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Thank you! I'm in the process of buying an M6, exactly what i needed :)

I got rid of all my Leica cameras, except the MP. When it comes to mechanics and optics, they are superior. When it comes to electronics, they are inferior. This is true for the majority of German industry.

how do you meter for waterfalls ??? i have started meter read for darks, -2 exposure comp then meter highlights +2 exposure comp then find the average.

I use a zone 6 tripod it work great on my 4x5 and 5x7 it is wood great video.

This is a quality camera, very similar to the Canon F1 New that was out at the same time and which I bought in 1983. The only negative part of both camera’s is the slow flash synch speed, which meant that with studio photography, ambient or pilot light would bleed in with low apertures. For studio photography (or flash photography in general), the FE2 was better with 250 synch speed (and TTL), even though it is a flimsier camera. In reality we all used a Hasselblad in the studio, but some fashion photographers used 35mm

Never thought about the importance of tripod materials. Makes a lot of sense. Thank you for you for sharing your expertise as always!

It’s dangerous watching your videos! Like you, I’m a retired photographer. My specialty was fine art reproduction. Over the span of some four decades I’ve consumed hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of E6 and lithograph film. I swore off the stuff when I got my first scan-back. That was nearly thirty years ago. But now you’ve got me thinking about an 8x10 and a Hasselblad. The only thing holding me back is the thought of my wife’s words when I come to bed smelling like hypo. No amount of washing gets that smell off to her satisfaction. Oh well, I’ll dream and keep on shooting with my digital Ms.

Thanks for sharing this info on shooting waterfalls. Much appreciated.😀

My Fav Leica ever is M7 Silver version, the best chance to get salvagable photos and works just as well as MP or reissued M6. Pure perfection in every way.

Interesting dilemma. Also sold some Leica Ms to go to 2 1/4” (Hasselblad). However, I sold my M6TTL O.58, M7 0.85 and M6J 0.91 and kept my MPs because of they just felt better! Would obviously love to have kept the film Ms, particularly the M6J, but simply couldn’t bring myself to part with my MPs. Lucky to have a Black 0.58, Sliver 0.72 and Black 0.85. Agree that 0.58 and 0.85 is the way to go if you can for 28mm/35mm and 50mm, though I do take the 0.72 if I’m doing one camera with either a 35mm or 50mm. Simply the best camera for the majority of my 35mm film needs.

They really are great cameras. I own a few “nice” cameras. Old nikon mechanicals, Hasselblad and Rolleiflex but none are as “tight” and smooth as the Leica MP. The Rollei comes close though.

DON'T SELL IT! Trust me on this. I've sold two MP's over the years to fund other systems and am now on my THIRD MP. Each time I sell one, I regret it and within a year (plus or minus) of sale. I've finally told my dealer that if I come in and want to trade an MP, just slap me. Of course, each one costs more than the one I sold so.....DON'T SELL IT.

I've never understood the obsession with Leica cameras and lenses. Clearly they're beautifully made and well engineered, but the exorbitant price edges them more towards jewellery rather than photographic tools. For example, most of the single-digit Nikons (etc) will do the same job with similar results. I read an article in a British magazine (Amateur Photographer) in the 90's written by a Leica enthusiast who spoke of (and I'm not even joking) 'lens plasticity'! WTF does that mean? Utter nonsense. They're over-hyped and criminally over-priced. Talk about 'The Emperors New Clothes'.. Lol..

When the time is right I would be interested in a hassleblad film camera buyers guide video.

How about the FM3a?

Great video, as always, thanks for sharing. By the way, as far as I know, originally "MP" stands for "Messsucher Professionell“, which means "Rangefinder Professional“ in English. M stands for the German word for rangefinder, Messsucher. And according to a German book about Leica history, the original Leica MP was designed in the year 1956 especially for professional users, therefore the "P" in the name. But "mechanical perfection" sounds even smarter imho and even Leica uses this term in its current adverts. :-) I love my own black paint Leica MP which I bought new last year, it`s really my nicest camera ever. Best regards from Germany, I'm looking forward to your next videos.

