Considering Leica M-A/M-P, concerns about quality, needs help

[mediumformula]

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5 minutes ago, ianman said:

Neither, it's more like 180 grit sand paper. Hideous stuff.

 

Interesting!  That makes me feel better about getting the "a la carte" one with real leather.  Offsets my feeling some about having it sent back to Germany...

[logan2z]

5 hours ago, ianman said:

Neither, it's more like 180 grit sand paper. Hideous stuff.

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Strange.  The leather on my three year old M-A feels nice and soft.  I would have thought that the MP and M-A used the same materials.

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[JimmyCheng]

18 minutes ago, logan2z said:

Strange.  The leather on my three year old M-A feels nice and soft.  I would have thought that the MP and M-A used the same materials.

According to my research, they do offer different wrapping materials and the M-A one is closer to the elder Leica models.

[mole73]

vor 7 Stunden schrieb a.noctilux:

Factory M-P (silver x0.85, BP x0.72) as I had them were covered with slippy fine grain leatherette (I think kind of vinyle ).

When I had M6 titanium coated, the covering must be calf leather ostrich "grain" imitation.

A bit different from the "grain" above 😉

 

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Nice M6! 👍

The ostrich style on your M6 is real leather.

[mole73]

vor 7 Stunden schrieb ianman:

Neither, it's more like 180 grit sand paper. Hideous stuff.

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Is the Summilux the special black paint version?

If so I have the same combo! Its my all time favorite combo 😊

[logan2z]

2 hours ago, JimmyCheng said:

According to my research, they do offer different wrapping materials and the M-A one is closer to the elder Leica models.

Thanks for the info, I assumed they were the same. 

Edited March 3, 2020 by logan2z

[earleygallery]

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On 3/2/2020 at 4:40 AM, JimmyCheng said:

Hi all, this is my first post on this forum (though I do come here and read a post or two every now and then), and I'd really like some input regarding the quality of recent Leica Film bodies.

I have recently acquired a Leica M2 (late version) and started shooting film for the first time in my life! and I love it!

That being said, I am considering obtain a second body (since the m2 is already way older than me and may need frequent service), which ideally can last a bit longer without service.

Could you guys please give me some advice regarding this very important purchasing decision? Thanks in Advance.

Jimmy

You've only recently bought an M2 and started shooting film and you are already thinking of buying a new Leica because you think your M2 is too old to use regularly?

Stop. 

If your M2 is working fine right now just use it - best 'service' for any mechanical cameras is regular use. If you're so worried send it off for a full service/CLA, then you know it should be good to go for another 20-50 years (how old are you?!). 

Buy another M used body and you may well end up having to get it serviced anyway. Buy a new one and, well, you can't go far wrong, but think of all the film and processing you could pay for instead?! 

Just enjoy the M2 is my advice, for now at least.

[JimmyCheng]

11 minutes ago, earleygallery said:

You've only recently bought an M2 and started shooting film and you are already thinking of buying a new Leica because you think your M2 is too old to use regularly?

Stop. 

If your M2 is working fine right now just use it - best 'service' for any mechanical cameras is regular use. If you're so worried send it off for a full service/CLA, then you know it should be good to go for another 20-50 years (how old are you?!). 

Buy another M used body and you may well end up having to get it serviced anyway. Buy a new one and, well, you can't go far wrong, but think of all the film and processing you could pay for instead?! 

Just enjoy the M2 is my advice, for now at least.

That's the most sensible answer here I guess, I will do exactly this!!! 

Rather, I am thinking of getting a scanner for my negs, do you have any suggestions? I heard plustek is pretty good? How does it compare to lab developed photos. (I mainly shoot color btw, portra 160,400)

[Steve Ricoh]

4 minutes ago, JimmyCheng said:

That's the most sensible answer here I guess, I will do exactly this!!! 

Rather, I am thinking of getting a scanner for my negs, do you have any suggestions? I heard plustek is pretty good? How does it compare to lab developed photos. (I mainly shoot color btw, portra 160,400)

I use a Plustek 8100 Ai (model numbers differ to reflect bundled Silverfast) and I’m happy with the output provided. But I suppose it depends on your purpose, ie web or printing, and what size.

