Best Leica film camera ever? | Leica M-A Review | Sebastian Oakley
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- Опубликовано: 10 май 2022
- Sebastian Oakley:
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#Leica #Photography #LeicaMA #Film #filmphotography
Great review, simple and fun ! Thanks, Rick…..
Thanks Rick appreciate your support
Having the M2, M4, MA, M7, and MP. The one I always go back to is the MA. It is a beautifully simple and purist analog experience. The MP is my second favorite but it can be a pain to forget to turn the shutter speed to B/Off.
I must admit the Leica MA is the only leica film camera I have used (used many others) and I think it is the best for a full manual analoge thrill
@@SebastianOakley It will last until the last Leica service expert is gone. Beautiful camera, the viewfinder is brighter than the oldies. Plus it feels like an M2 with the quick load. Only if they kept the self timer though 😂
@@MelonAMango To me the MA is the perfect Leica camera in everyway. I note your comment about the self timer, but it is not a fuction that I use at all, but others do!... apart from that it is perfection
@@MelonAMango , I've seen too many comments regarding QC problems with the MP and M-A. See the comments on Camera West TV's RUclips video.
Yes your right, but I have personally handled two M-A's and one MP and all were great... But three isn't a good sample size obviously
I've the M4 and love it. No doubt the new MA is fantastic. Would love to try one.
If I wanted to buy a film Leica, which I do now after using this, I would either buy an M2 that was perfect or bit the bullet for a warranty new M-A.
Beautiful photos and nice review.
Thank you for your kind comment it means a lot - the Leica M-A is a brilliant camera that will last a lifetime
Is it right thats an summicron 28 mm? Thanks for your answer!
I believe that was the 28mm summilux f/1.4
Did you say your b&w film was HP500? What is that? Thanks.
A slip of the tongue, should of said HP5 or to give it's it's proper title ilford HP5 Plus
If I could afford to shoot a lot of film, I'd choose Portra 800 as my default. My goodness it's beautiful. It costs a little bit more than CineStill 800 but it's a superior emulsion in every way. There is no 'magic' to a cinema film which has been stripped of its Remjet, but Portra 800 has plenty of magic indeed.
As for the Leica, I have an M4-2 and shooting an M body is the most sensual experience one could have in photography. All I need to do is actually use it more. The flash sync speed on these cameras is the nicest sound a camera could make.
Thank you for your comment, never used the Portra 800 in the end so will save that for another video, I loved shooting the M-A, it was all I wanted in one camera... My wallet might take a heavy hit soon haha.
@@SebastianOakley I don't mean to get topical here, but if you have not received a COVID jab, maybe your blood and/or sperm could be worth a shit-tonne of money in a few years. There's always hope! 😄
My dream camera. Mechanical perfection.
Thanks for the comment, The M-A is a wounderful camera and I really enjoyed my time using it
If you're used to shooting (relatively expensive) film, to taking care that every photo counts, the M-A sounds great. I have a digital M10-R, however, and I'm NOT used to taking care with each and every shot. On the street I regularly take four or five shots of my subjects in the hope that just one of the four or five will be perfect. I'm not at all certain that "taking more care" each time would improve my images. I'd be very interested in a video showing how "film" images are noticeably more beautiful than 40 mp "digital" images.
At the end of the day it all comes down to a person's taste, I really love shooting film for the slowness it brings and the rendition of a scene. However, I shoot a Leica M-E and find that to be perfect for me, I did try out the M10-R and loved it, sadly I just can't afford one at the moment, but I would say the M10-R is the best value Leica currently, as you get the rich modern performance with a substantial amount of MP, for those that want it.
So beautiful photos 😍
Thanks so much 😊
Full brass body? Or brass top and bottom plates?
top and bottem plate
The M-A looks a bit like my M2 but with an M3 film counter and later frame lines. Not parting with the M2 though 🙂
Yes, it is a good mixture of all the best cameras in one, funny enough I also thought it looked a lot like the M2 and if I were to buy a Leica film camera my thoughts are, I'd get the M2 or get the M-A
@@SebastianOakley I’ve had my M2 for years and will never part with it. I think the internals are from higher quality materials than the later film cameras and were hand built by Leica. I have it serviced by Alan Starkie at Camerworks UK and it is probably as good as it was new. They used to be quite cheap but seem to have shot up of late. I used to be committed HP5 but have recently switched to TMax 400 developed in Hydrofen, I just love it.
