f8low Posted April 18, 2020 Share #1 Posted April 18, 2020 Advertisement (gone after registration) I've got two question about he M-A and the four little screws it (like the M2) has in the leather on the front side: Are those screws essential to hold together the camera body or are the largely decoration / to hold the leather in place. If the leather was changed for the MP-style 'leather' (let's not fight about that), could it be possible to hide the screws as it is done on the MP? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted April 18, 2020 Posted April 18, 2020 Hi f8low, Take a look here Screws on the M-A's front. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
a.noctilux Posted April 18, 2020 Share #2 Posted April 18, 2020 (edited) 1 - Those screws do have real function of screwing inside components as seen here on the older M4 with not replaceable leatherette (vulcanite) even with one more screw at left to hold the counter reset lever Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! 2 - I have no idea as I've never need to replace the nice leather of my M-A, much nicer and not slippy as my ex MP you may ask Leica for that because the leather of MP is not the same size as M-A without battery. Edited April 18, 2020 by a.noctilux Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! 2 - I have no idea as I've never need to replace the nice leather of my M-A, much nicer and not slippy as my ex MP you may ask Leica for that because the leather of MP is not the same size as M-A without battery. ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/308668-screws-on-the-m-as-front/?do=findComment&comment=3956471'>More sharing options...
f8low Posted April 19, 2020 Author Share #3 Posted April 19, 2020 (edited) Ok, good to know. If the body of the M-A is identical to the MP (didn't somebody complain about the M-A having the cutout for the battery compartment?) then the screws should also be able to sit under whatever type of leather. I am somewhat surprised the M-A has these screws as they have gone with such a minimalist approach with the black version... Edited April 19, 2020 by rho Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomB_tx Posted April 19, 2020 Share #4 Posted April 19, 2020 Having the screws exposed makes the camera easier to service, instead of having to remove the “leather” in order to remove the body shell. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stealth3kpl Posted April 20, 2020 Share #5 Posted April 20, 2020 I like the look of the visible screws Pete 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matlock Posted April 20, 2020 Share #6 Posted April 20, 2020 Visible screws have been a feature of Leica cameras since 1925, why the fuss? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
a.noctilux Posted April 20, 2020 Share #7 Posted April 20, 2020 Advertisement (gone after registration) 59 minutes ago, Matlock said: Visible screws have been a feature of Leica cameras since 1925, why the fuss? 😉 even the mount is screw thread from 1925... Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ... To be up-to-date again a bigger screw, just in case on M10-D 😇 Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ... To be up-to-date again a bigger screw, just in case on M10-D 😇 ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/308668-screws-on-the-m-as-front/?do=findComment&comment=3957442'>More sharing options...
adan Posted April 20, 2020 Share #8 Posted April 20, 2020 A couple of points, for reference: 1) Leica film cameras are manufactured as a separate "core unit" of all the working bits, from shutter to RF to wind/rewind mechanisms. Which is then slipped into the hollow oval "tube" of a one-piece outer casing - machined brass (or zinc, in M6s) and glass windows and leatherette. The screws (along with add-ons like the top plate, dials, knobs and wind-lever) then hold the whole thing together. https://www.leica-camera.blog/2011/10/10/repair-of-a-legend/ 2) Leica calls the fine-grained leatherette texture of the MP "Sharkskin" - it was also used for the M8 digital. Apparently some people found the sharkskin texture to be too slippery (and/or non-traditional), so with the M9, Leica went back to the larger-grained texture that resembled 80 years of Vulcanite. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
f8low Posted April 20, 2020 Author Share #9 Posted April 20, 2020 Thanks @adan for this excellent explanation. I am coming from 10 years with an M2. I am not sure it has vulcanite or leatherette applied later (it feels very hard, not 'rubbery' at all) but I am definitely ready for something else should I ever again buy a new film camera... Will definitely get my hands on an M-A and MP first though... (I am not really a fan of real leather here) Regarding the replacement I'll try to ask Leica whether the Sharkskin can also be fit to an M-A... Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
a.noctilux Posted April 20, 2020 Share #10 Posted April 20, 2020 Seen this replaced leatherette on M2 with front screws ! https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/236926-i-love-my-m-a/?do=findComment&comment=3631755 https://s3h5x8b3.stackpathcdn.com/uploads/monthly_2018_11/1974883001_RTSIIITPanscan0003.jpg.0ab1e2975c0f026cd956dc766f2ac710.jpg Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
250swb Posted April 20, 2020 Share #11 Posted April 20, 2020 (edited) What do I know, but if you want a mechanical camera why try to take away its mechanical oeuvre? It's a collection of mechanical parts screwed together with screws by people, embrace it, after all it could be the last time you'll see it. Edited April 20, 2020 by 250swb Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
adan Posted April 20, 2020 Share #12 Posted April 20, 2020 (edited) 5 hours ago, adan said: - machined brass (or zinc, in M6s) and glass windows and leatherette. BTW I think I messed up here. The leatherette-covered hollow casing is probably machined steel, while the top "plate" (actually a 3D shape) and baseplate are brass (or zinc). Equally BTW, the digital M bodies are clamshell construction - front and back plates connected internally and the end seams [ ] and then "capped" top and bottom. Edited April 20, 2020 by adan Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrew01 Posted April 20, 2020 Share #13 Posted April 20, 2020 3 hours ago, adan said: BTW I think I messed up here. The leatherette-covered hollow casing is probably machined steel, while the top "plate" (actually a 3D shape) and baseplate are brass (or zinc). This prompted my curiosity so I did some research. I thought a steel shell would be unlikely as it would make the cameras a lot heavier, especially since the shell is very thick (you can see how thick when you remove the bottom plate). It turns out the shells are die-cast aluminium. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wattsy Posted April 21, 2020 Share #14 Posted April 21, 2020 (edited) 11 hours ago, adan said: The leatherette-covered hollow casing is probably machined steel, I believe it is extruded aluminium. Edited April 21, 2020 by wattsy Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PCPix Posted April 24, 2020 Share #15 Posted April 24, 2020 On 4/20/2020 at 11:53 PM, andrew01 said: It turns out the shells are die-cast aluminium. I would agree on this - one of the strap lugs pulled out of an M2 I had (during a scuffle with the apartheid police in Soweto) and a chunk of the casing broke away with the lug. The material was crystalline - indicative of casting - also relatively light and very strong, so most likely a hard-ish aluminium alloy... I had the old part on my bookshelf for years (along with a chipped visoflex pentaprism) - but they got lost in one of the moves....:-( 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
f8low Posted May 1, 2020 Author Share #16 Posted May 1, 2020 (edited) For the record and to answer my initial question: According to Leica the leather is pre-cut to the camara type and therefore you can't have MP leather on an M-A. Economically that makes a lot of sense on their end; slightly disappointing on my end 😉 Edited May 1, 2020 by rho Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
a.noctilux Posted May 1, 2020 Share #17 Posted May 1, 2020 like some say : when photographing, we don't see our camera ( or self-portrait in a mirror only, right hand would hide those front ugly screws) . Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.