New film Leica: Leica M-A

budrichard · Oct 13, 2014

I believe these cameras will be sold to individuals that do not earn a living from photography because I can't see any commercial advantage over an M7.
I am not in line for one.
I picture one person left assembling all Leica analog cameras and whatever the demand is, that fix's the production waiting time.-Dick

ciniframe · Oct 13, 2014

Lovely looking camera. But, like most other people here out of my income range. Don't forget, if you buy a Leica then, according to 'Leica orthodoxy' you simply must have Leica lenses. Nothing lesser will do. That runs the price of even a modest two lens kit to about 10 grand. Other than being new, what does it really have over my M4-2 body? I have that and two used CV lenses plus one Leica lens, the inexpensive 90 f4 Elmar, for a total kit price of about 35% of the body price alone.

Strangely however, it gives me a good feeling that they have the guts to bring out a film camera,.....in 2014!,.......with no meter! I hope they sell a bunch.

digital&film · Oct 14, 2014

Sometimes the comments are very entertaining:

"I already have a similarly sized Zorki-4 K that cost 1% as much and is equaling capable of sitting on a shelf unused."

Mustafa Umut Sarac · Oct 14, 2014

I think problem will come from new lens , if they designed in the way of their digital cameras s2 or summilux , I think I wouldnt honor them to dig deep and bury Leitz lens tradition.

Bill Burk · Oct 15, 2014

Umut,

I think "our" problem is... we see M-2 for "just" $600 and wonder why anyone on earth would want more than that.

Arklatexian · Oct 15, 2014

I don't understand what the problem is with the new Leica price. The main reason Leica can sell their cameras is because people like me are still able to shoot an M3 that was sold new when they first came out. Mine was a double stroke which Leica changed to a single stroke when I sent it in for a CLA. When I was selling cameras at that time most other brands that we sold died and went to the scrap bin years ago but the my old M3 is better able to take pictures than I am.....Regards

Bill Burk · Oct 15, 2014

Well, oldtimermetoo... If I were looking to buy "the last camera I would ever need" - this would be it. It's much like an M2 plus it's brand new (with attendant promise of future long-life).

But I am such a value hunter, that I'd be hard-pressed not to buy an M2 instead and send it off to Youxin Ye for CLA. (OK, I'll confess. That is literally what I did).

ciniframe · Oct 15, 2014

Bill Burk said:
Well, oldtimermetoo... If I were looking to buy "the last camera I would ever need" - this would be it. It's much like an M2 plus it's brand new (with attendant promise of future long-life).

But I am such a value hunter, that I'd be hard-pressed not to buy an M2 instead and send it off to Youxin Ye for CLA. (OK, I'll confess. That is literally what I did).

Had to send my M4-2 to Youxin too, although when I bought it all functions were nominal. It was so pretty and unused I paid a premium price for it, $850. Turned out it only operated for 2 months and then the slow speed escapement packed up so it wound up costing me almost $1100! Well, live and learn. Actually I kind off backed into Leica ownership. A guy in our apartment building was using Leica and had a 21mm f4 and 35mm f2.5 CV lenses he wanted to sell. This was the type of person who had money and was always buying stuff to try it out, and then reselling it. He said he didn't care for the CV lenses, "too clinical" was his comment, and he was going to look for some older Leica designs. The CV's were just pristine and he gave me a good price on them so now I had lenses but nothing to mount them on. And thus, I had to buy a body.

Patrick Robert James · Oct 15, 2014

New Leica prices didn't skyrocket until a few years ago. I remember new Leicas being around $2000 in the late 90s. When the a la carte Leicas came out a decade or so ago they were a whopping $3000 or so, and they went up from there. Now they are twice that price.

As much as I would love to have a new Leica, and I see the time/value of one, I just could never afford one. My M3 still works wonderfully when I occasionally take it out and my Konica Hexar RF keeps on ticking with all the modern conveniences I need in a camera. When the Hexar packs it in, I will probably either get a used M7 or a ZI. It is hard to really justify buying a new Leica unless you are rich, or want to appear to be.

Pioneer · Oct 15, 2014

I have owned several Leica cameras. The only Leica I have ever owned that didn't need some attention was my M7. It was almost new. There are a lot of people who had the opportunity to buy a Leica film camera when they were new. I wasn't one. So I am one who is lined up for a new M-A. Since it is new, I will know how it has been used.