In reality, I will probably go for the M2, just love the look and easy if the camera, HP5 I have just discovered and love it, after trying out Rollei 400s and kentmere, both nice films but HP5 just hit the spot nicely!
@@SebastianOakley If you do, a hand grip is worth getting at some stage. I use a Haoge one, which is well made and a clone of the official Leica version. Makes holding the camera a whole lot easier.
@@Nick_r thanks for the information, will certainly look into it if I go down the M2 route
This MA is a mixture of the M3 and the old M6. A film camera no matter how beautifully made, has only but two functions, to keep the light out of the film chamber and to transport the film. Anything to do with the quality of the photographs, if we put the photographer on the side, depends mainly on the film and then the lens. Yes, Leicas are all beautifully made, particularly the older ones, but a body on its own does not contribute much to the image quality.
No I do agree with you, at the end of the day all films camera are just a box to gather light - I think when it comes to Leica a lot has to do with personal preference, how you like to use your camera - for me I've always wanted a pure manual camera that could be fixed if needed and to never rely on a battery to operate it - hence why I love this camera and my Leica M2 - which I bought after using the M-A
@@SebastianOakley Don't get me wrong, please. Leica M cameras are just magical, if the photographer could cope with a range finder. I have had a M2, a M3 and a M6 TTL for longer than I care to remenber, and an MTyp 240 which is the closest a digital camera has come to the feel and operation of the M film cameras. They do inspire the photographer due to the excellent buikd and quality as they shout hand made, but they will not make a person a photographer is he or she has not got it in them. Enjoy the M2, beautiful camera.
@@lensman5762 thank you for the comment, really appreciate it:)
What about an M2 ?
Haven't used one or reviewed one I'm afraid
@@SebastianOakley I have one and its a great mechanical camera no light meter. I think they are quite similar to the M-A for much less money.
Yes, I think they are buy looking at them on ebay etc, I think if I were to buy a Leica film camera the M2 would be the one I pick (unless I won the lottery, then M-A all the way!)
@@SebastianOakley The M-A looks like a beautiful camera,
...some of your images suggest your photography could benefit from more precise metering. Just a thought.
And your probably right, but as the M-A doesn't have a built-in meter these were all done by eye and the sunny 16 rule - some are spot on, others aren't, that's the joy of using a camera without a meter
I love my black one.
If I were yo buy one it would be the black paint, but I also love the vintage look of the chrome... either way it is an amazing camera
@@SebastianOakley I love the black. I paired it with the Leica Summilux 50mm f1.4 ASPH (Black Chrome) that has the RED lettering. They look awesome together.
@@SebastianOakley M-A is black chrome,not BP. The MP is BP
@@ofeykalakar1 Thanks, alwasy get those two mixed up
Want to photograph people? Get close. Really close. With a moderately wide angle lens. Oh, and get over your inhibitions of getting up close and personal. Will dramatically improve your people shots. And maybe you'll even make some new friends.
I have started just going out on the street with my 21mm and I am now slowly getting more confident
I want to get a m-a bad
Same here, after having it for a few weeks, I am looking at anyway I can get my hands on one haha
MP is the best
I fell in love with this camera and I would 100% buy one if I had the money to do so. Everything about it is fantastic!
Why? MA has no plastic. MP has plastic on the back dial. MA is puriest.
I do love the M-A the most
I had waited 15 yrs to buy a few Leica analogue bodies. 3 M-A bodies in a row all sent to me with dust in the viewfinder. Leica Berlin sent two back and assured me the 3rd would be personally checked by a technician and another sent the same. All received with dust in the viewfinder over and over. I refunded 15.5k worth of an order and never again will I bother with such disgraceful quality control. A overpriced wannabe luxury brand. The Japanese brands have 1000% better quality control and easily top customer service. I emailed Leica Germany 4 times to express my anger over the situation and I never got even an apology. They don’t give two fucks about their shabby QC. I’m so lucky I didnt drop 16k on two digital M’s. Never again would I even consider Leica or recommend them to anyone.
Wow, that's a real horror story! Personally, I've never had a problem... But I am glad you got refunded
Quality control is crap.
ivee never owned a new one, just the ones I revieew and I have found them to be great, but I have heard many stories of that not being the case