Why I love the M-A

[Godfrey]

...
Owning a Leica is a seriously personal thing. It has nothing at all to do with any sensible, rational, decision-making process.
...

I disagree. I own Leica M, SL, and R cameras and lenses because they work extremely well for my photography. The fact that other, less expensive cameras might as well is also true, but having tried many of them, I find that the Leicas continue to outperform them in all the ways that matter to me.

G

 

[valdas]

I find that the Leicas continue to outperform them in all the ways that matter to me.

G

you just said that IT IS a personal thing...

 

[Huss]

Thank you, Huss, for showing those framelines!

I measure on my screen the long side of the 50mm frames:

M-A 117mm
M4 125mm
M5 115mm
M7 119mm

I understand that the M5 frame in this example is a replacement.

The M4/M2 framelines are seen by many as ideal. Why did Leica not choose for those in the M-A? For many people this is a reason not to choose for the M-A I guess.

Erik.

You're welcome Erik! Just so you know, I most probably did not take the photos of the frame lines from the same distance. My intention was not to indicate relative size accurately, but the look. I just held my iphone against the vf and moved it around until the framing was ok.

Yeah, my M5 has the MP's set - so it should be the same size as the M7 as that also has the MP frames (mine is a late serial # M7) - even though I did not want that. When my rf delaminated that was what Sherry Krauter replaced it with. I much preferred the old set with the 35mm frame being the widest.

I think Leica included the 75 frames as they now have a bunch of really expensive 75mm lenses to sell!

 

[Huss]

Love the simple M4 frame lines!

FYI it's only like that with the 50mm lens. With a 35mm lens , it also shows another set inside it like the M-A.

 

[BLKRCAT]

Huss thats actually what your M5 framelines look like? They look busy as hell. My M5 looks just like my M4 did just with the meter at the bottom. I don't see those 75mm (?) framelines

 

[Huss]

Huss thats actually what your M5 framelines look like? They look busy as hell. My M5 looks just like my M4 did just with the meter at the bottom. I don't see those 75mm (?) framelines

yeah that's because Sherry replaced the original set with those from the MP when my rf separated. I did not ask for it...

 

[BLKRCAT]

Weird. I'm not sure if I would consider it an upgrade or not. The incomplete metering area lines and the busy 75mm frames would drive me nuts. Maybe I know why you are preferring the M-A these days 😛

 

[brennanphotoguy]

Not gonna lie, I much prefer the older cameras viewfinders much more than the newer ones. All the new ones feel so cluttered. I know *why* they are cluttered, they have to have frame lines for the newer lenses, like the 75mm. I just really love the M2/3/4 viewfinders.

 

[sanmich]

A super clean M4 with new curtains, CLA, etc would cost about half the cost of an MA, AND use the older, more accurate frames, AND will open my IXMOOs.
even if I had the cash, I would pass.
black chrome is prefered?, a clean M4P would be it.
The 0.58 M6/M7/MP OTOH, has this great finder that I can't get on older cameras.
Just my personal take...

 

[Huss]

Weird. I'm not sure if I would consider it an upgrade or not. The incomplete metering area lines and the busy 75mm frames would drive me nuts. Maybe I know why you are preferring the M-A these days 😛

I wasn't happy about it, believe you me.
Also, after I got it back the rf patch now occasionally flared. Before it did not. Trying to talk to her about it was like hitting your head on a wall.

 

[mod2001]

...The 0.58 M6/M7/MP ...

Thinking about, what's the reason Leica don't offer 'A La Carte' for the M-A or at least the option for a 0.58 or 0.85 viewfinder?

Jürgen

 

[Huss]

Thinking about, what's the reason Leica don't offer 'A La Carte' for the M-A or at least the option for a 0.58 or 0.85 viewfinder?

Jürgen

Their a la carte service for the MP and M7 offers selected frame lines. But those have the break in the horizontal one.

 

[Godfrey]

... I find that the Leicas continue to outperform them in all the ways that matter to me.

G

you just said that IT IS a personal thing...

Not really. I'm pretty objective about these things ... you bolded the wrong part of my comments. 😀

 

[f16sunshine]

I wasn't happy about it, believe you me.
Also, after I got it back the rf patch now occasionally flared. Before it did not. Trying to talk to her about it was like hitting your head on a wall.

SK did the same Frameline routine with one of my M5's a few years ago.
I did not ask for the added lines but did not protest on receiving the camera back.
After it returned I did not connect with it and sold it eventually.
It's a shame with SK. 😕

Have an M5 with the original frame-lines now....much better.
The RF patch in mine has a few "ferns" which could mean an eventual need for repair.
They have been there for years and hopefully will not expand.



As to the M A....
The MA makes no sense for me although what you guys describe of smooth functions sounds nice.
It's hard to imagine my M5 becoming any more smooth in operation.

I shoot a few dozen rolls through my M5 per year with one M lens (CV f2.5/50mm).
Meanwhile....often a dozen rolls per month through the TLR's.... I'll put my money on Rolleiflexes and 120 film.

