Thinking about A La Carte MP, confused on engraving...

[Kupo43]

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Is there any reason that Leica doesn't offer engraving on the black paint finish?

It's clearly the best aesthetic option and the one I would think most people want. The brassing after use is just gorgeous. I'm a Camera Operator and I'm the first person in my family to be in the field. I've had to grind for everything and had no connections or equipment to help me on my way. I want to be able to give something to someone close to me when I grow old if someone else in my family also falls in love with the form as I did. I would like it passed it down like many people pass down watches. I can find nothing better than a fully mechanical Leica MP with my family name engraved on it. I don't plan on getting rid of the camera at any point so I'm not worried about personal engravings bringing down the retail value.

How does silver age over time on the Leica bodies? If it's my only choice for engraving then it looks like it'll have to do. Unless someone knows of a way to get engraving on the black paint finish!

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[NB23]

Honestly, I feel let down by Leica's risible a la carte options.

 

I own 4, so I knkw a thing or two.

 

Why no engraving? Because it's too much work for them. Their a la carte is nothing else than minimal changes that don't go too far out of the assembly line.

 

You want a black hot shoe? You have to be extremely lucky. Black exposure counter? You have to be lucky because it isn't even offered. Why, I don't know.

 

Basically, you overpay for your a la carte and when you have it, you turn around to DAG and you add money on top of it to have other bits installed.

 

If I was you, I'd still buy an a la carte in black paint and then I'd have the wind lever engraved locally. Easy and cheap. If it's a messy job, 50-100$ buys you another lever. Or have it engraved underneath. Unique.

[jaapv]

Leica has found that in some cases engraving a black paint camera can show corrosion on the edges of the letters. If asked specifically they will do so in my experience, with a disclaimer.

[pico]

Leica has a form for customizing aka redesigning in their repair form. Scroll down.

 

[NB23]

Leica has found that in some cases engraving a black paint camera can show corrosion on the edges of the letters. If asked specifically they will do so in my experience, with a disclaimer.

Corrosion? And their "made in germany" engraving won't corrode, so I call bs.

 

It's simply too much work for them to make and their a la carte program simply NOT a customized program altough they make it sound like it is.

 

A special request to an a la carte order that's being turned down 99% of the time is an aberration.

[NB23]

Leica has an on-line form for customizing aka redesigning in their repair form.

 

They don't want to do it on bp

[jaapv]

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Corrosion? And their "made in germany" engraving won't corrode, so I call bs.

It's simply too much work for them to make and their a la carte program simply NOT a customized program altough they make it sound like it is.

A special request to an a la carte order that's being turned down 99% of the time is an aberration.

in my experience it won't be turned down. Just talk to them. They're human. In my experience all these smal(ish) European companies work like that.

[Steve Ash]

I would consider the configurator for the a la carte program a guide to come to a meaningful camera. It also helps to cover most options and reduce unnecessary support.