[Leica] Long term M7 satisfaction?

[Mitch Zeissler]

Great, Sonny – thanks for the response!

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

> On Jan 13, 2015, at 11:03 AM, Sonny Carter <sonc.hegr at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> The M7 was my favorite film camera of all time.
> 
> I normally shot two to three rolls a week with the two that I owned and
> found them utterly reliable.
> 
>> On Tue, Jan 13, 2015 at 9:52 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
> 
> 
> 
> -- 
> Regards,
> 
> Sonny
> http://sonc.com/look/
> Natchitoches, Louisiana
> 1714
> Oldest Permanent Settlement in the Louisiana Purchase
> 
> USA
> 
> _______________________________________________
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