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Leica M-A vs late M2


Csacwp

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And I have seen those who makes a lot of bla-blabla about film and Leicas lasts forever, but on practice they are idiots who only brags on forums, but ratelly shot any film.

I'm just not one of them. Here is my film flickr

 

And then there are the idiots that see their regular Leica repairers shutting down, report doom and gloom, but don't realise that is a business opportunity for somebody. You need to understand that 'Leica technicians' are essentially called that simply to bring in work from a known source, in this case Leica users. If they weren't servicing Leica's they'd be servicing Nikons, and visa versa. Being a 'specialist' is just to make the work easier to manage, but a mechanical camera is just another camera to most camera repair people. 

 

As for your bla-bla-bla about film, it's trotting out the same hackneyed predictions about film dying at the very moment the industry is stabilising. And while film manufacturers are not seeking to become mainstream again it will certainly be viable as a specialist industry. But once again you look at the bad news and spread it around without looking at the counterbalancing good news. If Fuji stop selling film it is for the very reasons Kodak originally stopped, and that is because their machines are too big to run in small batches. Yet Ilford adapted by rethinking their product, Kodak have adapted, and while Fuji may not see the value of adapting there are other companies especially in Europe that have always been geared towards smaller scale production. 

 

So I think you should quit calling people idiots and look in the mirror if you want to find one.

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And then there are the idiots that see their regular Leica repairers shutting down, report doom and gloom, but don't realise that is a business opportunity for somebody. You need to understand that 'Leica technicians' are essentially called that simply to bring in work from a known source, in this case Leica users. If they weren't servicing Leica's they'd be servicing Nikons, and visa versa. Being a 'specialist' is just to make the work easier to manage, but a mechanical camera is just another camera to most camera repair people. 

 

As for your bla-bla-bla about film, it's trotting out the same hackneyed predictions about film dying at the very moment the industry is stabilising. And while film manufacturers are not seeking to become mainstream again it will certainly be viable as a specialist industry. But once again you look at the bad news and spread it around without looking at the counterbalancing good news. If Fuji stop selling film it is for the very reasons Kodak originally stopped, and that is because their machines are too big to run in small batches. Yet Ilford adapted by rethinking their product, Kodak have adapted, and while Fuji may not see the value of adapting there are other companies especially in Europe that have always been geared towards smaller scale production. 

 

So I think you should quit calling people idiots and look in the mirror if you want to find one.

 

 

What a load of empty bla-bla, Steve. Do you shot film Leica recently or even own one? It doesn't look on your Flickr this way. Are you nothing but keyboard warrior?

It wasn't me ho has started to call people idiots here. So, have yourself in the mirror, buddy. :)

Edited by Ko.Fe.
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I have a 1958 M2 which was purchased from Sherry.  She said it was the nicest M2 she had seen in a long time.  It is six years younger then I am but will outlast me by decades.  Between the M2 and MA, my guess is both would last equally if maintained (CLA) equally.  So, my questions for the OP is what focal lengths do you use?  I think the 35/50/90 frame lines in the M2 makes it Leica's best film M.  So if you can live with those focal lengths and don't want a meter, go for the M2.  And only you can decide if the price difference between a mint M2 (about $1000-1200) and a new MA is money you want to spend on a camera body.  The price difference would get you lots of film, a couple lenses or ???.

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I have a 1958 M2 which was purchased from Sherry.  She said it was the nicest M2 she had seen in a long time.  It is six years younger then I am but will outlast me by decades.  Between the M2 and MA, my guess is both would last equally if maintained (CLA) equally.  So, my questions for the OP is what focal lengths do you use?  I think the 35/50/90 frame lines in the M2 makes it Leica's best film M.  So if you can live with those focal lengths and don't want a meter, go for the M2.  And only you can decide if the price difference between a mint M2 (about $1000-1200) and a new MA is money you want to spend on a camera body.  The price difference would get you lots of film, a couple lenses or ???.

 

Best is a matter of choice, lens and film matter more than the box. But the M4 (my favorite) has much faster film loading than the M3 or M2 and every film M has the M4 version including the MA. As for the MA (and I suppose the latest brand new just made M7 and MP), the viewfinder is MUCH brighter and there is some new focusing technology tightening tolerances etc with the MA, also used in the M10. Viewfinder depends on your own eyes. Also the MA has the 75mm frame lines along with the 28 (although with M4 I just presume everything in the window is 28mm). So you may enjoy working with the M2 better, lots of people do, but if I had to reduce my stock to one, it would be the M4 -- it is built like a tank, has modern film loading and crank rewind (I prefer, faster than the knob which they resurrected for the MA). My two cents anyway. But, like I wrote at the start -- film and lens are what matters and, obviously, how you see things before you take the shot.

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Even an M-A will need periodic maintenance in your lifetime.

I have an M3 and an M2, both 50+ years old and both still ticking along.

They also look better than anything modern in my opinion.

Go for whatever your heart desires and your wallet allows - there are no wrong answers here.

