MP vs M-A

[a.noctilux]

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Thinking of this photography related things,

I may add that this was once for so long (decades) vital for me as pretexts for travel/promenade/motorcyclings/etc.

 

Now with age, I'm not depending on photography to do things I want, I just do without pretexts, now and never been happier & feeling free.

Even results from photography have far less important than before.

 

Not long ago, I didn't know who was Winogrand.

Now I understand him better why so many thousands rolls of films not processed,

for him taking photos was vital (not depending on results).

 

Having ten rolls of film in pocket to be used before coming home must be 'kind of stellar experience' 😏

Edited August 14, 2021 by a.noctilux

[logan2z]

1 hour ago, Leon Berg said:

I consider having an M4 next to the M-A. 

Great combo.  I have an M4 and an M-A and enjoy using both.  

[Leon Berg]

vor 53 Minuten schrieb a.noctilux:

Thinking of this photography related things,

I may add that this was once for so long (decades) vital for me as pretexts for travel/promenade/motorcyclings/etc.

 

Now with age, I'm not depending on photography to do things I want, I just do without pretexts, now and never been happier & feeling free.

Even results from photography have far less important than before.

 

Not long ago, I didn't know who was Winogrand.

Now I understand him better why so many thousands rolls of films not processed,

for him taking photos was vital (not depending on results).

 

Having ten rolls of film in pocket to be used before coming home must be 'kind of stellar experience' 😏

Absolutely agree and feel what you’re saying. I think, I do. 

[a.noctilux]

I'd add that a good lens or kit of lenses is (are) far more important for me than good M cameras.

Like here as good Summarit-M 2.5 lenses which I discovered recently used with very old M2 couple

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posted some time ago

here

 

[Leon Berg]

Hello everyone. 

The man who offered me his CLAed M4 called again and told me I can have it, 

so I took it for an incredibly good deal (compared to todays prices)

The M-A will have to wait but I will get one after the next jobs.

Two bodies would be great anyways. 

[Vlad Soare]

🥳

[a.noctilux]

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👌lucky you Leon.

Maybe you would not want M-A anymore ?

Enjoy the best classic M4.

[Leon Berg]

vor 22 Minuten schrieb a.noctilux:

👌lucky you Leon.

Maybe you would not want M-A anymore ?

Enjoy the best classic M4.

Yes yes! The M-A is my bigger goal

Will get it after the next couple of jobs, saving up.

but it might be end of the year or beginning of the next. Looking forward. 
 

The M-A is the perfect one for me, has everything I need and want, framelines wise, quick load mechanism and the old look. 
 

I couldn’t resist getting the M4 now because it was with CLA with warranty and looks almost like new. Very happy with the decision. 
It also has a couple of benefits.

but M-A is king  

[rossawilson1]

I bought an M-A a week ago, black, my first thoughts, it being a second camera to my M6, was that it had a kind off hollow shutter clunk, the top plate also felt oddly hollow by comparison. Don't get me wrong, a really nice camera and the finder is beautiful, but I'm selling it on eBay soon as I finally got hold of a new black MP. I think the lack of meter was a bigger problem for me in the end. It's also quite a modern finish by comparison to everything else film M. Im sure it'll suit some down to the ground, a new mechanic modern M. Also been pining after an MP since they came out. You can't really go wrong with any M as long as it's working but I really would say the small differences do make a really big difference with regard to preference! 

[wattsy]

13 hours ago, rossawilson1 said:

I bought an M-A a week ago, black, my first thoughts, it being a second camera to my M6, ...  the top plate also felt oddly hollow by comparison....

Maybe you can feel the missing electronics or it is the difference between brass and zinc? Can't say I've ever had a hollow feeling when it comes to my Leica M top plates.

[poli]

Also looking at the m-a. Bit ran intro a very mint m4-p with cla. Different looks, but in some respects very m-a like (frame lines). Will save quite some money… so I am on the fence…

[Matlock]

3 minutes ago, poli said:

Also looking at the m-a. Bit ran intro a very mint m4-p with cla. Different looks, but in some respects very m-a like (frame lines). Will save quite some money… so I am on the fence…

If it is in good order, which it seems to be, you won't go far wrong with an M4-P

 

 

Edited August 20, 2021 by Matlock

[a.noctilux]

5 minutes ago, poli said:

Also looking at the m-a. Bit ran intro a very mint m4-p with cla. Different looks, but in some respects very m-a like (frame lines). Will save quite some money… so I am on the fence…

You are right, M-A framelines are almost the same as M4-P's.

M4-P has better (?) rewind crank in place of solid button of M-A.

Wind-on plastic (more comfort for me) articulate when in need ...

 

When in use at adverse lighting or dark area, the M-A finder (clear, contrasty) makes the huge difference with older M.

 

Edited August 20, 2021 by a.noctilux

[poli]

4 minutes ago, a.noctilux said:

When in use at adverse lighting or dark area, the M-A finder (clear, contrasty) makes the huge difference with older M.

