Help me date this MP...

[onesixeight]

Hi...

I'm looking to pick up a used MP...according to the seller, it has a serial 383xxxx. It's a black finish MP.

Thanks guys!

Chris

[rodinal]

The "Leica Pocket Book", 8th edition, lists s/n up to 2008 ending in 3,792,500, so, it's newer than 2008. Not much help...

[loquax ludens]

I don't think you can precisely date the MP by serial number. At least, that's what I've read. There were some minor changes that might help you determine if it's a newer or earlier model. But remember, the MP was only introduced in 2003. None of them are old. The changes have been very minor.

Do the MP serial numbers mean anything?

Leica MP production year

I think what matters is the condition its in now. If it's in good condition and the price is right, then I wouldn't worry about when it was made.

[nobbylon]

mine is 346xxxxx and was bought new in 2010 so I don't think you can date by number.
383's are late production though.
condition is what sets prices however even one that has brassing and user marks is probably only going to fetch a hundred or so less than a mint one. The ones imho to stay clear of are those that have been sand papered by wannabe Jim Marshall's.
I've seen pics of some with some straaaange brassing.

[onesixeight]

Thanks for the replies! The camera looks pretty much brand new and this is one of the latest serial numbers I've seen in my short search for an MP.

I think I'm gonna jump on this one

[seakayaker1]

2011 = 397xxxx

[onesixeight]

Originally Posted by seakayaker1

2011 = 397xxxx

Thanks Dan...

BTW, I'm Chris, I remember meeting you at Al's house a few months back at a SLUG's gathering. Hope to see you around soon!

[seakayaker1]

Yes, hopefully Al will start up the monthly gatherings again in September/October timeframe. Love the discussions and the presentations of work brought to the gatherings.

btw, I enjoyed your recent portrait postings on Flick with your Rolliflex 3.5. It that your son?

[MartinP]

When I saw the thread title I thought, for a moment, that the OP wanted tips on taking his camera to the back-row of the cinema . . .

[onesixeight]

Originally Posted by seakayaker1

Yes, hopefully Al will start up the monthly gatherings again in September/October timeframe. Love the discussions and the presentations of work brought to the gatherings.

btw, I enjoyed your recent portrait postings on Flick with your Rolliflex 3.5. It that your son?

Thanks Dan! It's actually my friend's son...no kids for me yet I can't wait for the meetings to start up again...a great group of people!

[onesixeight]

Originally Posted by MartinP

When I saw the thread title I thought, for a moment, that the OP wanted tips on taking his camera to the back-row of the cinema . . .

Haha Although the MP is one expensive date!

I'll post pics once I pick her up later today

[seakayaker1]

Congratulations!

I can hardly wait to see if it is a Black Paint or Chrome!

[Richard G]

Originally Posted by MartinP

When I saw the thread title I thought, for a moment, that the OP wanted tips on taking his camera to the back-row of the cinema . . .

Yes, as someone who's been dating an M2 for many years I felt unable to advise him.

[jackp510]

The way I date MP's is:

smooth film pressure plate = earlier generation MP

textured, dotted film pressure plate = later generation MP

I believe the textured pressure plates started post 30xx..xx

Jack
----
http://www.darkroomexposed.com

[fabphoto]

...um that's interesting I actually thought it was the other way around since I have two a la carte in the 300xxxx range made in 2005/6 with textured plate and a regular 3511xxx made in 2010 with smooth. I also noticed that they changed the rangefinder arm's adjustment screw from the earlier slot type to hexagonal key type like M8/9 . One more difference between mine is the later one's baseplate disc that fastens to camera has an additional washer ontop..i have seen this on later m7 's aswell..presumablly to better position the film? Both my a la carte's suffer the dreaded eyepiece dust problem(imho the worst single design feature of the mp)...even after i attepted to seal them..the later regular one seems to be ok at the moment but haven't used as much. I will post pics to illustrate my points if i get time. Thanks

[V-12]

Another way to date very early MP's is that they have the M6 style ISO/DIN dial on the rear door.

[Dralowid]

Try:

http://www.summilux.net/numeros/index.php

[sepiareverb]

Dimpled vs non-dimpled pressure plates don't seem to correlate by time. My newest MP has the smooth plate- it's from early 2011.

[Paul Luscher]

Dunno what the significance of the camera's date of manufacture would be. Got my MP in 2003, and it's worked just fine, other than one of the metering LEDs in the viewfinder going out, and needing to be fixed by Leica.

[matt335]

Some say the dating starts with "your" first frame, and both camera and photographer mature with time well spent together.

[John Lawrence]

Just for the record, my MP is in the 397xxxx series, has a smooth film pressure plate, hexagonal key rangefinder arm adjustment screw, and was purchased new this year.

John

[boomguy57]

My Mp is 292xxxx...any idea when that is from?

[V-12]

From the first couple of years I would imagine. I have one starting with 288XXXX that was pre-ordered when they were released, so it will be just a bit later than that.

[sepiareverb]

two 293XXXX MP bodies : smooth pressure plate
the MP3 from 2006 : dimpled
an a la carte MP 3008XXX : dimpled
an a la carte MP 3008XXX delivered 1/08 : dimpled
an a la carte MP 3009XXX delivered 5/11 : smooth

a 285XXXX M7 : smooth
a 294XXXX M7 : dimpled

I wonder if the dimpled plates were leftovers from R bodies? I'd expect the smooth plates are far cheaper to manufacture.

[mfogiel]

Not to put you off, but ever since I have bought an MP I keep on wondering why I simply didn't get a third M7... In my mind meterless bodies would do as well for non AE shooting...