hundredwaters Posted November 21, 2011 Share #1 Posted November 21, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) Over the weekend I traded in my father's pristine M4 to an mint- M7 (Serial # 278...) and am very excited to use it - I was able to keep his summicron 50mm version 3, which essentially looks unused since he kept such good care of things... This is the same lens that took pictures of me nearly 40 years ago so it has some personal significance. I have only used a leica once - the M4 mentioned above roughly 15 years ago when I was in high school, but have been using a Mamiya 6 and 7 for some time - so i am very excited - its such an incredibly well-built camera. I would stick to the M4, but my chops in anticipating exposures are not adequate. Anyway - I traded in at Samy's and probably payed a bit too much, given that my M7 likely has neither the optical DX reader nor an MP finder - but it sure looked nice in the box! I know there are many posts on this issue, but I am wondering what people's opinion is about : - should I just do a CLA as standard practice despite this being mint-? - should I just send it in and say the optical DX reader is not working and get the free upgrade (perhaps they would do a CLA automatically)? - any opinions on the value of the finder upgrade and what it costs now? some people seem to say they can't tell any difference and others say it is substantial and obvious. perhaps it would be valuable to do an upgrade now rather than later because the cost will go up given in the near future we will all be using gold coins, bartering with grain and other wares, and europe will soon be returning to the dark ages??? HW Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted November 21, 2011 Posted November 21, 2011 Hi hundredwaters, Take a look here just acquired Mint- M7.... I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Studio58 Posted November 21, 2011 Share #2 Posted November 21, 2011 what do you mean "returning to the dark ages" :D:D Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hundredwaters Posted November 21, 2011 Author Share #3 Posted November 21, 2011 Just a jike... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill Posted November 21, 2011 Share #4 Posted November 21, 2011 Hundredwaters, welcome. I have had my M7 .85 from new. It was one of the first half-dozen into this country. I sent it off about a year ago for the optical reader upgrade. The camera was returned as new. Its worth the doing. I also have an MP .85 that is only a year old. I cannot honestly say that I have found a difference in the finders. Regards, Bill Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
philipus Posted November 21, 2011 Share #5 Posted November 21, 2011 Hi HW and welcome to the forum! It's very nice that you could keep the Summicron. should I just do a CLA as standard practice despite this being mint-? Have you checked the shutter times yourself? It's quite easy to discern the difference between them. Here's a very useful checklist for used Ms, which helped me in getting my M3. cheers and happy photographing! philip Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pico Posted November 21, 2011 Share #6 Posted November 21, 2011 - should I just do a CLA as standard practice despite this being mint-? Just my two-bits - Not necessarily. Use it for a while. It might only need exercise to move the lubricants about and wear-in the mechanics. I have two earlier M7 bodies that are still just fine. Bill wrote: I have had my M7 .85 My gosh, I looked and looked for one with that finder. No luck! Good for you. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hundredwaters Posted November 21, 2011 Author Share #7 Posted November 21, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) Thanks everyone... That is helpful input... I will use it for a while and see if I have any difficulties... Currently I have a 60 day temporary warranty, although unfortunately I doubt that covers issues with the rangefinder... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomB_tx Posted November 21, 2011 Share #8 Posted November 21, 2011 Thanks everyone... That is helpful input... I will use it for a while and see if I have any difficulties... Currently I have a 60 day temporary warranty, although unfortunately I doubt that covers issues with the rangefinder... Rangefinder issues aren't a common as the impression you get online. Bought my M4 in 1968 and the rangefinder stayed perfect until I had a CLA done last year. Bought my M6 new in the early 80s and it has always been perfect as well. So just enjoy using it1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
iphoenix Posted November 22, 2011 Share #9 Posted November 22, 2011 what do you mean "returning to the dark ages" :D:D The same thing that's happening to Australia. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hamey Posted November 22, 2011 Share #10 Posted November 22, 2011 The same thing that's happening to Australia. Agree, especially with the Govermental clowns we have running it now. Ken. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
budrichard Posted November 22, 2011 Share #11 Posted November 22, 2011 A CLA is not required unless the camera doesn't work. Your mechanical reader will fail so just do the upgrade now while its still free and if anything else is wrong Leica will most likely fix/adjust/lubricate as a matter of course. Finder upgrade is not worth the money. Both my 0.85 M7's are upgraded for reader and finder and I can't discern any difference in the finders. Exposure is electronically timed so there is no lubricants and no gear trains to worry about. Open the back door, put your eye to the shutter, select one second and release the shutter, if the time is one second and you see light for the duration, the shutter is fine.-Dick Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Double Negative Posted November 22, 2011 Share #12 Posted November 22, 2011 Dark ages? More like the Enlightenment! I'm an aperture priority shooter, so the M7 is the way to go for me. Great camera with which I'm sure you'll be happy! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hundredwaters Posted November 23, 2011 Author Share #13 Posted November 23, 2011 I just ordered my ever ready Leica case this morning (not too bad through amazon) and am waiting on a artist and artisan strap, after which i hope to start shooting... after using a d700 and mamiya 6 and 7, ive forgetton how well built the Leicas are... very impressive, although i dont know how one scraps together money for even the basic lenses... i did just notice that AandI will stop processing E6 (not that I use this lab) and that 35mm plus-x just got discontinued... i have enjoyed using fuji acros in the past, but i am more concerned about the 'trend' - are people here worried that film may wholly disappear? i certainly am surprised to see plus-x go... it seems like there are lot of people still shooting film though....??? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
vonheim Posted November 25, 2011 Share #14 Posted November 25, 2011 "i did just notice that AandI will stop processing E6 (not that I use this lab) and that 35mm plus-x just got discontinued... i have enjoyed using fuji acros in the past, but i am more concerned about the 'trend' - are people here worried that film may wholly disappear? i certainly am surprised to see plus-x go... it seems like there are lot of people still shooting film though....???" As far as I know, Kodak sold more film in the first 10 months of 2011 than the 12 months in 2010. I took this as very good news. One comment was to the effect of "after 10 years of digital, many enthusiasts and a few pros are returning to film". There was also a mention of new films taking advantage of the higher resolution in new, modern lenses. I'm hopeful! Cheers, Knut Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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