stephen.w Posted October 28, 2014 Share #41 Posted October 28, 2014 Advertisement (gone after registration) I can understand the reasons for the M-A (new camera, the joy of going meterless, etc) but why would anyone buy a meterless camera only to stick an accessory light meter on the top? Is that not a kludge? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted October 28, 2014 Posted October 28, 2014 Hi stephen.w, Take a look here Selling M7 Getting M-A?!. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Paulus Posted October 28, 2014 Share #42 Posted October 28, 2014 The reason I bought an M6 instead of an M4 years ago, was that the M6 had a build in light meter. I thought that would be a good decision. Never regretted it... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bayerische Posted October 28, 2014 Share #43 Posted October 28, 2014 Yeah being meter less, is sort of being one-legged if you ask me. The M6 is IMHO, the Leica M. I understand if the M7 don't appeal too much, as it hasn't really ever appealed to me because of the electronic shutter. The M6 is a perfect blend of *must have electronics* coupled with a mechanical marvel. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wattsy Posted October 28, 2014 Share #44 Posted October 28, 2014 I had a play with an M-A this evening. A very handsome camera (silver one) with impressive fit and finish quality. The shutter release is nice and smooth and IMO has a shorter travel than the MP release which is both welcome and slightly unexpected. The finder view without having to accommodate the metering LEDs is clean and IMO a better experience than the metered MP finder (with or without batteries). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stealth3kpl Posted October 28, 2014 Share #45 Posted October 28, 2014 Not listening! Pete Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
madNbad Posted October 29, 2014 Share #46 Posted October 29, 2014 Button rewind, remove a few frame lines and it's the 57th anniversary M2. Itn this day and age of newer, faster, more digital than before, it's nice to see a new camera that nont only makes you work to capture an image but to think about it too. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
philipus Posted October 29, 2014 Share #47 Posted October 29, 2014 Advertisement (gone after registration) I had a play with an M-A this evening. A very handsome camera (silver one) with impressive fit and finish quality. I agree it is a very handsome camera, esp. the black chrome imo. It seems to me the leatherette differs between the black chrome and the silver chrome. The "grain" on the black seem to be somewhat flatter (more like on the Monochrom?) than on the silver - does anyone know if that is the case or are my eyes playing tricks on me? Silver Black Philip Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wattsy Posted October 29, 2014 Share #48 Posted October 29, 2014 It seems to me the leatherette differs between the black chrome and the silver chrome. The "grain" on the black seem to be somewhat flatter (more like on the Monochrom?) than on the silver - does anyone know if that is the case or are my eyes playing tricks on me? I think the texture has either been exaggerated by the strobe lighting in the product photograph or Leica have shown a different leather to the production version. The silver M-A I tried had a very fine grained matt leatherette, very similar to the Monochrom one that I am very used to. Compared with the M digitals (M8, M9 and Monochrom) I have been using almost exclusively for the last 8 years and the M-P I was trying out yesterday, the M-A is in a different class of ergonomic simplicity and quality fit and finish. It felt like a Leica of 1960s vintage – really smooth and perfectly tuned to taking photographs. As you have probably guessed, I rather like it (something I cannot say about the M-P which I will definitely pass on). Incidentally, I didn't see the black chrome version of the M-A but I'm not sure how much I will like it. I'm not particularly keen on the aesthetics of my Monochrom (which the M-A is obviously designed to emulate) and the shiny silver dial on an otherwise dull black camera looks a bit odd to me. Unusually for me, I rather like the silver chrome. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sblitz Posted October 29, 2014 Share #49 Posted October 29, 2014 will see it tomorrow at photoexpo in nyc, can't wait! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wattsy Posted October 29, 2014 Share #50 Posted October 29, 2014 Phillip, ignore what I previously wrote. I had another look this afternoon at both silver and black chrome bodies and the leatherette is different. The black camera is very much like the Monochrom in style and uses the same covering (or virtually the same). The leatherette on the silver camera is more like the faux vulcanite found on recent M9Ps but not as shiny as it appears in the photo you reference. Seeing the two cameras in the flesh I have to say that the silver chrome is much the nicer looking camera - the black chrome, despite having the more subtle leather, is IMO pretty ugly when taken as a whole. I bought the silver chrome body (my first non-black Leica). In the end, the uncluttered 35mm frames proved too difficult to resist.