Leica MP (0.72 Finder 28-135mm) 35mm Rangefinder Camera Body, Silver Chrome 10301

Leica MP: the all-mechanical 35mm rangefinder built to outlast everything else.

The MP is what you get when a camera manufacturer strips away every electronic convenience and builds around the shutter, the rangefinder, and the craftsman using it. Manual exposure only, manual focus only, manual film advance, the battery powers the TTL center-weighted meter and nothing else. That meter reads from EV -2 to EV 20 with a f/1.0 lens at ISO 100, feeding exposure data to a simple LED readout in the viewfinder so your eyes stay on the frame. If the batteries die mid-roll, you keep shooting.

The 0.72x finder is the general-purpose choice across the three available magnifications, pairing well with the 35mm and 50mm focal lengths that define most M-mount shooting. Framelines for 28, 35, 50, 75, 90, and 135mm engage automatically when you mount a lens; 21mm and 24mm finders mount in the hot shoe when you need them. The rangefinder patch itself is optimized for accurate focusing in low light, which matters more on a manual-focus camera than on almost any other system.

At 600 grams with batteries, 138 x 77 x 38mm, the MP disappears in a jacket pocket with a collapsed 50mm attached. The shutter is quiet and produces minimal vibration, meaningfully so for documentary work at slow speeds in available light. Every external control is metal. The M bayonet accepts every Leica M lens made, which means the glass you already own or plan to acquire works here without reservation. At this level of mechanical refinement and build longevity, the MP is not a nostalgic choice, it is a deliberate one.

Who It's For

Street and documentary photographers get a silent, low-profile tool that draws no attention and imposes no menu system between a moment and a frame. Landscape and available-light shooters benefit from the metering range down to EV -2 and the purely mechanical shutter, which stays accurate in cold or wet conditions where electronics can fail. Photographers already invested in the Leica M ecosystem gain full backward compatibility with every M-mount lens they own. Those committed to the discipline of manual-only shooting find the MP's stripped-down design forces deliberate exposure decisions that translate directly into stronger technical habits.

Key Features

• Purely mechanical shutter with no battery dependence for core operation
• 0.72x bright-line viewfinder with automatic frameline selection for six focal lengths
• TTL center-weighted metering from EV -2 to EV 20 with LED exposure display
• Manual-only focus and exposure on Leica M bayonet mount
• Hot shoe with X-sync to 1/50 second plus PC terminal for studio flash
• 138 x 77 x 38mm all-metal body weighing 600g with batteries
• Quiet, vibration-free operation designed for low-light documentary work

FAQ

Can I shoot the MP if the batteries die?

Yes. The battery only powers the TTL meter and LED viewfinder display - the shutter, rangefinder, and film advance are purely mechanical and work without power.

What's the difference between the 0.72x and other viewfinder magnifications?

The 0.72x is the middle option between 0.58x and 0.85x. It pairs naturally with 35mm and 50mm lenses and gives you a wider field of view in the frame compared to the 0.85x, making it the general-purpose choice for most work.

Can I use modern lenses on the MP?

The MP accepts every Leica M bayonet lens ever made, including current production glass. Older lenses, newer lenses, fast lenses, wide lenses - the mount is identical across the entire M system.

How does metering work on a manual-exposure camera?

The MP has a center-weighted TTL meter that reads light through the lens and displays exposure data as an LED readout in the viewfinder showing if you're over or under the correct exposure for your chosen ISO and shutter speed. You set both manually.

What framelines does the 0.72x viewfinder show?

It displays bright-line framelines for 28, 35, 50, 75, 90, and 135mm automatically when you mount a lens. If you shoot 21mm or 24mm, you mount a separate viewfinder in the hot shoe.

Is the MP quieter than other 35mm rangefinders?

The purely mechanical shutter produces minimal vibration and is notably quiet, which matters for handheld work at slow speeds in low light - a practical advantage, not just an aesthetic one.

What comes with the camera?

Two SR44 (76S) 1.55V silver oxide batteries, body cap, neck strap, and flash socket cap.