M-A repurposed MP body?

[Helge]

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I was referring to the reported viewfinder issue in the post before, not to the later explained issue with the missing disc/battery hole cover.

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[Huss]

On 12/25/2021 at 1:46 PM, 250swb said:

I had no idea this thread had become so exciting.

I'd just like to point out the world is not as perfect as many people with their heads in the clouds like to believe. I already knew that Rolex make extensive use of Zenith movements, but recently watching 'The Grand Tour- Carnage A Trois' (a motoring programme for intellectuals) I discovered that Rolls Royce licensed Citroen suspension for the Silver Wraith and that Aston Martin use Citroen door mirrors for one of their production cars. From personal experience the switches in my Toyota are the same switches in a Lexus, albeit cheaper than Lexus if you want to buy a replacement. I had an old Alfa Romeo and it's replacement Carello sidelight was an expensive £35, the very same light is used on a Ferrari 250GTO and a replacement is £250 if you shop 'Ferrari'. So buying quality items doesn't mean you are getting any better quality, often you are flattered into paying more. And we know that everything branded 'Leica' is not made inhouse by specially trained craftsmen but people banging stuff out on a production line many miles (often Continents) away.

And the incredible suspension on the latest Ferraris?  That is based on the adaptive Magnetic Ride Control licensed from Chevrolet/GM

Edited February 28, 2022 by Huss

[aesop]

On 1/18/2020 at 4:01 PM, Landiah said:

The M-A somehow becomes less desirable if these cameras share the same body. 

 

     ...I'm sorry but this is still beyond hilarious (battery cavity concerns notwithstanding). Thanks for the mirth.

S.

 

[fededuran]

So I finally received my second M-A and, as expected, it is a gorgeous piece of art. I have never hold in my hands such a beautiful camera. No hole, no camouflaged M-P body.

Things get interesting now. As a 50mm photographer, never doubted that my first choice was going to be the 50mm summilux. Very special rendering, in my opinion, so another home run. My kit will be very simple: one step wider and one above 50. Portraiture is what I normally do, so on the tele side I have no hesitations: it will be the CV 75mm 1.5 nokton. 

But, what about the 35s? I have read good and less good things about the FLE lux. Given its price (+1.000 euros over its 50 sibling), I'm thinking of an alternative: a double CV purchase, being 1.2 nokton + 1.7 ultron -or 2 ultron or 2 Apo. Endless debate, I now. I just wish the 35 decision would've been as easy as it is with 50 & 75 lenses. 

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated. 

[Helge]

vor 25 Minuten schrieb fededuran:

So I finally received my second M-A and, as expected, it is a gorgeous piece of art. I have never hold in my hands such a beautiful camera. No hole, no camouflaged M-P body.

….

Good news!

It is still the same body as the MP, just no electronics and slightly different frame lines, and (most important) no hole in the front, they covered it now correctly!

Congrats!

[fededuran]

Just now, Helge said:

Good news!

It is still the same body as the MP, just no electronics and slightly different frame lines, and (most important) no hole in the front, they covered it now correctly!

Congrats!

Thanks, sir. I know, I know. I just wanted to forget that awful hole. Mission accomplished. 

[user770]

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Hello Guys,

A few weeks ago, I visited Leica shop in Madrid with intention to buy a silver M-A.
On showcase black model I noticed this hole issue on the body (store consultant said that is because of using the same body as on MP model).

I am not sure if it is right/acceptable to have this issue on a new camera, so I am still deciding which model should I go with (MP or M2 or try to find a good quality M-A body).

Thanks

[a.noctilux]

@user770,

very simple indeed,

if you ask, this M-A (or other M-A) is not for you.

Choose M2 or MP, then.

[IkarusJohn]

1 hour ago, user770 said:

Hello Guys,

A few weeks ago, I visited Leica shop in Madrid with intention to buy a silver M-A.
On showcase black model I noticed this hole issue on the body (store consultant said that is because of using the same body as on MP model).

I am not sure if it is right/acceptable to have this issue on a new camera, so I am still deciding which model should I go with (MP or M2 or try to find a good quality M-A body).

Thanks

Leica makes two film cameras - one with a meter, the other without.  Otherwise identical.  Surely, you would expect the common parts to be the same?

So, all the chassis will be built to take the MP meter, electronics and battery.  The M-A will have space where the electronics would have gone, and a space for the battery holder and a hole in the front.  Provided the hole in the front is filled neatly, what’s the problem?

[Guest]

11 minutes ago, IkarusJohn said:

Provided the hole in the front is filled neatly, what’s the problem?

