The Leica MP – Jo Geier

The professional M.

Since there are so many modern variations of this famous camera we thought we could shed some light into this and list all variations known to us until today.

May it will help you to choose the MP you are looking for.

The Analog Leica MP.

1955 – Prototype Leica MP

(M3E, M3D - more on this in a future blog post).

1956 - Leica MP

The Original Leica MP gets introduced. „P“ stands for Professional. A Leica M3 with external frame counter, long winding shaft for the film take-up spool and the matching Leicavit MP. It was never available for sale to the public. Only slightly more than 400 cameras have been produced ( MP1 – MP 4xx ). The Leicavit MP accepting M2, introduced in 1958, brought production of the MP to an end. The Leica MP SP. variations are basically converted Leica MP to Leica M2 cameras with M2 top plates and 35/50/90 framelines.

Product Code: IMOOP – Leica MP with Leicavit MP.

1958 - Leica MP2

The Leica MP2 was a modified Leica M2 and the first Leica M to accept an electric motordrive. Only 27 specimens have been produced in two small batches. Nos. 935001 – 935512 in 1958 & 952001 – 952015 in 1959.

Product Code: Unknown to us

2002 – Leica MP

The first reincarnation. After the production of the Leica M6 finally stopped in 2003 (the Leica M7 was already introduced in the year 2000) with the last 999 cameras made, Leica produced again a fully mechanical camera with some features of earlier cameras. The camera was naturally available in black paint and silver chrome finish (not only as a special edition like the Leica M6), the angled rewind knob was replaced by a vertical knob and the winding lever is of metal and one-piece, similar to the M3 and original MP as well as many other small changes. The Leicavit M gets introduced again as well, in black paint and silver chrome finish.

Product Code:

10301 Chrome Body 0.72

10302 Black Paint Body 0.72

10303 Chrome Body 0.58

10304 Black Paint Body 0.58

10305 Chrome Body 0.85

10306 Black Paint Body 0.85

ⓒ Wetzlar Camera Auctions

2002 – Leica MP 6 Nullseries Chrome

According to Leica, only 11 prototypes in chrome finish have been sold.

Product Code: NONE

2002 – Leica MP 6 Black Paint

The MP 6 was made for the Japanese market only. It is almost the same as a regular MP except the vulcanite leather, the Leica Camera AG Germany engraving on the top plate and on later models an M6 ISO dial. Only 250 specimens have been produced.

Product Code: 10311

2003 – Leica MP Betriebsk.

Produced as a collector's item and has never been used as a factory internal camera. Only a few are known to exist. Rumors say 25 pieces have been produced.

Product Code: 10302 Black Paint Body 0.72 (Like the regular version)

2003 – Leica MP Edition Hermès

Limited edition of 500 pieces of a MP with Barenia calfskin leather covering and strap. Including a Summicron-M 2/35mm Asph. lens and its matching lens hood. All made out of solid brass in silver chrome finish.

Product Code: 10307

2003 – Leica MP Hammertone LHSA Special Edition 1968-2003

Limited edition of 1000 pieces of a MP and Leicavit in hammertone finish with a Summicron-M 2/35mm. Asph. lens in "retro-design" in stain chrome finish. The lens hood again in hammertone finish. Commemorating the 35th birthday of the Leica Historical Society of America (LHSA).

Product Code: 10312

2004 – Leica MP Anthracite

An anthracite grey limited edition of 600 cameras made for the 50th year of Leica M photography. Designed especially for the Japanese market. The matching lens Leica was advertising was the Summicron-M 2/35mm Asph. in silver chrome finish (Product Code 11617) for this camera, including an anthracite lens hood. Only 400 lenses have been produced.

Product Code: 10316

2004 – Leica MP Classic Black Paint

The only limited edition MP without an exposure meter. Only 500 sets have been produced. It comes with a „retro-design“ Summicron-M 2/50mm in black paint and matching lens hood in black paint.

Product Code: 10317

2004 – Leica MP Ralph Gibson Black 0.85

This camera was available via the Ralph Gibson Store. A limited edition of 50 pieces were available with dark red leather covering and matte black anodized finish. It had no frameline selector.

Product Code: Unknown to us

2005 – Leica MP3

A total of 1000 LHSA limited edition MP3 cameras (500 in black paint and 500 in silver chrome) were produced. The set comes with a Leicavit MP and a Summilux-M 1.4/50mm Asph. in the then new „retro-design“. There was a set box and there were individual boxes. The MP3 has an external frame counter, the top plate with raised window frames, „retro-design“ style rewind lever and „buddha-ear“ strap lugs.