I am certainly not one of those millionaires everyone talks about here, but I do value a well built camera. Since I'm the one who was able to save my money, I guess I get to be the one who determines how and when I will be able to spend it. For those who are not able, or do not want to buy a new Leica film camera then, as others have already said; there are a lot of good used models for you to choose from. But, for the few of you who might like to buy a new Leica film camera, at least Leica still gives you some choices.

johnha · Oct 15, 2014

I was looking to buy a (used) Leica several years ago, the problem was always the cost of the lenses* and that I couldn't decide between the .58 & .72 finders - I wear glasses (there weren't many used M6's with .58 finders that I could check out). I've got so much gear I don't use, if I sold a lot of it off I could justify a new Leica (would prefer a meter though). I can understand the draw to buy a new one if you're able but for me it would have to replace everything else - you'd have to carry it round everywhere and shoot it exclusively to justify it (and to do it justice).

* A used body was expensive, with a lens it became incredibly expensive.

analoguey · Oct 15, 2014

Pioneer said:
For those who are not able, or do not want to buy a new Leica film camera then, as others have already said; there are a lot of good used models for you to choose from. But, for the few of you who might like to buy a new Leica film camera, at least Leica still gives you some choices.

Yep

Sent from Tap-a-talk

cliveh · Oct 15, 2014

The cost and quality of equipment should not be an issue, as you should use what you consider ideal to realise your dream.

benjiboy · Oct 16, 2014

How ironic I have just seen in a U.K photographic magazine Leica have just brought out a new digital M camera without a screen on the the back so the users can't chimp and will better consider what they are shooting and it's more like a film camera.

analoguey · Oct 17, 2014

Yes, the M for 60th anniversary or such.
I thought it was a rubbish idea, if I didn't want to chimp, I would use an analog Leica instead.
But hey - it is a collector's edition, probably collectors fancy that uniqueness

Henning Serger · Oct 17, 2014

Commitment to film

Hello,

as I am the OP please let me add one point which is quite important in my opinion:

Henning Serger said:
I think that can be seen as a commitment from Leica, that they will continue to produce the classic film M-Leicas, now with even three models:
M7, MP and the new M-A.

I've written that above two days before I went to the Photokina.

There then Ive talked to the responsible product manager for the Leica M system. He told me that last year the sales for the M7 and MP have been a bit higher than in 2012 (1000 film M cameras were produced last year). They expect the demand for their film M cameras to be stable to slightly increasing in the next years.That is why they have introduced now a third film based M with the M-A.
AFAIK that is the first time in their history that three film M cameras are offered at the same time.
And also very positive: From next year on Leica will offer new courses for classic film photography at their Leica Akademie.

So both can be seen as a commitment from Leica to film and their film M camera production.
It is an important signal. And a positive one.
And maybe even a signal realised by other camera manufacturers (there were some rumors about that.....digital camera sales are in very strong decline ).

Best regards,
Henning

Xmas · Oct 17, 2014

TheFlyingCamera said:
Elucidate your thought, please. I'm not unfamiliar with Leicas. I know that many people don't use flash with them (it took the second-generation of M6 to get even rudimentary TTL flash with it). But I know that it would be nice to be able to use fill-flash in daylight, something I can do with ease with my Rolleiflex, my Canon EOS system, my Contax RTS III and my Contax G2. Even my G1 has a 1/125th flash sync.

I get it, they're aiming for an all-mechanical camera. They got it. But the cloth horizontal-travel focal plane shutter is traditional to the point of primitiveness. It may be an elegant design, but it's not elegant engineering. So if you want to argue I don't "get" Leicas, you're right. But don't say I don't get the appeal of "traditional" cameras - I shoot 90%+ of my work with a Rolleiflex, and the majority of the rest is shot on view cameras with sometimes century-old lenses. If I'm going to give up square inches of film, I'd better get something else back in the way of features/functionality. I don't see this as giving me anything back other than slightly smaller size/weight over my Rollei. My Rollei cost me $600, complete with a legendary lens, the Zeiss f2.8 Planar. That Leica would cost nearly $6000, without a lens. Not a good deal.

The Barnack shutter has been copied for the M and by Nikon for their rangefinders through to F and F2, Pentax SLRs to the K1000, OM1 to OM4TI, Canon LTM to 7, some used four post, some Ti, some CRES all still the same elegant engineering.
It is maintainable by any blacksmith given what Solms charge, how long they take, and lack of spares, a very significant point.
M9s plummet in price MPs hold value.
I've slimmed down to five M2 and a M3 and two Barnacks, shant be buying anything later.

