Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2004/11/15
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]The old MP mechanism was a unique amalgam of M3 and M2 types, resulting in a double-stroke camera but with external manually re-set frame counter. As issued by the Wetzlar factory, ALL old MP bodies were double-stroke. The screwmount Leicavit was essentially adapted to the larger M body in order to bypass the then current double-stroke lever wind. Other than the external manual re-set frame counter, the long spool shaft and the steel gears, the original MP is the same as an M3 of the early 8xxxxx production. In fact, the first MP-type cameras (made for Alfred Eisenstadt and David Douglas Duncan) were marked with the M3 model designation. Depth-of-field notches were added to the M3 rangefinder patch late in 1957, around the time that the M2 was introduced. This feature was dropped from subsequent models, but it can be added (or deleted) if desired. I've never found it useful. Today's MP has features of the M2/M3, the M6 classic, M6TTL and the M7, as well as numerous internal features all its own. Emanuel Lowi Montreal ______________________________________________________________________ Post your free ad now! http://personals.yahoo.ca