Once you master metering by feel and not relying on any kind of electronics, the experience of photography with the MA is second to none. It's like fly fishing with a fine bamboo rod by only reading the currents in the stream.
But if you use a light meter, what’s the downside, photographically? I literally haven’t had a modern Leica or SLR light meter ever fail me. I do like the fishing analogy and use it often for how I like to shoot.
@@patrickjclarke I don't think there's any outright downside. Both ways of working can and should be able to coexist and serve each user according to their liking, as well as the context 🙂
@@patrickjclarke I used to have a M6 and M7 and sold it for a M3 and a MA. For the kind of photography that I do (similar to Hashem in his videos), metering a scene/subject through a viewfinder felt like I was "bruising the scene." I felt like a paparazzi. And appealing to a meter because it was always in my viewfinder, I found, was a crutch - an unnecessary one, that slowed me down playing with a knob and a ring so 2 red arrows would light up. For non photography reasons, the pure mechanical simplicity of the M3, 2, 4, & A will likely support higher values for those models vs M5, 6s, & Ps which will eventually be electronically impaired. Now, the Aperture Priority mode in the M7 is something which really helped my street photography. You're not bruising the scene by metering...it just does it for you. But the shutter in my M7 bricked on me and required a very expensive repair. I'm sure it was a random unlucky event, but that scared me away from an expensive electro/analog cameras.
Fair points. I did mean using aperture priority, on the M7, fwiw. And I’ve heard the Konica Hexar RF is much more reliable. I’ve also heard most all mechanical Leica shutter speeds aren’t really that accurate. But yeah I love all the options that Leica has to offer.
I love using my Leica, My M6TTL is now 23 years old and smooth as my Leica M3, 56 years used professionally by me. Yet I needed SLR for my assignments!
this camera has been haunting me in my dreams for the last year. In another year I should be in a position to buy one. I love watching you use yours, it gets me so excited!
@rossallman4574 it feels great in the hand. Not having a light meter isnt a big deal. The advance lever getting smoother with every roll you put through it. Its just great. It feels a tad slimmer than the m3 also. Let me know when you get yours!
I shot an M3 for years but as a camera made in the 60s it was getting fairly unreliable and spent a lot of time getting repaired. Bought a new silver MP about a year ago and it's honestly perfect. Goes everywhere with my and it feels just like a modern reliable M3. Never would recommend one to a friend nor do I really understand the current Leica hype but as tool for my personal work I love it. Plan to own it for the rest of my life and leave behind the most tattered looking MP I can when I'm done with it.
I have the black MP and have had it for over a year. I pretty much use sunny 16 but its nice to have the option of the light meter. I take my MP everywhere at every chance I can just to document my life, my family and friends. This camera will out live me but just like you; I plan to use this camera and make my mark on it with some brass :) cheers!
I purchased a new MP in 2012. It’s been with me everywhere in the US. Shoot it almost every week. Not used the light meter since i got it. Excellent, excellent M.
I can’t justify the M-A or M-P from a cost perspective to complement and possibly replace my iiia, so the M3 or M2 was starting to make sense since I don’t want to replace the Leica LTM glass I already own. I’d select a couple of M mount lenses to add to the kit over time. I’m not a pro. Not sure how to get a deal on a M-A, but dang nice camera. It would be my choice if Leica would sell those around the USD $3,000 mark with a decent 35mm lens as a new Leica user kit (I know, utopian). Not sure why Leica doesn’t do that. I can only think of good things from offering an “affordable” 100% mechanical camera with no electronics to service during the warranty period. It would attract more factory buyers instead of sending potential buyers a fairly frustrating used market.
I have a Leica M3 and Laica MP too. I like both cameras. I think for zoom (tele)-photos the M3 ist the best for 90 mm and 135 mm. Greetings from Germany!
Very interesting vid. My 1957 M3 double stroke has been serviced and is a joy to use. Focussing is so immediate, easy and assured and the viewfinder bright, flare free and dead simple. It's a camera the family have been asked to keep and pass on to whoever will be best placed to enjoy it after kick the 35mm film canister. I only wish my father-in-law was still alive to try it - he spoke often of Leica but never owned one and I was a Canon A1 shooter without the readies to get an M3 back then.
My M3 DS dated back to 1957 too as well, purchased it from a Leica Store in NYC which was CLA’d. So far so good. The M6 was my initial choice at that time but the price was out of control. And the MP or MA was no where to be found.
m-a is the way. I have had my silver copy for a few months now and have sold every other film camera I own. I originally used my 1956 50mm f2 summicron and it was insane and I just got the 50mm summilux f 1.4 asph. Everything stated in your video I can fully back up and I'm only 30 rolls in the deep.
I also never use a light meter unless I absolutely feel I have to. Reading the light is an art on its own and takes time and I am just trying to get better at it.
I had the same feeling about the light meter being a distraction with my Leica M6 which I ultimately sold. Looking back, my best photos came from a M2 and M3 which didn’t have light meters and I guessed the exposure using Sunny16.
Owned a Mp since 2003 and love it .. got to the point some time ago that I don’t rely on batteries… Give the choice now and having the experience of the Mp … I would probably go for the ma … chrome for me …
A great video explaining who the MA is and ISN'T for. My old eyes would not be able to calibrate well enough to put the MA to good use... a light meter is now a necessity. Best wishes in the new you to you and the lovely Sarah!!!
Thank you for answering my previous question. ONe more question, Hashem. I am a digital Leica shooter and looking to start shooting with an analog Leica. Do you know whether it is a standard practice for labs to output digital scans as RAW or DNGs? Or do they only output in JPEGs?
