Guest Posted March 19, 2022 Share #41 Posted March 19, 2022 Advertisement (gone after registration) 14 hours ago, Ouroboros said: It is now two months since he bought the first M-A and he is now on his third camera body which, so far, seems to be working properly. Fingers crossed! Hope this experience was an extreme outlier. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted March 19, 2022 Posted March 19, 2022 Hi Guest, Take a look here Build quality of New M-A. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
iPacific Posted March 19, 2022 Author Share #42 Posted March 19, 2022 On 3/18/2022 at 6:09 PM, Ouroboros said: In January this year, I gave my eldest son some money to buy a new M-A. Within a week he had to return the camera for a new replacement because his films were fogged. The cause was a hole at the top of the film cassette chamber that leaked light from the viewfinder. Within a week of receiving the replacement camera and with his first roll of film, he had to return it for a new replacement because the film wind-on action felt rough and the shutter wasn’t working correctly. The cause was a detached shutter blind. It is now two months since he bought the first M-A and he is now on his third camera body which, so far, seems to be working properly. All three cameras were dated between 1&3 weeks on the sealed outer boxes before he received them. I’ve attached images of the issues with the first two M-A bodies: 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! wow how could it ever happen lolllllllll Thanks for the information Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
a.noctilux Posted March 19, 2022 Share #43 Posted March 19, 2022 30 minutes ago, iPacific said: wow how could it ever happen lolllllllll Thanks for the information Last year, in France, one M-A buyer had two or three times "replacements" with each time different flaw. So his decision was on one digital M instead, after these so many flaws on new M-A. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huss Posted March 19, 2022 Share #44 Posted March 19, 2022 (edited) On 3/18/2022 at 3:09 AM, Ouroboros said: In January this year, I gave my eldest son some money to buy a new M-A. Within a week he had to return the camera for a new replacement because his films were fogged. The cause was a hole at the top of the film cassette chamber that leaked light from the viewfinder. Within a week of receiving the replacement camera and with his first roll of film, he had to return it for a new replacement because the film wind-on action felt rough and the shutter wasn’t working correctly. The cause was a detached shutter blind. It is now two months since he bought the first M-A and he is now on his third camera body which, so far, seems to be working properly. All three cameras were dated between 1&3 weeks on the sealed outer boxes before he received them. I’ve attached images of the issues with the first two M-A bodies: 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! That is just crazy and makes a mockery of Leica's quality check cards they include with each item. I just checked my M-A and don't understand how that hole in the film chamber could even have happened! Edited March 19, 2022 by Huss 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ktmrider2 Posted March 19, 2022 Share #45 Posted March 19, 2022 Get a classic M2, M3, or M4. The guts of an MA are probably interchangeable (according to a long time Leica dealer I was talking to last week). Any problems the older Leicas had would be taken care of by now. Use the money you saved to travel or buy film. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ouroboros Posted March 19, 2022 Share #46 Posted March 19, 2022 4 minutes ago, Huss said: That is just crazy and makes a mockery of Leica's quality check cards they include with each item. I just checked my M-A and don't understand how that hole in the film chamber could even have happened! I can only assume the hole was already in that component when the camera was being assembled. It's difficult to understand how it was missed, unless someone slipped with their screwdriver and kept quiet about it! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
IkarusJohn Posted March 19, 2022 Share #47 Posted March 19, 2022 Advertisement (gone after registration) That’s it! I’m selling all my Leica gear … okay, sorry. This isn’t good. Shit happens, but twice in a row? Hmm, hopefully someone in Leica is taking notice. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
iPacific Posted March 20, 2022 Author Share #48 Posted March 20, 2022 9 hours ago, ktmrider2 said: Get a classic M2, M3, or M4. The guts of an MA are probably interchangeable (according to a long time Leica dealer I was talking to last week). Any problems the older Leicas had would be taken care of by now. Use the money you saved to travel or buy film. Can’t travel during the COVID-19 and I brought lots of film already I love using the leicavit so M2 and M3 not my choice. The rewind crank is not that good on M4…. Hard to find a mint M4 now Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
iPacific Posted March 20, 2022 Author Share #49 Posted March 20, 2022 19 hours ago, a.noctilux said: Last year, in France, one M-A buyer had two or three times "replacements" with each time different flaw. So his decision was on one digital M instead, after these so many flaws on new M-A. I’m too lazy to shoot with digital cameras 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
a.noctilux Posted March 20, 2022 Share #50 Posted March 20, 2022 Even if I never had problem with my 2014's M-As, I DO think that older M like M4-2 or M4-P can do most of M-A can . These can accept Leicavit-M, attached rewind crank that I prefer over the "thumb hurting" add-on rewind crank (14438 that I added to M-A from my ex MP days). Nowaday, with so many reported M-A's flaws from new, I'd buy while waiting better time these working M4-2/M4-P AND Leicavit-M. I tend to prefer also the plastic articulate wind-on lever, when I don't use Leicavit-M or Motor-M. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Capuccino-Muffin Posted March 20, 2022 Share #51 Posted March 20, 2022 Leicavit on M2 possible. even on M4, after a trip to DAG. the classic Ms are the best. Barnacks, M2-3-4-5. 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! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/330438-build-quality-of-new-m-a/?do=findComment&comment=4404142'>More sharing options...
