By Ked · May 2026

Leica M-A vs MP: Choosing Between the Two Mechanical Film Ms Still in Production

May 2026

It's 2026 and Leica still makes two new film M cameras. Both are fully mechanical. Both have brass top and bottom plates. Both are built to the same standards that the original M3 was built to in 1954. The only meaningful difference between them is whether you want a light meter inside the body or not. The cameras are the Leica MP (introduced 2003, in continuous production since) and the Leica M-A (introduced 2014, also in continuous production). For buyers who want to buy new rather than chase a used M6 or M4-P, these are the only two options. For buyers who want a body that will sit on the shelf for decades and still be serviceable when their grandchildren want to shoot a roll, these are the right answers.

This post walks through each one and explains how to choose between them.

Leica MP: Mechanical Perfection (2003–present)

The MP, "Mechanical Perfection" in Leica's branding, was introduced in 2003 as a deliberate counterpoint to the electronic M7 of the same year. Where the M7 added aperture priority and an electronic shutter, the MP doubled down on what made earlier Ms great: fully mechanical operation, no batteries needed except for the meter, and a build that prioritizes longevity over features.

• Fully mechanical shutter, 1 second to 1/1000 plus B. Same horizontal cloth shutter design as the M3, M2, M4, M6. A battery is needed for the meter only, never for the shutter itself.
• Through-lens center-weighted metering, the same system as the M6 and M7. A silicon photodiode reads light reflected off a white patch on the first shutter curtain. Two red arrows in the viewfinder indicate exposure; light them both for correct exposure. See our M7 post for a full description of how this metering system works physically.
• Brass top and bottom plates. Not zinc. Not aluminum. Brass: the same material the original M3 used, and the same material that brasses through with use over decades the way classic Leicas always have.
• Period-correct round Leica logo engraved on the front (no red dot). The "Leica" engraving on the top plate uses the original vintage script. The whole camera looks like it could have been made in 1954, and that's deliberate.
• Classic shutter speed dial layout. Smaller dial than the M6 TTL / M7, no flash sync or TTL flash on the top plate, no "TTL" engraving. Visually closer to an M4 than to an M6.
• Six frame lines, the same set as the M4-P and M6: 28/90 paired, 35/135 paired, 50/75 paired, auto-switched by mounted lens.
• Three viewfinder magnifications at order time: 0.58x (wide), 0.72x (standard), 0.85x (tight). Most production is 0.72x; the others are available special-order.
• Optional knob film advance. Leica offers a factory-fitted alternative wind knob that looks more like an M3 / M4 / IIIf knob than the modern lever. Cosmetic only; it functions the same as the lever.
• Currently $5,500 new (approximately).

The MP is the camera Leica makes for the shooter who wants brand-new build quality without giving up the M6's meter. Most buyers who walk into a Leica store wanting a new film M leave with an MP.

Leica M-A: M-Analog (2014–present)

The M-A is the MP without the meter. That's the simple version. The "A" stands for "Analog," which is Leica's branding for "no electronics whatsoever." It was introduced in 2014, eleven years after the MP, for buyers who wanted to take the no-electronics commitment one step further than even the MP did.

• Identical body, shutter, and lens mount as the MP. Mechanically the same camera.
• No light meter. No battery compartment. The body has no electronics at all. You meter with a handheld meter, a clip-on Leicameter, or by experience and Sunny 16.
• No viewfinder LED, no exposure indicators. Just the rangefinder patch and the projected brightlines. Clean.
• Brass top and bottom plates, same as the MP.
• Period-correct round logo and "Leica" engraving, same as the MP.
• Six frame lines, the same set as the MP: 28/90, 35/135, 50/75.
• Available chrome or black chrome. Both finishes can brass through over time, since the underlying material is brass.
• Currently $5,200 new (approximately). Very close to MP pricing. The M-A's price differential reflects mostly the cost of building it as a one-off rather than the absence of the meter assembly.

The M-A is the camera Leica makes for the buyer who wants to commit fully to the no-electronics aesthetic. It has the most minimal viewfinder of any current M body (the brightlines and the rangefinder patch and nothing else) and the cleanest look.