Xmas · Oct 17, 2014

chip j said:
If the M-A has the same buttery-smooth shutter release as the classic Ms, it's a winner for me(I lovd the predictability of my M4 shutter, but wouldn't buy an an old M now-the viefinders have aging problems, like the glue separating).

Some do separate and CRR Luton and one of the USA repair people will refurb better then new, expensive though, 300-400 GBP about. Simpler to buy another shooter at 350GBP.

I've not seen a damaged one yet but know two people who have bought one - just don't buy one on eBay.

Unnecessary to maintain preventive if you use them they eventually snap a ribbon or break a tooth. You need to use them to do that. I've had one from 75 no maintenance yet.

Xmas · Oct 17, 2014

Henning Serger said:
Hello,

as I am the OP please let me add one point which is quite important in my opinion:

I've written that above two days before I went to the Photokina.

There then Ive talked to the responsible product manager for the Leica M system. He told me that last year the sales for the M7 and MP have been a bit higher than in 2012 (1000 film M cameras were produced last year). They expect the demand for their film M cameras to be stable to slightly increasing in the next years.That is why they have introduced now a third film based M with the M-A.
AFAIK that is the first time in their history that three film M cameras are offered at the same time.
And also very positive: From next year on Leica will offer new courses for classic film photography at their Leica Akademie.

So both can be seen as a commitment from Leica to film and their film M camera production.
It is an important signal. And a positive one.
And maybe even a signal realised by other camera manufacturers (there were some rumors about that.....digital camera sales are in very strong decline ).

Best regards,
Henning

HiHenning

I thought the a la carte programme was still current?

http://www.leica-a-la-carte.com/alacarte/index/TOKEN/2dPh1LdyNNzBtJNtkrSep8q9Gj0/M/I6eIpw

Noel

TheToadMen · Oct 18, 2014

Theo Sulphate said:
I wish Leica much success. I'm a long time owner of two M3's and two M6's, so I'm not their target market. If I get another Leica, it'd be an M4 or M5.

I wish their price was lower so that newcomers would be more tempted to get it, but there are plenty of M's in the used marketplace.

In that case get a M5. Not the most popular Leica mabey, but quite different from M3 and M6 and nice to use.

Bert from Holland
http://thetoadmen.blogspot.nl

elekm · Oct 18, 2014

I had an IIIf and an M6. Both were very nice cameras. I bought the IIIf around 2001 when people were dumping film cameras as fast as they could. It had a very clean Summitar. Nice combination.

I bought the M6 from a shop owner who wanted to move up to the M7. The build was excellent.

I found the camera didn't suit me, and I eventually sold it. I sold the IIIf when I needed some quick cash. I don't miss the M6, although I do miss the IIIf.

I always found it odd that Leica didn't improve on the design and usability of the camera that much until the IIIg, by which time the SLR was beginning to take hold.

Great cameras, however, and it's nice to see that Leica is still in business, even if it's not making cameras that most people can afford.

Henning Serger · Oct 18, 2014

Xmas said:
HiHenning

I thought the a la carte programme was still current?

http://www.leica-a-la-carte.com/alacarte/index/TOKEN/2dPh1LdyNNzBtJNtkrSep8q9Gj0/M/I6eIpw

Noel

Hi Noel,

yes, the Leica à la carte programme is offered unchanged, like in the last years.
You can use it for all M cameras, including the now three M film cameras.

Best regards,
Henning

Roger Cole · Oct 18, 2014

cliveh said:
The cost and quality of equipment should not be an issue, as you should use what you consider ideal to realise your dream.

Be glad to. Send me your address where I can send the bill.

Pioneer · Oct 19, 2014

Roger Cole said:
Be glad to. Send me your address where I can send the bill.

Just submit the paperwork for a government grant. They will certainly give you a large grant to photographically record the increase in wetlands across Georgia (if you are getting lots of rain) or the destruction of wetlands (if you are in a drought.)

Xmas · Oct 19, 2014

Henning Serger said:
Hi Noel,

yes, the Leica à la carte programme is offered unchanged, like in the last years.
You can use it for all M cameras, including the now three M film cameras.

Best regards,
Henning

Hi Henning
So three film camera models and any custom variation... makes four or more.
I use M2 and M3 with quick load kits so not their target customer.

Noel

New film Leica: Leica M-A

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