MP vs M-A

[poli]

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9 hours ago, BigBabyEarl said:

 

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I like that it comes with a hotshoe cover. I am still looking for a nice hotshoe cover for my black chrome M-A en silver M-A. Havent found something decent yet. 

 

[Vlad Soare]

5 hours ago, poli said:

I am still looking for a nice hotshoe cover for my black chrome M-A en silver M-A. Havent found something decent yet. 

These look promising:

https://www.japancamerahunter.com/product/hotshoe-cover-for-leica-m-cameras/

http://www.kantocamera.com/english/shoecover/shoecover_en.html

I haven't seen them in the flesh. I was just searching for some nice covers and happened to stumble upon them.

Edited June 16, 2022 by Vlad Soare

[Huss]

8 hours ago, poli said:

I like that it comes with a hotshoe cover. I am still looking for a nice hotshoe cover for my black chrome M-A en silver M-A. Havent found something decent yet. 

 

https://www.popflash.com/accessories/leica-m10-p-metal-black-hot-shoe-cover-usa-new-fits-all-leica-digital-m-cameras/

Check with them to see if it also fits the M-A.

[logan2z]

There's also these, but they're plastic (yuck):

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1338026-REG/match_technical_leica_cap_leica_hot_shoe_cap.html

I've emailed popflash to ask about compatibility of the Leica cover with the M-A.  That looks to be the best of the bunch.

[logan2z]

 

14 minutes ago, logan2z said:

There's also these, but they're plastic (yuck):

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1338026-REG/match_technical_leica_cap_leica_hot_shoe_cap.html

I've emailed popflash to ask about compatibility of the Leica cover with the M-A.  That looks to be the best of the bunch.

I heard back from Popflash (they respond fast!).  Unfortunately, the cover will not work with the M-A/MP since both of those have a screw in the hotshoe that prevents the covers from fitting.  They recommended the Match Technical cover that I linked to above since that has a notch for the screw. - Leica's own covers don't 🤦‍♂️

Edited June 16, 2022 by logan2z

[a.noctilux]

This one from B&H would do

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This one from Popflash would not work with M-A without the cut-outs for screw and one end corner

 

Edited June 16, 2022 by a.noctilux

[intangiblethings]

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I ordered the Kanto one. It's pretty simple, no frills and gets the job done. It was a tight fit on my MP and brassed immediately upon taking it off, but probably due to the low clearance into the hotshoe. 

http://www.kantocamera.com/english/shoecover/shoecover_en.html

[poli]

Thank you all

[knopfler1976]

On 9/1/2019 at 4:41 AM, sicko said:

Greetings- first post here. 

I am aiming to attain my first Leica shortly and am absolutely intent on it being brand new, thus only having two options; MP and M-A. 

At first I was absolutely certain I'd go the M-A route- the idea of it being 100% fully mechanical and so great looking in the black chrome sold me; that it had a slightly brighter viewfinder was a bonus. Then I checked myself and realized that I'd be absolutely lost without a meter. Shooting DSLR's my entire life, I've little to no idea about exposure. And although I shoot manual all the time, having the ability to view whatever I shoot and dial exposure into my liking is a luxury that's obviously not available on film. Sunny 16 is certainly learnable, but I'm sure there are tricky scenarios where even it isn't infallible. Of course there's also the option of carrying around a meter or mounting one on the hot shoe- not a problem. Now I'm sure several folks are ready to chime in with the beloved "MP becomes M-A when no battery" statement, but of course I'm well aware of that already. I really love the concept of fully mechanical, no electronics anywhere. I then read about the shutter advance issue plaguing some M-A's, which is truly worrisome when considering the cost of it (€4350!... for a mechanical 35mm body). Further, the whole plugged battery compartment thing cheapens it, imo- I'm sure others will agree. I'm also worried about how the matte black chrome ages- perhaps someone who's owned one for a while could comment? Some of the used examples on eBay have wear that I'd associate with much older cameras- is it easy to inflict damage on this finish? 

