M7 or MP or M8

[NZDavid]

Another thought on the M7. I haven't got one but had a chance to use a friend's in the US. The fact that the shutter dial goes the other way or that the M7 is a millimeter or so deeper than other Ms just does not matter when you actually use the camera. The M7 is very quick to use and metering is accurate with slide film.

[gwelland]

Originally Posted by NZDavid

Another thought on the M7. I haven't got one but had a chance to use a friend's in the US. The fact that the shutter dial goes the other way or that the M7 is a millimeter or so deeper than other Ms just does not matter when you actually use the camera. The M7 is very quick to use and metering is accurate with slide film.

I guess if you're using M7 in aperture priority mode then no the shutter dial direction won't matter BUT if you typically use the camera in full manual mode as many do, the difference in shutter dial orientation is significant if you have established muscle memory or swap between cameras. It can be a major irritation for some, trivial for others.

I agree about the size difference - no great shakes at all.

[NZDavid]

Good point, Graham. Using aperture priority made handling faster, but manual metering can still be helpful. Not sure why they changed the dial. Anyway, perhaps it's a good idea to try before you buy.

[rob_x2004]

the difference in shutter dial orientation is significant if you have established muscle memory or swap between cameras

Its just another intsrument. It doesnt matter that the M7 is arse about. I like the location of the MP dial because it lets me knuckle the shutter release at the same time I probe the shutter speeds with the same finger.

[stnami]

Forget about the "Mule's Dick m8aite" is the end of the line

[rob_x2004]

Nahhhh ... with straws it will be upgradadable forever.

[nikau]

"And I am told that most scanners do not like silver-halide black-and-white film, so I'll probably say goodbye to XXX and hello to C-41 "chromogenic" black-and-white (and probably Kodak rather than Ilford XP2, since scanners do not like black-and-white film without an orange mask)."

I regularly scan HP5 etc, both 120 and 35mm, on my Nikon 9000ED and get what I consider to be excellent results. Maybe I'm missing something, but don't necessarily write off a good scanner for working with traditional B&W film.

[andybarton]

Originally Posted by nikau

"And I am told that most scanners do not like silver-halide black-and-white film, so I'll probably say goodbye to XXX and hello to C-41 "chromogenic" black-and-white (and probably Kodak rather than Ilford XP2, since scanners do not like black-and-white film without an orange mask)."

I regularly scan HP5 etc, both 120 and 35mm, on my Nikon 9000ED and get what I consider to be excellent results. Maybe I'm missing something, but don't necessarily write off a good scanner for working with traditional B&W film.

It's only the ICE function that doesn't work with silver film.

[likea]

I have an MP, M6, M7, and M8 and I prefer and use them in that order. The MP is a total pleasure. If I'm likely to be in a situation where I need faster shots, I use the M6 in auto mode. The M8 only comes out if I need the immediacy of digital.

-Peter

[andybarton]

Originally Posted by likea

If I'm likely to be in a situation where I need faster shots, I use the M6 in auto mode.

Do you mean the M7?

[Kasimir]

Originally Posted by jimleicam3

I have been using an M3 and Canon 20d, I love the M3! I have been thinking of moving up to an M8, however, with all the minor/major problems that I have been reading about. I am very nervous about buying a M8 right now. So I have been looking at the M7 and the MP. These two cameras seems very similar except for the aperture priority mode on the M7. It seems that both cameras are "true manual cameras" with the MP being slightly more manual. I do like more street photos, almost no studio work. I then have the concern that I am out of my mind to think of buying a new film camera in 2008, should I just wait until the M 8 has most of its problems ironed out? Thanks, Jim

That's exactly my problem right now.
I'll wait if Leica can dispel my doubts concerning the M8 at Photokina and decide to buy a M7 or an M8 afterwards.
I already got an MP and am quite happy with it.
Although I consider the scanning process a nuisance, the M8 seems to be a bit of a nuisance, too. Pricewice.

Kasimir