I love my… I love my M7...

[wattsy]

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Well, my new (to me) M7 arrived this morning

 

 

You did very well, Gerry. I've been looking for a used M7 (for a specific application) and would have bought that M7 if you hadn't (I saw it on Harrison's website but you had presumably already bought it) . However, I have now snagged a mint- late serial number (so-called "improved finder") M7 with dealer warranty for only £1099. A used M7 (at approximately 30% of new RRP) really is the best value Leica buy around at the moment – it's almost rude for any M system user not to buy one.

Edited March 18, 2016 by wattsy

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[gwpics]

I am not sure how much you saw it for but I ended up paying £900 and it 'as new', and of course Harrison's give a 1-year warranty. Having newly returned to Leica I don't really know about the 'improved finder' you mentioned. Is there somewhere I can check serial numbers?

 

Gerry

[wattsy]

I am not sure how much you saw it for but I ended up paying £900 and it 'as new', and of course Harrison's give a 1-year warranty. Having newly returned to Leica I don't really know about the 'improved finder' you mentioned. Is there somewhere I can check serial numbers?

 

Gerry

 

 

I think I saw it for £999 or something like that. Even better value at £900!

 

The "improved" finder is generally thought to coincide with serial numbers post 285000 but this is only a rough rule of thumb. The surest way to tell (other than trying to induce the RF patch to flare) is that the outer box has an orange sticker on it trumpeting the "MP style viewfinder". Frankly, at £900 I wouldn't personally be concerned, it is a great deal either way.

Edited March 18, 2016 by wattsy

[gwpics]

I think I saw it for £999 or something like that. Even better value at £900!

 

The "improved" finder is generally thought to coincide with serial numbers post 285000 but this is only a rough rule of thumb. The surest way to tell (other than trying to induce the RF patch to flare) is that the outer box has an orange sticker on it trumpeting the "MP style viewfinder". Frankly, at £900 I wouldn't personally be concerned, it is a great deal either way.

 

Mine has that sticker but i didn't understand it's significance. It appears to have been part of a kit because there is room in the box for a 50mm Summaron lens.

 

Gerry

[wattsy]

Mine has that sticker but i didn't understand it's significance. It appears to have been part of a kit because there is room in the box for a 50mm Summaron lens.

 

Gerry

 

 

A real bargain. Yes, Leica have (and probably still do) also sell the M7 with a 50/F2 as a kit.

[Doc Henry]

I think I saw it for £999 or something like that. Even better value at £900!

 

The "improved" finder is generally thought to coincide with serial numbers post 285000 but this is only a rough rule of thumb. The surest way to tell (other than trying to induce the RF patch to flare) is that the outer box has an orange sticker on it trumpeting the "MP style viewfinder". Frankly, at £900 I wouldn't personally be concerned, it is a great deal either way.

Ian and Gerry,

It seems to me from what I read that from serial number 2880000,  M7 has a viewfinder-type MP

with decrease reflections in extreme lighting situations.

Best

Henry

Edited March 18, 2016 by Doc Henry

[LeicaTobin]

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I am putting the M240 in the closet for a while. My film Journey begins!

 

Cheers!

 

Tobin

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Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

[Doc Henry]

Tobin , good decision , spring is coming that's the reason , color will be more faithful

My 2 digital M take a long sleep and stay in the Billingham bag and almost no longer go out !

Portra is one of best film in 2016 , my film supplier saying he sells currently a lot

Good photos

Best

Henry

Edited March 18, 2016 by Doc Henry

[LeicaTobin]

Thanks for the words Henry! This M7 has got me excited again in photography. I have recently went back to most of the work I have shot in the last couple of years and I find that it looks too pretty. I want more grit and soul to the images. So I am going to push the Tri-x to 1600 and see what happens. Thank you for this thread as it inspired me to find an M7 in the first place!

 

Here is my website:

 

http://www.chadtobin.com

 

Cheers!

 

Tobin

[gwpics]

It seems that there may be a resurgence in high end film photography going on, much like the resurgence back to vinyl in the music industry - very interesting times.

 

Gerry

[gwpics]

I am putting the M240 in the closet for a while. My film Journey begins!

 

Cheers!

 

Tobin

 

Is Kodak film still being produced. I thought (in fact I am pretty sure) that production has ceased although some is still available. I would not want to get hooked on something that was dead before I started.

 

Gerry

[gwpics]

Ian and Gerry,

It seems to me from what I read that from serial number 2880000,  M7 has a viewfinder-type MP

with decrease reflections in extreme lighting situations.

Best

Henry

 

Mine is #294**** so i am well within that group.

 

Gerry

[LeicaTobin]

Hi Gerry,

 

I think its the one thing in Kodak that is making profits now. lol

 

Tobin

[Doc Henry]

It seems that there may be a resurgence in high end film photography going on, much like the resurgence back to vinyl in the music industry - very interesting times.

 

Gerry

I still love the M8 CCD sensor  for color, randomly or not , I love the "vivid" * color of Kodak film. 

