earthmover Posted July 14 Share #1501 Posted July 14 Advertisement (gone after registration) For me this shutter buton is just "jewelry", looks good and feels nice to press Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted July 14 Posted July 14 Hi earthmover, Take a look here I love my M-A. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
IkarusJohn Posted September 11 Share #1502 Posted September 11 (edited) Just fitted my new KEK M Meter. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Edited September 11 by IkarusJohn 4 Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/236926-i-love-my-m-a/?do=findComment&comment=5861793'>More sharing options...
jakontil Posted September 11 Share #1503 Posted September 11 6 hours ago, IkarusJohn said: Just fitted my new KEK M Meter. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! nice! When u slotted in to the shutter dial.. is it seamless like u wouldnt worry it will scratch the dial? Like its perfect fit Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vlad Soare Posted September 11 Share #1504 Posted September 11 (edited) I'm not trying to be contrary here; this is a genuine question. People who buy an M-A usually do it precisely because they love its 100% mechanical nature and lack of an internal light meter. Why would someone buy an M-A and then attach a third-party light meter to it? Why not get an MP in the first place?🤔 Edited September 11 by Vlad Soare 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
FrozenInTime Posted September 11 Share #1505 Posted September 11 (edited) 1 hour ago, Vlad Soare said: I'm not trying to be contrary here; this is a genuine question. People who buy an M-A usually do it precisely because they love its 100% mechanical nature and lack of an internal light meter. Why would someone buy an M-A and then attach a third-party light meter to it? Why not get an MP in the first place?🤔 Leica do not make the MP in black chrome, so if you don't like glossy black with chrome highlights or silver chrome, the M-A was the only in production option ( prior to the M6 reissue ). The M-A shutter release is single stage, with no half-press metering travel, so the M-A is better suited for low light handheld use. Edited September 11 by FrozenInTime Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
IkarusJohn Posted September 11 Share #1506 Posted September 11 45 minutes ago, Vlad Soare said: I'm not trying to be contrary here; this is a genuine question. People who buy an M-A usually do it precisely because they love its 100% mechanical nature and lack of an internal light meter. Why would someone buy an M-A and then attach a third-party light meter to it? Why not get an MP in the first place?🤔 You can take it off, and when the light meter crashes, your camera is unaffected. I got the M-A largely out of disgust at Leica’s crap electronics … 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
IkarusJohn Posted September 11 Share #1507 Posted September 11 (edited) Advertisement (gone after registration) 1 hour ago, jakontil said: nice! When u slotted in to the shutter dial.. is it seamless like u wouldnt worry it will scratch the dial? Like its perfect fit Yeah, good question. I followed the instructions carefully, and the pin wouldn’t drop into the slot on the shutter dial. I gave it a few trials, and was going to email KEK; but then I moved the dials about a bit, and it fell into place. I haven’t noticed any markings on either the shutter dial or the top deck (unlike my M3 which had scratch marks across the top deck from the Leica meter). It’s a perfect fit. As to the finish, the black paint on the meter matches the camera perfectly. I won’t use the meter all the time, but it is good to know that it fits well. Time will tell if the meter is reliable - good enough is okay. Sadly the B+W filters don’t seem to have the exposure compensation on them. I’ll do some further research as the information must be somewhere. The Heliopan ones had the compensation printed on the filter. For the moment, I’ve dialed in -2/3 for the yellow filter. Edited September 11 by IkarusJohn 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
christoph_d Posted September 11 Share #1508 Posted September 11 2 hours ago, IkarusJohn said: Yeah, good question. I followed the instructions carefully, and the pin wouldn’t drop into the slot on the shutter dial. I gave it a few trials, and was going to email KEK; but then I moved the dials about a bit, and it fell into place. I haven’t noticed any markings on either the shutter dial or the top deck (unlike my M3 which had scratch marks across the top deck from the Leica meter). It’s a perfect fit. As to the finish, the black paint on the meter matches the camera perfectly. I won’t use the meter all the time, but it is good to know that it fits well. Time will tell if the meter is reliable - good enough is okay. Sadly the B+W filters don’t seem to have the exposure compensation on them. I’ll do some further research as the information must be somewhere. The Heliopan ones had the compensation printed on the filter. For the moment, I’ve dialed in -2/3 for the yellow filter. Hold the filter in front of the meter and measure the difference between with and without… 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BWColor Posted September 11 Share #1509 Posted September 11 5 hours ago, Vlad Soare said: I'm not trying to be contrary here; this is a genuine question. People who buy an M-A usually do it precisely because they love its 100% mechanical nature and lack of an internal light meter. Why would someone buy an M-A and then attach a third-party light meter to it? Why not get an MP in the first place?🤔 Life is full of mystery and wonder. You might wonder why people even use film vs digital. Lots of reasonable questions. I purchased the M-A because I’m old and in the future I don’t want my survivors to be selling a camera with a dead meter. Same reason that I purchased a new M6, it will be serviceable long into the future. Also, I travel with a multi and spot meter, so the KEK works when the scene warrants a less rigorous reflective metering regime. Funny, just picked up an X2Dii, but this weekend going to a wine festival and will be taking my Bronica RF645… Film forces me to slow down, think and look around. Perfect reminder which will benefit me when using digital cameras. 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