Great video man! I feel the same way about light meters. My Canon P works just fine without a light meter and I'm glad I didn't pay a premium for a rangefinder like an M6 that has a meter in it. I usually just take a couple meter readings with my phone before I start shooting and just go from there
watching the silver version of it at the "Analogue insights" and it looks identical to my M2 except the frame counter. i love my M2. such a classic design
I’ve only had my M-A for just over 6 months. It’s been a pleasure and more. The absence of logo and markings further imply that this is a camera not meant to be shown off rather a camera acting as a distillation of rangefinder photography. I paired it off with several Zeiss lenses after seeing your Zeiss kit video in the beginning and now have paired it with a 50mm summicron. Leica incites disdain and elitist accusations from other photographers though as someone who uses it almost everyday, it’s become something so much more to me. By the way Hash, the Zeiss 35mm Distagon F/1.4 is a great lens to use with the M-A.
@@Gravitys-NOT-a-force it seems that way to me. Because of the absence of any identifying brand etc. I’ve never received any attention from people on the street. The M-A seems to be in perpetual stealth mode. Of course I particularly liked the black chrome and unbroken framelines compared to the M-P. I have since placed an order for the black paint M-P.
Beautiful video, Hashem. The care you've put into this and your ongoing growth as a video producer is really evident! EDIT: I left this comment before I got to the Dropbox gag, so I just wanted to add: 🤣🤣🤣
Thanks! I agree. I don’t want to depend on sophisticated electronics that I can only override by entering long menus and using tiny knobs. Still, I love a built-in coupled light-meter that gives suggestions only. So I opted for the MP.
If you bought it from the Camera Exchange, chances are you bought the one I was looking at! I ended up finding a good deal in Perth when I travelled there, and similar to you I went from a M4 to the M-A as I really love this camera, even if they are similar, the finish is just so nice.
Great video!!! I have an m4 and probably in the future I’ll add a m-a too as my daily camera. Now I’m thinking to buy the Zeiss 35mm 2.8 since I’m not really impressed about the IQ of the nokton 35mm 1.4
Hi Hashem. Sunny 16 + Zone focusing are the best techniques for any street photography. I love Leica cameras, unfortunately they are way out of my budget. For my street photography I am using a Yashica YF, which is the most looking camera to the M3/M2 cameras. Thanks for the video!
Yeah I’d love one but when I can buy a Fuji x100v for way less then I have to question my habits lol I’m just using my Olympus om1n, really want an xpan but is a ticking brick bomb lol then a Leica m6 but again way out of my budget!
Thanks! I develop my own black and white, and the colour has been at various places throughout the years (some while travelling also). For scanning, I use my digital camera and macro lens 🙂
Bought a M2 last summer. First rangefinder experience after almost 20 years with a Nikon FM. initial reaction was definitely mixed. Being so used to a manual slr I felt held back in some ways with the rangefinder as I was trying to use it like my SLR. after a while I started feeling more comfortable with it but the lack of meter was definitely a hard thing at first to get used to. I bought one of those hotshoe meters and used that but I hated both the look of it (it ruined the clean Leica look) and the usability having to dial settings 2 times everytime (one for meter, one for camera). Recently lost the meter on a walk and decided to just not buy another one and go full meter less. I was practicing judging exposure by feel/sense and sunny16 and got better at it. Now I absolutely love shooting this camera with no meter and even when I use my FM sometimes I forget to pay attention to the meter and just shoot by feel. Whenever I’m unsure of the lighting I use my phone with a meter app just to give me the ball park range and then just judge from there on what to use. Film is a lot more versatile than one would imagine (maybe not slide film) and like you said, for more precise measurements a incident handheld meter will always be much more accurate than any built in meter or hot shoe meter. I really love this M2 now and I feel like it’s actually the closest thing to a M-A other than the frame lines which I actually prefer on the M2 because I don’t have double lines for each size. It’s build like it will survive a nuclear war
Great review! Did you ever have the issue where the leather gives in a bit where the battery would sit in the MP? I read there is a hole in the chassis since they are using the same frame for the M-A as the MP
If you're looking for a fully manual camera, the M-A might be really good, but does it warrant the price premium over a properly serviced fully manual 1950's or 60's rangefinder? A serviced Barnack Leica, Zeiss Contax, Kodak Retina or even a Soviet or Japanese Leica knockoff rangefinder with excellent lenses can be had for a few hundred dollars. All of those are excellent cameras that I'm willing to bet arguably produce results that match an M-A. I'd love to see a comparison video between them.
Great video. I can see that the M-A would suit my style. I currently have the M3 and M6, both CLA’s and working perfect. Love them both. Sometimes I wish I just had one M camera and use it all the time instead of always deciding between the two of them. Am I crazy thinking of selling both the M3 and M6 to buy the M-A?
Difficult choice! I think keep both if they work well for you, especially if you enjoy the M3's unique viewfinder/framelines. But if you find that they have a lot of overlap in your usage style, MA would be nice as a replacement. See if you can try one at a store or something 🙂 (that helped me a bit)
Still saving for my M-A. You know the weird thing is people putting those old Leica light meters from the 1960s on their M-As. I’ve seen more than one. You wonder why not get the MP or M6?
That's fair, imo if you think you'll use the built-in meter a lot it's good to just buy the camera that has one. Unless maybe you save a bunch of cash on an M2 or something, even with the extra purchase?
