New Leica MPs and M-As difficult to find??

[Andrea Taurisano]

Hi folks

I recently sold most of my gear and saved for my ultimate "one body & one lens" setup. Now, the dream body - staying within the camera topic - happens to be a nearly-impossible-to-get Leica MP in black chrome (it would have to be a la carte) or an ordinary M-A, black chrome. I'm not writing this to discuss my choice.

Both MPs and M-As seem to be out of stock anywhere I can see in Europe. The official Norwegian Leica importer just told me that Leica nowadays is only making these cameras once a year, and next time should be in March.

I don't see why they wouldn't get me a camera if they could, so I want to believe them. But it sounds strange to me.

I read that Leica confirms their commitment to film cameras and cannot keep up with demand for film cameras. But this hardly rhymes with them only producing new film cameras once a year.

Any thoughts?

And yes, I would gladly get a used one, if it wasn't that adding 25% VAT on import would make it more expensive than a new one..

 

[helen.HH]

ok Andrea

I have stopped trying to figure leica out...one crazy company
now that we know your two camera choices
Your quest for the ultimate one camera / one lens
which I can wholeheartedly relate to !

What will be your one lens...am truly curious ;

Hope it comes Easy and fulfilling to You

 

[Andrea Taurisano]

My ideal lens is actually a not so premium one. The CV 35 1.4 classic that I already own (my only lens) is just what I need. It's fast, it's light and compact and it has just the softness and the light falloff at the corners that I like. Those who know my photography know that optical quality is far from important. In fact, I prefer old soviet lenses to modern ASPH stuff. A convenient preference when it comes to saving money for just one expensive body.
PS: the only camera I keept as a backup is actually a Lomo LC-a.

 

[helen.HH]

Excellent choice, well done !

two of my favorite shots with Miss Nokton Classic 35 on film




You are now my Prisoner...Happy 4th 😉 by Helen Hill, on Flickr






Alone... by Helen Hill, on Flickr

 

[Andrea Taurisano]

Those are lovely! See, Leica lenses are fantatic, but once we have one of these Nokton classic, what else do we really need?

 

[keytarjunkie]

Hi Andrea, have you tried Stavanger Foto? Their website claims order by payment for the M-A, about 20 days. It might be worth contacting them to clarify. PS The A-La-Carte program is long dead and the few people who bought black chrome MP's are keeping them for life, I think.

Last time I bought a German-imported product from Foto.no it took five months to deliver. I suspect Leica only sends them these cameras once a year. I did see they had MP and M-A in stock, I think maybe back in May or June 2020? So maybe they get a shipment in the spring. Lykke til!

 

[Andrea Taurisano]

That's maybe closer to the truth: Leica may be sending new cameras to a specific country once a year, not producing them once a year. I've contacted several in Norway who seem to have a decent delivery time, but they say it's subject to factors they have no control on. So basically "place an order and wait".. I will keep looking.

 

[JohnWolf]

Leica USA seems to have both M-As in stock.

https://leicacamerausa.com/photography/leica-m/m-cameras/analog/?_bc_fsnf=1&in_stock=1

 

[brothernature]

For anyone looking, Leica Miami also has a pre-owned M-A in stock. https://leicastoremiami.com/collect...typ-127-black-chrome-1?variant=34292712308867

 

[Erik van Straten]

I don't believe that MP's are still made, M-A's, yes.


Erik.

 

[Andrea Taurisano]

Thanks John. I sent an email to Leica USA to ask if they'd ship it and, equally important, whether they have to charge local VAT for export goods. Cause that's the thing: If I have to pay double VAT (when the Norwegian alone is +25% of the value including shipping), the price would be forbidding. At that point I'd rather send an M2 to get a full CLA and be repainted black chrome and still save a lot. It wouldn't be THE dream camera, but close to.

 

[Lukesaurus]

I just bought a lens from B&H as I could not find it in stock in the EU and was not charged any sales tax. Hopefully it will be the same for you .

 

[Timmyjoe]

Hi Andrea, it looks like B&H Photo in New York currently has a black chrome Leica M-A film camera in stock, brand new.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1082912-REG/leica_10370_m_a_rangefinder_camera_body.html

Not sure what shipping and customs would be to Norway, but might be worth exploring.

Best,
-Tim

 

[helen.HH]

Is their tax from US to Norway on used products ?

 

[keytarjunkie]

Just for fun, I calculated the cost of importing a new Leica M-A from the US into Norway. The tax is 11,388kr or $1,334 USD after paperwork fees.

 

[Andrea Taurisano]

Just for fun, I calculated the cost of importing a new Leica M-A from the US into Norway. The tax is 11,388kr or $1,334 USD after paperwork fees.

That's exactly why I'm depending on the possibility to avoid the VAT of the country the camera is shipped from. If B&H answers my enquiry saying that they can cut off a 20% or so (VAT, sale tax, whatever else) from the full price, I'll buy it right away.

 

[FrozenInTime]

That's exactly why I'm depending on the possibility to avoid the VAT of the country the camera is shipped from. If B&H answers my enquiry saying that they can cut off a 20% or so (VAT, sale tax, whatever else) from the full price, I'll buy it right away.

B&H ( and all US store ) prices are before any local sales tax ... i.e. export won't get any reduction

 

[JohnWolf]

Ok, how about a silver MP from Leica store Berlin? "Lieferbar!"

https://www.leica-store-berlin.de/de/c_leica_m/56

There are sooo many Leica stores in Europe. Someone's bound to have one.

 

[splitimageview]

I've shipped a lot of high-end gear to Norway, for a new M body I'd take it out of the box and ship just the body and nothing else, repackaged in generic packaging, marking the value low ("film camera")

Then mail the box and paperwork separately.

B&H won't do this, of course, but if you have a buddy in the US, this is how to do it.

Bear in mind the US buyer must pay sales tax for their location, unless they sign up for the B&H card. A few states have no sales tax, just need a buddy in one of those locations. 🙂

 

[Andrea Taurisano]

I've shipped a lot of high-end gear to Norway, for a new M body I'd take it out of the box and ship just the body and nothing else, repackaged in generic packaging, marking the value low ("film camera")

Then mail the box and paperwork separately.

B&H won't do this, of course, but if you have a buddy in the US, this is how to do it.

Bear in mind the US buyer must pay sales tax for their location, unless they sign up for the B&H card. A few states have no sales tax, just need a buddy in one of those locations. 🙂

The problem with that, beside any moral aspects, is that the value stated on shipping documents also is the base for any insurance case should the camera get lost or damaged on the way.

Then I'd rather find a camera in a country that I know has a VAT more or less like the Norwegian one, and cuts it off when a camera is shipped abroad. All EU countries cut off a 19-20% VAT if goods leave EU. But I see no black M-A in stock at online Leica stores.