Leica M-A Finally Back In Stock @ B&H

[Timmyjoe]

I'm not in the market but in case anyone else on this forum is, it appears that the Leica M-A film cameras are back in stock at B&H. Haven't seen any in stock there for quite some time.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?q=Leica%20M-A&filters=fct_a_filter_by%3A03_INSTOCK%2Cfct_brand_name%3Aleica%2Cfct_category%3Aslr_tlr_film_cameras_269

They seem to have black and silver both.

Best,
-Tim

 

[arseniii]

Temptation is back in stock. It was so easy to resist while they were not available anywhere. 😱

 

[Timmyjoe]

Yeah, I know the feeling. Maybe they'll sell out soon and everyone will be safe. 😀

Best,
-Tim

 

[Deleted member 65559]

Not trolling, but an honest question. What do you find so tempting about the M-A film? Is it the lure of a new in-the-box Leica? As a film user, there are (for me) other temptations if i had $5k to burn: another M4 BP, an M-4 anniversary, a used MP, a near-perfect M2 or M3 with money left over. Care to share your thoughts?

 

[Fraser]

Not trolling, but an honest question. What do you find so tempting about the M-A film? Is it the lure of a new in-box Leica? As a film user, there are (for me) other temptations if i had $5k to burn. Another M4 BP, an M-4 anniversary, a used MP a near-perfect M2 or M3 with money left over. Care to share your thoughts?

+1...................

 

[FrozenInTime]

Don't know about other M-A owners reasons were, but for me after 25 years use and 2 services, I felt my M6 was getting a tired, so a new black chrome M-A with its improved viewfinder seemed like the thing for the next 25 years ( at that time in 2014, the fat M.240 had no appeal and I never liked the black paint or silver chrome MP alternatives ).

 

[arseniii]

Why M-A? Well it's the newest Leica M film camera. You can buy it NEW. Buying it from Leica generates revenue for Leica, supporting Leica's production of film cameras. I don't think there is any "functional" or "logical" reason to buy an M-A over say M2.

 

[Timmyjoe]

As I originally posted, I'm not in the market for an M-A, but I do think it's exciting that Leica is still making that camera. If they ever came out with one with the 0.85 viewfinder I might be tempted, but my M3 and M4 do fine for what my needs are.

In this day of wiz-bang digital photography, where any new camera is already "outdated" by the time you open the box, knowing you can still buy a brand new, fully mechanical film camera from a reputable manufacturer like Leica, gives me the same feeling of excitement as when I was first starting out in photography fifty years ago.

Best,
-Tim

 

[zuiko85]

No interest either, (For 35mm prefer SLR’s) but....somehow....it is comforting that a new high precision film camera is still available in 2020.

Edit; probably only Leica has the capital to continue small batch manufacturing. I’d love to see a brand new OM-1 still made to, but the small demand would dictate a 5K price each, just to break even.

 

[Timmyjoe]

Supposedly Nikon is still making the F6 in small batches, with just a few female technicians who know how to assemble & adjust them. Of course that could be an urban legend.

Best,
-Tim

 

[CharlesDAMorgan]

I love the idea of it being made. Given the quality of my 50s M3 and M2 I'm not sure I would outlive a new M-A, in fact, I'm not sure I would outlive my 50s ones!

 

[ediz7531]

I'm one of those folks who got into film photography only a few years ago. I could definitely see myself buying a new M-A or MP in the future -- to commemorate a very special occasion, that is -- for two reasons: i) would like to experience the feeling of owning a new film camera, and ii) to support a brand that still supports film.
Is it rational? I'm not sure, but it's certainly justifiable 🙂

 

[Bill Blackwell]

The differences between an M6 (classic) and an MP:

1. The MP has a brass top; the M6 top is zinc alloy (most special editions have brass topcovers);
2. The MP has the "Leica" script engraving; the M6 has no engraving (early M6 camera tops from Wetzlar are engraved "ERNST LEITZ WETZLAR GMBH") - unless it's a special edition;
3. The MP has the classic M3/2 RW mechanism with vintage style knobs; the M6 has the M4/7 style crank;
4. The MP has the RF condenser lens added back (taken out during the M4-2 run); the M6 does not;
5. Different body coverings (neither is extraordinary);
6. Black MP cameras are painted (and the paint is designed to rub off); the black M6 is anodized black chrome.
7. The MP is fitted with a separate eyepiece screwed onto the body with a plastic cover installed over it (an inferior design). Every M camera prior has the eyepiece molded into the body with a diopter lens screwed onto it.

