemplative?
Some people wait for the shots, some people move to get the shots. Either way works for street photography
It's meter & wait vs move and auto-meter.
And which do you shoot more? There are hardcore B&W purists who refuse to run a single roll of color film through their camera. A leica MP, would perhaps be more suitable. There is no need for constant metering if you are experienced enough with rough eye metering.
I love to shoot slides at night and in all sorts of lighting, and i do not like to reveal my camera for long. I try to keep it quick and simple. I own a Bessa r2a right now, and hope to own a Leica M7 someday too :thumbsup: The only reason i look at my shutter speed in the VF is to prepare for how long i'll need to hold my breath/hands for
Royale With Cheese
Senior Member
Am also looking into the M7 lately
The MP is a faboulous camera but being a down right lazy person, I would prefer to have the AE, somedays when I feel hardworking, will shoot with manual, other days, just turn on the AE
But than again, year end going to Japan, so gotta count my expenses carefully, might just end up with a Zeiss Ikon RF
The MP is a faboulous camera but being a down right lazy person, I would prefer to have the AE, somedays when I feel hardworking, will shoot with manual, other days, just turn on the AE
But than again, year end going to Japan, so gotta count my expenses carefully, might just end up with a Zeiss Ikon RF
TS,
both are excellent cameras. mp is not necessarily better built than the m7.
The main differences and plus and cons from my experience:
M7 has aperture-piority. very useful feature if you are those auto-universe shooter. But take note metering is still robotic, it cannot tell if it is the darker face you wish to expose for or the back ground light just like any system. So dont depend on it under tricky light condition unless you know super well how the AE of this camera expose. This comes with time spent with it. Of course you can shoot manual with it. But I always feel weird to have something on my camera I dont use.
MP has the classic rewind knob. Its awfully slow compared to the newer designs. But it wouldnt break like the newer design due to tension or film jam, just slower pace and tired fingers. Also it is not like the old M3 style where it will auto rewind back due to tension. MP's design has grip. You can pay $179usd and change to another rewind crank but its a silly design and will likely scratch your top plate. I find it ugly and silly, dont bother.
MP viewfinder is brighter and less prone to flare than M7.
MP has no ugly red dot. But to each his own, some actually like the red-dot.. you know.. those leica snobs.. hehehe
MP typically spots the new sharkskin covering versus the M7/M6 leather covering. It provides more grip and wouldn't peel as application is a pain-staking melt and apply and harden. cons is that it will be difficult to remove if you wanna change skin next time.
M7 has electronic boards in it, so any part down isnt as simple as mechanical $_$
MP has a all metal film level like M3, M7's is half plastic like M6 to save cost.
My take - if you like to like modern way of shooting fast or lazy to meter. M7 is for you. It can be counted on mechanically. MP is not a camera that tells you what to do. You decide for yourself how much you wish to expose a scene, you are the master decision maker. MP is not technological sophisticated but it is more an emotional side of things. I for 1 like more emotional attachment in my daily object. I have seen people frustrated with MP and sold it for M7 instead and some find M7 too "robotic" and wanted something they can pass down to their sons, and got the MP instead.
either camera, you cant go wrong. good luck and welcome to the club :thumbsup:
both are excellent cameras. mp is not necessarily better built than the m7.
The main differences and plus and cons from my experience:
M7 has aperture-piority. very useful feature if you are those auto-universe shooter. But take note metering is still robotic, it cannot tell if it is the darker face you wish to expose for or the back ground light just like any system. So dont depend on it under tricky light condition unless you know super well how the AE of this camera expose. This comes with time spent with it. Of course you can shoot manual with it. But I always feel weird to have something on my camera I dont use.
MP has the classic rewind knob. Its awfully slow compared to the newer designs. But it wouldnt break like the newer design due to tension or film jam, just slower pace and tired fingers. Also it is not like the old M3 style where it will auto rewind back due to tension. MP's design has grip. You can pay $179usd and change to another rewind crank but its a silly design and will likely scratch your top plate. I find it ugly and silly, dont bother.
MP viewfinder is brighter and less prone to flare than M7.
