The Leica MP may have been released in 2003, but it feels more relevant than ever. While new cameras and smartphones flood the market every year, a film body like this manages to stay useful long after the excitement of new tech fades. That longevity makes it worth a closer look if you care about the process of shooting as much as the results.
Coming to you from Mike Chudley, this thoughtful video explores the Leica MP rangefinder camera. Chudley compares how shooting with this body stacks up against using a digital model like the M11. He explains that while digital tools make it easy to polish and iterate, film pushes you to focus on moments rather than perfection. That difference comes across in his choice of focal lengths, leaning on 35mm for digital and 28mm for film. He also shares how film photography feels more about documenting life as it happens, a mindset that can change how you approach your own work.
He spends time talking about film stocks, especially Portra 400, which has become his go-to choice after testing a few others. He also experiments with Leica’s black-and-white film, describing how the limitation of colorless shooting changes his thought process behind the camera. Alongside this, he touches on physical design details of the MP, from the rewind knob to the advance lever, and why he prefers the understated look of this model over the M6. These details highlight how handling a camera influences your shooting rhythm and the way you connect with your images.
Key Specs
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Lens Mount: Leica M
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Shutter Speed: 1/1,000 to 1 Second
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ISO/ASA Range: 6 to 6400
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Frame Lines: 28mm / 35mm / 50mm / 75mm / 90mm / 135mm
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Exposure Modes: Manual
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Metering Range: -2 to 20 EV
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Viewfinder Magnification: Approx. 0.72x
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Flash: No built-in flash, shoe mount available
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Film Winding: Manual (optional motorized winder not included)
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Weight: 1.3 lb / 600 g with battery
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Dimensions: 5.4 x 3 x 1.5 in / 138 x 77 x 38 mm
Chudley also makes an interesting point about results. Some images he captured on film ended up being far more compelling than their digital equivalents would have been, even if his shooting intention was the same. The unpredictability of film led to results that surprised him, breaking the pattern of knowing what to expect when editing raw files. That curiosity keeps him engaged, and it’s part of why the MP continues to feel like a worthwhile tool even in 2025. He connects this to the Lindy effect, a theory that suggests something that has lasted a long time will likely keep lasting. By that logic, film photography has a long future ahead, outliving much of the fast-moving digital world. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Chudley.
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