[Leica] Long term M7 satisfaction?

[sonc.hegr at gmail.com (Sonny Carter)]

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