It sounds that you will regret selling this camera

The MP is a great camera. I own a M3 and M4 and will say the Leica’s are in my experience everything in a camera that I need for most of my 35mm photography needs. I agree with the F3, best of the manual Nikons, I use it for shooting macro or longer focal lengths of 90mm plus.

at 7:36 that is NOT a problem with the camera, that is a WORKFLOW of these rangefinders, when metering is attached, you focus, and like Aperture priority in a Nikon F3 you set the Aperture ring, then using the meter determine shutter speed, like using an old spot meter, or incident hand held meter; the meter for the M6ttl and M7 are designed around SHUTTER dial rotation, the others, using the cold shoe meter are coupled to the shutter with a pin, so are synced, so in this case you set shutter, and turn the iris ring the indicated direction.

fyi the frame lines are nothing to do with that 0.72 it simply denotes the magnification of the rangefinder optics, NOT the diopter, which is a separate lens that screws to the hole, this magnification dictates the field of view, THIS is what determines the lenses the camera can use "coupled" to the rangefinder, it can use a 21 and down, BUT they need the cold shoe viewfinder! this has, like the linhof technika a parallax wedge, on the base, and variable masks [for the modern 16/18/21 zoom] which show field of view, and allow the extra parallax adjustment that the rangefinder "limits" don't, as they only cover <35/50/75/90> as standard lenses, for long lenses you need a 'visoflex' a mirror box, turning this into an SLR, so one can focus it, viewing through this prism finder, flipping the mirror up, and firing as per rangefinder practice. one exception to the rule, is one older 50mm (dual range Summicron) and the 90mm F4 macro, which both have a 'goggles' a magnifier lens clipped on, which re-focusses the light prior to entering the optics, correcting for distortions, etc. .

I have a Fujifilm X-T2. The mechanical shutter is quieter than the Leica. Switch to electronic shutter and it is completely silent. Great for wildlife and candid shots.

Had a photography professor lament to me once, "my biggest regret is selling my Leica m4, never sell a Leica."

“Mechanical perfection” is actually the headline on Leica’s webpage for the camera :) thank you for the great video as always!

Canon New F1 shutter sound beats the Nikon F3, but only by a hair 😁

Big câmera , excelente video

Can’t beat the larger negative. I have a 500 C/M system, it’s amazing! However, I do a lot of macro work and have the Mamiya RB67 system as well which will allow me to focus close. I don’t have any extension tubes for the Hasselblad. If I could get as close with my Hasselblad as my Mamiya RB67, I would sell off my RB67 Pro System. Can the extension tubes get as close?

Exciting. Can't wait to see your work.

Interesting video. Just curious what did you use for lighting for these and how much do you think that affected the tonal outcome

Nice video Rob. I've been at it for 50+ years as well and now just shoot 8x10, 8x20 and 14x17. All cameras that I have built. I stocked up on film years ago and only print carbon transfer contact prints. Made my life simple. I even taught our dear departed friend Per Volquartz carbon printing. Start at 8x10 and go up from there. X-ray film is available in 8x10, 11x14 and 14x17 and yes there is a learning curve but it is cheap. Just get to it! Thanks Rob.

Never really liked the way any of the 120 cameras handled, much prefer my Nikons. I owned 3 Blads, a Mamiya 645, used Rolleis, Pentax, and others. But the image quality I got out my Blads was always great.

I used my 120 more in past! Loading 120 film on steel reels a nightmare. The big negative was of no concern to me! After TLR Mamiyaflex, Pentax 6x7 was better than Hassie! Accurate speeds, less intricate and less services and attention. My eyes better on any make than the Hassie! In 2000, traded my Big Pentax for Leica M6ttl! Shot more rolls in 3 months than 20 odd years with Pentax 6x7. 135mm Macro plus tubes for Pentax...All the best with your new gear!

Interesting I’ll have to research the 555 and 503 you mentioned.

