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passport warranty and product position of the M-A


jmr237

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This is surprising--apparently the new M-A does not have a passport warranty.

 

According to B&H, this is what you get with a new M-A:

 

Limited 3-Year Warranty

 

While this is what you get with a new MP:

 

5-Year Limited Warranty

3-Year Passport Warranty

 

Seems strange. Given the M-A's price point--only $245 less than an MP--you would think it counts as a full-fledged product that gets the passport warranty. And without the electronics of the meter, one would assume it has even fewer things that can go wrong and require warranty repair.

 

I am excited about this camera, but I don't understand Leica's pricing and warranty choice. Either position the M-A as a simplified and economical alternative the MP, or make it an ultra-niche item that is more expensive than the MP. Putting it at $4,750 without a passport warranty strikes me as a confusing middle ground.

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Part of me thinks this is a mistake on B&H listing info. Let's hope so as I am also keen on this camera.

 

I hope you are right. I don't understand the logic of pricing it so closely to the MP but not providing the same warranty terms.

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  • 11 months later...

I'm coming to this thread a year later, but it still seems unclear to me. 

 

The M-A is, of course, an M camera (non-digital). The registration and warranty application card that came with the lens I bought says that (item 3):

 

"The Leica 3 Year Passport Protection Plan is extended to the following products imported by Leica Camera Inc. (USA) and sold by an authorized Leica Camera Inc. (USA) dealer:

-M Cameras and Lenses (M Digital Cameras excluded)".

 

Based on that language, it would seem that all M non-digital cameras would be included. That would be the M7, MP, and M-A, which I think are the only M non-digital cameras that are currently sold as new.

 

I bought an M-A and a Summilux lens from Adorama, but the Passport registration card was only in the lens box. According to Adorama's website the M-A comes with a limited 3-year warranty, not a Passport. The MP comes with a Passport and an additional warranty period. This difference makes no sense to me, and I wonder if it's an oversight. The M-A only differs from the MP in that it doesn't have a light meter (something less to go wrong!). The Passport warranty covers (in addition to manufacturer defects and functional failures) "accidental damage...including breakage, water damage, or any accident" (but not fire, loss, theft, or deliberate damage). The 3-year coverage against accidents is very impressive. At least my lens is covered this way, but it would be nice to have the camera body also covered by this warranty. although the things are so well built and purely mechanical that it should be fine with normal care. I could return it to Adorama (it's still within the 30-day return period) and get an MP, but part of the reason to get an M-A was to intentionally go for the purely mechanical build.

Edited by AAK
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I could return it to Adorama (it's still within the 30-day return period) and get an MP, but part of the reason to get an M-A was to intentionally go for the purely mechanical build.

 

The MP is sufficiently different from the M-A that it doesn't make much sense to me to choose one or other on the basis of side benefits like the passport warranty. The passport only lasts for a few years anyway.

Edited by wattsy
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  • 3 weeks later...

I guess I need to dig out my box. To be completely honest I have been shooting this thing for almost a year and haven't even pulled everything out of the box. The box of Tri-X is even still there. :)

 

I guess it would have become more important if something had gone wrong but it has been the perfect ambassador for Leica quality.

Edited by ThePioneer
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Guest camera man

My MP is five years now, Purchased from new I was very glad it had a five year warranty. It was sent back to Germany three times for problems. I even have a screw - less pressure plate, no more screws close to the cell side of the film! I am saving up for a second MP but this time it will cost me 600 euro for the same screw less pressure plate. I must purchase  the camera and then return it to Germany for the mod.

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My MP is five years now, Purchased from new I was very glad it had a five year warranty. It was sent back to Germany three times for problems. I even have a screw - less pressure plate, no more screws close to the cell side of the film! I am saving up for a second MP but this time it will cost me 600 euro for the same screw less pressure plate. I must purchase  the camera and then return it to Germany for the mod.

So you are saying that the Passport Warranty will pay for these types of upgrades?

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Ok. After talking with the people at the San Francisco store, my M-A is covered under the Passport warranty. If BH Photo is not an authorized dealer then the Passport Warranty may not be offered through them.

 

Don't know, may be some way to entice you to buy your equipment through an authorized Leica dealer.

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  • 3 weeks later...

Good news! I described my recent purchase of an M-A with a Summilux 50 f/1.4 Asph. lens above (Sept. 19th). I photocopied the Passport warranty application that came with the lens, filled in one form for the lens, the other for the camera, and sent them both off to Leica in NJ. A week or so later I received Passport warranties for both.

 

I have to think that the intention was to include the M-A in the Passport program, but for whatever reason the application cards weren't included in the boxes. I bought mine from Adorama, which I assume is an authorized dealer. As I said before, the Passport warranty states that it covers M cameras and lenses except for digital cameras.

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  • 2 weeks later...

hmmmmmmm ....... mine wasn't in the box and I bought the M-A from Leica Soho, very much an authorized dealer. Well, good to know if anything goes wrong. Thanks!

I was told that your Passport Warranty is activated when you register the M-A for warranty coverage. In my case this was done by Leica SF and yours may have been done by Leica Soho.

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  • 5 years later...

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