Gregm61 Posted July 12, 2018 Share #21 Posted July 12, 2018 Advertisement (gone after registration) I would guess an M7 has as good a chance, if not better, lasting 30 or even 40 years as any Nikon/Canon/Minolta/Pentax, etc film SLR from the 1970's has, at this point probably going on at least a decade or more since electronic replacement components have being available to service them. Beyond some time period, an amount of luck is going to be involved as there will be those odd-bodies that give up sooner than others, but there are thousands of film SLR's available today that are decades old and in just as good a shooting condition as the day they rolled off the assembly line. Chances are, an M7 is going to outlast your enjoyment of it, if not outlasting you, literally... 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted July 12, 2018 Posted July 12, 2018 Hi Gregm61, Take a look here M7 Longevity - Next 30 Years. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Paul Verrips Posted July 12, 2018 Share #22 Posted July 12, 2018 I would worry about 30 years from now. But if you are scared about electronic issues, buy a M-A no electronics at all) and shoot sunny 16 or/and buy a cheap light meter. I use a Sekonic L-398A is a classic analog self-powered incident/reflected meter. I also use the Sekonic L-358 and the Sekonic L-608, but the L-398A is more liberating I shoot with a M-A & a M7, both are perfect and i think that if you are not feeling confident about the M7 in the next 30 years, then buy something else. I own 3 different M7 bodies and i don't care. It's your choice. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pedaes Posted July 12, 2018 Share #23 Posted July 12, 2018 (edited) Remember all technology creeps forward and maybe 3D printing will mean any simple or complex mechanical part can be re-manufactured cheaply in the future. Edited July 12, 2018 by pedaes Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hallam0012 Posted July 12, 2018 Author Share #24 Posted July 12, 2018 Thank you to everyone who contributed with thoughts and opinions, they’re all very welcome. I decided to go with the M7 and I’m very glad I did. I’m now a very proud owner and user! 7 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkP Posted July 13, 2018 Share #25 Posted July 13, 2018 Excellent choice :-) Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Verrips Posted July 15, 2018 Share #26 Posted July 15, 2018 Congrats!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Archiver Posted July 16, 2018 Share #27 Posted July 16, 2018 Advertisement (gone after registration) Congratulations on your new camera. My M7 came in 2010, with one owner before who was a doctor, apparently. Lovely silver chrome. The feel is magical, as you know. Enjoy the next 30 years! Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mozg31337 Posted July 16, 2018 Share #28 Posted July 16, 2018 I would go for the M6 classic, pre TTL version if you can't live without an integrated light meter or an M4 / M3 if you are ok with using an external or an attached light meter. I very much doubt that an M7 would work for 20 years let alone more. Plus it is likely that the batteries would be obsolete in a decade or two. My mechanical Leica iii from early 1951 and an M3 from 1959 works like a charm and is still a looker! I am sure it could be serviced in 50 years without many issues. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mozg31337 Posted July 16, 2018 Share #29 Posted July 16, 2018 Ah, sorry, did t see the last reply. Enjoy the M7! Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Verrips Posted July 16, 2018 Share #30 Posted July 16, 2018 My 3 M7's. 36514901851_16754ffdf0_o by Paul Verrips, on Flickr 36257005940_7dbf5661e3_o by Paul Verrips, on Flickr 36256954320_f6eed8c535_o by Paul Verrips, on Flickr 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Herr Barnack Posted July 16, 2018 Share #31 Posted July 16, 2018 @hallam0012, Since Leica's alleged guarantee of parts availability seems to have shrunken from 30 years down to a mere 10, I would suggest sending your M7 off to Sherry Krauter or DAG for an overhaul when it is 9 1/2 years old. Parts will still be available (in theory) and having the camera serviced will bring it back to new specs and reset the longevity clock for your M7. You could also do some research to find out what parts most commonly fail in an M7 and stockpile those parts for future repairs when parts are no longer available; some would consider that over the top, though. Also keep in mind that sometimes Leica repair people will stockpile parts or have cameras that are no longer operational that they scavenge parts from. Nothing will last forever, but your M7 should have a long and productive life, particularly if you exercise some common sense precautions when using it. 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
