MP 0.72vs Now Gen 3
Leica
MP 0.72 (2003)
Starting from £4850 new
Best for Street, Documentary & Reportage Film Photography
View MP 0.72
Polaroid
Now Gen 3 (2024)
Starting from £120 new
Best for Classic Polaroid fans & square-print lovers
View Now Gen 3
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Street, Documentary & Reportage Film Photography — MP 0.72 (2003): The purist's Leica — a fully mechanical 35mm rangefinder with no electronics bar the meter. Still built by hand in Wetzlar. The most honest camera ever made.
Classic Polaroid Fans & Square-Print Lovers — Now Gen 3 (2024): The definitive modern Polaroid. Autofocus, USB-C, and full-sized square prints — classic Polaroid experience, updated for today.
Who should buy what
MP 0.72 (2003)
- Serious film photographers who want the finest rangefinder ever made
- Street and documentary photographers who shoot Kodak Tri-X or HP5
- Leica M-mount collectors and long-term lens owners
- Photographers who value mechanical precision over electronic convenience
Now Gen 3 (2024)
- Anyone who wants the classic full-sized square Polaroid print experience
- Instax users who prefer Polaroid's dreamy colour palette and white border
- Party hosts and event photographers who want iconic-looking keepsakes
- Previous Polaroid Now owners upgrading to the Gen 3's improved autofocus
Quick take: The now gen 3 is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | MP 0.72 (2003) | Now Gen 3 (2024) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £4,850 | £120 |
| Sensor | 35mm film | i-Type / 600 Polaroid film (79 × 79mm / image area 62 × 62mm) |
| Video | — | N/A — instant film camera |
| Autofocus | Manual focus rangefinder — coupled 0.72× viewfinder | Autofocus (0.4m–2m close; 2m–∞ landscape) |
| Stabilisation | — | N/A |
| Burst Rate | ~1fps (manual film advance) | N/A |
| Battery Life | Effectively unlimited — battery powers meter only | Rechargeable internal battery (USB-C, ~15 packs) |
| Weight | 600g (body only) | ~445g |
| Dimensions | 138 × 77 × 38mm | 138.2 × 112.6 × 62.7mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | No |
| Viewfinder | Optical rangefinder, 0.72× magnification, 28–135mm framelines | Real-image optical viewfinder |
| Screen | None | N/A |
| Mount | Leica M-mount | i-Type or 600 film (8 shots per pack) |
| Memory Cards | 35mm film (ISO 25–3200 recommended) | N/A — instant film only |
| Connectivity | None | USB-C (charging) |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | MP 0.72 | Now Gen 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Street | — | |
| Travel | ||
| Portrait | ||
| Landscape | — | |
| Parties & Events | — | |
| Everyday | — | |
| Low Light | — | |
| Creative | — |
GearScore™ suitability scores are based on aggregated purchaser reviews weighted by photography genre. See how scores are calculated →
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