Leica M-A
NotableKnown as "Typ 127"
The M-A revived the purely mechanical M concept after a 33-year gap — the definitive film camera for photographers who want zero electronics between themselves and the frame.
The M-A (Typ 127) was introduced in 2014 as a conscious step backward. Where the M7 added electronics and the digital M bodies added sensors, the M-A stripped everything away: no exposure meter, no electronics of any kind, no need for a battery. The shutter is purely mechanical, running from 1 second to 1/1000 regardless of power.
Leica had not made a fully mechanical M since the M4-P in 1981. The M-A was its answer to a generation of film photographers who wanted the M chassis at its most elemental — and who trusted their own eyes over any meter. The design draws deliberately on the M2, right down to omitting the red dot logo.
For newcomers: "purely mechanical" means the camera will fire even with dead batteries. You need a separate light meter, your phone's app, or the Sunny 16 rule — but nothing inside the camera can fail electronically. Film photographers who shoot deliberately love it.
Key specs
- shutter
- mechanical cloth, 1s–1/1000s + B
- meter
- none
- battery
- not required for operation
- film
- 35mm
- mount
- Leica M (16–135mm compatibility)
Variants & finishes
The M-A (Typ 127) in black chrome — a fully mechanical film M with no electronics whatsoever, not even a meter. The purist's film Leica: simple, reliable, and built to last indefinitely.
Silver-chrome M-A — same all-mechanical simplicity as the black version. The silver finish pairs naturally with classic silver lenses for a timeless aesthetic.
Market value
Used-market price history is coming soon.
Comments
No comments yet — be the first.