I do this! Haha. I'm completely comfortable going meterless and shoot without referencing my MR-4 meter about half the time. The times when I do use it, it's preferable to me versus a M6/P meter for the following reasons: First and most important - you can meter without bringing the camera to your eye. If I want to meter in challenging changing conditions, my MA stays by my waist around my neck. I can easily look down meter my scene, scale focus, then either shoot from the hip or quickly bring to my to eye to frame without "bruising" the scene. If you meter with an M6/P you have to look through the viewfinder pointing at the subject. Shoot like a spy not a paparazzi. Second - The MR-4 meter is coupled to the shutter speed. It makes exposure adjustments very easy compared to hand held or other hotshot meters. Third - The MA like the M3, M2, M4 is designed to be used with this meter. People ask "why is the shutter speed dial smaller and different?" They could have made the MA with the MP dial, but the didn't. They used the classic notched meter-coupled dial. It's how the systems was designed to be originally intended to be used. To me, a black chrome MA with a black paint MR-4 meter is the sexiest camera you can have.
nice video, I also like the mechanical Leica M cameras. I use a M2 from birthyear and a MP with light meter in black paint. The light meter is a helpful for me, not necessary, but helpful for positive films. What lenses are your goto lenses?
Are there any Leica film cameras with a self timer? I've only owned digital Leica cameras, but I'm interested in a film one. A self timer is something I utilized all the time. Not having one isn't the end of the world, but it is a very useful feature to have.
@pushingfilm thank you so much! I think the M4 is what I’m going with. I’ve watch all your Leica M-A videos, and I was saving up for it. But the M4 seems to have what I’m looking for.
thanks for the great review of M-A! After i got my first Leica M2 i am contemplating to get this one :D I have a question, Do you use Urth UV Plus+ filter on your lens in Leica kit (for protection too)? can you share more experiences about this filter? does it give color cast? distortion? and other stuff? cause i have been wondering the most worth lens filter for my kit that doesnt give any effect for the rendering :)
Hi Hashem, Does you’re copy of the Leica MA have what feels like some give where the Leica MP would’ve had the battery door? Strange, I just purchased the MA camera, brand new and it has what looks like a leatherette round indentation that caught my eye, when I pressed it, looks like a battery space area was filled in with something and covered with leatherette.
Yeah this is a common finding, it seems like Leica used the same chassis. I only noticed it on mine after someone else asked the same question, and mainly at certain lighting angles. It's never bothered me though 😅
@@pushingfilm In my copy this was extremely noticeable at any angle and it looked like a bump on the top part of the indentation and sunk in at the bottom part of the indentation. Thanks for the quick reply, appreciate it. ❤
Can I ask how a Leica M4-2 with this same lense might compare to the M-A? I have come across an M4-2 with this same lense and I’m wondering if it’s still comparable to the M-A. Love your channel! Beautiful, really informative videos 👍🏻
i have been thinking about buying a MP or MA for years really, and i have just bought an MA (Yesterday) after watching this vid. thanks so much. I do have a keks light meter till i get a bit better at judging the light. Now i just need a 50m lens.Any suggestion i was thinking of the new SUMMICRON-M 50mm f2 black or the Leica M 50mm f2 Summicron Rigid Leitz Wetzlar with is much cheaper. thanks Heath
Congrats! If you go with the vintage ones, just make sure you get one with good glass, as they are prone to ageing badly after this long. But if money was no object I'd say get the new Summicron. For me, most Leica lenses are out of my budget, and I quite enjoy the look from my Zeiss Sonnar 50. I also just reviewed the new Thypoch Eureka 50, which I quite liked and will continue to use.
@@pushingfilm Thanks I went with the new 50mm Leica So sic just finished my first roll of film in it can’t wait to see to the pics Thanks again Heath Keep up the good work 👌👍🏻
Does your MA have a wobbly shutter dial while locked in speed? Bought it brand new last year and find it a bit strange, have the M6 and MP, didn't have this problem
Great video Hashem! That is a great deal indeed on that camera and it makes perfect sense given it’s a camera still produced. Film cameras are getting older and older so to have a new piece of kit like this is great indeed! I also enjoy shooting purely mechanical cameras. It’s an experience all on its own which is incredibly rewarding.
I got it years ago from a camera store I worked at, which had a Leica Boutique within it. They've shut down since, but I think there's a good chance that some Leica stores would have an updated equivalent.
It's difficult to quantify the difference between a photo shot on film and the same photo - shot at the same time - with a digital camera, but there IS an aesthetic difference between them. Try shooting members of your family or close friends with a roll of Kodak Portra 160 film. Compare those photos with your digital photos. You'll see.
@@pushingfilm the UK has incorporated CT scans in many airports including Heathrow. Increasingly common experience many face including me is that hand check is not available and even attempting to gently negotiate doesn’t work. They seem rude and brusque. In the future I would possibly order and purchase my film in UK and get it delivered on the day I arrive.
I like the chrome black much better than the black paint, not really into the whole brassing bs, and the lack of branding all over the place make this one a really nice looking camera for my taste, the only thing I don't like about the M-A is the fact that under the leatherette there is actually a covered whole for the battery, Leica used the same body frame for both the M-P and the M-A and I didn't like the fact the the battery whole was so poorly covered, doesn't show in most M-As but is there and it show in some
There are many more videos of the MP than of the M-A and I feel that this one is less listened to and I don't understand why. For me, it is not conceivable to pay 5k for a camera and that the ISO dial is plastic. I don't care if I have a lightmeter or if it's black paint, I can't stand that MP plastic dial. On the other hand, everything in M-A is metal and it is fascinating like that.