Then there is the issue of economics. I'm not strapped for cash, but I'm also not wealthy by any means. This Leica purchase is merely an indulgence that I'm treating myself to after some rough times. I've budgeted for either of the bodies and a nice lens, most likely a used Lux 50 ASPH. Why mention money at all? Well, I was searching through eBay listings (both current and completed) and noticed that MP's seem to retain value much better than the M-A, as well that silver MP's and M-A's tend to go for more than their black counterparts, sometimes by quite a lot. As I intend for this to be a life-long companion, I wish not to let such matters cloud my decision-making ability, but having the ability to see this information has slightly tainted my desire to go for the black M-A, which sells for substantially less than any of the other contenders. I wonder why this is- can anyone on here perhaps hazard a guess? Economics also play into this in another regard... the MP is only €100 more than the M-A, making the decision all the more tougher to make, since they are essentially priced the exact same. 

Of course I'm way overthinking this- it's just a camera body after all-, but I really want to make a decision which I'll feel good about and not regret. 

For those of you who own (or have owned) both, I would love to hear about your experience and how you found the overall quality of the two to compare. They are both handmade high quality German cameras, but there are undoubtedly still some variances in quality. I'm talking about more than the M-A having a metal ISO dial... that's irrelevant to me, frankly... I mean more broadly how did you find the two to compare? 

Thank you in advance- you are an ever-knowledgable lot whose wisdom I aim to gain on this matter.

Soon you will see me posting images taken on my new Leica. 

 

hey, I understand your concern but I mostly shoot my M-A with Sunny 16 except when it's twilight moments where I use iPhone app to meter the scene. I don't shoot M-A at night. For indoors I just remove the 64x ND on my Summilux 28mm and keep the shutter (250 for ISO 400, 125 for ISO 160). So far there hasn't been really that many shots that I felt lost due to "wrong exposure". Film has a much higher tolerance in exposure that you really shouldn't worry about it. 

Ultimately M-A represents total freedom for me. I don't need to think about batteries or charging. I judge shutter speed by experiences and the lab picks up whatever is deficient in my decision making. There's nothing more liberating than shooting an entirely mechanical rangefinder and I highly recommend it!

[malligator]

I know the OP is long gone, but since this thread has a life of its own I'll post my initial assessment of my MP here...

(excuse the rambling stream of consciences)

I picked it up a couple of days ago. My initial inspection and function check worked out just fine. The frame counter works, the shutter speeds sound fine, the ISO dial feels great, and the meter seems to work (compared to my Sekonic). I haven't finished the first roll yet, but there might be some tightness on the rewind compared to my M-A. We'll see.

I'm surprised at how different the MP feels compared to my almost two year old M-A. That's not a criticism. The MP is an absolutely gorgeous camera in its own right, but it's not just an M-A with a meter.

The MP is shinier, softer, and warmer to the touch. The black paint is painfully beautiful. That said--and I hate to say this because lots of people have listed it as a concern--it does feel and sound more hollow. I see that as a difference from the M-A, not a negative in and of itself. The MP feels great--just different. It feels lighter than the M-A, but it's actually 20g heavier. Not that 20g matters, but it was a surprise. Finally, the shutter release does feel different, but it doesn't feel like there are two distinct stages. I just feels a little longer overall than the M-A release.

Basically, the M-A feels like an SUV that you can take to the track and the MP feels like a hand built sports car you can take off-roading.

 

[RayD28]

I think the first step of resistance with the shutter release let’s you know the meter is on. The second is when the shutter releases.  Others may have better insight. 
 

Any way, thanks for your first impressions, and happy shooting. 

[250swb]

1 hour ago, malligator said:

The MP is shinier, softer, and warmer to the touch. The black paint is painfully beautiful. That said--and I hate to say this because lots of people have listed it as a concern--it does feel and sound more hollow. I see that as a difference from the M-A, not a negative in and of itself. The MP feels great--just different. It feels lighter than the M-A, but it's actually 20g heavier. Not that 20g matters, but it was a surprise. Finally, the shutter release does feel different, but it doesn't feel like there are two distinct stages. I just feels a little longer overall than the M-A release.

Basically, the M-A feels like an SUV that you can take to the track and the MP feels like a hand built sports car you can take off-roading.