I have owned and used both. In spite of the differences, functionally they are the same camera with the same build tolerances. Both have the same shutter mechanism and the same RF (with the condenser lens added in the MP) – a ~$200 'repair' thru DAG (allot more if done through Leica).

Even at today's inflated M6 prices, you could buy a nice M6 classic, send it out for a CLA, and have the RF finder upgraded with the RF condenser at the same time. At that point you'll have have a great camera and >$2,000 left in your pocket when compared to a new MP.

Now - why would you spend $5k on a Leica M-A, when it’s simply an MP without a meter?! Get an M2 with a fresh CLA - you'll have a better camera and >$3,000 left in your pocket.

 

[robert blu]

Thanks BillBlackwell for the detailled list, I'm not (yet?) on the market for another film camera (happy with the m7, Bessa, etc) but always interesting to know these differences.

 

[giganova]

They were never out of stock in the Leica stores, every store I went over the past few months had at least one.

 

[zuiko85]

Supposedly Nikon is still making the F6 in small batches, with just a few female technicians who know how to assemble & adjust them. Of course that could be an urban legend.

Best,
-Tim

But, the MA is all mechanical, and no meter (which to me is a feature).
However, I’m old and contrary so that don’t mean much.

As an aside, I’m sad about Olympus, in their time 1960-1980, they came as close to a Leica as was possible in a SLR, in both the Pen F and OM-1.

 

[Brian Atherton]

Right now if I was 45 years younger and had the finances I would buy a new M-A in a heart beat.

A no-electonics camera I hope I would be able to keep and that would see me through my photography to the end; film availability continuing, of course.

At the current price (£3,600) this works out to eighty quid a year.

 

[f.hayek]

Not trolling, but an honest question. What do you find so tempting about the M-A film? Is it the lure of a new in-the-box Leica? As a film user, there are (for me) other temptations if i had $5k to burn: another M4 BP, an M-4 anniversary, a used MP, a near-perfect M2 or M3 with money left over. Care to share your thoughts?

Makes no sense to me either. If I had some loose change (gone with Wuhan coronavirus), I'd take the profit on my M6, pony up a few G's and get an MP instead.

BTW, LeicaStore SF has a silver one in stock.

 

[arseniii]

They were never out of stock in the Leica stores, every store I went over the past few months had at least one.

I have been looking for MP for some time now and couldn't find any in Canada or Europe. Leica is pretty much back ordered on MPs. I assume they still had a batch of M-As produced before the pandemic that got finally delivered to the stores.

Also, it's 20% more expensive to buy a new Leica here US/Canada compared to anywhere else in the world. A recent 20% US tax for all non-US (NAFTA) made goods are part of it. So it'll be cheaper to order from Europe I believe.

 

[Freakscene]

4. The MP has the RF condenser lens added back (taken out during the M4-2 run); the M6 does not;
[snip]
same RF (with the condenser lens added in the MP – a ~$200 'repair' thru DAG (allot more if done through Leica).

The condenser lens is over-rated. The M6, MP and MA have a flat mirror in the brightline illumination assembly, so they all flare. The condensor helps but does not fix it. The M2 and M4 flare less but can still flare. The M3 viewfinder, in good shape, does not flare, neither do the led illuminated vfs in the Typ 240 and M10. But try finding a modern camera with a better RF - both the Zeiss ZI and Hexar RF are contenders, but when I used them the RFs in both developed serious problems with use but not abuse, and if dropped or suffered an impact they totally lost any semblance of alignment.

And, ultimately, why a Leica? The viewfinder, and, well, it’s a Leica.

History shows the MA is likely to be in stock for only a short time.

Marty