@@pushingfilm And hence this question, why the need to spend $3800 extra if $150 camera can do the job? The answer can't be longevity because this QL17 is as old as I am.
@@knife-wieldingspidergod5059 I am not implying a "need" at all. For me, it's more about spending on something that I use heavily to give me the optimal experience for the way I do that (and it's actually gone up in value since I bought it). The way that I use the Leica, the QL17 wouldn't do the job in many cases. It's too much to explain why in detail, but that is my situation! Check out some of my videos about or using the QL17, and some vlogs of me using the M-A to get a better idea. But as mentioned in the video, I don't think the vast majority of people should spend that much or would benefit from it.
I also recommend the video I made called "What is a Leica M good for?" where I answer your question in some detail (as to why nobody really needs a Leica)
A note for RUclipsrs: you will only need "mechanical reliability" on a post apocalypse situation. Batteries are light and are everywhere. Stop with this bs. I for one prefer a weather sealed camera that I can use all the time, be cold, hot, rain mud
There are a million and one way Leica could have integrated a non-intrusive coupled light meter into the M-A. To not have a meter in any form is a great failure in this camera. The Leica M-A is a spares bin camera made out of the remaining spare Leica M camera parts repacked into a new camera but sold at an outrageous price without any notable design features to justify its price.
Or, if you are not scared of failing electronics, get an M7. It’s arguably the most advanced film M, has been kinda spared of the leica price explosion (roughly the same price as an m6, ttl is more)…. and I’m going to look at one in 2 weeks 👀
@@andyjones5192 true of course. But when will there a be a lack of spare parts? In 10 years? 15 years? Nobody knows but I doubt it will become a problem any time soon (I hope)
Once you master metering by feel and not relying on any kind of electronics, the experience of photography with the MA is second to none. It's like fly fishing with a fine bamboo rod by only reading the currents in the stream.
Nicely put!
But if you use a light meter, what’s the downside, photographically? I literally haven’t had a modern Leica or SLR light meter ever fail me. I do like the fishing analogy and use it often for how I like to shoot.
@@patrickjclarke I don't think there's any outright downside. Both ways of working can and should be able to coexist and serve each user according to their liking, as well as the context 🙂
@@patrickjclarke I used to have a M6 and M7 and sold it for a M3 and a MA. For the kind of photography that I do (similar to Hashem in his videos), metering a scene/subject through a viewfinder felt like I was "bruising the scene." I felt like a paparazzi. And appealing to a meter because it was always in my viewfinder, I found, was a crutch - an unnecessary one, that slowed me down playing with a knob and a ring so 2 red arrows would light up. For non photography reasons, the pure mechanical simplicity of the M3, 2, 4, & A will likely support higher values for those models vs M5, 6s, & Ps which will eventually be electronically impaired.
Now, the Aperture Priority mode in the M7 is something which really helped my street photography. You're not bruising the scene by metering...it just does it for you. But the shutter in my M7 bricked on me and required a very expensive repair. I'm sure it was a random unlucky event, but that scared me away from an expensive electro/analog cameras.
Fair points. I did mean using aperture priority, on the M7, fwiw. And I’ve heard the Konica Hexar RF is much more reliable. I’ve also heard most all mechanical Leica shutter speeds aren’t really that accurate. But yeah I love all the options that Leica has to offer.
I love using my Leica, My M6TTL is now 23 years old and smooth as my Leica M3, 56 years used professionally by me. Yet I needed SLR for my assignments!
this camera has been haunting me in my dreams for the last year. In another year I should be in a position to buy one. I love watching you use yours, it gets me so excited!
It’s been a year and I hope you got your dream camera!
I shot two rolls with it today! I actually got it not long after i posted that comment, lol. Its a dream to have and use
@@blackcrackedpepper7833 so awesome to hear! Congratulations. I’ll get there soon
@rossallman4574 it feels great in the hand. Not having a light meter isnt a big deal. The advance lever getting smoother with every roll you put through it. Its just great. It feels a tad slimmer than the m3 also. Let me know when you get yours!
@@blackcrackedpepper7833 local store here has them, I’ve always been tempted to go and just feel… but sounds way too dangerous haha and will do!
Omg, that Pixpa transition was so smooth! But my goodness, your videos are getting super polished! Well done Hash!
😁 Thanks Matt!
I shot an M3 for years but as a camera made in the 60s it was getting fairly unreliable and spent a lot of time getting repaired. Bought a new silver MP about a year ago and it's honestly perfect. Goes everywhere with my and it feels just like a modern reliable M3. Never would recommend one to a friend nor do I really understand the current Leica hype but as tool for my personal work I love it. Plan to own it for the rest of my life and leave behind the most tattered looking MP I can when I'm done with it.
I have the black MP and have had it for over a year. I pretty much use sunny 16 but its nice to have the option of the light meter. I take my MP everywhere at every chance I can just to document my life, my family and friends. This camera will out live me but just like you; I plan to use this camera and make my mark on it with some brass :) cheers!
I purchased a new MP in 2012. It’s been with me everywhere in the US. Shoot it almost every week. Not used the light meter since i got it. Excellent, excellent M.
That's the way! 🙂
I can’t justify the M-A or M-P from a cost perspective to complement and possibly replace my iiia, so the M3 or M2 was starting to make sense since I don’t want to replace the Leica LTM glass I already own. I’d select a couple of M mount lenses to add to the kit over time. I’m not a pro. Not sure how to get a deal on a M-A, but dang nice camera. It would be my choice if Leica would sell those around the USD $3,000 mark with a decent 35mm lens as a new Leica user kit (I know, utopian). Not sure why Leica doesn’t do that. I can only think of good things from offering an “affordable” 100% mechanical camera with no electronics to service during the warranty period. It would attract more factory buyers instead of sending potential buyers a fairly frustrating used market.
