Dan Kerin

 Leica MA

The Leica type 127 or more commonly called the MA was released in 2014 and is essentially a Leica MP without the meter. Since the launch of the Leica MP back in 2003 there as been a resurgence of film which I think at the time not many people could have foreseen coming. The Leica MP proved to be immensely popular for Leica among professionals and hobbyists alike. The Leica MA takes this idea of ‘Mechanical Perfection’ a step further by removing the light meter. This at first might not make a lot of sense I think Leica incidentally have created a ‘for life’ camera which could last generations. Because there is no light meter there is also a traditional single step shutter release. On the Leica MP there is a two stage shutter release to lock exposure. This is something I really disliked, especially coming from shooting classic Leica’s. The Leica MP can be operated without a battery but it still contains electronic components which may go wrong over time and make servicing the camera that little bit more difficult. The MA on the other hand goes fully mechanical, meaning no electronic components and thus in turn also being easier to service.

In the hands the Leica MA feels very similar to the Leica MP or even to a M3 or M2 for that matter. I like the minimalist design to the front of the camera, only supporting a rangefinder selector switch on the right-hand side. This leaves the left free of any clutter, where the MP would have a battery cover and the M3 a self-timer. The viewfinder is very similar to the MP so you get framelines from 28mm all the way up to 135mm with a 0.72 magnification. But there is a slightly different frame line design being a little more simple but I did not personally notice the difference when shooting it was only after when a friend made the comment did I actually notice. The camera comes in both Chrome and Matte black, which is a first for Leica. Other than special edition cameras to my knowledge this is the first time Leica has offered a matte black finish on a serial production Leica M body.

At the time of writing this review I was also reviewing the Leica MP which I think for many is the other camera they would be deciding against so it gave me a good chance to see how they feel side by side. There is no getting over that the addition of a built-in meter with the Leica MP is a very nice comfort feature. This being said I have learnt to read the light over the years and as someone who’s personal collection does not include any cameras with light meters, taking a reading using a handheld meter is something I have become accustom to when I need to make a more accurate exposure. Built wise both the MP and MA have a fantastic build quality but you can really tell the difference between the old brass gearing I am used to in my M3 and M4 when compared to the aluminium gearing found on the MP and MA. Personally I don’t think they feel as nice as the classic M’s, one thing I think is worth mentioning is aluminium does not wear as fast as brass. This means that sometime in the future my classic M’s will fail while the newer M’s with aluminium gearing will continue strong. While this is all hypothetical and all depends on how much you shoot it does link back to my main point about this being a forever camera which can certainly last a lifetime if not longer and be passed down generations.