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As a side note, I don't think I currently own anything now that I did when I was 24. I'm 37 now. I could think back at numerous "lifetime" purchases where it was the "last such and such I'd ever buy". Many times it was the last one I bought, but that's because my interests changed.

 

The most recent is my black chrome M4. It was to be the last M I bought, my "lifer". But I've used it less and less and it excites me less and less and I'm moving on. I listed it in the classifieds today, it might have been the last M I bought, it would surely last long enough, but someone else will enjoy it more than me. I think I need a Hasselblad...

 

 

Edit: I own a set of kitchen knifes that I bought when I moved out of home at 19. They are still my only kitchen knives, but they are running out of blade and will need replacing within the next decade...

Edited by michaelwj
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I am ever so slightly amused to read this. ;)

 

 

I know. I thought as I write this that I'm still probably in the younger group of members.

But my point is that if at 37 I can look back at what I'm no longer using, but the time I'm 70 who knows... The future is always interesting and never what you expect.

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M2. I’ve got the M-A and it’s gone in for repair. But it’s under guarantee so it’s being repaired without cost to me.

 

Great. A brand new camera defective right out of the box. There is no way Leica can compensate for your time lost while it is in for repair.

 

Totally unacceptable, and fortunately something I have not experienced with M2 or M4 cameras - ever!

Edited by pico
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Great. A brand new camera defective right out of the box. There is no way Leica can compensate for your time lost while it is in for repair.

 

Totally unacceptable, and fortunately something I have not experienced with M2 or M4 cameras - ever!

It was a minor defect but I agree. This is not on. And they have been very good about it. With a form of compensation also. But I’m lucky and have several film bodies.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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I am ever so slightly amused to read this. ;)

It is 1997 for brain to function on facts, not on just propaganda. He is still alive for sure, if he choose to. But not so many from older age, depends how self willing they are on propaganda. Left dominates these days and since 1917. 

Edited by Ko.Fe.
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What a load of empty bla-bla, Steve. Do you shot film Leica recently or even own one? It doesn't look on your Flickr this way. Are you nothing but keyboard warrior?

It wasn't me ho has started to call people idiots here. So, have yourself in the mirror, buddy. :)

 

 

Oh really, to make a valid point somebody has to show they are actively shooting film? It's a democratic forum despite your dubious inclination. 

Edited by 250swb
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  • 3 weeks later...

The only thing better about an M-A (or M-P) than the older units is the flare resistance and the coated optics in the viewfinder. Very nice! Otherwise they have all of the cost cutting measures implemented in the M4-2 through M6 cameras. These are still very fine cameras and unless you work on them you would never know. But the M2, 3, 4 are better built and there are plenty of low mileage units out there and a CLA is $400. My M-P and both my M10s were delivered with vertically misaligned viewfinders. I adjusted the M10s myself - super easy once you get the Red Dot off, just an allen wrench, M2,3,4 use a tiny screwdriver - equally easy. The M-A & M-P use the same silly cam tool as an M6 and this tool will not fit through the screw hole in the front of the camera, so the entire top has to be removed to adjust the vertical. Reason enough for me to never buy another.

Edited by Rob L
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... My M-P and both my M10s were delivered with vertically misaligned viewfinders.

It does seem Leica doesn't pay as much attention to vertical alignment - my M9 and M10 were both slightly off on vertical as delivered. They both focused accurately, but the vertical is disturbing. My M9 did also drift out on distance alignment - the first Leica I've had since 1968 that needed adjustment. I had DAG calibrate it, and both V&H were perfect, and stayed that way after NJ replaced the sensor. The vertical does make it harder to detect perfect focus, depending on the texture and detail of the subject. Maybe their new electronic means of adjusting is precise, but my M2,3,4,5 & 6 all had better vertical alignment when I received them. Care and experience of the technician does make a difference.

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My father bought a used Leica M3, he gave it to my mother and she used it on many occasions. The M3 travelled with her round the world. Several years ago I got it, sent it to the Leica service and now my daughter has the camera in the third generation. It works beautifully, smooth and perfect and it travelled again round the world with my daughter. She is happy, because the camera is heavily used and there is no problem when another scratch comes to the existing hundred others.

 

Now I have grandchildren and I see no problems for the fourth generation...

 

At last, after working with many Leicas, I would recommend strongly the M3 to you because of the worlds best Rangefinder. Please read Ken Rockwells comments. http://www.kenrockwell.com/leica/m3/m3-de.htm

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  • 3 weeks later...

[...] Now I have grandchildren and I see no problems for the fourth generation...

 

[...] I would recommend strongly the M3 to you because of the worlds best Rangefinder.

 

Please read Ken Rockwells comments. http://www.kenrockwell.com/leica/m3/m3-de.htm

1. Beautiful M3/family (hi)story!

 

2. For 50 mm I agree on M3. For versatility in focal lengths, the MP type RF of all current film Ms is best imho and it is even crisper than a well serviced M3 finder.

 

3. I don’t give very much about what he says. I used to appreciate his reviews, but with growing experience and knowledge of my own, I find them a bit shallow. He delivers in emphasis of opinion what he lacks in depth. Often fun to read, though.

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