I have a Leica M3 and Laica MP too. I like both cameras. I think for zoom (tele)-photos the M3 ist the best for 90 mm and 135 mm. Greetings from Germany!
Very interesting vid. My 1957 M3 double stroke has been serviced and is a joy to use. Focussing is so immediate, easy and assured and the viewfinder bright, flare free and dead simple. It's a camera the family have been asked to keep and pass on to whoever will be best placed to enjoy it after kick the 35mm film canister. I only wish my father-in-law was still alive to try it - he spoke often of Leica but never owned one and I was a Canon A1 shooter without the readies to get an M3 back then.
My M3 DS dated back to 1957 too as well, purchased it from a Leica Store in NYC which was CLA’d. So far so good. The M6 was my initial choice at that time but the price was out of control. And the MP or MA was no where to be found.
m-a is the way. I have had my silver copy for a few months now and have sold every other film camera I own. I originally used my 1956 50mm f2 summicron and it was insane and I just got the 50mm summilux f 1.4 asph. Everything stated in your video I can fully back up and I'm only 30 rolls in the deep.
I also never use a light meter unless I absolutely feel I have to. Reading the light is an art on its own and takes time and I am just trying to get better at it.
I had the same feeling about the light meter being a distraction with my Leica M6 which I ultimately sold. Looking back, my best photos came from a M2 and M3 which didn’t have light meters and I guessed the exposure using Sunny16.
Great video Hashem, thanks. Enjoyed your gallery, especially the tape deck photo - works so beautifully with the film tones.
Thanks so much! Yeah that's a cool little vintage piece that we have in the house but doesn't seem to work anymore unfortunately 😅
Owned a Mp since 2003 and love it .. got to the point some time ago that I don’t rely on batteries…
Give the choice now and having the experience of the Mp … I would probably go for the ma … chrome for me …
A great video explaining who the MA is and ISN'T for. My old eyes would not be able to calibrate well enough to put the MA to good use... a light meter is now a necessity. Best wishes in the new you to you and the lovely Sarah!!!
Thank you for answering my previous question. ONe more question, Hashem. I am a digital Leica shooter and looking to start shooting with an analog Leica. Do you know whether it is a standard practice for labs to output digital scans as RAW or DNGs? Or do they only output in JPEGs?
No problem! It's usually JPEG, or perhaps TIFF as another option with some labs.
@@pushingfilm Thank you. JPEGs would be tougher to adjust in Lightroom as you know. This concerns me as I am would be the mercy of the lab.
Great video man! I feel the same way about light meters. My Canon P works just fine without a light meter and I'm glad I didn't pay a premium for a rangefinder like an M6 that has a meter in it. I usually just take a couple meter readings with my phone before I start shooting and just go from there
watching the silver version of it at the "Analogue insights" and it looks identical to my M2 except the frame counter. i love my M2. such a classic design
M2 is the best! I love it
M2 is great!
Great photographs. Thank you.
RS. Canada
Many thanks!
I’ve only had my M-A for just over 6 months. It’s been a pleasure and more. The absence of logo and markings further imply that this is a camera not meant to be shown off rather a camera acting as a distillation of rangefinder photography. I paired it off with several Zeiss lenses after seeing your Zeiss kit video in the beginning and now have paired it with a 50mm summicron. Leica incites disdain and elitist accusations from other photographers though as someone who uses it almost everyday, it’s become something so much more to me. By the way Hash, the Zeiss 35mm Distagon F/1.4 is a great lens to use with the M-A.
I wouldn't mind trying that one! Looks a bit bulky for street photography though
"Not meant to be shown off"? I think the M-A is the most beautiful Leica camera out there!
@@Gravitys-NOT-a-force it seems that way to me. Because of the absence of any identifying brand etc. I’ve never received any attention from people on the street. The M-A seems to be in perpetual stealth mode. Of course I particularly liked the black chrome and unbroken framelines compared to the M-P. I have since placed an order for the black paint M-P.
Love the video. My main camera is the M-A with a 21mm. My backup is an M3 with the 50mm. That’s all I need.
Beautiful video, Hashem. The care you've put into this and your ongoing growth as a video producer is really evident!
EDIT: I left this comment before I got to the Dropbox gag, so I just wanted to add: 🤣🤣🤣
Thanks very much Steven!
Great video dude. Meter less cameras are such a fun experience. Definitely have my eye on an M-A.
That Dropbox reference was freaking hilarious 😂😂😂
Thanks man! Haha glad you appreciated that 😁
Thanks! I agree. I don’t want to depend on sophisticated electronics that I can only override by entering long menus and using tiny knobs. Still, I love a built-in coupled light-meter that gives suggestions only. So I opted for the MP.
If you bought it from the Camera Exchange, chances are you bought the one I was looking at! I ended up finding a good deal in Perth when I travelled there, and similar to you I went from a M4 to the M-A as I really love this camera, even if they are similar, the finish is just so nice.
Glad to hear! I didnt buy from Camera exchange
Nice vid. Maybe one day you could do a vid about the compatible M Mount lenses you use with your kit.
