MP vs M-A

[Vlad Soare]

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This goes to show how different people's tastes can be.
Actually, on the IIf it doesn't look bad. What is it? 

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[Leon Berg]

vor 17 Minuten schrieb Vlad Soare:

You can get a black M-A. There's no engraving on the black one.

I wanted a completely mechanical camera, since I use a handheld meter and don't trust in-camera ones. If the M-A hadn't existed, I would have bought an M-P and never put batteries in it. But I'd rather go all the way and get the real thing, rather than settle for a compromise. Personally, I find the battery cover ugly. It looks like a big mole on its cheek. I could live with it if I had no choice (or if I actually needed the meter), but it's nice that I don't have to.

 

I feel the same way, thank you for sharing. Some people understand me.  
My dream would have been the black MP without meter, as absurd as it may sound to some people. 

But it also was too glossy for me, although without a doubt a real beauty! But I want to shoot and not look at my camera all the time.. 

The black M-A is slightly too modern for me (first world problem, I hope you understand..) but would also remind me a bit of my first Leica, an M6, regarding the feel, although
the leather is more slippery.. 

I like the silver chrome slightly more.. I'd say 60% in me vote for that, 40% for the black one.. 
 

For more discrete shooting the black one might be better.. but this might also be nonsense.. One of my favorite photographers, Garry Winogrand used two chrome M4..
So who actually gives a ....  It's how you, don't blame it on the camera, we all know that..  

The chrome one has the nice Leica lettering on top, I like that! I feel the "Leica Camera Wetzlar Germany" letters are just not nice up there..  Again, first world problem.. 
 

Anyhow, I tend to go for the chrome one, also because of the more grippy leather..

Why I first wanted the MP was, because it was offered to me for a good price, I came from a M6 and M3 and wanted to combine them and also thought about
an investment and eventual added value. The Lightmeter was nice to have, but not mandatory for me. I get along without one. 

I had to go through this until I felt so overwhelmed with these collector thoughts (nothing against collectors, but I am a shooter!) that I got actually sick and lost joy
about the MP.. 

I think the M-A chrome is the right choice for me for many reasons. 

[Vlad Soare]

I also went for the chrome M-A, partly because my previous camera was black and I wanted a change, but mostly because the chrome version has that classic Leica look. Besides, I found the plain top of the black version a bit boring; I wanted the Leica engraving.

I'm sure the black MP looks and feels awesome, but the trouble is, it's impossible to find new. Leica seems to have trouble keeping up with demand. The other three, on the other hand, are relatively easy to get.

As for discretion, I think in this day and age the colour of the top plate won't make a jot of difference. Whether it's black or silver, it still looks like an antique. Nobody takes you seriously when you shoot film with a camera that looks as it was made in the fifties. You need a big digital SLR with a long telephoto lens to attract any attention.

 

Edited August 10, 2021 by Vlad Soare

[Leon Berg]

vor 31 Minuten schrieb Vlad Soare:

I also went for the chrome M-A, partly because my previous camera was black and I wanted a change, but mostly because the chrome version has that classic Leica look. Besides, I found the plain top of the black version a bit boring; I wanted the Leica engraving.

I'm sure the black MP looks and feels awesome, but the trouble is, it's impossible to find new. Leica seems to have trouble keeping up with demand. The other three, on the other hand, are relatively easy to get.

As for discretion, I think in this day and age the colour of the top plate won't make a jot of difference. Whether it's black or silver, it still looks like an antique. Nobody takes you seriously when you shoot film with a camera that looks as it was made in the fifties. You need a big digital SLR with a long telephoto lens to attract any attention.

 

True that, thats only a circulating wind of thoughts that shape the reality of amateur photographers. "Please lord, help me with the decision of the color of my 
overpriced camera" ... if this is your problem dude, you need to get back to reality.. 😆

Serious.. I don't care that much anymore either.. I could have kept the MP, but as I said, the M-A was my preference in the first place, I wanted to have and try the MP 
though and see if the changes / improvements compared to an M6 are really tangible and I felt, they were.. minimal.. but they were.. 
Anyhow, the M-A chrome it is. 

I heard no camera is perfect out of the box and I should be prepared for that, too. Well, I am willing take the risk. My MP was sent in once because the mount wouldn't take
some lenses. I tried it at a friends place with her newer asph. lenses and was shocked. But Leica helped within 2 weeks and exchanged a part, that wasn't perfect. 

I will go to my dealer for the M-A and investigate the camera properly as far as I can, parallax framelines, transport etc.. and then shoot a couple of rolls and develop and. 
see what comes out. Very excited about it!

I might end up getting myself a M2 + M3 for the money though... would surely miss the quick load feature on the M-A I must say..

and the feeling of owning a brand new mechanical camera is.. well you all know about this  
 

 

[Matlock]

1 hour ago, Vlad Soare said:

This goes to show how different people's tastes can be.
Actually, on the IIf it doesn't look bad. What is it? 

It is a cover over what would be the slow speed dial on a IIIf. 

[Vlad Soare]

14 minutes ago, Leon Berg said:

I heard no camera is perfect out of the box and I should be prepared for that, too.

My M-A, bought new one month ago, had just two minor flaws. 
One is that the frame counter indicator isn't perfectly aligned with the scale (but it isn't badly misaligned either, it's just a tiny bit). This is no big deal. I can live with it. I understand it's a very easy and quick fix for a Leica technician, but there's no Leica repair shop in the country, and I'm not going to ship my camera abroad for a trifle that's merely cosmetic and 90% of the people wouldn't notice anyway.
The other is that the rangefinder was just a bit off at infinity. The lens would reach its infinity stop a tiny bit before the images aligned in the viewfinder. I fixed this in less than two minutes using a 2 mm allen key and instructions from this forum. 