Product Code:

10318 Black Paint Set

10319 Chrome Set

10320 Black Paint Body

10321 Chrome Body

11627 Black Paint Lens

11628 Chrome Lens

14460 Black Paint Leicavit MP

14461 Chrome Leicavit MP

2005 - Leica MP Republic of Korea - 60th Year of Independence 2007

Only 60 cameras were manufactured in matte black finish with black frame counter, hand-print of An Jung Geun (Korean independence activist). Comes with „retro-design“ Summicron-M 2/35mm Asph. lens. in matte black finish (10317).

Product Code:

10322 Matte Black Body

10317 Summicron-M 2/35mm Asph. Matte Black (Korea)

2007 – Leica MP Titan Ginza Leica Store

The Leica MP in titanium finish was made as a limited edition of only 150 pieces for the opening of the Leica Store in Ginza, Tokyo, Japan. It has titanium features and is therefore 90g lighter than the regular modern MP. According to the press release, there were 30 parts and fittings involved with using this light weight and incredibly strong, corrosive resistant metal to protect its internal components.

Product Code: 10324

2008 – Leica MP Olive Kyoto Leica Store

The Leica MP in olive finish was made as a limited edition of only 100 pieces for the opening of the Leica Store in Kyoto, Japan. It has silver chrome features and comes with a silver chrome Summilux-M 1.4/35mm Asph. II (FLE).

Product Code: 10340

2009 – Leica MP Gold PRC (People's Republic of China 1949-2009)

Special edition commemorating the 60th year anniversary of the People's Republic of China. 60 gold-plated cameras were manufactured with matching gold-plated Summilux-M 1.4/50mm Asph. lens. Limited editions of the silver chrome Leica M8.2 and the Leica D-Lux 4 exist with the same engraving. The camera is decorated with red leather, the red picture of the Tiananmen Square and the words "Long Live People's Republic of China" are engraved on the top plate of the camera.

Product Code: 10325

2011 – Leica M3-P Leica Store Vienna

A silver chrome limited edition of 20 pieces to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Leica Store in Vienna including the then new Noctilux-M 0.95/50mm Asph. in silver chrome finish. Mostly like a modern silver chrome MP it has an internal frame counter, regular round strap lugs, no cut-out for the use with a Leicameter on the shutter dial and the modern rewind lever.

Product Code: 10326

2011 – Leica MP Republic of China Centennial Limited Editon (ROC 1912-2011)

Only 100 pieces have been produced. With a copper and zinc-alloy top plate, military grey colored top plate and base plate and “Vulcanite” leather. Finishing touches to this commemorative special edition include engravings of “MP100 – XXX” on the accessory shoe, the chinese words “Exciting Hundred 1912 – 2011”, and Taiwan’s national flower, the plum blossom. Optionally a silver chrome Summilux-M 1.4/35mm Asph. II (FLE) was available as well. (11687)

Product Code:

10329 Grey Body

11687 Summilux-M 1.4/35mm Asph. II (FLE) (ROC)

2015 - Leica MP Black Paint 70th Anniversary Republic of Korea

Issued for the 70th anniversary of the Republic of Korea including a Leica Summilux-M 1.4/35mm Asph. II (FLE) and Noctilux-M 0.95/50mm Asph.. Only 70 sets were made and all in black paint finish.

Product Code:

10799 Black Paint Body

11690 Noctilux-M 0.95/50mm Asph. (Part # 421-05.201.000)

11691 Summilux-M 1.4/35mm Asph. II (FLE) (Part # 421-037.201-000)

2017 - Leica MP Meister Edition Berlin „Blue Stain“

Limited edition of only 10 cameras issued to commemorate 10 years of the Leica Store Berlin. The set contains a matching Summilux-M 1.4/50mm Asph. in the same finish.

Product Code: 10323 (Set with 10 of 20 Summilux-M lenses produced, 10 lenses were available separately)

2018 - Leica MP Terry O'Neill

Limited to 35 cameras, the set includes a Leica MP with cognac leather, top and bottom plate in British Racing Green, a silver chrome Summilux-M 1.4/50mm Asph., a matching cognac leather strap and a never before released signed 16 x 20 print of Audrey Hepburn taken by O'Neill during the filming of ʻTwo for the Road.'

Product Code: 10327

2021 - Leica MP LEICA HISTORICA 1975-2020

Limited to 45 cameras, with blue leather covering, top and bottom plate in chrome, 45 silver chrome APO-Summicron-M 2/50mm Asph. in retro design were also available with matching limited edition number (11778).