Great video!!! I have an m4 and probably in the future I’ll add a m-a too as my daily camera. Now I’m thinking to buy the Zeiss 35mm 2.8 since I’m not really impressed about the IQ of the nokton 35mm 1.4
i am heavily inspired for shooting without meter from your old M4 video and have been hoping i get an M4 or MA soon in my near future.
I am rocking the MP and I love it, also bought used. That and the FM3a are my faves for 35mm
Nice, two "grail" level cameras in their own right!
Love the skit and thanks for your insight. I have the M4-P and love it but I'm not skilled yet to shoot without an external light meter
Hi Hashem. Sunny 16 + Zone focusing are the best techniques for any street photography. I love Leica cameras, unfortunately they are way out of my budget. For my street photography I am using a Yashica YF, which is the most looking camera to the M3/M2 cameras. Thanks for the video!
Yeah I’d love one but when I can buy a Fuji x100v for way less then I have to question my habits lol I’m just using my Olympus om1n, really want an xpan but is a ticking brick bomb lol then a Leica m6 but again way out of my budget!
Putting out great content as usual! Such a beautiful camera! Hopefully I can either get one of these or an M6!
Dude, I hope you make a photo book soon. I’d buy it in an instant! Amazing photography 😮
Thank you! 😄
Loved your presentation. Where do you process your film and where/how do you scan your film?
Thanks! I develop my own black and white, and the colour has been at various places throughout the years (some while travelling also). For scanning, I use my digital camera and macro lens 🙂
Bought a M2 last summer. First rangefinder experience after almost 20 years with a Nikon FM. initial reaction was definitely mixed. Being so used to a manual slr I felt held back in some ways with the rangefinder as I was trying to use it like my SLR. after a while I started feeling more comfortable with it but the lack of meter was definitely a hard thing at first to get used to. I bought one of those hotshoe meters and used that but I hated both the look of it (it ruined the clean Leica look) and the usability having to dial settings 2 times everytime (one for meter, one for camera).
Recently lost the meter on a walk and decided to just not buy another one and go full meter less. I was practicing judging exposure by feel/sense and sunny16 and got better at it. Now I absolutely love shooting this camera with no meter and even when I use my FM sometimes I forget to pay attention to the meter and just shoot by feel. Whenever I’m unsure of the lighting I use my phone with a meter app just to give me the ball park range and then just judge from there on what to use. Film is a lot more versatile than one would imagine (maybe not slide film) and like you said, for more precise measurements a incident handheld meter will always be much more accurate than any built in meter or hot shoe meter.
I really love this M2 now and I feel like it’s actually the closest thing to a M-A other than the frame lines which I actually prefer on the M2 because I don’t have double lines for each size. It’s build like it will survive a nuclear war
i also bought an m2 last year and i looooove it to death.
Great review! Did you ever have the issue where the leather gives in a bit where the battery would sit in the MP? I read there is a hole in the chassis since they are using the same frame for the M-A as the MP
Yeah I can make out a slight circle if I look at certain angles, seems to be the case for many units!
Heads above all the other Leica videos I’ve seen
Hi friend, I would love to see one video about the way you use the sunny 16 rule... with your personal tips :)
Yeah I'm actually thinking of doing this!
Good morning,
What is the length of your camera strap ?
Thank you
It's a 30-inch "Classic Wide" strap from Tap and Dye
your shots are incredible! great vid
Thank you!
If you're looking for a fully manual camera, the M-A might be really good, but does it warrant the price premium over a properly serviced fully manual 1950's or 60's rangefinder? A serviced Barnack Leica, Zeiss Contax, Kodak Retina or even a Soviet or Japanese Leica knockoff rangefinder with excellent lenses can be had for a few hundred dollars. All of those are excellent cameras that I'm willing to bet arguably produce results that match an M-A. I'd love to see a comparison video between them.
Love fully manual cameras. Only recently discovered the Nikon FM3a. It kind of slipped under the radar.
Great video. I can see that the M-A would suit my style. I currently have the M3 and M6, both CLA’s and working perfect. Love them both. Sometimes I wish I just had one M camera and use it all the time instead of always deciding between the two of them. Am I crazy thinking of selling both the M3 and M6 to buy the M-A?
Difficult choice! I think keep both if they work well for you, especially if you enjoy the M3's unique viewfinder/framelines. But if you find that they have a lot of overlap in your usage style, MA would be nice as a replacement. See if you can try one at a store or something 🙂 (that helped me a bit)
@@pushingfilm That’s great advice, thanks!
Still saving for my M-A. You know the weird thing is people putting those old Leica light meters from the 1960s on their M-As. I’ve seen more than one. You wonder why not get the MP or M6?
That's fair, imo if you think you'll use the built-in meter a lot it's good to just buy the camera that has one. Unless maybe you save a bunch of cash on an M2 or something, even with the extra purchase?
I do this! Haha. I'm completely comfortable going meterless and shoot without referencing my MR-4 meter about half the time. The times when I do use it, it's preferable to me versus a M6/P meter for the following reasons:
First and most important - you can meter without bringing the camera to your eye. If I want to meter in challenging changing conditions, my MA stays by my waist around my neck. I can easily look down meter my scene, scale focus, then either shoot from the hip or quickly bring to my to eye to frame without "bruising" the scene. If you meter with an M6/P you have to look through the viewfinder pointing at the subject. Shoot like a spy not a paparazzi.
Second - The MR-4 meter is coupled to the shutter speed. It makes exposure adjustments very easy compared to hand held or other hotshot meters.
