Re: [Leica] Real M7 hands on touchy-feely stuff

["SML" <inyoung@jps.net>]

Hello,

  Does the M7 provide any mechanical shutter speed at all in case battery
poops out?

Thanks,
David Lee

- ----- Original Message -----
From: "Don Dory" <dorysrus@mindspring.com>
To: <leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us>
Sent: Wednesday, February 27, 2002 8:30 PM
Subject: [Leica] Real M7 hands on touchy-feely stuff


> As stated in an earlier post I just came back from PMA(the trade show for
> anybody in photo/marketing)
>
> The M7 feels and handles just like a M6TTL.  The finder appears crisper
than
> my very used 17 year old classic.  The slow speeds to about 1/8 sound very
> similar, once you get really slow it is very quiet.  The 1 to 32 second
> shutter speeds are very strange to hear from an M: a whisper of the first
> curtain going, nothing for a while, then the whisper of the second
curtain..
> In the non automatic mode it operates just like an M6 with the exception
of
> DX capability.  The meter works exactly the same in manual mode.
>
> The shutter release feels just like an M should with similar feel to my
M6
> but not as smooth as a very used M3.  The hand out mentions a 25ms lag
time
> which is about twice a standard M so some compensation might be needed for
> quick reaction work.
>
> When questioned about battery drain the techies said twice the drain of a
> TTL but with twice the battery capacity so should be similar.  With an off
> switch should be much less battery changing.  From the specs something
> around 90 rolls of 36 exposure would be about right.
>
> In auto you get a very nice LED readout of the shutter speed in the bottom
> of the viewfinder outside of the frame lines.  With glasses on I had to
move
> my eye slightly to see it.  So for you M users who like an uncluttered
> viewfinder the M7 can be the same.
>
> I did find the exposure compensation dial to be very Teutonic.  Push the
> little button in and while pushing rotate the dial routine.  It is easier
to
> move the film speed dial to compensate.  The exposure compensation ring is
> concentric to the film speed dial ala the EOS upper models but doesn't
spin
> freely with an off switch which is what Canon does very successfully.  My
> consensus with the Leica guy was that if you were using exposure
> compensation in changing conditions you should be back in manual mode.
> Contrawise, if the conditions weren't changing such as shooting strongly
> backlit scenes then the system as designed would work quite well.
>
> Some have commented on taking thirty years to add auto exposure to the
M's.
> I am rather fond of the Leica shutter, I like the decades of hard use
these
> devices have provided me with their quiet grace and consistent exposure.
So
> I would rather wait for Leica to work out how to make their shutter work
> electronically rather than buy someone else's.  I have not had good
> experiences (read $$$$)with the copal shutter that went into some R's.
>
> Currently only the 72 finder will be available.  Both the 58 and the 85
will
> be along in a few months.
>
> In summary, this is an M.  If you want to use it manually just like you
> always have it works just fine that way with the benefit of timed slower
> speeds to 4s in manual.  If you feel the need to use AE then it works that
> way just like most cameras today.  You will have to remember that it is a
> strongly center orientated meter.  Therefore it will not be totally
reliable
> in high contrast light situations as a fool proof exposure maker.  I think
> the M6 will be with us for quite a few years as the Leica world has many
> members who are in their comfort zone with a battery independent camera.
> Contrawise, an M7 with the motor makes a very fast working decisive moment
> image maker that doesn't get in the way like so many auto cameras.  Using
76
> size batteries I can't imagine anyone worrying that batteries will be a
> problem.
>
> Don Dory
> dorysrus@mindspring.com
>
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