Hole in the front of the Leica M-A

[williamj]

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Is there a hole in the front of the Leica M-A and if there is how is it closed?

There's this urban legend that the hole that houses the battery compartment of the MP is closed in the M-A by a metal disk welded in place, and occasionally this causes an unevenness in the outer covering which can be seen as a dimple in the leather of the M-A. Now to be clear, *I don't believe this for a second*. I think it's just a story to suck in the unwary. I find it incomprehensible that Leica would make an outer wall for the camera with a hole that then needs to be filled with a metal disk. I've even tried looking for photos of Leica M-As that have the leather removed to see what the outer metal skin looks like, but I can't find anything.

But, if anyone knows for sure it will be here on the Leica Users Forum. You may have discussed this already but I couldn't find any reference. If you have can someone point me to the thread where it was discussed.

Thanks in advance.

[FrozenInTime]

There are some very good photos of a M6 covers off here - the M6, MP, M-A, and the 'new' M6 are all described as being very similar.

It would be very convenient to reuse the same casting and screw on a flat plate where the battery access was.  Metal casting dies are expensive, so making on small part to cover the space is economically sound.

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[a.noctilux]

Many discussions, here and there,

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Old trick some decades before

 

 

A dream for some ...

 

[williamj]

a.noctilux thank you so much. Cheers. 

[Fotoklaus]

Perhaps there wil be a new M6-A without lightmeter.  "Reduced to the essentials of photography." Ahhh... wait... heard that before... 

 

[Anbaric]

For the real vintage Leica look, the owner should have the hole drilled out to insert a dubious third party flash sync socket, like on my IIIa. Or how about a self-timer? Maybe Leica should offer M-A to MP upgrades for 2000 EUR?

[comte de Mazan]

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Here is.

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[comte de Mazan]

In fact an MP Classic (without light meter or any electronics).. we can call it MA...

[lmans]

Wouldn’t doubt the hole cover up…must be a conspiracy in there someplace.
 

Maybe there will be a new generation coming out with a new body w/o a hole and then just have cameras that need a battery to shoot photography to ‘wifi’ the camera to an external battery. Have a MA purist and a MA ‘enhanced’ version.

Edited November 22, 2022 by lmans

[rpsawin]

Isn't that how the light gets in?

[Sensorix]

vor 3 Stunden schrieb comte de Mazan:

Here is.

... and here is.

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[Huss]

37 minutes ago, Sensorix said:

... and here is.

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To be fair, who knows what happened to that camera?  That is an obvious reskin, and we don't know if they did not clean the body properly before applying the new leather etc.

All the other M-As that have signs of the sealed battery chamber are in-dented.  This camera mysteriously has the cover bulging out.

[Danner]

Mad respect for the fact that the battery compartment cover-up appears to be solid brass.  Leica should charge a premium for that.

Also, apparently there is a light meter upgrade path for the M-A.

Edited November 22, 2022 by Danner

[Sensorix]

vor 25 Minuten schrieb Huss:

This camera mysteriously has the cover bulging out

no, it is virtually flat. The very thin leather and low angle light creates the optical illusion. Not visible under normal conditions.

[comte de Mazan]

MP...MA....Less is more. 
Isn't the Bauhaus design motto ? 

[Huss]

1 hour ago, Sensorix said:

no, it is virtually flat. The very thin leather and low angle light creates the optical illusion. Not visible under normal conditions.

ok, so we need an optical illusion and very thin non-Leica leather to see it?

 

[Sensorix]

vor 5 Minuten schrieb Huss:

ok, so we need an optical illusion and very thin non-Leica leather to see it?

... unbelievable, but you can take pictures with the camera. Leather is by Leica. 😉

Edited November 22, 2022 by Sensorix

[williamj]

9 hours ago, comte de Mazan said:

Here is.

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Seeing is believing !

[kivis]

No discernable effect of a former battery hole on my M-A

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[lmans]

9 hours ago, Danner said:

Mad respect for the fact that the battery compartment cover-up appears to be solid brass.  Leica should charge a premium for that.

Also, apparently there is a light meter upgrade path for the M-A.

All leicas charge a premium:)..  why would I want a light meter ‘downgrade’ on my MA? The MA is the apex of purity. 

No visible indent or ‘out dent’ on mine… go figure. 

 

 

Edited November 23, 2022 by lmans