Any love for the Leica M-A (Typ 127)?

[JeffS7444]

Another problem are the soft strap lugs, Leica had (has ?) a problem with the supplier. I have to use brass key rings to avoid extensive wear of the strap lugs.

This blows my mind: Leica had perfected the part many years ago, with beautiful satin-finished steel (?) parts on M6, M8, M9 and others. It was one area where I felt extra care and expense had been lavished.

 

[Richard G]

I have my M-A for a little over a year now and after being serviced by Leica it works well now. I was under the impression that Leica introduced the condenser lens again with the MP in 2003 but not sure. My M-A had the typical problem that the RF was horizontally and vertically off, a well known problem with the M-A due to lack of quality control. Luckily, I don't have the overlapping frame issue that was reported by many new M-A owners. However, the frames are very narrow, if two frames in a series were taken with the Super-Angulon-M, the frames almost touch. Another problem are the soft strap lugs, Leica had (has ?) a problem with the supplier. I have to use brass key rings to avoid extensive wear of the strap lugs.

I’m sure there must be many happy M-A users we’ll never know, serious photographers by the very choice of this camera. As to the love of the OP’s question maybe it soured with an experience like maddoc’s, recovered fortunately with Leica Wetzlar’s help and the owner’s patience no doubt, but not enough to praise the thing. We’ve read of disappointments with ‘forever camera’ MPs too. Having to remember to use the Super-Angulon (or any 21?) on an older camera would be annoying.

I played a recently restored Steinway in Melbourne many years ago. It was the most wonderful piano I had ever played. Everything else for sale since I hated. I couldn’t understand why. I learnt recently that American Steinways are delivered assembled, but not prepared. The expectation seems to be the new owner will get his expert tuner in and spend a day working the piano into a playable state. In Germany for sale they’ve been tuned and voiced and adjusted for playing. It can be the same with some cars. Maybe Leica could send a factory rep to Hamburg for tips on shipping rangefinder film cameras adjusted like their pianos.

Maybe this piano perspective could make the early ownership experience of an MP or M-A less traumatic, and some love will be made more evident. Indeed, did we ever actually see love for an MP, other than the black paint and its brassing?