 

OMG, the mystical BS is alive and well after all these years of the simple decision being do you want a meter or don't you!

[malligator]

26 minutes ago, 250swb said:

OMG, the mystical BS is alive and well after all these years of the simple decision being do you want a meter or don't you!

I have both. There are tangible (non-mystical) differences. I gave my opinion on those tangible (non-mystical) differences. Why are you always so rude?

[IkarusJohn]

49 minutes ago, malligator said:

I have both. There are tangible (non-mystical) differences. I gave my opinion on those tangible (non-mystical) differences. Why are you always so rude?

I guess the scepticism comes from the fact that the cameras are fundamentally identical, with the omission of the meter.  

When the M-A was released, someone took the leather off, and there was much disgust and derision over the fact that the battery hole in the MP chassis had just been welded over for the M-A.  I love my M-A - it’s just perfect, but it really isn’t different in any real sense from the MP I briefly owned except for the meter, and I guess the white dot on the shutter curtain, the shutter release, the A setting on the shutter dial and the little red dots in the rangefinder.

There is variation between batches, and individual cameras as a result of the cameras being hand assembled, but I doubt there is really any significant difference between the two models - almost 100% of the M-A is in the MP …

Edited June 18, 2022 by IkarusJohn

[250swb]

37 minutes ago, malligator said:

Why are you always so rude?

Always so rude? Please expand.

[malligator]

5 minutes ago, IkarusJohn said:

I guess the scepticism comes from the fact that the cameras are fundamentally identical, with the omission of the meter.  

When the M-A was released, someone took the leather off, and there was much disgust and derision over the fact that the battery hole in the MP chassis had just been welded over for the M-A.  I love my M-A - it’s just perfect, but it really isn’t different in any real sense from the MP I briefly owned except for the meter, and I guess the white dot on the shutter curtain, the shutter release, the A setting on the shutter dial and the little red dots in the rangefinder.

There is variation between batches, and individual cameras as a result of the cameras being hand assembled, but I doubt there is really any significant difference between the two models - almost 100% of the M-A is in the MP …

I’m just as surprised as anyone else. That doesn’t change what I see and feel.

[Ouroboros]

8 hours ago, malligator said:

I’m just as surprised as anyone else. That doesn’t change what I see and feel.

What I see and feel between my son’s new M-A and my somewhat older MP is simply that the shutter actuation sound of his M-A is perceptibly more ‘hollow’ and the frame lines are unbroken.

The real considerations are simply down to whether you want a built in meter, which type of frame lines and which finish appeals more. Both are fine cameras and you have the assurance that as long as film is to be had both can potentially last a lifetime and share many adventures with you.

Buy one of each!

[Vlad Soare]

Even though the cameras themselves are supposed to be identical, the shutter of my M-A sounds a bit different from that of my wife's MP. Both cameras are new. Her MP sounds a bit softer, mellower, more in line with what people who haven't use Leicas imagine a Leica should sound like. But the difference is minute, barely detectable, and could very well be the result of variations in the manual build process rather than an actual design characteristic.

 

Edited June 19, 2022 by Vlad Soare

[Matlock]

12 hours ago, IkarusJohn said:

 but it really isn’t different in any real sense from the MP I briefly owned except for the meter, and I guess the white dot on the shutter curtain, the shutter release, the A setting on the shutter dial and the little red dots in the rangefinder.

 

I take you mean the B/OFF setting rather than A setting.

 

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[Huss]

On 6/18/2022 at 2:09 PM, malligator said:

I have both. There are tangible (non-mystical) differences. I gave my opinion on those tangible (non-mystical) differences. Why are you always so rude?

The black paint finish on my MP does feel warmer/stickier/softer to the touch than the black chrome on my MA.  It's why the BP wears so quickly, and intentionally so.

I actually prefer the black chrome but either is so awesome that it really doesn't matter to me.  As for differences in sound?  I think that's just production tolerance differences.  I had two M3s, they sounded slightly different.  My two M7s sound slightly different from each other etc.  You really have to pay extremely close attention to hear it, so frankly it's a bit silly!

I will say for hollow sounding/feeling, my M5 takes that prize... that is an obvious difference to the regular Ms.