Ordering Leica MP

[dopey]



Please help.

NOS MOP Classic, modified to Foo-spec.

 

[TheFoo]



NOS MOP Classic, modified to Foo-spec.

Ah, just after I 95% decided to go with the special order. You've thrown a wrench in things.

Engraving options:

Standard

Option 1

Option 2

 

[GQgeek]



Photography isn't my hobby, it's my career. That said, take the advice with a grain of salt...

Lighting most likely looks better to you because most film is warmer than the relatively color neutral digital files. And because most film shooters don't develop their own negs, they're oblivious to the process of darkroom processing. A digital file processed properly can and will look exactly like it's digital 35mm equivalent. Medium format film is a different beast.

The longevity is a moot point. A RAW file will always be a RAW file, even if the technology changes (which it will), someone will develop a means to convert said files when the time comes. They're still relatively lossless.

Adobe invented the DNG (digital negative) format for exactly this purpose. I convert all my RAWs to DNG as i'm importing them from my flash card. The idea is that as camera manufacturers stop supporting their software for converting RAWs for particular models, you won't lose the ability to go back to the original. The RAW to DNG conversion is lossless, buy you can even embed the original RAW if you don't completely trust that process.

Oh, and I'd argue that it's easier to protect digital data than it is film negatives. We had a break-in when i was 14 and a large chunk of the family photos were lost. Fire/flood could do the same. All my digital stuff is on a raid array and backed up into a cloud service, so i'd have to lose two drives AND my cloud provider would have to lose both the copies i access directly and their backup copies. Which is more likely?

 

[TheFoo]



Adobe invented the DNG (digital negative) format for exactly this purpose. I convert all my RAWs to DNG as i'm importing them from my flash card. The idea is that as camera manufacturers stop supporting their software for converting RAWs for particular models, you won't lose the ability to go back to the original. The RAW to DNG conversion is lossless, buy you can even embed the original RAW if you don't completely trust that process.

Oh, and I'd argue that it's easier to protect digital data than it is film negatives. We had a break-in when i was 14 and a large chunk of the family photos were lost. Fire/flood could do the same. All my digital stuff is on a raid array and backed up into a cloud service, so i'd have to lose two drives AND my cloud provider would have to lose both the copies i access directly and their backup copies. Which is more likely?

The idea is that one would scan their negatives. To the extent your digital photos would survive, so would those digitally derived from film. The difference is the hassle and that you will have a physical source to go back to as digital formats improve, become obsolete, etc.

 

[imageWIS]



Sort of. The rest of the camera, being mechanical, can be repaired. The light meter will need total replacement if it fails.

I want to preface that I am only trying to help*, but it seems that you have trying to self-justify yourself through minutia of semantic language, as if in reality replace and repair aren't really synonymous in the world of 'product service'. For example, certain mechanical parts are often fully replaced and not repaired, since it is easier / cheaper for the service center to replace the broken part than to reapir it... this goes for everything from microwaves to cameras to cars.

You should really get a light meter, because you will be glad you did... if you choose not to use it, you don't have to. But if you do suddenly want to use it, you'll be glad that its there.


*consider that I'm not really a viewfinder fan.... and prefer SLR's.

 

[TheFoo]



I want to preface that I am only trying to help*, but it seems that you have trying to self-justify yourself through minutia of semantic language, as if in reality replace and repair aren't really synonymous in the world of 'product service'. For example, certain mechanical parts are often fully replaced and not repaired, since it is easier / cheaper for the service center to replace the broken part than to reapir it... this goes for everything from microwaves to cameras to cars.

You should really get a light meter, because you will be glad you did... if you choose not to use it, you don't have to. But if you do suddenly want to use it, you'll be glad that its there.


*consider that I'm not really a viewfinder fan.... and prefer SLR's.

It's not just a matter of semantics. It is much easier to machine a new gear than it is to design and manufacture a new circuit board (practically impossible). If necessary a third party could do the job. Once spare parts run out, anything electronic is irrevocably screwed.

 

[GQgeek]



It's not just a matter of semantics. It is much easier to machine a new gear than it is to design and manufacture a new circuit board (practically impossible). If necessary a third party could do the job. Once spare parts run out, anything electronic is irrevocably screwed.

Aren't you worried they'll stop making good film? As CRTs were replaced by LCDs, there was a long time during which you still got better color/blacks from CRT monitors, but eventually LCDs got god enough, their benefits outweighed their cons, and good CRTs stopped being available, even though you can still buy crappy ones today. kodak stopped making Kodachrome or whatever it's called. Isn't that the writing on the wall? Sure other companies still make it, but i'd have to think that eventually demand will be so small it won't be worth it for them to continue.

