Leica has announced a new, limited edition version of its M-A camera. The Leica M-A “Titan” is the existing M-A dressed in new clothes, and like other Leica’s limited edition pieces – it’s pretty expensive. It will set you back nearly $20k, but there’s something different about it compared to the more recent limited-edition models.
Unlike the more recent limited-edition cameras from Leica, there’s something different about this one – it’s a film camera. Yup, Leica has re-introduced a film camera in 2022 and priced it at nearly $20k.
The Leica M-A already exists in the black and silver version. But the new “Titan” edition comes with a groundbreaking new feature: different looks. Okay, I’m being a bit sarcastic here, considering that the essential lens and camera components were made in solid titanium. It doesn’t only look different, but it’s much lighter than brass, as well as more durable. Still, other than this, there are no changes in terms of specs.
Speaking of specs, let’s take a look at them, along with some product photos. The camera does look beautiful, though:
| Camera | Leica M-A compact range and viewfinder system camera with mechanically controlled shutter |
| Lens Connection | Leica M bayonet |
| Exposure Control | Manual shutter speed & aperture setting based on readings from external exposure meter or operator assessment |
| Flash unit connection | Using accessory shoe with center contact |
| Synchronization | With 1st shutter curtain |
| Flash sync speed | 1/5 s; slower shutter speeds can be used |
| Flash exposure control | Computer control of flash unit or guide number calculation and manual setting of required aperture |
| Viewfinder principle | Large, bright line frame viewfinder with automatic parallax compensation |
| Eyepiece | Calibrated to -0.5 dpt. Corrective lenses from -3 to +3 diopter available |
| Image field limiter | By activating two bright lines each: For 28 and 90 mm or for 35 and 135 mm, or for 50 and 75 mm; automatic activation when lens is fitted |
| Image field selector | Allows the bright-line pairs to be manually activated at any time (e.g. to compare detail) |
| Parallax compensation | Horizontal and vertical offset between viewfinder and lens axis is automatically compensated according to the relevant distance setting |
| Correlation between viewfinder & film images | At the shortest possible distance setting for each focal length, the bright line frame size corresponds to an image size 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 | (For all lenses) 0.72 x |
| Large basis range finder | Split or superimposed image range finder shown as bright field in the center of the viewfinder image |
| Effective measurement basis | ‘49.9 mm (mechanical measurement basis 69.25 mm x viewfinder magnification 0.72 x) |
| Shutter | Rubber blanket slotted shutter with horizontal movement; extremely low-noise; mechanically controlled |
| Shutter speeds | From 1 s to 1/1 s in whole increments, B for long exposures of any duration, (1/5 s) for flash synchronization |
| Shutter release | Standard thread for cable release integrated |
| Film winding | Manual film loading after opening the bottom cover and the rear panel |
| Loading | |
| Winding forwards | Manually with quick wind lever or Leicavit M, motorized using Leica Motor-M, Leica Winder-M, Leica Winder M4-P, or Leica Winder M4-2 (from serial no. 10350) |
| Rewind | Manually with pull-out rewind button, after moving the R lever on the front of the camera |
| Tripod thread | A 1/4 DIN 4503 (1/4”) |
| Rear panel / equipment | Indicator for film sensitivity |
The M-A “Titan” comes paired with the classic APO-Summicron-M 50 f/2 ASPH. lens. As I mentioned, it’s a limited-edition camera, and there are only 250 pieces available worldwide. Because of this, it will cost you nearly $20k – $19,995, to be exact.
While I’m sure you pay the quality when buying a Leica, you also pay the name and, in this case, the limited number of sets. But if you think $20,000 is a bit too much for a film camera, you can still get the black or the silver version for $5,595.
[via Imaging Resource]