I guess the fact that several members noticed the hole implies that is has not been filled neatly (at least in some cases).

Edited August 7, 2022 by Studienkamera

[JMF]

1 hour ago, a.noctilux said:

@user770,

very simple indeed,

if you ask, this M-A (or other M-A) is not for you.

Choose M2 or MP, then.

Arnaud,

I believe any M-A should come clean without the MP battery hole issue .
I returned my first M-A for that very reason and since then have been happy with the second one .

And I find the M-A's uncut frames/windows so nice ...

I even dream that Leica could design the LED placement in  the MP  viewfinder in a new way to share the M-A  windows with no compromise !

Cheers

Jean-Marc .

 

Edited August 8, 2022 by JMF

[IkarusJohn]

30 minutes ago, Studienkamera said:

I guess the fact that several members noticed the hole implies that is has not been filled neatly (at least in some cases).

True, but if the hole has been properly filled, there is no problem ...

The point is, though, there is nothing inherently wrong with the two cameras sharing the chassis.  Leica's quality control issues are another problem altogether, not innate to the M-A.

Like Jean-Marc, my M-A doesn't have the problem.

Edited August 8, 2022 by IkarusJohn

[logan2z]

If I look really closely at the front of my M-A, I can just make out the small circular area for the battery cover.  But it's pretty difficult to see and it seems Leica did a decent job filling the hole.  

As an analogy, do any of you own a car that had an available, optional feature that you didn't order, and now the non-existent switch to control that feature has a cover over it?  I've seen that even on high-end cars, like Porsches.  Porsche isn't going to manufacture every combination of dashboard or center console (or custom make one for every car ordered) to avoid 'holes' for unordered options, they simply leave them covered.  Leica chose to do something similar in an effort to share the same body between the MP and M-A. 

I would have been nice if Leica made one body without the battery cover and drilled out the body when building an MP.  But I assume there was a reason they went the other way.  Anyway, not a big deal IMHO and doesn't affect the quality of the M-A - unless, of course, your M-A had the hole filled sloppily.

 

[Matlock]

4 hours ago, logan2z said:

I would have been nice if Leica made one body without the battery cover and drilled out the body when building an MP.  But I assume there was a reason they went the other way.  

 

Probably because the MP predates the M-A by a fair number of years.

[logan2z]

3 hours ago, Matlock said:

Probably because the MP predates the M-A by a fair number of years.

True. I suppose they could have changed things up once the M-A was introduced, but I guess they didn't see the need. 

[StephenH]

The ideal solution would have been to use the cavity as a spare battery chamber for the MP for the photographer who has both bodies.  One would have to carry both bodies simultaneously to take advantage of this feature but at least we wouldn’t have to put up with these holes. 

[Guest]

@Landiah does it also bother you, or make it any less desirable, that it uses the same shutter mechanism, or rangefinder mechanism?

Edited August 8, 2022 by OThomas

[user770]

I think this particular type of issue (battery hole not covered properly in some cases) is not difficult to identify nowadays with a modern quality control approaches. Given that on a showcase M-A sample, it was noticeable visually. Simply, some work has not been done well.

I really like simplicity and perfection of M-A style but wondering how can I buy good quality model knowing that I can face with this hole issue on a brand-new model? Should I ask them to unpack the box before buying it to perform quality control by myself?

This creates additional difficulties for me as a customer, so probably I stick with MP model to safe my time and reduce chances to worry about it in the future.

Thanks

 

Edited August 8, 2022 by user770

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[a.noctilux]

Just in case of unluck...

Some reported "flaws" ( real or imaginated ) on MP new or older ...

Search in this forum or elsewhere.

[Matlock]

19 minutes ago, user770 said:

I think this particular type of issue (battery hole not covered properly in some cases) is not difficult to identify nowadays with a modern quality control approaches. Given that on a showcase M-A sample, it was noticeable visually. Simply, some work has not been done well.

I really like simplicity and perfection of M-A style but wondering how can I buy good quality model knowing that I can face with this hole issue on a brand-new model? Should I ask them to unpack the box before buying it to perform quality control by myself?

This creates additional difficulties for me as a customer, so probably I stick with MP model to safe my time and reduce chances to worry about it in the future.

Thanks

 

The issue is comparatively rare and, as usual, is exacerbated by the coverage it gets on forums such as this. My M-A is perfect but then I use it to take photos not sit and look at. As you say. if you are buying from a local dealer, get them to unpack it before handing over your cash.