A Leica MP Rangefinder Camera Chassis

Serial: P177

Date: 1957

Notes:

The original Leica MP was a rugged, special order version of the landmark Leica M3 aimed at professional photojournalists. The camera was furnished with a Leicavit trigger to enhance its firepower. A total of only 402 sets were manufactured, a modest number in 1956, and the majority in 1957 (though some collectors assert that the true number is only 252). The most obvious visual differences from the M3 are the omission of the front-mounted self-timer lever, and a manual-reset exposure counter in place of the self-zeroing one on the standard M3. Internally, the MP has a longer film-advance shaft, and the main gear in the film wind mechanism is made of hardened steel instead of standard issue brass. One way to determine whether an original MP is genuine is to remove the baseplate and check that the 3-digit serial number on its inner surface has "P" suffix.

According to the Leica Collectors Guide, by Dennis Laney, MPs with serial numbers from MP1-MP12 and MP151 onwards were finished in chrome, and those with serial numbers in the MP13-MP150 range were finished in black.