Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2015/01/13
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Thanks, Tina. I know that you ? more so than many others here ? use your gear real hard. An endorsement from you is glowing praise, indeed. Thank you for responding (and so quickly!), Mitch Zeissler === Website: http://exploratorius.us > On Jan 13, 2015, at 10:52 AM, Tina Manley <tmanley at gmail.com> wrote: > > Mitch - > > I have had my M7 since 2002. I also have 6 M6's. The M7 is as reliable as > the M6. I used it constantly all over the world until I switched to > digital - a necessity, not a choice. > > I would not hesitate to depend on the the M7. I send all of my cameras in > for CLA after major disasters - such as dropping them in a river or down a > mountain - but otherwise they are not treated with kid gloves! I use them > hard. > > Tina > >> On Tue, Jan 13, 2015 at 10:38 AM, Mitch Zeissler <zeissler at mac.com> >> wrote: >> >> This is to all the M7 users out there. >> >> I've been searching high and low online for anecdotes of long term M7 >> reliability and satisfaction (and I'm talking years, not a few days, >> weeks, >> or months). I know about the early issues with the mechanical DX reader, >> the switch to the MP viewfinder later in production, etc. What I'm >> interested in is whether the M7 is more/same/less reliable than an M6, M6 >> TTL, or MP, particularly the electronically controlled shutter curtains. >> Anytime I read about an M7 issue, it's usually followed by a dog pile of >> non-M7 users just dragging it through the mud ? like it's the modern >> version of the M5. >> >> I've got an M7 and like it, though I've only had it for a few months (it >> has the optical DX reader [useless for my bulk loaded film] and the MP >> viewfinder upgrade). I've also got an MP and like it. I bought both used >> in great condition, each at an excellent price, and they both date back to >> 2002-2004. >> >> I recently discovered that my primary hand meter (a Sekonic L-308DC) >> doesn't measure nearly as well in very low light as the M7 does. >> Actually, >> the hand meter didn't measure anything at all (ISO 50 @ f/1.2), while the >> M7 gave a reading of 3.5 seconds. I've since confirmed this repeatedly; >> once the light gets dim, the M7 begins to really shine and is able to >> shots >> I simply cannot obtain with the MP. I've got other hand meters and have >> tested them with the same results. >> >> Up to this point I've been leaning toward the MP and hand meter combo as >> my primary camera. I'm asking because whichever route I go ? MP, M7, or >> the new M-A ? I'll want a second body of the same model. That way I can >> have a different emulsion in each camera (B+W in one and color in the >> other), and one body can always be used as a backup whenever the other is >> being serviced. >> >> So based on the low light metering, I'm now flip-flopping on the M7 and >> whether to rely on it as my main camera. An M7 would give me all sorts of >> benefits that the other M bodies would not, but it seems to be treated >> like >> the red-headed step-child of the modern M cameras. >> >> What is your experience with the M7? Has it had the same level of >> reliability as the M6 or other M bodies? >> >> If you don't want an M7 dog pile here, please send me a response privately >> ? either way, I'd like to hear about your long term M7 experience. >> >> Mitch Zeissler >> === >> Website: http://exploratorius.us >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Leica Users Group. >> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information > > > > > -- > Tina Manley > www.tinamanley.com > tina-manley.artistwebsites.com > http://www.alamy.com/stock-photography/3B49552F-90A0-4D0A-A11D-2175C937AA91/Tina+Manley.html > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information