Third - The MA like the M3, M2, M4 is designed to be used with this meter. People ask "why is the shutter speed dial smaller and different?" They could have made the MA with the MP dial, but the didn't. They used the classic notched meter-coupled dial. It's how the systems was designed to be originally intended to be used. To me, a black chrome MA with a black paint MR-4 meter is the sexiest camera you can have.
@@pushingfilm yeah, I'm working with an M3 for that reason until there's enough money in the bank. M3s are the cheapest Ms can you believe it. Cheers.
@@jpm5205 thanks. There's more to it than I thought. Cheers.
Can you make a video on your sunny 16 process?
Hey Daniel. Sure, I've had a few requests for this and have started writing up a video to put out soon :-)
It's the year 2053 and after a few CLA's here and there, the Leica MA is still working beautifully and went up in value.
Great video 👏 is it possible to do long exposures with that camera ?
Thanks! Yep, you can do bulb exposures 🙂
nice video, I also like the mechanical Leica M cameras. I use a M2 from birthyear and a MP with light meter in black paint. The light meter is a helpful for me, not necessary, but helpful for positive films.
What lenses are your goto lenses?
Thanks for making the clear distinction of how best you feel this camera should be used. As always, very high-quality presentation. Cheers.
Are there any Leica film cameras with a self timer? I've only owned digital Leica cameras, but I'm interested in a film one. A self timer is something I utilized all the time. Not having one isn't the end of the world, but it is a very useful feature to have.
Yep! The M4 would be a good example
@pushingfilm thank you so much! I think the M4 is what I’m going with. I’ve watch all your Leica M-A videos, and I was saving up for it. But the M4 seems to have what I’m looking for.
Hi Hashem! Quick question where was the photo at 0:20 taken?
That was in Dhaka, Bangladesh
@@pushingfilm I had a feeling! When did you visit Bangladesh? I’m Bangladeshi myself !!
@@shotonektachrome I was there last month!
What lens would you recommend for street photography?
I recommend 35mm when starting off, and as a great all-rounder in general!
@@pushingfilm thanks!
Hi, may I know where you can find the book (analog) at 2:30 please? I really want to buy the book that have all leica models. Thank you
great video! what lens do you find yourself using the most on the MA?
The Zeiss Biogon 35mm 2.8
And thank you!
Hi, do you „need“ „use“ a lightmeter .
thanks for the great review of M-A! After i got my first Leica M2 i am contemplating to get this one :D
I have a question, Do you use Urth UV Plus+ filter on your lens in Leica kit (for protection too)?
can you share more experiences about this filter? does it give color cast? distortion? and other stuff?
cause i have been wondering the most worth lens filter for my kit that doesnt give any effect for the rendering :)
Nice! Yeah I do sometimes, and don't notice the above.
Hi Hashem, Does you’re copy of the Leica MA have what feels like some give where the Leica MP would’ve had the battery door? Strange, I just purchased the MA camera, brand new and it has what looks like a leatherette round indentation that caught my eye, when I pressed it, looks like a battery space area was filled in with something and covered with leatherette.
Yeah this is a common finding, it seems like Leica used the same chassis. I only noticed it on mine after someone else asked the same question, and mainly at certain lighting angles. It's never bothered me though 😅
@@pushingfilm In my copy this was extremely noticeable at any angle and it looked like a bump on the top part of the indentation and sunk in at the bottom part of the indentation. Thanks for the quick reply, appreciate it. ❤
You take very nice photos.
Thank you very much!
I was thinking of the MP now my mind has shifted to MA lol. Currently using digital leicaMp👌🏾
Can I ask how a Leica M4-2 with this same lense might compare to the M-A?
I have come across an M4-2 with this same lense and I’m wondering if it’s still comparable to the M-A.
Love your channel! Beautiful, really informative videos 👍🏻
Yes, absolutely! You wouldn't notice much difference in usage. And thank you!
Why not just keep using the M4? What’s the advantage of the MA?
i have been thinking about buying a MP or MA for years really, and i have just bought an MA (Yesterday) after watching this vid. thanks so much. I do have a keks light meter till i get a bit better at judging the light. Now i just need a 50m lens.Any suggestion i was thinking of the new SUMMICRON-M 50mm f2 black or the Leica M 50mm f2 Summicron Rigid Leitz Wetzlar with is much cheaper. thanks Heath
Congrats! If you go with the vintage ones, just make sure you get one with good glass, as they are prone to ageing badly after this long. But if money was no object I'd say get the new Summicron. For me, most Leica lenses are out of my budget, and I quite enjoy the look from my Zeiss Sonnar 50. I also just reviewed the new Thypoch Eureka 50, which I quite liked and will continue to use.
@@pushingfilm
Thanks
I went with the new 50mm Leica
So sic just finished my first roll of film in it can’t wait to see to the pics
Thanks again Heath
Keep up the good work 👌👍🏻
Does your MA have a wobbly shutter dial while locked in speed? Bought it brand new last year and find it a bit strange, have the M6 and MP, didn't have this problem
No, mine doesn't have this
❤❤❤ love the montage at the beginning
Thanks!
Great video Hashem! That is a great deal indeed on that camera and it makes perfect sense given it’s a camera still produced. Film cameras are getting older and older so to have a new piece of kit like this is great indeed! I also enjoy shooting purely mechanical cameras. It’s an experience all on its own which is incredibly rewarding.
Thank you! I agree :-)
if i had the cash to buy a new Leica i would definitely get an M-A over the MP or M6
Little question, where did you get the catalog?
I got it years ago from a camera store I worked at, which had a Leica Boutique within it. They've shut down since, but I think there's a good chance that some Leica stores would have an updated equivalent.