[emoji1] Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stealth3kpl Posted October 29, 2014 Share #51 Posted October 29, 2014 like the faux vulcanite found on recent M9Ps the uncluttered 35mm frames proved too difficult to resist Will you keep your thoughts to yourself! Thank goodness there isn't a Black Paint Vulcanited version........yet.. But congratulations on your purchase. Are you starting an I Love My M-A thread? Pete Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NJH Posted October 29, 2014 Share #52 Posted October 29, 2014 I am going to have to force myself not to look at this thread over the next year , I have gone 100% film recently and the idea of buying a really nice camera for life is very tempting. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
CalArts 99 Posted October 29, 2014 Share #53 Posted October 29, 2014 I can't afford to buy an expensive M camera body especially when I really don't need one, but I have no issues with the camera itself and it's definitely appealing. Although I highly encourage everybody else to buy one. Good sales will send the right message to Leica (and the rest of the world) that using film is still very desirable. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wattsy Posted October 29, 2014 Share #54 Posted October 29, 2014 But congratulations on your purchase. Are you starting an I Love My M-A thread? I hadn't thought of doing that. I rather think of the new camera as simply a variant on the MP, even if it does have nicer, unbroken 35mm and 28mm framelines. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmr237 Posted October 30, 2014 Share #55 Posted October 30, 2014 I bought the silver chrome body (my first non-black Leica). Is the M-A now available? At least here in the U.S., I don't know of anyone who has them in stock. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stealth3kpl Posted October 30, 2014 Share #56 Posted October 30, 2014 I hadn't thought of doing that. I rather think of the new camera as simply a variant on the MP, even if it does have nicer, unbroken 35mm and 28mm framelines. Oh no, it's very different, and a rare opportunity to start a long running thread. Where's that fist-shaking emoticon? Pete Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
philipus Posted October 30, 2014 Share #57 Posted October 30, 2014 Congrats on the purchase Ian. It is an exquisite camera and I am sure you will be very happy with the silver model. Thanks for writing back concerning the leatherette. At least I need not go and have my eyes checked just yet My position is that I encourage all who can to buy this model. It is thrilling that Leica is launching an all-mechanical film camera in 2014, quite incredible really, and speaks volumes about Leica's commitment to film. Philip Phillip, ignore what I previously wrote. I had another look this afternoon at both silver and black chrome bodies and the leatherette is different. The black camera is very much like the Monochrom in style and uses the same covering (or virtually the same). The leatherette on the silver camera is more like the faux vulcanite found on recent M9Ps but not as shiny as it appears in the photo you reference. Seeing the two cameras in the flesh I have to say that the silver chrome is much the nicer looking camera - the black chrome, despite having the more subtle leather, is IMO pretty ugly when taken as a whole. I bought the silver chrome body (my first non-black Leica). In the end, the uncluttered 35mm frames proved too difficult to resist.[emoji1] Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
madNbad Posted October 30, 2014 Share #58 Posted October 30, 2014 How many framelines are in the M-As' viewfinder? Are they complete lines? I have been looking on various sites but haven't found an answer. It may be a while for the local shop actually has one in stock. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wattsy Posted October 30, 2014 Share #59 Posted October 30, 2014 How many framelines are in the M-As' viewfinder? Are they complete lines? I have been looking on various sites but haven't found an answer. You get the full set of frame lines. The frame lines are 'complete' in the sense that the bottom lines of the 35mm and 28mm frames are not broken or missing but the corners of those frames are missing, as is usual. Interestingly, the 135mm and 75mm frame lines are much less prominent than usual, comprising just 4 small corners in each case. This might be a consideration if you use those focal lengths (I don't so this is a plus point for me). I seem to recall that the MP Classic has exactly the same arrangement of frame lines so if you are familiar at all with that camera, you will know what to expect from the M-A. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
}{B Posted October 30, 2014 Share #60 Posted October 30, 2014 I have seen a web site that says that the M-A can be ordered a la carte from February 2015. If true then a 35/50/90 version with perhaps the x85 magnification viewfinder would be nice. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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