Sebastian is a professional photographer based in the United Kingdom. He is a Fellow of The Royal Society of Arts, a member of Nikon NPS and is still to this day the youngest member ever to be elected into BEWA, The British Equestrian Writers' Association (now The British Equestrian Media Association).
For nearly two decades Sebastian's work has been published internationally. Originally, specialising in Equestrianism, his visuals have been used by the leading names in the equestrian industry such as The FEI, The Jockey Club, Horse & Hound, British Dressage, British Showjumping and many more for various advertising campaigns, books and pre/post-event highlights
His work covers the genres of Equestrian, Landscape, Street and combines nearly two decades of experience to offer exclusive limited-edition prints to the international stage from his Film and digital photography.
I've had an MP since 2015 and it's a very nice camera. I've certainly got used to feel of the battery cover. However, on both my MP and M6 they work loose over time. So I find that I need to check it's not going to fall off from time to time, as it'll cost about £1000 or something silly to replace ;) You are right about the meter, it does need a little bit of a press to wake it up. I think the issue with the meter not working until you wind it on is more about the grey disc on the shutter curtain. The meter uses that to gauge the exposure and if the shutter is not cocked it's not physically in place. I've always found the meter to be pretty accurate, but as film loves light I always err towards overexposure. However, use an M6TTL more than my MP for two reasons. Firstly, the shutter dial is bigger and easier to set. Secondly, I can rewind a film in a few seconds using the crank. The MP takes forever and is not a particularly pleasant experience (although, I have knocked the M6 crank which required some pliers to enable the camera to wind the film on again!). I find the rapid load really easy, just drop the film in and make sure it is seated. Pull the leader PAST the middle of the three prongs. Check it's lined up OK and just shut the back (no need to fiddle with the film and risk damaging the shutter curtain). If the red dots are moving, you're good to go!
I have owned Leica M film cameras since 1975, every model except the M7. I bought a new MP in March 2024 just because I had not bought a new M since 1995. Your review and the issues with the half press and battery cover are absolutely ridiculous. If you don’t want a meter or being able to turn the meter on, get an MA or one of the classic Leicas like the M3, M2 or M4.
Had my Mp since 2003 and a m4p …never once thought or had an issue with that battery cover … had a couple of m6 as well .. sold em off .. again.. no problem with that pesky battery cover ….
I don’t normally use those pre-AI lenses on my digital cameras only AI. However, I have an F2 with both dp1 and dp11 metering heads then I can use both types on film. They are great with film.
No, it doesn't as there is no tiny letters to well the meter what Fstop it is on. So you have to use stop down metering to shoot it. You can find proper AI conversation kits on eBay still here and there and that will when work as it has a little ring with the stops on
Great old lens, but personally I think the latest AFS 50 f/1.8 blows all the old ones away, and it has AF! I still have a soft spot for the 1980s pancake 50 though - so tiny and really sharp from f/2.8
That's interesting, it's funny how we all like different things, I loved the 50 1.4 AF-S G which was fantastic, but this Nikkor-H just hits different with its classic rendering which I love!
I’ve got a couple of those. One is a late multi coated variant with a factory AI conversion. I prefer it to the later 50mm f1.8, it just oozes character.
Honestly I loved it, I sold it for funds for my Nikon F5 which is fantastic, but I do now wish I kept this as I miss the whole compact 35mm experience, especially the film advance.
I took a different tack on your video. The argument over the Bayer filter isn't the mail point, and perhaps saying you have a "monochrome" camera is misleading to some. My take-away is that you have found that you don't need an expensive, special camera to shoot black and white. I shoot a D610 which has configurable user settings which I use to easily switch between color and monochrome. As you show in your video, a properly configured DSLR can make beautiful monochrome images. Also like you, I keep the camera set to shoot mono most of the time as a way of reminding myself how much I like a nice monochrome image. Thanks for the video.
I’m fine with my M2 film loading, it isn’t fast but I rarely need to load in a hurry. I bought another spool and sometimes pre-fit a film into it. So if I need to use a second film I just have to slide it in with needing to fit the spool. To be honest it’s just handy rather than a necessity.
I love my M2 loading system and find it so much better than the rapid load system. Ive lost count the amount of times I've ripped fill or had issues with it. Never happened with the M2 spool
I really appreciate your content. Like you, I primarily use Leica rangefinders for both street & nature. However I've been spending time getting familiar with the SL2s and I'm just floored. Using the large native lens is a challenge for me (especially the zooms), but the results are in a class of its own. For street, I mount my 50mm Summicrons. I was surprised that the JPEGs from the SL2s rival the RAW files from the M10R and M10 Monochrom, IMO. You have a new subscriber!
Thank you for the lovely comment, while I adore my M cameras from Leica, I really see the appeal for the SL series and loved the SL2s when I had it for review
Hi Sebastian. In your review you mention not knowing if the meter is spot or center-weighted. Look in the manual and it will illustrate meter coverage for each focal length (it's center field by the way), also the battery cover is a non-issue if you use a half case (of course not everyone does) which also protects the body. You are right on the with soft release comment, I use one on MP and M10 and such a small item makes are noticeable improvement in each. I've shot MP for over ten years and you do get used to its idiosyncrasies after just a couple of months regular use. Nice video, thanks for sharing.
Thanks for the comment, this was a review unit so no manual to hand, we literally just get a camera and lens in a box and have at it haha. But thank you for letting me know the metering type, very useful information. I did enjoy the MP, but comparing it to my M2, I love the M2 more (might sound odd) I also loved the M-A so that battery cover just threw me off a bit. However, it's an amazing camera
What a refreshing video! I have a D800 as my "3rd" camera (mostly shoot sports which is why it gets used the least) but I have always loved it. Watching this makes me want to use it more, thanks! Going to subscribe 🙂
Honestly it will be the best lens/investment you will ever make! This shot at F2/F2.2 the images look remarkable - Yes it's VERY expensive, but it will last you a life time!