Also use a Beoon which is much faster, taking about 10 minutes to scan a roll of 36, compared to a couple of hours using the Plustek.  

[earleygallery]

45 minutes ago, JimmyCheng said:

That's the most sensible answer here I guess, I will do exactly this!!! 

Rather, I am thinking of getting a scanner for my negs, do you have any suggestions? I heard plustek is pretty good? How does it compare to lab developed photos. (I mainly shoot color btw, portra 160,400)

I use an Epson flatbed (mine is an older model but the latest equivalent is the V850. I've made up to A3 prints from the scans and I've been happy with them. 

[ianman]

10 hours ago, mediumformula said:

That makes me feel better about getting the "a la carte" one with real leather.

It costs enough as it is. It could have pink wrapping paper for all I care.

[ianman]

5 hours ago, JimmyCheng said:

According to my research

Looking at the photos on the Leica website should do the trick.

[ianman]

3 hours ago, mole73 said:

Is the Summilux the special black paint version?

I believe it's "a" special version. I got it second-hand. The box number tells me it's a 11 623. I don't know a lot about the special editions but I believe it's similar to one released as set (Millenium edition?) with an M6 and 35mm Summilux.

Although not my favourite, it is a lens that I wouldn't want to part with (open to offers though 😇). The 28mm Summaron is always either on this or my M9.

[a.noctilux]

Funny,

coverings * of M-A that I see on mines ( and on line untill now ) are as nice as can be and I don't need them to be replaced.

Coverings of MP are of so many different varieties seen on line that I think most users were not satisfied with the stock MP covering.

When I had MPs, I just use them as they came with the stock covering that I found a bit slippy but nice in use as usual, visually 'slick'.

 

* two types of "graininess" covering on M-A, each as comfortable in use and grip :

- Monochrom type of grain on black chrome

- on silver chrome, more common "flat grain style" seen on most digital M

 

 

[wattsy]

I don't have an MP nowadays but I rather liked the covering that comes on it as standard. Looks good too IMO – the matt finish of the covering makes for a nice contrast with the ultra shiny black paint. I've said it here before but I do think that the MP, in its bog standard guise, is a real design classic and the best looking of Leica's modern cameras (at least if you ignore the non-matching 'paint' of the back door and the cheapo ISO selector).

[Ouroboros]

I fiddled around with the a la carte creator for a while before I bought my MP in 2006 and each time I came back to my preference for the standard .72 MP in black lacquer.  I like the standard covering and the iso selector dial and matt finish on the back door seems to be more of an issue for other people than myself.  As Wattsy says above, I also think the standard MP is a design classic.

If I were trying to choose between buying a new MP or M-A today, I would still choose the standard .72 MP purely on it's unique finish.  If the M-A came with the same black lacquer and covering, my final decision might be different. 

[benqui]

Am ‎02‎.‎03‎.‎2020 um 19:20 schrieb Topsy:

You're right it is the same as 2 of my M9s but this one is again modified by a previous owner and I like it too.

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This is a very good camera porn! Looks great!

[comte de Mazan]

On 3/3/2020 at 8:14 AM, mole73 said:

Is the Summilux the special black paint version?

If so I have the same combo! Its my all time favorite combo 😊

 

[comte de Mazan]

On 3/3/2020 at 12:39 AM, ianman said:

Neither, it's more like 180 grit sand paper. Hideous stuff.

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For me, the leatherette of the MP is beautiful, perfectly matched to the camera design, and  very good in hand. Thank you Leica!

 

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[HeliFish]

At the turn of the century, I was on a mountain at some 10,000ft and was hit by a massive thunderstorm. Tent, sleeping bag sodden and thereafter weighed a ton. Wallet and credit cards went down the river somewhere and my M3 ended up in the water close by, too heavy to be washed away. Took it to the agent, who dried it out and serviced it. It still works like a dream.