colonel Posted July 25, 2018 Share #32 Posted July 25, 2018 (edited) Just to remind everyone there has been no official discontinuation notice from Leica Leica guarantees digital cameras parts 10 years after production cease OR an assisted upgrade (which happened with M8 coffee screens) No doubt film camera parts would continue further into the future The circuit board in the M7 is very simple and I am sure they could be made in perpetuity on demand in flexifab rgds Edited July 25, 2018 by colonel 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sleibel Posted October 28, 2018 Share #33 Posted October 28, 2018 Would like to add that future glasses will be a plus (+) number, Not a minus one. For short distances (Phone, Reading). Therefore a 0.58 is irrelevant. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
edstock Posted December 29, 2018 Share #34 Posted December 29, 2018 The M7, will it still be relevant? Are the old screw mount bodies still relevant? Yes to both. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TG14 Posted December 30, 2018 Share #35 Posted December 30, 2018 On 7/17/2018 at 4:52 AM, Paul Verrips said: My 3 M7's. 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! 36514901851_16754ffdf0_o by Paul Verrips, on Flickr 36257005940_7dbf5661e3_o by Paul Verrips, on Flickr 36256954320_f6eed8c535_o by Paul Verrips, on Flickr Nice. Why do you need 3? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Verrips Posted December 30, 2018 Share #36 Posted December 30, 2018 (edited) 34 minutes ago, TG14 said: Nice. Why do you need 3? i don't need 3. Just felt in love a few times because of the different look of these 3. I started with the chrome one, which Leica converted for me in Ostrich leather with M6 millenium style. Then i bought the flag as a collection item, but also used it. Later on i bought a cheap black chrome M7 which Leica converted for me in this BP version with M6 millenium style. Nowadays i work with my M-A and sometimes i take the BP M7. Edited December 30, 2018 by Paul Verrips Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
A miller Posted December 30, 2018 Share #37 Posted December 30, 2018 (edited) Horses for courses but you seem incredibly OCD cautious to me, even with the added consideration of the type of VF as a hedge against your eyes deteriorating. I don't think you are approaching this the right way. If the M7 is in good working order it should definitely give you lots of years of enjoyment. Considering you can get them now for between $1200 and $1500, even 5 good years of use translates into a dollar a day cost. And it's not even that b/c even if you hit a snag it will have some kind of floor value. Let's say that is $500 just for discussion purposes. That is only $700-$500 of cost to you in the 5 years of usage. That is pennies a day. It should last you even longer than that which makes your per day usage even more infinitesimal. My bottom line question is why you are being such an old lady? Just buy one and have fun! Edited December 30, 2018 by A miller 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pico Posted December 30, 2018 Share #38 Posted December 30, 2018 57 minutes ago, A miller said: Horses for courses but you seem incredibly OCD cautious to me, even with the added consideration of the type of VF as a hedge against your eyes deteriorating A tender point, but realistic. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted December 30, 2018 Share #39 Posted December 30, 2018 1 hour ago, A miller said: Horses for courses but you seem incredibly OCD cautious to me, even with the added consideration of the type of VF as a hedge against your eyes deteriorating. I don't think you are approaching this the right way. If the M7 is in good working order it should definitely give you lots of years of enjoyment. Considering you can get them now for between $1200 and $1500, even 5 good years of use translates into a dollar a day cost. And it's not even that b/c even if you hit a snag it will have some kind of floor value. Let's say that is $500 just for discussion purposes. That is only $700-$500 of cost to you in the 5 years of usage. That is pennies a day. It should last you even longer than that which makes your per day usage even more infinitesimal. My bottom line question is why you are being such an old lady? Just buy one and have fun! Why not read the whole thread first?? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
A miller Posted December 30, 2018 Share #40 Posted December 30, 2018 Just now, earleygallery said: Why not read the whole thread first?? I am simply reacting to his initial post. That's all I have time to psychoanalyze. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.