MP has no ugly red dot. But to each his own, some actually like the red-dot.. you know.. those leica snobs.. hehehe
MP typically spots the new sharkskin covering versus the M7/M6 leather covering. It provides more grip and wouldn't peel as application is a pain-staking melt and apply and harden. cons is that it will be difficult to remove if you wanna change skin next time.
M7 has electronic boards in it, so any part down isnt as simple as mechanical $_$
MP has a all metal film level like M3, M7's is half plastic like M6 to save cost.
My take - if you like to like modern way of shooting fast or lazy to meter. M7 is for you. It can be counted on mechanically. MP is not a camera that tells you what to do. You decide for yourself how much you wish to expose a scene, you are the master decision maker. MP is not technological sophisticated but it is more an emotional side of things. I for 1 like more emotional attachment in my daily object.
I have seen people frustrated with MP and sold it for M7 instead and some find M7 too "robotic" and wanted something they can pass down to their sons, and got the MP instead. either camera, you cant go wrong. good luck and welcome to the club :thumbsup:
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third3rdwheel
New Member
MP gets my vote.
mohamadfazli
New Member
now i am contemplating to not sell my MP to finance the M9.. its practically mint... darn..
Lomographer
Senior Member
TS,
both are excellent cameras. mp is not necessarily better built than the m7.
The main differences and plus and cons from my experience:
M7 has aperture-piority. very useful feature if you are those auto-universe shooter. But take note metering is still robotic, it cannot tell if it is the darker face you wish to expose for or the back ground light just like any system. So dont depend on it under tricky light condition unless you know super well how the AE of this camera expose. This comes with time spent with it. Of course you can shoot manual with it. But I always feel weird to have something on my camera I dont use.
MP has the classic rewind knob. Its awfully slow compared to the newer designs. But it wouldnt break like the newer design due to tension or film jam, just slower pace and tired fingers. Also it is not like the old M3 style where it will auto rewind back due to tension. MP's design has grip. You can pay $179usd and change to another rewind crank but its a silly design and will likely scratch your top plate. I find it ugly and silly, dont bother.
MP viewfinder is brighter and less prone to flare than M7.
MP has no ugly red dot. But to each his own, some actually like the red-dot.. you know.. those leica snobs.. hehehe
MP typically spots the new sharkskin covering versus the M7/M6 leather covering. It provides more grip and wouldn't peel as application is a pain-staking melt and apply and harden. cons is that it will be difficult to remove if you wanna change skin next time.
M7 has electronic boards in it, so any part down isnt as simple as mechanical $_$
MP has a all metal film level like M3, M7's is half plastic like M6 to save cost.
My take - if you like to like modern way of shooting fast or lazy to meter. M7 is for you. It can be counted on mechanically. MP is not a camera that tells you what to do. You decide for yourself how much you wish to expose a scene, you are the master decision maker. MP is not technological sophisticated but it is more an emotional side of things. I for 1 like more emotional attachment in my daily object.
either camera, you cant go wrong. good luck and welcome to the club :thumbsup:
this is great explanation...
having never laid hands on the MP before, i can't comment much...
but it technically depends on your style of shooting and what you're shooting actually.
i'd take the M7 if i'm lazy to do manual metering but some people just like to use their eyes to roughly meter, it's very personal.
i like the manual rewind knob, a classic in leica.
but, i must have the red-dot.
that's a beauty and the trademark of a great leica, i just love to see it there.
don't think I can fully agree with Falterego, electronic or mechanical, AE or not, all camera has its merits, you're asking a shooter question, not a collector's question.
M7 is more functional with the AE. MP is more collectible as the consummate mechanical M film RF. If you are more interested in the product, ie the photograph, get the M7. OTOH, if you are more interested in the process, ie photography, go with the MP. Seriously though, you cannot go wrong with either.
that's a killer combo! cheers!
Chaps,
Which is better? MP or M7 and why?
Cheers
Bro, what abt this? Get a MP for your leica craving and a Voigtlander R3A for your rangefinder craving. The latter comes with AE and you can get a great lens for a reasonable price too.
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