It is one of the reasons why I am in doubt. oh the other hand, i have a m10-d for low light…  

Plus there is something to say for getting a new camera. Just mine with my personal history to have for years to come. Although that does not sound very rational 🙃

Edited August 20, 2021 by poli

[a.noctilux]

Rationality has no place in my Leica M choices.

Some oddities (not to tell everybody ! 😞

- why I do keep non functioning M4 and M3 ?

- why I still have (use sometimes) two functioning M4-P ?

- and some other odd Leica M or LTM ( mystery ? ), and even more lenses ?

 

@poli, M4-P has this nice feeling when in hand with the real vulcanite that I would like to have on M-A !

the slotted shutter (near 4) button from M-A imitation from M4 and M4-P,

even the rear door with 'to be written ISO' (or other useful inscriptions) is something else.

 

Edited August 20, 2021 by a.noctilux

[Leon Berg]

vor 16 Stunden schrieb rossawilson1:

I bought an M-A a week ago, black, my first thoughts, it being a second camera to my M6, was that it had a kind off hollow shutter clunk, the top plate also felt oddly hollow by comparison. Don't get me wrong, a really nice camera and the finder is beautiful, but I'm selling it on eBay soon as I finally got hold of a new black MP. I think the lack of meter was a bigger problem for me in the end. It's also quite a modern finish by comparison to everything else film M. Im sure it'll suit some down to the ground, a new mechanic modern M. Also been pining after an MP since they came out. You can't really go wrong with any M as long as it's working but I really would say the small differences do make a really big difference with regard to preference! 

My black paint MP had the same hollow feel, that you describe compared to my M6. I had them side by side, sold the MP then.

now have the M4. Will have it next week and report how it feels if you like. 
 

[Mute-on]

19 minutes ago, Leon Berg said:

My black paint MP had the same hollow feel, that you describe compared to my M6. I had them side by side, sold the MP then.

now have the M4. Will have it next week and report how it feels if you like. 
 

This is a very interesting impression, since ‘hollow’ is precisely the word I used when I first compared my MP to my M2, and I’ve owned both for well over 10 years. There is some difference in perceived density in the hand in favour of the M2 over the MP. It’s slight, but noticeable.  
 

Overall, both cameras still feel fantastic to me, though. Glad I have the MP. 

Edited August 20, 2021 by Mute-on

[Leon Berg]

vor 20 Minuten schrieb Mute-on:

This is a very interesting impression, since ‘hollow’ is precisely the word I used when I first compared my MP to my M2, and I’ve owned both for well over 10 years. There is some difference in perceived density in the hand in favour of the M2 over the MP. It’s slight, but noticeable.  
 

Overall, both cameras still feel fantastic to me, though. Glad I have the MP. 

The MP was of course the best I had

had the M6 for 4 months, overlapping the M3 for one month, sold both in favor of the MP, which was a great deal, but too beautiful to me.. also wanted no lightmeter at all after the M3.

considered buying a new a M-A, which is for me the perfect camera, if it works properly and you get the chance to get a flawless one (very subjective, isn’t it what makes it that..)

Then again, a M4 crossed my path and since it was a bargain (for today’s prices), came CLAed and with warranty, I went for it. 

At some point I want a second body. Not sure if I save up for the M-A or go for a CLAed M2. 

in the German Leica forum someone told me, the M4 is the last built to last camera .. I am sure, you’re heard - about these stories 😅😅😅

anyhow. Two bodies for me would be great, not a must, but good to have. 
 

whatever it is, enjoy your MP or M-A.

my MP had a problem with the mount, I had to send it in and after that it worked perfectly. 
 

still prefer a chrome M-A.

or black paint M-A. 😅

[kivis]

Reminder: These M's are all great cameras. Get what you want but don't let GAS get the better of you as it has gotten me many times in the past. Ask yourself do you want to have an expensive gear hobby or do you want to take great photos? (I could never answer that question).🤑

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[rossawilson1]

22 hours ago, wattsy said:

Maybe you can feel the missing electronics or it is the difference between brass and zinc? Can't say I've ever had a hollow feeling when it comes to my Leica M top plates.

That's what I thought that it was missing electronics, it's not the difference between brass and zinc as the MP is brass and my M6 is zinc and neither feel hollow in the same way as the M-A. 

I only brought it up because some here have said the MP and M-A are feel wise identical which is not true, if I had known that then I could have saved myself hassle buying the M-A and having to sell it. I really did feel underwhelmed with the M-A, and when I got the MP it felt really special. The M-A to me is a film digital M, same finish, similar modern feel. But it is a very different feel to older Ms. 

Anyway it's a very minor difference, I only noticed it because the M6 has been my main camera for 16 years now, so I was bound to notice something, all that said if I'd continued with the M-A I'd have grown to love it, at the end of the day it's about photography, just throwing in my observations.