01af Posted September 11 Share #1510 Posted September 11 Am 13.7.2025 um 15:57 schrieb lincoln_m: The reason I ask is because I see photos above of M-As with soft-release buttons but if the M-A shutter release is like my M2 (a smooth long throw) how does the soft release help for slow speeds 1/30, 1/15, 1/8 s ...? It doesn't. People adorn their Leica M camera with a soft-release button not because it was functionally helpful in any way but because they feel it makes the camera look cool. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vlad Soare Posted September 11 Share #1511 Posted September 11 (edited) 3 hours ago, BWColor said: Life is full of mystery and wonder. You might wonder why people even use film vs digital. True, but that's not exactly the same. Film and digital are completely different things, each with its own long list of upsides and downsides. Whereas the M-A and the MP are virtually identical cameras, except for the presence or absence of a light meter. Hence my puzzlement. 😊 2 hours ago, 01af said: It doesn't. Actually, it does. But it must be used in a specific way. If you just put your fingertip casually on it and press down, exactly like you do with the shutter button itself, then it won't do anything. You need to put your knuckle on the soft release button, while the tip of the finger is resting somewhere beyond it, say on the shutter speed dial. When you take a picture, instead of pressing down on the button, you keep your fingertip planted where it is, and then straighten the finger, thus causing the knuckle to push the button down. This will cause much less camera shake than usual. I'm not sure I'm explaining it correctly, but it certainly works. If you do it right, the difference will be clearly noticeable. Edited September 11 by Vlad Soare Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
IkarusJohn Posted September 11 Share #1512 Posted September 11 47 minutes ago, Vlad Soare said: Whereas the M-A and the MP are virtually identical cameras, except for the presence or absence of a light meter. Hence my puzzlement. It’s not that puzzling, surely. The default is no meter. If a meter reading is necessary, then my preference is ambient reading as it is way easier and more reliable than a reflective reading. If an ambient reading isn’t feasible or convenient, then a reflective reading will do. Now, if an accurate refective reading matters to you, then there are a multitude of approaches to get an “accurate” reading, or the effect you want - average reading, centre-weighted, spot (using either neutral grey cards a or the zone system, with a Gossen spot meter with built in zone calculator), multi-spot or Leica’s highlight protection metering. There are many ways to skin a cat. Having the MP’s centre weighted, spot on the shutter curtain, metering is useful. But it is just one option. Having now had EVERY Leica digital I’ve owned (so far 5 cameras) go back to Germany with failed electronics, and seeing Leica unable to fix the meter on the M6, the coffee stain on the M8, limited ability to replace the M9 series sensors and then the debacles with the M11 (to name but a few), I’m reluctant to get another Leica camera with a battery (though a digital MP could tempt me at some point). Being able to throw away my external meters, leaving the camera unaffected, has appeal. I should add that I also use an SWC (which you will know has no meter), and I learned photography using cameras without meters (my first being an FE in my 20s). I’m not sure my explanation eases your puzzlement, but I suspect I’m not alone. There are many more ways to meter than what the MP has to offer, and having no meter is liberating. Perhaps you assume that the KEK meter above lives permanently on my M-A? One could ask, why shoot film, why have manual lenses, if you have a meter in the camera, why not just use aperture priority all the time or even better why not just set your camera in P mode? Each has its benefits, I guess. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
01af Posted September 11 Share #1513 Posted September 11 vor 3 Stunden schrieb Vlad Soare: I'm not sure I'm explaining it correctly, but it certainly works. Yes, you explained it correctly, and yes, it does work ... as long as no so-called 'soft-release button' gets in the finger's way. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jakontil Posted September 18 Share #1514 Posted September 18 Finally arrived, very quick shipping to SEA, thanks to others who recommends this meter.. especially @IkarusJohn.. i was convinced as soon as you have your say about the fitting.. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! 2 Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/236926-i-love-my-m-a/?do=findComment&comment=5864918'>More sharing options...