It's great to see so many people getting into film. I get criticized for shooting film by the digital gearheads who really are in it just for the gear rather than actual photography. Film forces you to focus on the image as well as the equipment, maybe more so. I love the Hasselblad but I think I like my Leica just a little more :}

I liked the Hassie kit but ultimately sold it. The reason was the minimum focus distance - I was always reaching for extension tubes. I couldn't see any difference vs. the Bronica ETR, even with big enlargements, and with the Bronica I have better options for closer focus. Still a sweat bit of kit though.

It's good to see you excited back on board! I'm shooting with my Zeiss Ikon 6x6 + PANF F 50 (tripod) for some time. This week there are terrible floods of river Danube, 4 metres above the water barrier in my region that delivers a lot of pain and damages but endless photo opportunities as well to document this terrible event.

Love your excitement and enthusiasm! Fantastic and looking forward to seeing your new work, for the love of photography.

Wow. Brilliant setup! Have a few Hasselblads, they are still amazing cameras and equally briliant lenses! Really like the Rollei 400 IR (have shot some of it in 35mm, briliant film).

I give you 18 months before you’re shooting 8x10 😂 Loving your videos dude!

Good job, I'm a very old pro and usually shoot medium format . I find it to be the best compromise, most of time. Lot easier to deal with than, my 8x10 or 4x5 and it's still much better than 35 in the darkroom. As for gear, I'm partial to my Rollie's (TLR) and my Hassablad stuff, but their is a lot of good gear out there. Enjoyed your channel.

Interesting choice of 555ELD instead of 503CW or 501CM. Any particular reason you choose that model? When I was younger I did have a 500 ELM model but I loved the lightweight 500CM more so I ended up trading the ELM off. I might pick a 503CW or 501CM next year as a second camera also. A couple dream Hasselblad cameras for me are the 903SWC and a 2000/200 model. I did have a Hasselblad H1 camera at one point and it was a great camera, I just didn't like the 645 format of it. Great choices of lenses! I want to add the 250MM CFi lens to my collection also or perhaps the 350MM SA if I hit the lottery 🤣

Nice! I actually just got a blad myself too, though I'm shooting digital. Different ehtos from Leica for sure.

I started my photographic journey with medium format and have used it consistently for decades. When I started shooting professionaly, I used Yashica 6x6 TLR, Mamiya 6x6 TLR, Fuji 6x7 and 6x9 rangefinders, and Mamiya 6x7 SLRs. I used 55/80/180mm lenses on the Mamiya TLR. I routinely used 50/90/180/250mm lenses on the Mamiya RB67. I also used a 140mm macro lens and extension tubes for medical and scientific work. I will follow your medium format usage with great interest.

My first 120 camera was 6x6 (old fujica folding rangefinder), and this uear I picked up a Mamiya C330 as my first TLR. Square format is awesome, and waste level perspective adds an old school dimension to my photos. It's a lot of fun to shoot!

Can you share where you got the B+W filters? Every place I checked is out of stock. Thanks!

This is exciting! I have a Bronica ETRSi (6x4.5). Delta 100 is a wonderful film stock. I still shoot 135, of course, but 120 is something else. Please continue to share your journey. Your work is inspiring. Thank you!

awesome slr

I've used D76 for most of my photos but last year I tried Xtol, and I felt it was less contrasty than the D76. I preferred the D76 because of that. Recently I have been shooting with Ilford XP2 and of course you need to develop it using C-41, although the Digital Truth tables show that you can use a regular black and white developer as well, which I haven't tried. C-41 is a bit nastier chemical and you need to be careful handling it as well as disposal. But the XP2 negatives are beautiful. I may try a roll and develop it with either D76 or ID-11 sometime.

After 50+ years (Since 1971) I have indeed gone from my Nikon F series cameras to smaller and lighter Canon VT and VT Deluxe rangefinders with Canon and Voightländer lenses (21,25, and 50). Life is good with small Domke F803 bags and Ilford FP4 film.

You cant, experience and qualia is not transferable. We have hundreds of years of history we can't learn from it. :D

All through the 1980s I wanted an F3 but could never afford it so I had a Minolta X370. Then when digital came about I went that way. Well about 4 years ago A distant family member saw my work and showed up one day and had an F3 they gave me, all the years later, I was thrilled to get one finally