wattsy Posted August 17, 2011 Share #1 Posted August 17, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) Not sure if this has been reported elsewhere but I noticed this today on Robert White's website: "Due to the discontinuation of an integral component, production of the Leica MP and Leica MP ‘a la carte’ has been temporarily halted. Leica Camera is actively working to secure an alternate high quality supply source and remains committed to fulfilling the needs of its analogue customers well into the future. We are currently aiming to complete all outstanding orders we have over the coming months any new orders of the Leica MP and MP ‘a la carte’ are expected to be fulfilled beginning in early 2012." If you are thinking of buying a new MP, it sounds like you shouldn't hang around (if you want it this year). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted August 17, 2011 Posted August 17, 2011 Hi wattsy, Take a look here MP production temporarily stopped (apparently). I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
wattsy Posted August 17, 2011 Author Share #2 Posted August 17, 2011 I can't edit the thread title but I meant to put temporarily stopped. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pop Posted August 17, 2011 Share #3 Posted August 17, 2011 You can report your own thread and ask a moderator to change the title of your thread. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
erl Posted August 17, 2011 Share #4 Posted August 17, 2011 I can't edit the thread title but I meant to put temporarily stopped. Done! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill Posted August 17, 2011 Share #5 Posted August 17, 2011 Hmm... I just wonder what is in the MP that is not in the M7...? Regards, Bill Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted August 17, 2011 Share #6 Posted August 17, 2011 Whatever it is, Leica will be able to source another supplier I'm sure. I suspect that some 3rd party supplier has failed and the delay will be the lead time for a new manufacturer to supply. There's nothing that complicated inside an MP! Gears and cogs, some basic electronics for the meter. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wattsy Posted August 17, 2011 Author Share #7 Posted August 17, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) Perhaps it relates to the escapement or some other part of the mechanical shutter timing mechanism. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
250swb Posted August 17, 2011 Share #8 Posted August 17, 2011 Probably the mock shark skin covering or something like that. Steve Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest camera man Posted August 17, 2011 Share #9 Posted August 17, 2011 My MP has been to Germany twice for the same problem...scratching the film on cell side. I now have the camera and Leica have removed the four screws in the back pressure plate ... it is screw less. Its perfect for the moment! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
aesop Posted August 17, 2011 Share #10 Posted August 17, 2011 Perhaps it relates to the escapement or some other part of the mechanical shutter timing mechanism. ...it has got to be shutter-related. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill Posted August 17, 2011 Share #11 Posted August 17, 2011 Perhaps it relates to the escapement or some other part of the mechanical shutter timing mechanism. That's what bothers me somewhat; all that is mechanical. I'm wondering what "integral component" (cog?) is so special that it is sourced from outside the company and cannot currently be obtained? Perhaps it is the raw material that has become elusive? Perhaps they should go and rootle around some muck to find some more brass Regards, Bill Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wattsy Posted August 17, 2011 Author Share #12 Posted August 17, 2011 Perhaps Leica buy in the escapement mechanism as a whole unit rather than build it themselves (you can probably guess I've never seen inside an M body and have no idea what the timing mechanism looks like) and that supply has dried up. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
doubice Posted August 17, 2011 Share #13 Posted August 17, 2011 Hmm... I just wonder what is in the MP that is not in the M7...? Regards, Bill Hmm.... Shutter and its gears, top plate, rewind and its gears - quite a lot actually. Best, Jan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronan Posted August 17, 2011 Share #14 Posted August 17, 2011 Leica ran out of pixie dust Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pop Posted August 17, 2011 Share #15 Posted August 17, 2011 If it's mechanical, Leica could conceivably make it. If - on the other hand - the missing part was an integrated circuit (for example) which implements the exposure meter's bridge circuit and the shutdown timer, that could be quite another story. I wouldn't think that there was a large number of suppliers which make such a part, and to the same physical and electrical specifications. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Geschlecht Posted August 17, 2011 Share #16 Posted August 17, 2011 Hello Everybody, Probably the slow speed train. 1 of the diffrences between what is in an MP & what is in an M7 is: Some of the slower speeds which are are mechanically governed in an MP are electronically governed in an M7. The sound of the slow speeed clockwork timer is missing in an M7 since there is none. Timing is done by precisely controlled electromagnets which deliver more accurate speeds & cost less to build. Cost is also one of the reasons Leitz stopped making SL's & started building R's. The shutter in the SL was too expensive to build given the price range in which the camera would be sold. Cost was also 1 of the factors in replacing the last M3 range/viewfinder w/ the M2 version. The M2 version became the basis for all the rang/viewfinders that followed including those made today. The M slow speed clockworks was taken directly from the clock & watch industry as was much of the entire camera industry Worldwide. The mechanical M shutter is a big, overbuillt (But not over engineered), slow running mechanism governing rubberized cotton blinds pulled by really strong tapes pulled by mechanisms w/ oversized, overbuilt springs. The same standard of build as the other mechanical mechanisms throughout the camera. All of these properties are as good as it gets for reliability & durability in a mechanical camera. Leitz/Leica have cosistently built & maintained their cameras & lenses to a high degree of precision & accuracy. With reasonable care this provenly reliable, eminently usable combination will probably be around substantially longer than even its makers expected. Best Regards, Michael Who repairs old clocks for a living. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stunsworth Posted August 17, 2011 Share #17 Posted August 17, 2011 Hmm... I just wonder what is in the MP that is not in the M7...? The electronics are different for a start. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
segedi Posted August 17, 2011 Share #18 Posted August 17, 2011 So, I should wait a couple months before attempting to trade my MP for an M9 Although if there are any takers now... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Val Posted August 18, 2011 Share #19 Posted August 18, 2011 Some parts in the M9 are made in Portugal. I think for the MP also. Due to high demand of M9 and M9p I think the portuguese contractors can't keep up. Also remember about the crisis in Portugal. They probably focus on what sells better. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted August 18, 2011 Share #20 Posted August 18, 2011 Ah, of course, it's the invisible red dots Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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