What They Share

Strip away the meter difference and the M-A and MP are mechanically the same camera. Both have:

• The same horizontal cloth shutter (Leica's modern manufacture of the original design: these are not 1950s shutters; they're current-production parts to original specifications)
• The same M-mount bayonet, so every M-mount lens fits both, from a 1954 Summicron 50mm to a current APO-Summicron 50mm
• The same six-frame-line viewfinder set
• The same brass top and bottom plates
• The same vintage round logo and "Leica" engraving
• The same option of 0.58x, 0.72x, or 0.85x viewfinder magnifications at order time
• The same compatibility with thread-mount LTM lenses via an M adapter

Both cameras come with the same Leica factory warranty, are serviceable at any Leica service center worldwide, and will be supported for decades. Leica has historically kept M-body parts in stock for the full life of the model and well after discontinuation.

The Brass Plate Question

Both cameras have brass top and bottom plates. This matters more than it might sound. Most M Leicas after the M4 used non-brass plates (the M6 used magnesium alloy, the M4-P used aluminum). Zinc looks fine but it doesn't wear into character. When it scuffs, you see scratched paint or scratched chrome, never the underlying metal. Brass, when it brasses through, reveals the warm yellow of the metal at the wear points, and that brassing becomes part of the camera's character over years and decades of use.

If you buy an M-A or MP and use it for ten years, you'll have a camera that visually tells its story. Both finishes (chrome and black chrome) can brass through with use, though black chrome shows it more dramatically because of the contrast.

This is one of the reasons both bodies are popular as "shooter's keepers," cameras meant to be used hard for decades and to look better the more they're used. That's a value proposition that doesn't apply to any M body Leica has made with zinc plates.

Prices Today

As of May 2026 we track 78 active MP listings (typically asking around $6,939) and 24 active M-A listings (typically asking around $6,127). The MP's higher typical price is inflated by à la carte and special-edition examples; a standard production MP in good condition sits closer to the $4,500–$5,500 range. The M-A's smaller used-market depth (roughly 30% of the MP's) reflects the M-A's much shorter production history (since 2014) compared to the MP (since 2003). Both cameras are in current production, so used prices are anchored by new retail. Browsing UsedCameraTracker MP and M-A listings as this post is written:

• MP. New retail roughly $5,500. Used: $3,800–$5,200 depending on age, condition, and viewfinder magnification. 0.85x and 0.58x bodies trade at a premium because they're harder to find. Mint-with-box examples approach new retail.
• M-A. New retail roughly $5,200. Used: $3,500–$4,800 depending on condition. Chrome bodies are slightly more common than black chrome on the used market.

The MP holds value slightly better than the M-A, which surprises some buyers. You might assume the more purist no-electronics body would attract higher prices. The market disagrees. The meter is genuinely useful and most buyers value having it as backup even if they shoot with a handheld meter most of the time.

Which Should You Buy?

The choice between M-A and MP is one of personal philosophy more than capability. Some questions to ask yourself:

• Do you already shoot with a handheld meter or by experience? If yes, the M-A's lack of internal meter doesn't cost you anything you don't already not have. The clean viewfinder is a real benefit.
• Have you ever been in a situation where your handheld meter failed or you forgot it? If yes, the MP's built-in meter is the safety net. It's hard to lose a meter that's built into the camera.
• Do you value visual minimalism inside the viewfinder? The M-A has nothing in the finder but the rangefinder patch and the brightlines. The MP has the two red arrow LEDs. Both are minimal compared to anything digital, but the M-A is more so.
• Are you buying this as a tool or as a long-term object? If a tool, the MP is the more practical choice: meter as backup, otherwise identical. If a long-term object you'll keep for decades and pass down, both work, but the M-A's no-electronics commitment is more durable in the very long run (a meter can fail; a body with no electronics can't).

For most shooters, the practical answer is the MP. The meter is genuinely useful, you don't pay more for it, and a brand-new mechanical M with a built-in meter is hard to argue against.

For shooters who specifically want the purist experience, and who already meter externally, the M-A is the more satisfying object to own. It commits fully in a way the MP doesn't quite.

A Note on À La Carte and Special Editions

Both the MP and M-A can be ordered through Leica's À La Carte program with custom finishes, custom engravings, and various small modifications (different leather covering, custom shutter button, knob wind on the MP). À la carte bodies typically run $1,000–$3,000 more than standard production and are common enough on the used market that you'll occasionally see one come up. Mostly these are cosmetic differentiators; the underlying camera is identical.

There are also occasional named special editions (Hammertone, Brass Patina, Anton Bruckner, various commemoratives) built on MP or M-A platforms. These are collector pieces and trade at substantial premiums.

Browse current MP and M-A listings on UsedCameraTracker. Both models have their own buckets in the dropdown, so you can compare prices, conditions, and special editions side by side.