Nice review! I'm going on 15 years or so shooting with Ms, and i plan to shoot my M6 till the end, but i'd love to get an MP so i can have 35/50 on 2 bodies. I grip the camera a bit different than you with my right hand, and i constantly hit the smaller glass window with my index finger. I ended up putting a small piece of tape just before it that serves as a que for my finger to rest on. You can do the same thing over the battery door, put a piece of gaffers tape on the door, it will give your fingers some nice grip and stop that annoying problem you're having. Learning how to interpret the leica meter becomes second nature after a while! I remember when i first got mine i was like...this meter is killing me! Happy shooting!
Thanks for the nice comment I really appreciate it, I did really enjoy the MP but that battery door did annoy me. However, I love shooting my M2 and having to meter myself which always gets a bit better results, just practice I guess. Good luck with your M6, amazing camera
This lens is amazing for anything you want to throw at it, it also handles all the Nikon telecoverters really well! With a 2x giving you an effective 400mm F4. It's a very niche lens but the result would be outstanding!
Great video, I really dig this camera. I've been using one for about five years now, and I love it. You can also shoot 35mm in this camera with an inexpensive adapter, The images come out amazing, if you like to see the sprocket holes of course. Thanks for posting this. ...Cheers from SW Florida.
Thanks for the nice comment, unfortunately this camera is no longer with me as I had too many.and needed to sell some to make room - but it's the only one I regret selling!! So one day I'll get it back jaha
You said that this lens was heavy and to make the point you repeated this another 99 times. Perhaps you could have talked a little more about the lens itself. I have this and it is a very special lens.
Those tram lines down the middle might be grit in the bulk loader or on the cassettes. I gave up re-using original film cassettes and ended up with the type that don’t have felt light seals. Pricier but seemed much better for scratches and light leaks. Mind you, I have had issues with Foma films being scratched in manufacture. Found that by developing a strip of unexposed Foma! Test your F5 exposure reading against a couple of other cameras. With film expose for the shadows as you can recover highlights, opposite to digital where shadows are easily recovered. Often have rolled 12 exposures, mostly when doing testing etc.
Hi Nick, thanks for the comment. I checked my bulk loader and seems ok so I think its thee re-usable film cassettes, which I might swap out for old used metal ones (or new ones ive seen on ebay) I've been slowly adjusting my meathos of exposing and since this video now find with I set my Nikon F5 to +1 EV it tentdds to give me a better overall image. Sometimes I just ingorme the meter all together and get much bette results.
@@SebastianOakley If it’s cheapo re-useable it could well be those, I found re-using cassettes lasted two or three loads and then became an issue. I got a Nikon and Leica reloadable cassettes and they were excellent. Both Nikon and Leica years ago supplied reuse-able cassettes that didn’t have felt/velvet light seals. Got them from ebay. Seem ok so far.
The aperture ring is good? Now I know you haven’t used this lens. It’s the loosest, most wobbly, least smooth aperture ring I’ve ever used, and it’s a well known issue/reality.
Well Jon, what can I say on my version it was good, and as I shoot I tend to only stick to one or two aperture settings and I changed shutter speed accordingly. While your engagement is appreciated in this video, your lack-luster comment isn't really helpful
@@SebastianOakley I’m just playing, however the 50 Apo-M does have the worst manual aperture ring I’ve ever used. It’s an otherwise amazing lens, top to bottom, and still only surpassed by the SL version.
Hey Seb, I have the MA in Silver Brass.... I can see why it will take a lifetime for me to weather it. It's a rigid paint made to survive wars. I do think the black varient's will age with ease but a lot faster. Both are incredible. Great work. looking forward to more videos. Also the MA doesn't have that grip issue with the battery cover & Half press issue. Would love to chat! Cheer brova
Hey thanks for the comment and glad you enjoyed the video. I love the Leica M-A SO much! It's one of the reasons I bought my Leica M2... And the fact I couldn't afford an M-A 🤣 The MP is very nice and will serve anyone very well, but it just isn't for me and how I shoot.
Haha, it's amazing I've been using it for years and it's amazing stuff. When you keep to a chemical and really "nail it" you can produce amazing results - I've had great images from Fomapan 400, Ilford HP5 and Ilford FP4 along with Rollie 400s - very versatile monobath
I could do EVERY SINGLE one of those photos on my phone and viewers would be none the wiser. You keep justifying Leica lrices bjt phone technology has caught up, opened its DRS and flown by
I would be inclined to agree with you if it was any digital Leica other than the M9. I've been saying for years that the M9 was one of the best digital 35mm cameras ever made, the last giant of the CCD era. Straight out of camera, the images have such rich colours (particularly greens), near perfect contrast, and just the general feel of a slide-film like velvia. In the 11 years I have had mine, I've only ever had to correct mistakes I made using lightroom, and there are only a handful of times I did anything to the colour. Of course it being a Leica and a rangefinder, its incomparable to many of the great workhorse cameras of the last 15 years. But you would be hard pressed to find a camera that could match the M9s tonality at a default setting (no picture profile, or simulation, or LUT, just factory settings).
@@nononononononono379 I totally agree with you - I've owned or used some of the best cameras over the past decade or more... None of them compare to the CCD sensor of the M9 it's a total joy and it now my main camera
I have mine when R4 were current. I took off the goggles and put on adapter for R camera , r to leica Z and results are stunning. So are results from 135 4.0 .
Wow I bet they were amazing images - I used this lens recently on my lasted video and the images are stunning - it's a highly "slept-on" lens in my opinion