(* as said Erwin Puts)

Film sales goes back Gerry,  and finally I continue to listen to my vinyl records on my classic tube amplifiers

For your info:

http://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/254459-kodak-predicts-film-business-to-be-profitable-in-2016/

http://nofilmschool.com/2015/12/kodak-film-profitable-2016-nolan-tarantino-abrams

 

Tobin , with Kodak TX400 , same remark "black is true black" (without banding) and "white is true white"

You can see some examples of pictures of TX400 pushed to 800 or 1200 in film's thread "I like film" in Others

You are welcome Gerry and you

Best

Henry

Edited March 18, 2016 by Doc Henry

[gwpics]

Hi Gerry,

 

I think its the one thing in Kodak that is making profits now. lol

 

Tobin

 

I apologise as I am mistaken. It is only Kodak T400CN which is discontinued by the look of things, so that is great news as I used to really like T-Max400.

[Doc Henry]

Just some news  from our famous photographer and director Raymond Depardon

with his inseparable Leica M7

 

http://www.lemonde.f...57_4500055.html

 

Translation :

 

Raymond Depardon and his inseparable Leica

Le Monde 27.04.2016 at 09:00 

By Jerome Badie

Since 1960, the photographer, which presents on the big screen his film "Les Habitants" remains faithful to the German brand to capture his "moments".
 

I started using Leica cameras in 1960. I started with the M2. I was on a full war in Algeria for an expedition to test the human resistance to heat. We attended a drama seven conscripts were lost in the Sahara. We managed to save three. Back in Paris, I stole my camera, but not the photos, which luckily remained in my locker at the Dalmas Agency, my first agent. I cried.

 

Today I work with the M7, the fastest camera in the world. Its latency is the shortest, 120 milliseconds between the time you press the shutter button and shooting. Some devices do not follow and do not trigger immediately. This one starts very quickly. Ten times faster than any other housing, even digital.

 

This is essential to be able to capture a moment like the affectionate gesture of a man to his wife on a street in La Paz or Potosi, Bolivia. The photographer always blames botched pictures. I call this the time faults. With this device, I increase my chances. I have not switched to digital and when we ask the question, I answer that I have only to switch to color! My work will always be that my generation, caught between the Cartier-Bresson or Doisneau in search of the "decisive moment" and younger photographers more loving atmosphere and staging. I appreciate the natural elegance of people. I try to keep the look as pure as possible.

I have traveled, often alone, and my Leica was my only companion. Then I succumbed to fashion SLR, but everyone asked and we lost moments. So I returned to Leica. Take control this device takes time. And as this is not an SLR, what we see in the viewfinder is not what one takes pictures.
This gives it a character laborer, craftsman that I love. "

Edited April 28, 2016 by Doc Henry

[Doc Henry]

I still love the M8 CCD sensor  for color, randomly or not , I love the "vivid" * color of Kodak film. 

(* as said Erwin Puts)

Film sales goes back Gerry,  and finally I continue to listen to my vinyl records on my classic tube amplifiers

For your info:

http://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/254459-kodak-predicts-film-business-to-be-profitable-in-2016/

http://nofilmschool.com/2015/12/kodak-film-profitable-2016-nolan-tarantino-abrams

 

Tobin , with Kodak TX400 , same remark "black is true black" (without banding) and "white is true white"

You can see some examples of pictures of TX400 pushed to 800 or 1200 in film's thread "I like film" in Others

You are welcome Gerry and you

Best

Henry

 

If you are interested , here John's thread about vinyl

http://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/258680-turntable-recommendations/page-2

Rg

H.

[Wayne]

Tuesday, I went to the local camera shop, X-Pro1, Xt10, and Zeiss x mount 12mm lens in tow, with the intention of trying out the new X-Pro2 and trading in for it. When I walked up to the counter my eyes lit on this M7; priced about the same as the new X-Pro2. I began thinking......that X-Pro2 will probably cost about half of what I would pay today if I wait a couple years...Maybe I should wait on the X-Pro2.

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

Edited May 6, 2016 by Wayne

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[gwpics]

Tuesday, I went to the local camera shop, X-Pro1, Xt10, and Zeiss x mount 12mm lens in tow, with the intention of trying out the new X-Pro2 and trading in for it. When I walked up to the counter my eyes lit on this M7; priced about the same as the new X-Pro2. I began thinking......that X-Pro2 will probably cost about half of what I would pay today if I wait a couple years...Maybe I should wait on the X-Pro2.

 

So you bought the M7? Does that mean you have moved away from digital or did you keep the X-Pro1 as well?

 

Gerry

[Wayne]

Yes, I made the trade, but against the M7 instead of the X-Pro2. I do not think I will ever completely abandon digital. My M8 and the X cameras are not going anywhere. The 12mm Zeiss was the only x mount lens I owned, and it is a focal length I do not use often. About the only glass I used on the Fuji cameras was my Leica lenses.

 

I was able to use the M7 for the past three days and have only a few shots left on the first roll of TriX. This is the newest M I have ever owned; I am pleasantly surprised by ease of use.

 

Several weeks ago I became immersed in the various adverse comments concerning the M7 vewfinder, rangefinder, auto ISO feature, and electronic shutter control, and balked on bidding for an M7; but once I had the chance to hold and try out this camera, I could not resist. This camera does have the original VF/RF; it seems to work pretty well. If it continues to work as well as it did this week, I will be a happy customer.