Leica M-A (Typ 127) 35mm Rangefinder Camera Announced at Photokina

The Leica M-A (Typ 127) 35mm rangefinder camera has been officially announced at Photokina 2014.

As a completely mechanical rangefinder camera, the new Leica M-A (Typ 127) has no monitor, exposure metering or batteries. All aspects of photography are user controlled, making the photography return to the most original form. So Leica M-A users can focus on
capturing the decisive moment, focal length, aperture and shutter speed. That’s really amazing!!!

Leica M-A (Typ 127) Price and Release Date

The Leica M-A will be available in October for $4750 and it is available in both Black or Silver. Each camera ships with Kodak Tri-X 400 black and white film. You can pre-order it right now at B&H Photo.

Leica M-A (Typ 127) 35mm Rangefinder Camera Announced at Photokina 2014

Leica M-A Key Specs

  • 35mm Film Rangefinder
  • Fully Mechanical Operation
  • 0.72x Bright Line Viewfinder
  • Selectable Image Field Frame Lines
  • Focal Plane Shutter: Up to 1/1000 Sec.
  • Flash Sync at 1/50 Sec.
  • Compatible with 16-135mm M-Mount Lenses
  • Rear ISO Reminder Dial
  • Chromed Brass Top and Bottom Covers

Leica M-A (Typ 127) Specs:

Lens Mount Leica M bayonet
Lens System Leica M lenses from 16-135mm focal length
Camera
Type Mechanical rangefinder
Film Format 35 mm
Exposure Control Manual (shutter speed on body only; aperture on attached lens)
External Flash Connection Hot shoe with center contact
Flash Synchronization With first curtain; up to 1/50 sec.
Shutter Type Focal plane; mechanical rubber blanket slotted shutter with horizontal movement
Shutter Speed Range 1 to 1/1000 sec. (in 1 EV increments), bulb
Viewfinder
Type Bright line frame viewfinder with automatic parallax correction
Eyepiece Calibrated to -0.5 dpt (optional corrective lenses available)
Parallax Correction Horizontal and vertical offset between viewfinder and lens axis automatically compensated foraccording to relevant distance settingAt the shortest possible distance for each focal length, the bright line frame size corresponds

to an image of approx. 23 x 35 mm. When set to infinity, depending on the focal length between 9% (28mm) and 23% (135mm) more is

captured by the film than is shown in the corresponding bright line frame

Magnification 0.72x
Rangefinder Basis 49.9 mm (mechanical measurement basis of 69.25 mm x viewfinder magnification of 0.72x)Split or superimposed image rangefinder shown as bright field in the center of the viewfinder image
Physical
Film Loading Manual film loading after opening the bottom cover and the rear panel
Film Wind Forward: Manual winding with quick wind lever (compatible with optional motorized winders)Rewind: Manually with pull-out rewind button, after moving the R lever on front of camera
Tripod Mount 1/4″
Dimensions 5.4 x 1.5 x 3.0″ / 138 x 38 x 77 mm
Weight 1.3 lb / 578 g

Read more at Leica official site:


As a purely mechanical rangefinder camera, the Leica M-A stands for a return to photography in its most original form. Without reliance on a monitor, exposure metering or batteries, photographers can explore entirely new creative horizons. Because, with a camera reduced to only essential camera functions, users of the M-A can now concentrate entirely on the essential parameters of subject composition – namely focal length, aperture and shutter speed – and on capturing the decisive moment.

From its shutter-speed dial and the aperture ring on the lens to the characteristic rangefinder focusing principle – the technical specifications of the Leica M-A are essentially based on the currently available analogue Leica MP. All of its precision-engineered components and functions are designed and constructed for absolute robustness and a long working life, and are housed in a painstakingly hand-built metal body. This ensures that the Leica M-A, as a product with particularly enduring value, brushes aside every challenge with absolute dependability.