Made me want to go out and buy an M-A. Just kidding, I’ll stick with my M6 TTL (for now) but always love your work.
You cant go wrong with that! Thanks Don :-)
@@pushingfilm only thing I wish was that it had the MP anti-flare viewfinder upgrade which I believe that the M-A also has as standard.
Is the shot counter misaligned
sorry and were do i buy your book?
I have a zine available (linked in the video description), and am still working on a book to release :-)
I have an M4-2 but there’s something about buying a new mechanical camera that intrigues me. Someday…
It's difficult to quantify the difference between a photo shot on film and the same photo - shot at the same time - with a digital camera, but there IS an aesthetic difference between them. Try shooting members of your family or close friends with a roll of Kodak Portra 160 film. Compare those photos with your digital photos. You'll see.
What are you thoughts on travel with film. I have heard horror stories about xrays and hand check denials etc.
Generally I let film go through Xrays. On the last trip though I got a hand check out of Melbourne Airport because they're using CT now (just in case)
@@pushingfilm the UK has incorporated CT scans in many airports including Heathrow. Increasingly common experience many face including me is that hand check is not available and even attempting to gently negotiate doesn’t work. They seem rude and brusque. In the future I would possibly order and purchase my film in UK and get it delivered on the day I arrive.
Even ISO 800 film like Portra is affected by CT scans.
Sorry I have to say the black paint MP is where it’s at!
Why not Leica M2/M4?
They're great too 🙂👍
I like the chrome black much better than the black paint, not really into the whole brassing bs, and the lack of branding all over the place make this one a really nice looking camera for my taste, the only thing I don't like about the M-A is the fact that under the leatherette there is actually a covered whole for the battery, Leica used the same body frame for both the M-P and the M-A and I didn't like the fact the the battery whole was so poorly covered, doesn't show in most M-As but is there and it show in some
Yeah I think I notice a slight indent or mark on mine in that spot
wow! you were in Bangladesh ?
Yeah! I'll have some vlogs from my list trip there coming up
Great... Um also from Bangladesh and living in the beautiful city of Sylhet. I would love to invite you to my city.
@@musabbirchowdhury6678 we will definitely be going to Sylhet next time!
good review
Thanks!
I much prefer black chrome to black paint.
There are many more videos of the MP than of the M-A and I feel that this one is less listened to and I don't understand why. For me, it is not conceivable to pay 5k for a camera and that the ISO dial is plastic. I don't care if I have a lightmeter or if it's black paint, I can't stand that MP plastic dial. On the other hand, everything in M-A is metal and it is fascinating like that.
How the hell did you sniper a MA for $2500
Second hand, before the price of the brand new ones started to creep up (around the beginning of 2020)
metering is the most important thing, unless you are shooting RAW, and you are shooting film….
"A goal is not always meant to be reached; it often serves simply as something to aim at." --- Bruce Lee
I will bet my Canon Canonet QL17 for $150 takes just as good of a picture.
No reason why it can't take a better photo 🙂 I like the QL17
@@pushingfilm And hence this question, why the need to spend $3800 extra if $150 camera can do the job? The answer can't be longevity because this QL17 is as old as I am.
@@knife-wieldingspidergod5059 I am not implying a "need" at all. For me, it's more about spending on something that I use heavily to give me the optimal experience for the way I do that (and it's actually gone up in value since I bought it). The way that I use the Leica, the QL17 wouldn't do the job in many cases. It's too much to explain why in detail, but that is my situation! Check out some of my videos about or using the QL17, and some vlogs of me using the M-A to get a better idea. But as mentioned in the video, I don't think the vast majority of people should spend that much or would benefit from it.
I also recommend the video I made called "What is a Leica M good for?" where I answer your question in some detail (as to why nobody really needs a Leica)
What, you didn't have a spare kidney to buy a new Leica? ;-)
Spent it on film 😂
Why is it so damn expensive? 🙃 can some one explain it to me why it got a price tag of 5k
One of the best still made. Hahaha. The only one. So it´s easy to be the best.
M3 + an SLA is a fraction of the price and there's a ton of them on the market
A note for RUclipsrs: you will only need "mechanical reliability" on a post apocalypse situation. Batteries are light and are everywhere. Stop with this bs. I for one prefer a weather sealed camera that I can use all the time, be cold, hot, rain mud
A note for complainers, your preference doesn't make other people's "BS"
@@pushingfilm a note for RUclipsrs: you preferences does not translate to everyone ans no one cares.
$50k on ebay 😂
Yikes! Titanium special edition?
It's ~5k.
@@AlexOnStreets some are between $30-50k.
There are a million and one way Leica could have integrated a non-intrusive coupled light meter into the M-A. To not have a meter in any form is a great failure in this camera. The Leica M-A is a spares bin camera made out of the remaining spare Leica M camera parts repacked into a new camera but sold at an outrageous price without any notable design features to justify its price.
Excellent review and most importantly, beautiful work. Many have this equipment just to have it... Love your work! 120rolleiflex
Thank you! 😃
Or, if you are not scared of failing electronics, get an M7. It’s arguably the most advanced film M, has been kinda spared of the leica price explosion (roughly the same price as an m6, ttl is more)…. and I’m going to look at one in 2 weeks 👀
The downside is the lack of spare parts. If it breaks you end up with a pretty expensive paper weight.
@@andyjones5192 true of course. But when will there a be a lack of spare parts? In 10 years? 15 years? Nobody knows but I doubt it will become a problem any time soon (I hope)