Leica M-A Now the Best

[a.noctilux]

Without the baseplate in place to provide the transport system guide for the film, an M is more likely to misfeed and skip sprockets.

G

That's right, the baseplate is part of film transport.

May I suggest the same but with the back door open or even better taken off, but with base plate in place.

Without film and observe what's going on, the sprockets must turn evenly.
Then with a sacrified film, if they turn evenly.

Arnaud

 

[ian_watts]

lovely camera .. M-A

but in my and some user experiences ( 3 person new M-A) .. have lots of problems..

1. first silver M-A new.. day 2 stuck ... goes back to Solms get replaced after +/- 1 month (go to trouble number 5 )
2. while waiting, bought another new second black chrome M-A ... slight light leak in some frames... and the spacing of 36 frames is ridiculous .. some even go 2-3 x wider ....
3. a friend with his new silver M-A tend to stuck at counter 10-15 .. have to wind ... goes to leica again
4. another friend with silver M-A having the same stuck problems... stuck 10-15 , goes to Leica
5. the new replaced new silver M-A have strange light leak from the edge on some frames in 1 roll.. keep coming and send again to Leica

- all the 5 M-A having same problems... the negative show very uneven film spacing ... very ridiculous compared to all the M

William Jusuf

Sounds very frustrating. I've had an M-A since last October and haven't had problems with film spacing or stuck film but I did have an intermittent light leak (see example below). Rather than repair it Leica replaced the camera a few weeks ago. I haven't noticed any problems with the replacement camera.

I'll be interested to hear what Leica have to say about your latest problems.

 

[music_healing]

never think of that trick before

i should have done that

thanks all

 

[bobkonos]

many thanks to all who've contributed to this thread. I've decided to hold off on an M-A purchase for now based on the details of problems shared here.

 

[Godfrey]

Baseplate only activates the frame counter and is absolutely not needed for film transport.

Not quite. The pusher at the film take-up claw end of the baseplate helps guide the film during transport as well. It's influence is mostly on the first few frames, but I've seen film skip without the baseplate there; I suspect it adds a little drag and guidance to keep the film moving smoothly.

G

 

[Fraser]

You can always put the baseplate on but leave the door at the back open.

 

[ian_watts]

many thanks to all who've contributed to this thread. I've decided to hold off on an M-A purchase for now based on the details of problems shared here.

It would be a pity if this thread, which started out extolling the virtues of the M-A, ends up putting potential buyers off buying the camera. However, William's experience is not encouraging and I would be interested to know what response he gets from Leica.

 

[ian_watts]

this is last roll from the newest silver M-A

MA problems by William Jusuf, on Flickr

the spacing is erratic ...

Did your other M-A (and your friend's M-A cameras) show such "erratic"😀 frame spacing or was it unevenness to a lesser degree?

 

[music_healing]

It would be a pity if this thread, which started out extolling the virtues of the M-A, ends up putting potential buyers off buying the camera. However, William's experience is not encouraging and I would be interested to know what response he gets from Leica.

please... M-A is a beautiful camera ...
and Leica offer me to service the camera again ...

I try to do the open thing... i am not experienced in this
but i did see some of frames are pulled more ... but not slipping through the teeth or somekind...
she's going back for service .. for sure
since its full warranty... the 2nd new is under full warranty

my concern is more about the light leak than spacing.. and the occasional stuck in the middle problems..
the space thing is ok ... as long as i get 36 frame...

this is a beatiful gorgeous new analog camera... with warranty

 

[ian_watts]

my concern is more about the light leak than spacing..

What does your light leak look like? (See my post 87 above).

 

[Jim Edmond]

I had this spacing problem with my M2 years ago. There's a small hole in the sprocket shaft that allows access to a screw. I tightened the screw, and the problem was resolved. I don't know if the M-A is built the same.

 

[ulrich.von.lich]

As to the light leak, perhaps one can replace the new film door by that of an M2 or M3 and see if it still occurs. (I believe all M film doors are interchangeable).

 

[ktmrider]

I would love to buy a new MA and just might if I can convince myself it would get the use it deserves. But come on and I may just be throwing stones but does no one else see a problem with a $4200 dollar camera made basically the same since 1953 which has light leaks and problems with advancing the film.

Now I love Leicas and have four of them (2M2's, 1M9 and a R6.2). Leica really really needs to gets itself together.

 

[Pioneer]

I would love to buy a new MA and just might if I can convince myself it would get the use it deserves. But come on and I may just be throwing stones but does no one else see a problem with a $4200 dollar camera made basically the same since 1953 which has light leaks and problems with advancing the film.

