AbbeyFoto Posted January 25, 2011 Share #1 Posted January 25, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) I do not read everything here so please accept my apology if my question has been answered before. I am considering more investment in Leica film M, in particular a second MP. I am concerned Leica will withdraw support for MP/M7 in the near future. Any views on this issue? Chris Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted January 25, 2011 Posted January 25, 2011 Hi AbbeyFoto, Take a look here Leica Film Future. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
andybarton Posted January 25, 2011 Share #2 Posted January 25, 2011 Why would they? They still make them. They will be supported for decades. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stunsworth Posted January 25, 2011 Share #3 Posted January 25, 2011 Don't Leica still support the M3/2? Even if manufacture stops support won't. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AbbeyFoto Posted January 25, 2011 Author Share #4 Posted January 25, 2011 Andy, Steve Thanks for your speedy reply. My concern is about parts. At some point it will not be economical to produce/store parts. It's like estimating one's own life span! :-) Chris Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cbretteville Posted January 25, 2011 Share #5 Posted January 25, 2011 Leica still services at least some if the Barnacs. Carl Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill Posted January 25, 2011 Share #6 Posted January 25, 2011 Don't hesitate, don't faff, just do it. Regards, Bill Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xmas Posted January 25, 2011 Share #7 Posted January 25, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) Don't Leica still support the M3/2? Even if manufacture stops support won't. You can get people to support Fed I from pre WWII, canniballism for spare parts if necessary, but many could be made from new.. M6 or M7 are possibly more difficult because of the printed circuit board, and ISO switch.A PCB is not impossible to remanufacture providing Leica have not used any custom transistor circuity, flexi rigid circuity is more difficult. So I'd recommend a M2, M3 or M4-2 or M4, or M4-P all you need is a 'good blacksmith' or watchmaker, not teasing my uncle was trained as a blacksmith but fixed mechanical watches for years. I would say it is more likely that Leica will go out of buisness completely rather then drop a stable maintenance task arbutarily. Noel Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted January 25, 2011 Share #8 Posted January 25, 2011 Andy, Steve Thanks for your speedy reply. My concern is about parts. At some point it will not be economical to produce/store parts. It's like estimating one's own life span! :-) Chris Leica commited to supporting MPs for 30 years after they have stopped making them. There are thousands and thousands of M7s and earlier out there. Hundreds of thousands. You can buy a mint M3 or M2 today. Now. You really have many more worrying things in your life to worry about. Like Yosemite blowing up. Or an asteroid hitting your town. Or aliens from the next galaxy arriving tomorrow. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
steinzeug Posted January 25, 2011 Share #9 Posted January 25, 2011 M6 or M7 are possibly more difficult because of the printed circuit board, and ISO switch.A PCB is not impossible to remanufacture providing Leica have not used any custom transistor circuity, flexi rigid circuity is more difficult. What does this mean exactly? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted January 25, 2011 Share #10 Posted January 25, 2011 M5, 6, 7 and MPs have meters built in. Electronics can and do go wrong on occasion. An M3, 2 or 4 can, at a push, be fixed by anyone skilled in precision metalwork. It's a bit like buying a 1970s Land Rover vs a 2010 Land Rover. The former can be fixed by any competent metal basher/mechanic. The latter needs £100,000 of diagnostic equipment to find out what the problem is. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
steinzeug Posted January 25, 2011 Share #11 Posted January 25, 2011 M5, 6, 7 and MPs have meters built in. Electronics can and do go wrong on occasion. An M3, 2 or 4 can, at a push, be fixed by anyone skilled in precision metalwork. It's a bit like buying a 1970s Land Rover vs a 2010 Land Rover. The former can be fixed by any competent metal basher/mechanic. The latter needs £100,000 of diagnostic equipment to find out what the problem is. Thanks. I feel I can survive if my meter goes on my M6, but is it really that susceptable or hard to fix the meter? and how often do they malfunction? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sfage Posted January 25, 2011 Share #12 Posted January 25, 2011 You really have many more worrying things in your life to worry about. [...] Or an asteroid hitting your town. Or aliens from the next galaxy arriving tomorrow. There is not a single piece of tin foil left in Canada. I bought it all. Anyone wanna try one of these hats on? You'll see. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted January 26, 2011 Share #13 Posted January 26, 2011 M5, 6, 7 and MPs have meters built in. Electronics can and do go wrong on occasion. An M3, 2 or 4 can, at a push, be fixed by anyone skilled in precision metalwork. It's a bit like buying a 1970s Land Rover vs a 2010 Land Rover. The former can be fixed by any competent metal basher/mechanic. The latter needs £100,000 of diagnostic equipment to find out what the problem is. Andy, I don't quite agree with you - only the M7 uses an electronic shutter. If the meter fails on the M5/M6/MP one can simply use it the same as an M2. The guy who repaired my M2 assured me that if all the parts ran out, chances are that they could machine whatever was necessary to repair it! To the OP, what are you waiting for, GO GO GO to your dealer! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tobey bilek Posted January 26, 2011 Share #14 Posted January 26, 2011 The bigger concern is availability of film and processing. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
packetron Posted January 26, 2011 Share #15 Posted January 26, 2011 You might want to get a nice earlier Ms to start of with. My first RF was an FED5. Loved the feeling so much that only after 2 weeks of using it, I replaced it with a M3. Since it's all mechanical, there is always someone out there who can worked on it (i guess)... Among all, always loved the expression from my fellow DSLR pals when they go - how come your battery can last longer than mine? LOL..... /Ron Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheewai_m6 Posted January 26, 2011 Share #16 Posted January 26, 2011 Thanks.I feel I can survive if my meter goes on my M6, but is it really that susceptable or hard to fix the meter? and how often do they malfunction? mine stopped working last year Andy, I don't quite agree with you - only the M7 uses an electronic shutter. If the meter fails on the M5/M6/MP one can simply use it the same as an M2. ! as i do on my m6 The bigger concern is availability of film and processing. that worries me more than the camera's mechanics failing. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wattsy Posted January 26, 2011 Share #17 Posted January 26, 2011 You might want to get a nice earlier Ms to start of with. My first RF was an FED5. The OP already has an MP and is considering whether to buy another. If the OP does decide to go ahead and buy a second I'd advise shopping around. There is quite a bit of variability in pricing for the MP at the moment (In the UK, I've seen new prices in the range of £2799 to £3599). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted January 26, 2011 Share #18 Posted January 26, 2011 Andy, I don't quite agree with you - only the M7 uses an electronic shutter. If the meter fails on the M5/M6/MP one can simply use it the same as an M2. That's true. The M7 is the the only one vulnerable to full electronic failure, but other metered Ms do have electronics. They can be used without working electronics, an M7 realistically can't. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest reiver Posted January 26, 2011 Share #19 Posted January 26, 2011 I bought a Canon AT1 1978. The electronic works till now. If a M7 will work the same period of time, it should be long enough If I buy another film camera it would be the M7 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cbretteville Posted January 26, 2011 Share #20 Posted January 26, 2011 The bigger concern is availability of film and processing. Availability of film might be an issue, processing can be done at home. For B&W you can brew your own soup should they stop making D76 or Rodinal. That is not even difficult. Carl Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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