Leica MP vs M7

Thank you all who replied to my previous question.

I think I'll be getting leica M quite soon.

Those of you who used both M7 and MP, couid you tell me which one is

better/more convenient, please.

Thanks a lot.

Been using both and M7 hands-down for me in the convenience department. Apart from operation, the MP feels better-built and looks prettier... "better" in a sense I guess.

M7 is more convenient depending on the task.

 

I shoot weddings and never use the MP due to the ever changing light, hectic pace and need

for TTL flash using a diffuser. The M7 is just faster under those circumstances.

I use both. I generally use the MP with black and white film, and the M7 with color. If I had

to have one, I would probably go for the M7. The quicker operation is more useful than

you might imagine. It really depends on your shooting style and your priorities. If you

need critical exposures in quick situations, the M7 is the clear choice. Its stepless shutter

is more accurate for slide film, and the AE will save you in situations where you are in

diverse exposure situations. Keep in mind that the M7 has almost the exact functionality

of the MP, but with the AE, electronic shutter, the shutter speed in the viewfinder, DX

coding, and TTL flash metering. The MP can operate at all speeds without a battery, but

this is a rather minor advantage in my opinion, as the batteries are extremely tiny and

easy to bring along with you. Even if you forget, the M7 will still work at 1/125th and

1/60th, which gives you a great deal of flexibility with an f/1.4 or f/2 lens. <P>This leaves

you with aesthetics. Most people find the MP better looking. It is also slightly smaller. I

think it might be slightly lighter, but I don't think it is very significant. My M7 is slightly

quieter than my MP at all speeds, and particularly of course the slow speeds, as there are

no buzzing gears. In terms of shooting pleasure (if there really is such a thing), they are

pretty even. The MP has a simplicity to it that is very nice, but if you feel like doing so, you

can shoot the M7 the same way. It's really up to you whether you prefer

chocolate:<P><img src="http://www.stuartrichardson.com/jetset-mp.jpg"><P>or

vanilla<P><img src="http://www.stuartrichardson.com/m7-coffee.jpg"><P>They have

different tastes, but both make a good dessert.

Marc,

I saw your pictures at contaxinfo. There are really nice.

What kind of flash do you use with M7?

Thanks

m7, for all the reasons listed above.

i just wish Leica will standardize the built material between the two, the M7 uses cheap plastic cap whereas the MP's has metal inserts.

Hi, Stan. In Italy Leica MP and M7 have the same price. I had bought the MP because have the all mechanical shutter and manual meter.

If you prefer the manual or automatic AV exposure modes and TTL flash, the M7 it's better than MP.

Ciao

 

Vincenzo Maielli

Hi Stan, I also own both an M7 and an MP. They both are great cameras, but, even if I

choose to use the M7 more often for its AE and its quick response to most shooting

situations, when I do use the MP I feel that the camera is somehow better built, it feels

(and it looks) stronger, in a word IMO better made and better looking than the M7. It's just

that the electronics inside the M7 make me feel a little uneasy and a little too dependant

on them and I sometimes fear that they could let me down sooner or later, while I never

get that bad feeling with the MP (but so far, one year on, never had any problems with my

M7 except for some little dust specs that annoyingly keep forming in the viewfinder,

already twice now, there again now just after three months since I had the camera sent

back to Leica for the VF cleaning/sealing...). Anyway, I like both cameras a lot and I will

keep and use both for as much as I can (MP for B&W, M7 for colour). Should I really be

forced to choose between the MP and the M7 I would though keep the M7 for its

convenience (my use ratio is 5 to 1 to the M7...) but I will probably start looking for

another MP straight away....

M7 has 1970-style AE, MP doesn't. Otherwise they are for all intents and purposes the same camera.

go for the m7, since the m8 will probably have the same shutter speed dial.

The M7 is TOO darn tall.

Charles! I sure bet you hate the M5, the ugliest duckling of them all! ( however, thicker sole shoes should solve the problem )

 

I've borrowed an M7 for use with the Visoflex III, an excellent combination, and will gladly add either the M7 or MP to my aging M outfit. But if I had to choose between one or the other, I'd go for the MP, because I'm often out for extended periods in sub-zero temps, and hate to be battery-dependant.

 

But Stan, you can pick up an earlier M for a fraction of the price.

 

Aside from my sub-zero work, the M7 is the choice for convenience.

MP.

The AE isnt anything to consider, the fact that there is ever only three f stops between

highlight and shadow, means that you set your shutter speed to either the shadow or the

highlight or even set it in the middle lets say 60 125 250 is your range, then setting it to

125 will cover you +-1 stop, and film has that latitude (digital by the way does not have

that latitude), to cover you regardless. Leitz optics are so designed for incredable

latitudinal differences.

Just treat the manual MP as a shutter priority camera -you set the speed, and utilze the

aperture to compensate for the speed that you have chosen. Eitherway, its really no big

deal to reach your index finger the 30mm from the shutter release to the speed-dial to

flick it up or down a smidgen.

The only difference between AE and M is a thought process.

 

One thing to note also, is that fourty five degree angled rewind arm is and has been

proven many times to be a very weak design flaw. Inside is a Y articulation joint which

couples to another Y articulation and the top of that rewind cap extends over the edge of

the side of the body, any pressure or impact on that and it completely negates the

possibility of rewind even if you were to try and rewind without it. The older vertical style

crank is slower but rewinding film rapidly inside a brass camera body creates static

electricity (enhanced by that felt material on film cartridges also), which can leave

undesirable marks on your negatives or even wipe them out.

 

One other thing about the MP is that it includes the viewfinder lens element which was

removed in the first generation M6 which was slightly enhanced in the M7 but with strong

'back-lighting' blinds the rangefinder patch making it impossible to focus.

 

The M7 is a standard production line high end quality product.

The MP is a non standard redesigned and re-engineered custom product taken from every

M model from the M4 to the M7. The M7 has steel and brass componentry for use with a

motor drive, the MP is completely brass for hand held use under extreme conditions and

for use with the leicavit.

 

The M7 is a lovely tool and extremely competent in the field, however the MP is

thoughtfully designed for extreme useage, thoroughly scrutinized and the attention to

detail is unsurpassed by any other camera.

<i>"film has that latitude (digital by the way does not have that latitude), to cover you regardless"</i><p>

 

You may be covered, but dead on perfect exposure makes a difference in the tonal quality of the image.

<p>

 

<i>"… creates static electricity (enhanced by that felt material on film cartridges also), which can leave

undesirable marks on your negatives or even wipe them out"</i><p>

 

I've never heard of this, but more importantly have never experienced anything like that affecting my film.

"have never experienced anything like that affecting my film"

 

Re-reading this— I should probably say that maybe I don't rewind my film quickly enough to get that static

electricity going... : )

<p>Ray, it's a bit like the glass/ceramic pressure plate on the early M3. Static electricity effects reported but rarely seen.</p>