Leica M-A Instruction Manual

LEICA M-A

Instructions

FOREWORD

Dear Customer,

Leica would like to thank you for purchasing the LEICA M-A and congratulate you on your choice. With this unique view and

Foreword

rangeﬁnder camera, you have made an excellent selection. We wish you a great deal of pleasure and success using your new Leica. In order to make best use of all the opportunities oﬀered by this high performance camera, we recommend that you ﬁrst of all read these instructions.

CONTENTS

Foreword ...................................................................................30

Designation of parts ...................................................................32

Viewﬁnder displays ....................................................................33

Attaching the carrying strap .......................................................34

Shutter release button ...............................................................35

Shutter speed dial ......................................................................35

Quick wind lever ........................................................................35

Changing the ﬁlm .......................................................................36

Film sensitivity indicator .............................................................40

Fitting and removing a lens ........................................................41

Bright line view and range ﬁnder .................................................42

Image ﬁeld selector .................................................................42

Distance metering ...................................................................44

Exposure control ........................................................................45

Flash mode ................................................................................46

Compatible ﬂash units ..............................................................46

Attaching and connecting the ﬂash unit ....................................46

System accessories ...................................................................48

Spare parts................................................................ ................51

Care tips.............. ......................................................................52

Index ............................................... .........................................53

Technical data ................................................................ ..........54

Leica Product Support................................................................56

Leica Customer Care .................................................. ..............56

Contents

DESIGNATION OF PARTS

Front view

1. Bottom cover locking pin

2. Lens release button

3. Eyes for carrying strap

4. Rewind release lever

5. Distance meter viewing window

6. Illumination window for the bright-line frames

Designation of parts

7. Viewﬁnder viewing window with silvering

8. Image ﬁeld selector

Top view

9. Pull-out rewind button

10. Fixed ring with a. Index for focusing b. Depth of ﬁeld scale c. Index button for changing lenses

11. Distance setting ring

12. Aperture setting ring

13. Index point for aperture setting

14. Lens hood

15. Automatic exposure counter

16. Shutter release a. Thread for cable release

17. Rapid action lever for cocking the shutter and advancing the ﬁlm

18. Shutter speed dial with locking settings for:

• Manually adjustable shutter speeds from 1s to 

• Sync time 

•

B for long exposures

s for ﬂash mode

000

19. Accessory/ﬂash shoe with a. Center contact b. Hole for retaining pin

Rear view

20. Viewﬁnder window

21. Rear panel

22. Film sensitivity indicator

Bottom view

23. Tripod thread A ¼, DIN 4503 (¼“)

24. Bottom cover

25. Locking toggle for bottom cover

View with bottom cover removed and rear panel open

26. Take-up spool

27. Coupling for motorized or external mechanical ﬁlm winding

VIEWFINDER DISPLAYS

a. Bright line frame for 50 mm and 75 mm (example) b. Metering ﬁeld for distance setting

Viewﬁnder displays

ATTACHING THE CARRYING STRAP

Attaching the carrying strap

SHUTTER RELEASE BUTTON

16 16a 15

SHUTTER SPEED DIAL

The shutter speed dial on the Leica M-A can be used to select shutter speeds from  mode. In the B position, the shutter remains open for long exposures as long as the shutter release is pressed. All positions can be felt click into place, none of them are locked.

Notes:

• Intermediate values may not be used.

• Between the 1000 and B positions there is a stop so that other settings are only possible by turning the dial anticlockwise from the 1000 position, or clockwise from the B position.

s to 1s, or for the sync time  0s for ﬂ ash

000

Shutter release button / Shutter speed dial / Quick wind lever

The shutter release button has a pressure point. Pressing past the pressure point releases the shutter. The shutter release button should be pressed gently – not jerkily until the shutter is released with a soft click. The shutter release button has a standard thread for a cable release.

QUICK WIND LEVER

The quick wind lever is used to wind the ﬁ lm, cock the shutter and automatically advance the exposure counter. The ﬁ lm can be wound either by pressing the lever as far as it will go or by pressing the quick wind lever several times. It can be folded out and left in its “ready position” for quick access.

CHANGING THE FILM

First of all, always check that a ﬁ lm is not already loaded by turning the pull-out rewind button in the direction of the arrow. If you feel resistance, continue as described in the “Rewinding and removing the ﬁ lm” section. Take the camera in your left hand, so that the bottom cover is facing upwards.

Changing the ﬁ lm

OPENING THE CAMERA

LOADING A FILM

1. Fold up the toggle on the bottom cover.

2. Turn it to the left.

3. Lift oﬀ the bottom cover, and

4. Open the rear panel backwards.

5. Take the ﬁ lm cartridge in the right hand and insert it around

halfway into the appropriate cavity in the camera.

6. Take hold of the ﬁ lm leader and, as shown in the schematic

diagram inside the housing, insert it into the take up spool.

7. Then carefully press the ﬁ lm cartridge and ﬁ lm leader into the

camera with the ﬁ ngertips.

Notes:

• As with any ready to use ﬁlm, the leader must be trimmed.

• If the leader is pulled out so far that it extends a little way out of one of the slits on the opposite side of the take-up spool, this does not interfere with the camera’s function. It is only in conditions of frost that the ﬁlm has to be loaded exactly in accordance with the schematic diagram, i.e. the leader may only be held by one slit on the take-up spool, so that the protruding end of the ﬁlms cannot snap oﬀ.

Important:

The winding of the ﬁlm should not be checked with the camera open, as the bottom cover is designed in such a way that replacing it on the camera brings the ﬁlm into the correct position.

CLOSING THE CAMERA

8. Close the rear panel.

9. Lower the bottom cover onto the locking pin on the side of the camera.

10. Close it, ensuring that the rear panel is completely pressed in so that the bottom cover holds it in place.

11. Lock with the toggle.

WINDING TO THE 1ST PICTURE

12. Wind the ﬁlm forward one frame using the quick wind lever and release the shutter.

13. Then tension the ﬁlm by carefully turning the pull-out rewind button in the direction of the arrow. The ﬁlm is properly wound if the rewind button turns in the opposite direction to the arrow when the quick wind lever is operated again.

14. Finally, release the shutter again and cock the shutter a third time. The frame counter now shows 1 and the camera is ready to take a picture.

Changing the ﬁlm

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