Now I love Leicas and have four of them (2M2's, 1M9 and a R6.2). Leica really really needs to gets itself together.

I certainly have a problem spending $4200 for a camera that has light leaks and problems advancing film. If that happens return that NEW camera and let Leica handle things under warranty. A bit of a pain in the ... but it does seem to work. Of course, you could buy an M3 with the same problems...with no warranty.

I paid a bit more than that for mine and it came in perfect shape with none of the problems you mention. I suspect that most M-A cameras are delivered to their new owners in the same condition mine was delivered to me.

I did worry a bit about how much I would actually use mine, but that turned out to be a misplaced concern. It turned out to be a very addictive piece of equipment. Mine is used all the time. I understand now why the M3 became such a big hit when it was introduced.

 

[ktmrider]

Again, I like Leica's. I would say the M2 is dam close to a new MA except like a fine wine it may have aged well. However, for the price of an MA, Leica's quality control should be 100 percent perfect, not 99.9 percent perfect.

 

[Bruno Gracia]

Modern Leica is nowhere near what it used to be. The term "Quality check" simply doesn't have the same definition.

I received my à la Carte MP with miscalibrated focus. What in the World did they "check", then?

I could write a long list of qc faults with the modern era Leica. But then some people fight so hard to defend that company as if it was their own. I don't get it.

The 50 apo cron fiasco, remember that? The Leica M8 framelines skewed to the left so much that it makes even approximate framing off by a long shot. Don't even try to frame something semi-seriously with that camera.
Miscalibrated lenses out of the box.
M-A with severe light leaks? Semi-screwed take-up tulip?
Loose strap plugs?

So which cameras are You using now or do You own?

Cheers

 

[Pioneer]

While I cannot disagree that quality control should be better at Leica, not to mention a bunch of other companies I can think of, I am not so certain that people are actually defending the company. Maybe they like their camera? Particularly when it works as intended.

While we are on the topic of quality control, I think people may be wearing rose-colored glasses when looking back at how well products were built in the past. Leicas were basically hand assembled. QC depended on the technician responsible for the assembly. There was a very good reason for the large number of internal adjustments.

But...what do I know?

EDIT- When did Deming come along? Somehow I recall that the entire idea of quality control came from some of his thoughts and writing?

 

[bobkonos]

I see that problem and have held off getting one, so I do not think it is "throwing stones." I have a lot of Leicas, including "modern" MP, and non have experienced the problems mentioned here. So $4200 for a possibly problem camera is a turn-off now to me.

I would love to buy a new MA and just might if I can convince myself it would get the use it deserves. But come on and I may just be throwing stones but does no one else see a problem with a $4200 dollar camera made basically the same since 1953 which has light leaks and problems with advancing the film.

Now I love Leicas and have four of them (2M2's, 1M9 and a R6.2). Leica really really needs to gets itself together.

 

[Godfrey]

Reading this thread is more depressing an experience than any issue I've had with Leica products. I've bought four new Leica cameras and two new Leica lenses in the past six years and all were perfect as purchased. One, the M9, developed the now infamous sensor corrosion after three years—I bought the fourth camera when I upgraded to the M-P.

Nothing has stopped working, let me down, had light leaks, or any miscalibrated focusing systems/lenses, etc. It all works as it was designed to. I expect if I bought an M-A*body, it would be the same—as it surely is for the vast majority of buyers.

I'll stop reading this thread now. My M4-2 is loaded with Superpan 200, the Leicameter MR-4 is fitted, the Color Skopar 50mm f/2.5 is on it, and I'll go for a walk with it at lunch time. Either that or process another roll of film that's waiting for my attention. 🙂

G

 

[Pioneer]

Back then, Mr. Barnack would train hie employees in the most technical way. He would take out a spring or a small part that wouldn't cause problems, would reassemble the camera and give it to techs. The techs would have to find which part was missing in a given time.

I once dropped my M2 in a very severe way. It smashed on the ground on its back, flat. The noise was scary. I was very scared to bring it up to my eye and to see how bad the focus patch would be off. That's because my MP once stumbled from my car's front seat down on the carpet and it needed a recalibration. Imagine, the slightest bump on a soft surface. "Bump". Recalibration needed.
To my amazement, my M2's focus was't affected. The whole camera was absolutely unharmed. That is one of the many first-hand experiences that I witnessed about the differences between old Leica and new Leica.

Mr. Barnack has not been training technicians for a very, very long time Ned. He quit long before the M series came along.

By the way, don't you think that the honest response to the lack of damage resulting from dropping your M2 would be to credit good fortune, not some imagined "quality check" that may or may not have been done when it was built?

I do think I'll do what I can to avoid dropping my M-A if you don't mind. 😀