Product Code: 10377

ⓒ Wetzlar Camera Auctions

Furthermore the Leica MP was part of Leica's à la carte programm so you could order your camera with various different features and leather coverings.

The Digital Leica M-P.

After the M8.2 Leica decided to add the „P“ to the second generation of each new digital camera. M9/M9-P, M/M-P, M10/M10-P.

To make it even more complicated Leica wanted to switch the name of their digital M product line to just „M“. Like the Porsche 911 has always been the Porsche 911, Leica just wanted to add the „internal“ „Type“ designations. M (Type 240), M-P (Type 240), etc. But people didn't adapt to call their camera just „the M“. They called it M240. So Leica went to the M and then M-P (AGAIN) until they finally accepted their mistake and went back to the regular numbering system with the release of the M10. The „P“ still exists.

2014 - M-P (Type 240)

Regular production series in black paint and chrome finish.

Product Code:

10772 Chrome Body

10773 Black Paint Body

2015 – Leica M-P Correspondent by Lenny Kravitz

Limited edition of 125 pieces in a „used-look“ with brassing on the camera and both lenses. A Summicron-M 2/35mm Asph. and a „retro-design“ Summilux-M 1.4/50mm Asph. are included and comes in a black leather suitcase with matching lens hoods and strap. The reason why only the 50mm was included in its „retro-design“ is unclear.

Product Code: 10789

2016 – Leica M-P PANDA

A limited edition M-P (Type 240) finished in black and white. The 'Panda Edition' will consist of a pair of kits that include the camera body along with either a Summicron-M 2/28mm Asph. or a Summilux-M 1.4/35mm Asph. II (FLE). A panda logo will decorate the rear of the metal portion of the upper body, along with the engraving ‘CHENGDU CHINA’. Only 60 pieces have been produced in total.

Product Code: 10928

2015 – M-P (Type 240) Safari Set

Limited to approximately 1500 sets it comes with a silver chrome Summicron-M 2/35mm Asph. lens and matching silver chrome lens hood.

Product Code: 10933

2016 - Leica M-P „Leica Galerie Frankfurt“

Limited edition of 50 Leica M-P (Type 240) cameras in blue/grey finish with "retro-design" Summilux-M 1.4/50mm Asph. in silver chrome finish with detachable silver chrome lens hood and an Oberwerth leather case.

Product Code: 10949

2016 – Leica M-P Thailand

Limited edition of 70 sets including a M-P (Type 240) finished in black and white. The 'Panda Edition' is equipped with a silver chrome Summilux-M 1.4/35mm Asph. II (FLE).

Product Code: 10952

2016 – Leica M-P Rolf Sachs GRIP

A limited edition of 79 pieces including a red table tennis racket covering and matching black Summilux-M 1.4/35mm Asph. II (FLE) with red filled engravings.

Product Code: 10967

2016 – Leica M-P Titan "Leica Store Ginza 10th Anniversary"

The Leica MP in titanium finish was made as a limited edition of only 50 pieces for the 10th anniversary of the Leica Store in Ginza, Tokyo, Japan. The back of the top plate is engraved with a crest and "10 JAHRE" and filled with black colour.

Product Code: 10968

2016 – Leica M-P Titan Set

The set consists of the Leica M-P (Type 240) and the following two titanium colored lenses: Leica Summicron-M 2/28mm Asph. and Leica APO-Summicron-M 2/50mm. Only 333 sets have been produced.

Product Code: 10976

2016 – Leica M-P Marina Bay Sands Leica Store Singapore

Created to commemorate the launch of the store itself, the camera boasts a silver leatherette skin and Leica Summilux-M 1:1.4/35mm ASPH. lens. A silhouette of the Marina Bay Sands skyline on the top plate and lion symbol engraved on the lens hood. With only 18 units in production, this rare camera retailed exclusively at Leica's Marina Bay Sands outlet.

2016 - Leica M-P „Brass Edition 35“ for the Hour Glass

Limited edition of 35 Leica M-P (Type 240) cameras in brass finish with brown ostrich body covering and matching Summicron-M 2/35mm Asph. in brass finish with detachable brass lens hood. A limited edtion number is also imprinted on both the hotshoe and the lens – “x/35” with the symbol of The Hour Glass boldly featured above it. 

Serialnumbers from 4962965 (01/35) to 4962999 (35/35).

This is a list of known Leica MP versions to us so far. If you know of any further variations please let us know! If you are looking for or think of selling any of those MP versions please let us know as well.