M film failures - most reliable for a user camera

[KFo]

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By "user" camera I a camera for use not collecting.  So no special editions, etc.

I shoot everyday, I don't know how often the film camera will make it into the rotation.

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The Leica Q3 is available for pre-order at B&H Photo Video and Adorama

[Ouroboros]

On 10/23/2021 at 11:11 PM, KFo said:

After reading through this, I’m leaning toward a new or very good used MP.  I really have no interest in getting into a CLA or other repairs, so newer is probably better.  The M4-P sounds interesting though.  I’ve got a good Leica shop (with plenty of used gear) here in town, I bet they’ve got a M4-P on the shelf that I can fiddle with.

I imagine the viewfinder problems with M4-Ps are obvious if present?

 

 

 

It seems to me that the prices of used Leica M cameras from M4 onwards have reached a level where it would be more sensible to spend another £1.5-2k on a new M-A or MP and not have to worry about known and potential issues with viewfinder flare, meter circuits, cla's  and very limited (if any) warranties etc.

Being somewhat biased because I have one, a bp MP is the classiest of all and worth spending a bit more money on.

[cj3209]

I started my picture-taking journey with a Nikon FE-2 back in college, shooting for the college paper.  Through the progression of Nikon film cameras to digital to Leica digital and now 'back' to Leica film, I just picked up an M7.  I never used a light meter and don't intend to start calculating exposure while I'm trying to take a picture.  The M7's AE mode brings me back to my old FE2 and the relative ease of taking a pic using the aperture I want, knowing that the camera will calculate the exposure - this is priceless for me.  

As to the M7's perceived weakness of having a circuit board, the M7 went out of production in 2018.  I'd say circuit replacements can be done for at least another decade, if not much more.