| Camera | Leica M-A (Typ 127) compact range and viewfinder system camera with mechanically controlled shutter |
| Lens connection | Leica M bayonet |
| Lens system | Leica M lenses from 16-135 mm |
| 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 | |
| Loading | Manual film loading after opening the bottom cover and the rear panel |
| 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 |
| Material | Enclosed all-metal body with hinged rear panel; chromed brass top & bottom cover |
| Tripod thread | A 1/4 DIN 4503 (1/4”) |
Rear panel / equipment | Indicator for film sensitivity |
| Dimensions | (Length x Depth x Height) 138 mm x 38 mm x 77 mm |
| Weight | Approx. 578 g |
| Items supplied | Housing bayonet cover, carrying strap |
