Leica MP
Encyclopedia
The Leica MP is a 35 mm film camera manufactured by Leica Camera AG and was introduced in 2003. It is an all-mechanical rangefinder
focusing camera that follows in a long line of cameras since the Leica M3
was introduced in 1954. The camera uses the Leica M Bayonet Mount
which accepts all Leica bayonet-mount lenses (21 mm through 135 mm) made since 1954. The 'MP' designation stands for "mechanical perfection."
, the camera has adopted many retro design features from the earlier M3
. These include a M3 type metal film advance lever, knob film rewind design and M3 type frameline adjust lever. The basic classic design remains unchanged and the design for loading film from the bottom has been retained. The camera comes in a myriad of camera finishes including black chrome, black paint and silver chrome and can be further customised with Leica AG's à la carte program.
Leica M9
Rangefinder
A rangefinder is a device that measures distance from the observer to a target, for the purposes of surveying, determining focus in photography, or accurately aiming a weapon. Some devices use active methods to measure ; others measure distance using trigonometry...
focusing camera that follows in a long line of cameras since the Leica M3
Leica M3
The Leica M3 is a 35 mm rangefinder camera by Leica AG, introduced in 1954. It was a new starting point for Leitz, which until then had only produced screw-mount Leica cameras that were incremental improvements to its original Leica...
was introduced in 1954. The camera uses the Leica M Bayonet Mount
Leica M mount
The Leica M mount is a camera lens mount introduced in 1954 with the Leica M3, and a range of lenses. It has been on all the Leica M series up to the current film Leica M7 and digital Leica M9....
which accepts all Leica bayonet-mount lenses (21 mm through 135 mm) made since 1954. The 'MP' designation stands for "mechanical perfection."
Design
The Leica MP is Leica's latest film rangefinder camera. Unlike the preceding Leica M7Leica M7
The Leica M7 is a 35 mm camera by Leica AG introduced in 2002. It is the direct successor to the M6. The Leica M7 is a departure from previous mechanical designs for the M series....
, the camera has adopted many retro design features from the earlier M3
Leica M3
The Leica M3 is a 35 mm rangefinder camera by Leica AG, introduced in 1954. It was a new starting point for Leitz, which until then had only produced screw-mount Leica cameras that were incremental improvements to its original Leica...
. These include a M3 type metal film advance lever, knob film rewind design and M3 type frameline adjust lever. The basic classic design remains unchanged and the design for loading film from the bottom has been retained. The camera comes in a myriad of camera finishes including black chrome, black paint and silver chrome and can be further customised with Leica AG's à la carte program.
Features
Features include an integrated silicon photodiode TTL lightmeter which works from EV-2 to EV20. Only the lightmeter requires batteries to operate; the rest of the camera is fully mechanical, unlike the M7, and will operate without electricity. The camera's viewfinder is available with different magnifications of 0.58x, 0.72x and 0.85x and is improved to reduce flaring with multicoated glass elements and a condenser lens. The camera is also compatible with Leica Motor-M, Winder-M, Winder 4-P and Winder 4-2 motorised film winders.See also
Leica M7Leica M7
The Leica M7 is a 35 mm camera by Leica AG introduced in 2002. It is the direct successor to the M6. The Leica M7 is a departure from previous mechanical designs for the M series....
Leica M9
Leica M9
The Leica M9 is the second digital camera in Leica Camera AG's rangefinder M series. It was introduced on 9 September 2009 and uses an 18.5-megapixel Kodak KAF-18500 Full Frame CCD image sensor....