 

[Huss]

SK did the same Frameline routine with one of my M5's a few years ago.
I did not ask for the added lines but did not protest on receiving the camera back.
After it returned I did not connect with it and sold it eventually.
It's a shame with SK. 😕

Have an M5 with the original frame-lines now....much better.
The RF patch in mine has a few "ferns" which could mean an eventual need for repair.
They have been there for years and hopefully will not expand.



As to the M A....
The MA makes no sense for me although what you guys describe of smooth functions sounds nice.
It's hard to imagine my M5 becoming any more smooth in operation.

I shoot a few dozen rolls through my M5 per year with one M lens (CV f2.5/50mm).
Meanwhile....often a dozen rolls per month through the TLR's.... I'll put my money on Rolleiflexes and 120 film.

My RF patch had the 'ferns' and all was fine until one day, outta nowhere, it came apart. Wasn't hit or anything like that either.
I thought my perfect condition CLA-d 135xxx M5 was super smooth until I compare it to the M-A. Difference between old and new so not surprising.

You're right about 120 film. Nothing in the 35mm world can compare. it's more about convenience and speed.

edit I just got a note back from DAG. It seems that when my M5 was 'upgraded' to included the 28mm frame set, the tech put in the pre MP one. Which is freakin' messed up seeing how much I paid for that. Apparently some old ones were lying around... The cost to put in the correct one with the non flaring items is the same as what I paid for the crap ones. Never again will I use that tech. I even asked that tech about it as I noticed it the moment I got my camera back, but was stone walled...


Anyway, back to my happy place! I love the M-A!

 

[Pioneer]

Thank you, Huss, for showing those framelines!

I measure on my screen the long side of the 50mm frames:

M-A 117mm
M4 125mm
M5 115mm
M7 119mm

I understand that the M5 frame in this example is a replacement.

The M4/M2 framelines are seen by many as ideal. Why did Leica not choose for those in the M-A? For many people this is a reason not to choose for the M-A I guess.

Erik.

Darn you Erik! Now I'm going to have to find an M4...

Anyone interested in trading for an DS M3 converted to an SS?

 

[f16sunshine]

My RF patch had the 'ferns' and all was fine until one day, outta nowhere, it came apart. Wasn't hit or anything like that either.
I thought my perfect condition CLA-d 135xxx M5 was super smooth until I compare it to the M-A. Difference between old and new so not surprising.

You're right about 120 film. Nothing in the 35mm world can compare. it's more about convenience and speed.

edit I just got a note back from DAG. It seems that when my M5 was 'upgraded' to included the 28mm frame set, the tech put in the pre MP one. Which is freakin' messed up seeing how much I paid for that. Apparently some old ones were lying around... The cost to put in the correct one with the non flaring items is the same as what I paid for the crap ones. Never again will I use that tech. I even asked that tech about it as I noticed it the moment I got my camera back, but was stone walled...


Anyway, back to my happy place! I love the M-A!

If my M5 finder ever actually goes, I’ll send it to DAG or John @FocalPoint if he’ll take it in.
He can have it for a year if that’s what it takes.
Never again with she who’s name shall not be spoken!

 

[Flat Twin]

To add to the M5 finder comments, when looking for an M5 earlier this year I spent a long time and looked at 6 or 7 examples that ALL had the so called upgraded finder as described above by Huss. I thought that the M6/MP finder in the M5 was just terrible...

I waited and eventually found one with an original finder. The RF patch did show signs of very light spider web type lines when pointed towards a bright source. I visited Malcolm Taylor and left it with him for inspection. He took it apart and cleaned and rebuilt the viewfinder and serviced the rest of the camera. I've had it back for about a month. What a joy! The finder is spotless, no trace of spider web lines, it works perfectly and the camera is beautifully smooth, film advance is just sublime and I'm so pleased with it. If I couldn't have an M5 with an original M5 finder then I wouldn't want an M5.

I tried a used M-A earlier in the year that was for sale at Red Dot in London. It was nice actually. Very smooth. I didn't like the small 50mm frame lines and, the price was just stupid... Having said that, two weeks later it was gone, somebody liked it!

Regards,

Simon

 

[Huss]

To add to the M5 finder comments, when looking for an M5 earlier this year I spent a long time and looked at 6 or 7 examples that ALL had the so called upgraded finder as described above by Huss. I thought that the M6/MP finder in the M5 was just terrible...

I waited and eventually found one with an original finder. The RF patch did show signs of very light spider web type lines when pointed towards a bright source. I sent it to Malcolm Taylor for inspection. He took it apart and cleaned and rebuilt the viewfinder and serviced the rest of the camera. I've had it back for about a month. What a joy! The finder is spotless and works perfectly and the camera is beautifully smooth, film advance is just sublime and I'm so pleased with it. If I couldn't have an M5 with an original M5 finder then I wouldn't want an M5.

This is probably off topic but I just thought I'd share my experience...

Sticking on this off topic M5 segue, just spoke to Don and he will mask off the stoooopid 75mm frames on my M5, so I will have it back to its deserved sweetness!

And bringing it back to the M-A (and M7) - he will do the same for those so I will have an M-A (and M7) with sweet sweet 50mm only frame lines.

My M-A has (will) just become even lovelier!

 

[Flat Twin]

Glad to hear that Don has a solution for your M5 Huss...

Regards

Simon