So, I wouldn't worry too much about it. 

[Leon Berg]

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vor 14 Minuten schrieb Vlad Soare:

My M-A, bought new one month ago, had just two minor flaws. 
One is that the frame counter indicator isn't perfectly aligned with the scale (but it isn't badly misaligned either, it's just a tiny bit). This is no big deal. I can live with it. I understand it's a very easy and quick fix for a Leica technician, but there's no Leica repair shop in the country, and I'm not going to ship my camera abroad for a trifle that's merely cosmetic and 90% of the people wouldn't notice anyway.
The other is that the rangefinder was just a bit off at infinity. The lens would reach its infinity stop a tiny bit before the images aligned in the viewfinder. I fixed this in less than two minutes using a 2 mm allen key and instructions from this forum. 

So, I wouldn't worry too much about it. 

Awesome, encouraging! Thank you!

Very much looking forward to getting mine.. I guess in Octobre. 

[ianman]

2 hours ago, Leon Berg said:

My dream would have been the black MP without meter, as absurd as it may sound to some people. 

But it also was too glossy for me

Isn't that a perfect description of a black M-A?

[a.noctilux]

Maybe Leon wants black paint M-A (as one like @wattsy's, if I recall this well) ?

 

Anyway, I wrote this kind of thing (nonsense ?)

 

Edited August 10, 2021 by a.noctilux

[Leon Berg]

vor 34 Minuten schrieb ianman:

Isn't that a perfect description of a black M-A?

You’re actually right 😂

didn’t like the too modern, digital Leica look on it though. I mean, it is gorgeous, but if I get to pick, the silver one is just a tad more my taste, also because of the leather.. hard decision.

[a.noctilux]

This one here seems to be black painted, just saw this in the M-A thread

to ask if @benqui can confirm this

 

[Vlad Soare]

6 minutes ago, a.noctilux said:

Anyway, I wrote this kind of thing (nonsense ?)

I wouldn't call it nonsense, it's actually a perfectly accurate statement.
However, while they may technically take the same pictures, the way you feel when you take those pictures could be different.

[a.noctilux]

10 minutes ago, Leon Berg said:

You’re actually right 😂

didn’t like the too modern, digital Leica look on it though. I mean, it is gorgeous, but if I get to pick, the silver one is just a tad more my taste, also because of the leather.. hard decision.

Same for me leather difference is not so huge in hand, gripping is as good for each M-A, mainly with add-on grip 14405.

Edited August 10, 2021 by a.noctilux

[ianman]

1 hour ago, Leon Berg said:

didn’t like the too modern, digital Leica look on it though.

I'm not sure what you mean. If there is a camera with a classic Leica body look it is the M-A.

I don't really know why but the lack of the frameline illuminator window on the latest digitals make them look weird. Expecially the M240 without the cut out on the left side... it looks like a brick... yukch!!

 

[Leon Berg]

vor 1 Minute schrieb ianman:

I'm not sure what you mean. If there is a camera with a classic Leica body look it is the M-A.

I don't really know why but the lack of the frameline illuminator window on the latest digitals make them look weird. Expecially the M240 without the cut out on the left side... it looks like a brick... yukch!!

 

It is the combination of leather and black chrome that makes it look like the monochrom. That’s what I meant.

but of course it is still a wonderful and beautiful camera. Could have been designed by an artist from Seoul or Tokyo .. somehow my phantasy 😂

that’s why the decision hasn’t finally been made. I will get mine in Octobre. 

[benqui]

Do not worry about being discreet when you take of photos. In times of smartphone photography, you are not discreet anymore, independent of your cameras look. And to put your mind at rest, I never had any flaws with my M-A and I use it a lot! Hope you will enjoy yours as I enjoy mine!

Edited August 11, 2021 by benqui

[Leon Berg]

vor 28 Minuten schrieb benqui:

Do not worry about being discreet when you take of photos. In times of smartphone photography, you are not discreet anymore, independent of your cameras look. And to put your mind at rest, I never had any flaws with my M-A and I use it a lot! Hope you will enjoy yours as I enjoy mine!

Posts like me keep me happy 😃 

Soon soon soon ☺️

[Leon Berg]

Also writing that for people who are searching for the right answer to their search:

I was fully absorbed by the idea of having a camera that both has an increase in value as well as is for use. The MP was sold to me like that and I was never quite sure how much to really stress it. Which is stupid!

I have dreamed (exaggerating here) about Leica for about 10 years since I first got aware of it and I am a user since last December. Since then I have learned to develop and enlarge and never used a digital camera again. I am so happy and fulfilled with that.

But I have to admit, that I couldn’t get the collectors perspective out of my head, also the need to own and use a brand new Leica. It’s completely irrational bullshit. 
But as I said, it absorbed me.

 

Now I am deciding for the first choice I made when I first found out about new Leica film cameras. The most stripped down model. And in chrom.

Also not caring about value in price but value in joy and memories. Very kitsch, I know. 😃

Edited August 11, 2021 by Leon Berg

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[kivis]

A black chrome M-A suits me fine.

[ianman]

On 8/11/2021 at 7:33 PM, Leon Berg said:

Also not caring about value in price but value in joy and memories. Very kitsch, I know. 😃

Not at all. It’s so refreshing to read about someone who is buying their dream “once in a lifetime” camera without constantly worrying about the resell value which makes no sense at all.