LEICA M-A (Type 127), black chrome-plated
LEICA M-A (Type 127), black chrome-plated
€5,500.00*
No longer available
Leica M-A (Type 127) – Technical Specifications & Description
General Features
Model: Leica M-A (Type 127), fully mechanical 35 mm rangefinder system camera – with no battery or light meter whatsoever.
Release: Introduced in 2014, making it the first purely mechanical Leica since the M4-P (1981).
Body: All-metal construction with chrome-plated brass top plates; available in black chrome (model number 10370) or silver chrome (Type 127, model number 10371).
Contents: Camera, body bayonet cap, carrying strap, and a roll of Kodak Tri-X 400 film.
Lens & Exposure
Mount: Leica M-mount, compatible with M-mount lenses from 16–135 mm.
Exposure control: Fully manual – shutter speed and aperture are determined using an external light meter or by experience. No built-in light meter.
Viewfinder & Rangefinder
Viewfinder: Bright frame-focusing viewfinder with automatic parallax correction.
Magnification: Uniform 0.72×.
Frame lines: Three frame pairs (28/90 mm, 35/135 mm, 50/75 mm), adjustable automatically when the lens is fitted or manually via a selector lever.
Eyepiece correction: Standard at –0.5 dptr., optional eyepiece lenses from –3 to +3 dptr. available.
Effective measuring base: 49.9 mm (69.25 mm mechanical base × 0.72 magnification).
Shutter & film transport
Shutter: Horizontal focal-plane rubber-bladed shutter, extremely quiet and fully mechanical.
Shutter speeds: 1 s to 1/1000 s (in 1 EV steps) plus Bulb (B).
Flash synchronisation: 1/50 s, via accessory shoe with centre contact, exposure either via flash computer or manually with guide number calculation.
Film handling & accessories
Loading film: Manually by removing the base plate and opening the rear panel.
Pre-selection & rewind: Film advance manually or with various winder/motor accessories (Motor-M, Leicavit-M, etc.), rewind manually with a pull-out knob.
Frame counter: Automatic reset when the base plate is removed.
Dimensions & Weight
Dimensions: approx. 138 × 38 × 77 mm (length × depth × height).
Weight: approx. 578 g.
Design & Philosophy
Minimalist & understated: No red Leica dot on the front, clean lines – a classic look without any gimmicks.
Analogue purism: A return to the essentials: focus, aperture and shutter speed – nothing distracts, the photographer concentrates fully on the image.
Overview table – Leica M-A (Type 127)
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Camera type | 35 mm rangefinder, fully mechanical (no battery) |
| Lens mount | Leica M bayonet, compatible with 16–135 mm lenses |
| Exposure control | Manual (shutter & aperture), no light meter |
| Viewfinder | 0.72× illuminated frame with parallax compensation |
| Frame lines | 28/90, 35/135, 50/75 mm – selectable automatically & manually |
| Shutter speeds | 1 s – 1/1000 s + Bulb, flash sync at 1/50 s |
| Film advance | Manual, optional motorised, incl. frame counter |
| Body | All-metal, chrome-plated cover plates (black or silver) |
| Dimensions / Weight | 138 × 38 × 77 mm / approx. 578 g |
| Special feature | No electronic frills, maximum focus |
Conclusion
The Leica M-A (Type 127) is a celebration of analogue sensibility: functional, high-quality and intuitive. It is aimed at photographers who consciously work in analogue and wish to return to the fundamentals of photography. No battery, no light meter – just you, light, film and mechanics of the highest standard.