My M7 missed frames! got 19 shots on a 36 exp. roll..

[wizard]

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Martin,

 

it could be the batteries. You got blank frames, which means they are way underexposed (to the point where they are almost not exposed at all). If the batteries are weak, there may not be enough power to excite the solenoid holding the second curtain long enough for providing the correct (longer) exposure time. Instead, it just lets go prematurely, thus causing the severe underexposure.

 

Try a set of fresh batteries, and the problem might be gone. If not, you should send it to Leica.

 

Andy

[wparsonsgisnet]

Martin,

 

I didn't think about the electonic shutter. I only have an M6.

 

I echo the battery suggestion. I would change the batteries immediately. If they're low, then they could have provided insufficient voltage to power the shutter, intermittently.

[martinb]

Thanks Paul!

 

Jan,

I have thought about the batteries too. I will buy new batteries tomorrow.

I used the camera in both manual and aperture priority mode. It wasn't that cold outside, about 10 degrees C. I know I've forgotten to turn the camera off a couple of times. Does this suck a lot of power from the batteries? I'm not used to the on/off button I guess

[wparsonsgisnet]

I distrust batteries -- intensely. The state of the art of batteries doesn't cut it.

Just like voting, replace them early and often.

[martinb]

Bill,

Sort of agree. At least when you can't trust the camera like you should be able to. Leica should have solved this in a better way. There's clearly a benefit with the M6 and MP here. Even though aperture priority is good sometimes, exposure compensation has to be well implemented for it to work well and it isn't in the M7.

 

BTW. I discovered that instead of two CR1/3N batteries there were four smaller cells in my M7...

[doubice]

...... I discovered that instead of two CR1/3N batteries there were four smaller cells in my M7.....

 

Martin,

 

The M7 uses two 3V cells (CR1/3N or equivalent) or, four 1.5V cells (S76 or equivalent). So - if you had four batteries in the camera, that is nothing to worry about, assuming they were the correct ones. The M7 takes double the batteries of the M6 - 4 x S76 or 2 x CR1.3N.

 

I do recall reading somewhere, maybe even on the old Leica Forum, that the batteries delivered with the M7 did not have much life left in them when the camera ended up in the owner's hands. That was my experience as well.

 

Since the batteries operate the solenoids which keep the shutter open, it is more than likely that weak batteries would cause severe underexposure. I have gotten used to switching my M7 off when not in use for a long time, but keep the swith 'on' when out shooting. My M6 is always 'on', as there really is not an 'off' switch. Moving the M6's shutter speed dial to the B setting was not a solution, as I like to have the camera ready when needed.

 

Good luck,

 

Jan

[martinb]

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Thanks Jan! I bought two GP CR1/3N batteries today and everything seems to work just fine. Haven't tried with any film yet but I will soon.

 

Cheers,

 

Martin

[knipse_olivia]

Hi everybody,

 

I had the same problem sometimes, when the battery was weak, especially combined with cold weather. With fresh battery the M7 should work accurate.

[leitz_not_leica]

Maybe you're putting the camera in the bag cocked and w/o the shutter button locked and it's tripping in the bag.

 

Simplist answer.

[fotohuis]

I just had the same experiences: Weak battery (I was warned on the top of the Czech mountains for 2 weeks ago (-10 degrees C) low battery) ) and indeed you're going to miss some shots while the shutter is not working in the right way.

2x Lithium batteries each 1,2 Volt was the problem. They should be 3,0 V when new.

 

best regards,

 

Robert

[topoxforddoc]

Silly query, but I presume the lens cap wasn't on! If you're new to shooting RF cameras, sometimes, it's all too easy to leave the lens cap on and not realise (unlike shooting a SLR).

 

Charlie

[underground]

On My M7 if i leave the switch on, the battery's are toast in about five days with new batteries. They last a good while if i turn it off when I'm supposed to.

 

I also dropped my M7 off a counter top. It hit the top plate where the frame counter

is. Works great! Thats one tough camera. If my canon hit the ground like that it would be in pieces.

[NZDavid]

Another thought: Try some shots at mechanical speeds only (1/60 and 1/125 if I recall correctly) and the rest at the other speeds to give the shutter a good workout. It's a good suggestion to "waste" a roll of film; cheaper to start off with than sending the camera away, though that seems the most likely scenario.

[fotohuis]

Silly query, but I presume the lens cap wasn't on! If you're new to shooting RF cameras

 

I was just making some curve fitting for the W665 (Windisch) developer, based on Ortho-Phenylendiamine on the grey card. So I know exatly what I was doing.

 

Yes, 1/125 and 1/60S are always working, two mechanical times.

After changing the batteries the problem is over.

 

Conclusion: If the warning is there (Low Batteries) you have to change for fresh ones to keep out of any trouble.

[thrid]

Can you clarify if you are seeing blank or black frames inbetween properly exposed frames or if the frames are actually missing and you're seeing clear acetate, as if the camera had advanced more than one frame at a time?

 

I agree that the batteries that come with the M7 are good for nothing more than plinking around with your new toy the day you buy it. Get a good set of lithium batteries from a Duracell, Energizer etc. I keep a set of back up batteries taped to the strap, with some cloth gaffers tape.

 

I get about 60-75 rolls from a set of Lithium batteries in my M7 in average to hot temperatures. In the winter this figure doesn't seem to drop significantly and I carry my camera in hand without a case for several hours at a time. I would say that I get no less than 50 rolls per battery set in the winter. Lithium batteries are a lot less sensitive to the cold than alkaline.

 

Overall the M7 has proven to be a very tough and reliable body. I've had mine for about 4-5 years and it has taken it's fair share of abuse. All the while it's been a pleasure to shoot.

[fotohuis]

Varta CR 1/3N was in the M7 and now again.

 

They last about 2 year in the M7 and I am shooting about 20-25 films a year so around 40-50 films before the low battery warning. With fresh batteries I shoot in the Czech Republic with -22 degrees C so that's possible with this camera. But also Lithium batteries are going down to 20-25% of their capacity under those circumstances.

 

The negative shows blank frames so the curtain was not opened. Due to the fact the M7 shutter is electronically controlled the failure is not so strange with an almost empty battery.

 

Here an example for the minus temperature: Empty stairs in Prague due to the cold (february 2005).

M7 + Elmarit 2,8/28mm + Y-filter on Fomapan 200 (Czech Film).

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[Photon42]

May I ask: Is there a difference in sound and maybe feel as well, when the shutter doesn't open?

 

In addition I wonder why the film advance is actually released, when no picture is taken.

 

Regards

Ivo

[fotohuis]

Not really. I was also wondering what exactly happend. But the battery warning was there so if you change in time you will not have any problem at all. This is just happening before the batteries are complete down.

I completed my test series of the WD665 (Windisch) developer today and everything was OK now (new Varta Li 3V batteries).