iPacific Posted March 20, 2022 Author Share #52 Posted March 20, 2022 1 hour ago, Capuccino-Muffin said: Leicavit on M2 possible. even on M4, after a trip to DAG. the classic Ms are the best. Barnacks, M2-3-4-5. 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! The Tom A. rapidwinder is hard to buy. RIP Tom Abrahamsson Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Capuccino-Muffin Posted March 20, 2022 Share #53 Posted March 20, 2022 7 minutes ago, iPacific said: The Tom A. rapidwinder is hard to buy. RIP Tom Abrahamsson indeed, hard to buy. There used to be a black one on ebay for 2K$, remained unsold for a long while. Now there’s A black one for 4.5k$ Expensive but totally worth it for a Black M2, extremely well made and cheaper than original M2 Leicavits black or silver. Still expensive though... RIP Tom, great guy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
a.noctilux Posted March 20, 2022 Share #54 Posted March 20, 2022 Strange thing, my first "Leicavit-M" is TA Rapidwinder. How I followed his advice to add the "tulip" to finish his Rapidwinder, as he didn't want to pay the too high price of these plastic "tulips" if sourcing from Leica (or Leitz). Not easy to find this tulip. I took this part from the Winder which pushes strongly my finger right after "firing", happy user again with TA Rapidwinder. Out of memory ... For fun, as I don't use it since I use Leicavit-M, I put it under my black M-A, the black hue is same as the M and if I use tripod, the fixing is right under the lens. Oh the larger "round" trigger is more comfortable in use than the shallower of Leicavit-M. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huss Posted March 20, 2022 Share #55 Posted March 20, 2022 I really really like the film wind-on feeling of a Leica M, so never would want a Leicavit. I just sometimes dry shoot my Ms just to feel that film advance lever... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
a.noctilux Posted March 20, 2022 Share #56 Posted March 20, 2022 (edited) I also like the film wind-on lever, M4-M6 plastic articulate lever is the best for me. As left eye user I do appreciate for sometimes being able to use these add-on "liberating-right-hand-left-eye" device. Not for everyone of course, but I'm happy they exist(ed). I use these add-on also wearing gloves as motorcyclist since decades, gloves work great with lever focus lenses. Edited March 20, 2022 by a.noctilux Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ktmrider2 Posted March 20, 2022 Share #57 Posted March 20, 2022 "Not being able to travel"? What planet are you living on? And you can always buy more film unless you are dead. I prefer the loading and rewind of the M4. Funny, in 46 years of using film Leica's I have never had problems with either the knob or crank and find the crank much faster. And there are mint M4's out there but they just take a bit of searching. By the way, ClassicConnection just received a mint MA for anyone looking. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jacobjuul Posted March 21, 2022 Share #58 Posted March 21, 2022 On 3/19/2022 at 1:22 AM, Studienkamera said: Fingers crossed! Hope this experience was an extreme outlier. unfortunately it's not. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ouroboros Posted March 21, 2022 Share #59 Posted March 21, 2022 (edited) On 3/19/2022 at 9:40 PM, IkarusJohn said: That’s it! I’m selling all my Leica gear … okay, sorry. This isn’t good. Shit happens, but twice in a row? Hmm, hopefully someone in Leica is taking notice. I'm not selling mine because I've never had a problem in 16 years of MP ownership but the evidence against Leica's qc integrity with the M-A seems to be increasing from what I've seen here and elsewhere. Edited March 21, 2022 by Ouroboros Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkP Posted March 21, 2022 Share #60 Posted March 21, 2022 (edited) I must say that although it is usually problems rather than praise that gets reported, I've never seen this number of issues raised about the MP. If I was going to buy a new MP or MA, all this would sway me towards an MP. Edited March 21, 2022 by MarkP Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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