Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2015/01/14

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Subject: [Leica] Long term M7 satisfaction?
From: zeissler at mac.com (Mitch Zeissler)
Date: Wed, 14 Jan 2015 11:50:35 -0500
References: <165D117A-997C-4A7D-A313-71C5091D2869@mac.com> <D2823A35-7227-4934-A3BE-E6B15CCDE1B9@gmail.com>

Good to know ? thanks, Steve!

Mitch Zeissler
===
Website: http://exploratorius.us

> On Jan 13, 2015, at 1:32 PM, Steve Barbour <steve.barbour at gmail.com> 
> wrote:
> 
> 
>> On Jan 13, 2015, at 7:38 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?
> 
> 
> My M7 was my favorite film M camera, I used it all the time for a couple 
> years. So favorite and so dependable that I took only it to Paris , where 
> it irreversibly  jammed three days into the trip. La Maison du Leica said 
> send it to Solms where repair will take some time. On my return to the US 
> I sent it to Solms, they returned it two months later, working fine, no 
> explanation for the problem, the bill was $450. I used it with out problem 
> for a year, then sold it.
> 
> 
> Steve
> 
> 
> 
>> 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.
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> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
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In reply to: Message from zeissler at mac.com (Mitch Zeissler) ([Leica] Long term M7 satisfaction?)
Message from steve.barbour at gmail.com (Steve Barbour) ([Leica] Long term M7 satisfaction?)