 

[imageWIS]



Aren't you worried they'll stop making good film? As CRTs were replaced by LCDs, there was a long time during which you still got better color/blacks from CRT monitors, but eventually LCDs got god enough, their benefits outweighed their cons, and good CRTs stopped being available, even though you can still buy crappy ones today. kodak stopped making Kodachrome or whatever it's called. Isn't that the writing on the wall? Sure other companies still make it, but i'd have to think that eventually demand will be so small it won't be worth it for them to continue.

This.

I think Foo has irrevocably auto-convinced himself. Foo, as long as you are happy with your purchase, thats what really matters.

 

[TheFoo]



Aren't you worried they'll stop making good film? As CRTs were replaced by LCDs, there was a long time during which you still got better color/blacks from CRT monitors, but eventually LCDs got god enough, their benefits outweighed their cons, and good CRTs stopped being available, even though you can still buy crappy ones today. kodak stopped making Kodachrome or whatever it's called. Isn't that the writing on the wall? Sure other companies still make it, but i'd have to think that eventually demand will be so small it won't be worth it for them to continue.

This.

I think Foo has irrevocably auto-convinced himself. Foo, as long as you are happy with your purchase, thats what really matters.

Kodachrome required a unique and proprietary development process. Regular C41 color film and silver B&W film can be processed with readily available chemicals by anybody.

Of course, it is not impossible film will nonetheless die as a medium one day, but I don't see that day coming any time soon. The vast majority of the movie industry still chooses to shoot on 35mm film rather than digital, despite the added cost. So long as that is the case, there is little reason for companies like Kodak not to continue selling photographic 35mm film on the side. Case in point, Kodak is still actively developing better, finer-grained film for 35mm cameras. There may be fewer varieties of 35mm film available today, but they are arguably the best there have ever been.

Also, artists often prefer film over digital. At the very, very worst, black and white film will stay around far beyond my lifetime as a niche product.

 

[aizan]

i wouldn't worry about the meter breaking down. it'll probably last longer than you.

assuming that those three engravings are the only options, i'd get the mp classic, leave the top plate alone, and have the ISO disc dechromed and painted black. if they can't match the paints for some reason, they should repaint the entire camera.

another option is to find a vintage leica and have it restored by shintaro, crr luton (who can replace chipped vulcanite with new, genuine vulcanite), or similar. there are specialists in japan who can make modifications to the body, e.g. replacing the m2's manual frame counter with an automatic frame counter.

 

[TheFoo]



i wouldn't worry about the meter breaking down. it'll probably last longer than you.

assuming that those three engravings are the only options, i'd get the mp classic, leave the top plate alone, and have the ISO disc dechromed and painted black. if they can't match the paints for some reason, they should repaint the entire camera.

another option is to find a vintage leica and have it restored by shintaro, crr luton (who can replace chipped vulcanite with new, genuine vulcanite), or similar. there are specialists in japan who can make modifications to the body, e.g. replacing the m2's manual frame counter with an automatic frame counter.

Unlike most Leica enthusiasts, I don't like the full three-line Leica engraving on the top plate. Retro for retro's sake. The simpler engraving standard on the MP is more to my liking (just "Leica" and the serial number). However, I think the place of origin belongs somewhere on the camera--hence, the placement on th back. I deleted the "Leica Camera" text before "Made in Germany" because I think it's redundant.

I'm sure they'd make me a top plate with a blank back if I asked. Just don't want it that way.

 

[aizan]

oh, i'd just go with the stock engraving then, no deletions.

 

[LawrenceMD]

having leica engraved right under a leica emblem seems redundant. I'd go with the engraving of your name + made in germany [option 2] if its to be an heirloom piece if you're certain to actually keep it in the family forever.

personally i'd just go with option 1 [just the made in germany]. its simple and clean. i'm sentimental to the idea of things, but always consider re-sale value, because its so easy to resell things... especially cameras... for some reason cameras on eBay seem to always sell near to retail or more even when used....

having a personalized name engraving will subtract from resale value. either way with or without your name engraving it will still be a fine heirloom piece. by the time you'd give it to someone it will have the patina of your own personal use anyway.

plus its the pictures you take that with that camera will produce that are the true heirloom pieces... the camera is merely a tool.

Ah, just after I 95% decided to go with the special order. You've thrown a wrench in things.

Engraving options:

Standard

Option 1

Option 2

 

[TheFoo]

Resale value aside--how do you think Option 2 looks?

 

[aizan]

hmm, what about getting these engravings done on the base plate instead, such as on the leicavit?