burchyk Posted September 18 Share #1515 Posted September 18 On 9/11/2025 at 9:19 AM, Vlad Soare said: I'm not trying to be contrary here; this is a genuine question. People who buy an M-A usually do it precisely because they love its 100% mechanical nature and lack of an internal light meter. Why would someone buy an M-A and then attach a third-party light meter to it? Why not get an MP in the first place?🤔 The biggest reason I prefer an M-A is not exactly the absence of the light meter itself, but the downstream factor: the bottom frame line for 35mm and especially 28mm are continuous. On the M-P and the M6 the 28mm bottom is kinda rudimentary. Combined with a strong preference for either incident or spot metering seals the deal. Initially the finish colours were a factor, but now I'm kinda ambivalent. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Photar Posted September 18 Share #1516 Posted September 18 On 9/12/2025 at 3:55 AM, IkarusJohn said: I learned photography using cameras without meters (my first being an FE in my 20s). Nikon FE? It certainly had TTL metering. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
IkarusJohn Posted September 18 Share #1517 Posted September 18 2 hours ago, Photar said: Nikon FE? It certainly had TTL metering. Yeah, it was my first camera with a meter … 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vlad Soare Posted September 18 Share #1518 Posted September 18 3 hours ago, burchyk said: The biggest reason I prefer an M-A is not exactly the absence of the light meter itself, but the downstream factor: the bottom frame line for 35mm and especially 28mm are continuous. On the M-P and the M6 the 28mm bottom is kinda rudimentary. True. But in exchange for that, the M-A doesn't give you proper framelines for 75mm. 😟 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
trisberg Posted September 20 Share #1519 Posted September 20 On 9/18/2025 at 1:17 AM, Vlad Soare said: True. But in exchange for that, the M-A doesn't give you proper framelines for 75mm. 😟 Yes, and IMO that is a feature 🙂 -Thomas Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vlad Soare Posted September 20 Share #1520 Posted September 20 (edited) Fair enough. Whoever doesn't happen to use 75mm lenses won't care about this. But to add insult to injury, they've also coupled them with the 50mm framelines, which are too close. This makes it extremely easy to use the wrong framelines by mistake (don't ask me how I know). I wouldn't mind the sorry corners for 75mm too much if they weren't so damn close to another set of proper framelines that compete for attention. Whoever designed this should be in jail. Oh well... I guess these quirks are part of the Leica personality. We've got to love it for them. I remember a scene from Top Gear, in which an Italian guy who had built a Lancia replica told Clarkson about some buttons on the dashboard that didn't work: "if they worked, it would be an Audi". The framelines are crap because it's a Leica. If they were perfect it would be a Nikon. And we don't want that. We want a Leica, with its imperfect human personality, not a perfect robot. At least that's what I tell myself whenever it pisses me off. 😂 Edited September 20 by Vlad Soare 1 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now