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Sell M7?


skimmel

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I have an M7 and I have a strong emotional attachment to it. But, I simply am not using it anymore now that I have an M8. Yes, there is a chance that I will feel the pull of film again one day and want to run a few rolls through the M7, but right now, it sits dormant.

 

I have contemplated selling the M7. On ebay, it looks like they're going for around $1900 (USD) or so. My question is: what do you think will happen to the price over time? Will it continue to fall? Will it someday be a valuable collector's piece as the last (probably) film M camera made?

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Stephen,

 

I think you are the only one who can answer this.

 

Some things I would consider are. Do I really need the money? either to buy another lens or pay the mortgage etc etc :rolleyes: If not, I'd keep it. With a full frame M7 you dont have the crop factor as with the M8, so you can go superwide. This is the main reason I am keeping my MP.

 

I have an OM4 which I bought new in 1984 which does not get used much because of the Leica. I'll never sell it because of its sentimental value. I still have a couple of lenses for it.

 

Leica stuff can be hard to come by sometimes. Is it possible you may want a M7 later on? better to have the camera you know the history of rather than re-buy something you don't.

 

As for the last film camera Leica will make, I'm betting they would keep the MP as the last film camera rather than the M7.

Somehow I suspect there may even be one more model film camera to come? Just my guess.

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Sell your Leica ?? :eek:

 

Will it become a valuable collectors piece? I doubt it, it's not a rare camera. As for price I think the current M's are pretty static on the s/h market? As always condition is the main factor in determining the price.

 

If Leica bring out a replacement for the M7 then that may have a negative impact on price. I doubt it will be the 'last' film M.

 

In summary - keep it, buy a roll of film and use it!

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Stephen:

 

M8 is a great tool. But what is your back up going to be? Another M8 or the M7 that you already have and paid for? A back up body with 3 rolls of film is not that much to carry around. Actually you might even go back to film after a few rolls. Folks have been known to sell of their digital and go back to film.

 

Good luck in your decision.

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Thanks all. Everything that's been said so far makes great sense. I would sell it only if I need the money (although it seems I always find a need for money!).

 

I'm still torn, and I agree this has to be a personal decision.

 

Sounds like the price for used M7's is not likely to change much over time. I sold my Nikon F100 at a huge loss because I waited so long as I watched the price of the camera go down on the used market. That makes me a bit gun shy about waiting again.

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If you don't use it, sell it. M7 prices are not going to increase.

 

Other than special-edition film Ms I can't see Leica producing an M7 successor (other than a la carte sales) How would they improve it - a built-in motor drive? More granular frame lines (e.g. no or different pairings)?. If anything changes it will likely be just little tweeks.

 

It's a spectacular RF with AE that meters simply and well. There is a not a whole lot that is wanting in it. Unlike digital bodies, the upgrade pace of film units once you hit the 7s specifications is glacial. Hell, the MP was a step backward.

 

As a result, prices are likely to creep downward. Sell the 7 to someone who could use it as intended and put the money into a nice lens - they WILL keep their value much better. Better yet, invest the $$$ in part interest in a time machine, go back 5 years and buy a suitcase full of M glass. Aaargh.

 

If you need a backup M, you can get a good CLA'd M3 for $600. If you decide two years down the road you want another 7, buy one for say $1500 or less or pick up a nice MP.

 

YMMV.

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I wouldn't sell it yet. It's always possible we'll see further increases on new M film bodies as the fluctuation in currencies change - used bodies in nice condition will always be in demand.

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But seriously...

 

Don't sell.

 

Send it off for a service, so that it comes back feeling new. That has two effects - 1. you will be without it for a while and will see if you miss it or not. 2. When you do get it back you will see it with "new eyes".

 

Regards,

 

Bill

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if you sell $1500, I would love to buy :p

 

no seirously, I think you should keep it, for $1900, it is not worth to sell your M7 (of course, if you need money, that is another story)...It is funny with digital, I feel that I was totally into it, and film was so old-fashion, but, for a while now, I am back to film again with MP (for my personal work)...

 

maybe hold on for a little bit longer and see if you REALLY, REALLY, decide/feel not to use M7 anymore, then, sell it...:rolleyes:

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Guest darkstar2004
I wouldn't sell it yet. It's always possible we'll see further increases on new M film bodies as the fluctuation in currencies change - used bodies in nice condition will always be in demand.

 

True.

 

The list of things that would make me sell any of my Leica lenses or my MP is extremely short.

 

Extremely.

 

Don't do something you'll regret down the road - JMHO.

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if you sell $1500, I would love to buy :p

 

no seirously, I think you should keep it, for $1900, it is not worth to sell your M7 (of course, if you need money, that is another story)...It is funny with digital, I feel that I was totally into it, and film was so old-fashion, but, for a while now, I am back to film again with MP (for my personal work)

Funny, Wen, same thing happened to me. I got my M8 last year, had gotten my DMR for the R9 a year earlier, was dedicated to going completely digital capture. But a few weeks ago, I grabbed my M6 and loaded it with Kodachrome -- I had this feeling, like a slow ache, for shooting chromes. Sure, the prints from digital look just as good or better than those made from color neg., but nothing really replaces brilliant color transparencies. I'm even afraid to load up the Pradovit now, for I might not even pick up the M8 if I saw Kodachromes projected again.

 

I also really missed shooting wide, which used to be my normal mode of shooting. I'd never even seen my 15mm Voigtlander shot wide, since I bought it to have something wide on the M8.

 

Then, O God, I pulled out the M4, put on the 35mm 'lux, loaded it with Tri-X, grabbed the Luna Pro and set it on 1600 ASA, and it was 1976 again. Now I gotta go find some Acufine...

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...

Sounds like the price for used M7's is not likely to change much over time. ..

 

You never know, but what will make a difference in price is the MP viewfinder, the optical DX-sensor and if your leatherette is still there, where it should be.

 

keep it...

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I got the M8 a couple of months ago. I am still in the trial phase. I have an M3 and M4-P I'm not really using at this point. Of the three, the M8 is first, but the M3 is a VERY close second, with the M4-P bringing up the rear. All my cameras have a purpose and a place, including my Nikon SLR/DSLR's. I know I will keep a film M, I just don't know which one yet. Until you get a chance to use an film/digital RF for awhile, I wouldn't sell anything until you get in the 'Groove'. Due to inflation, just my 2$.

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I ask myself the same and have a little different perspective.

1) As a backup I would rather sell the M7 and get an rd1 - or a Ricoh GRD or a Canon G9. I think to mix digital and film images doesnt work great

Also films do age - I have a whole bag with old films in my fridge.

 

2) If its just for the film-feel when shooting an M6 for 800 Euro might be enough-you wouldnt really need the M7.

 

3) For me digital is just so convenient specially regarding "development", printing etc. compared to film and scanning that I have barely done much with the images the few times I shot film over the last years.

 

4) I havent sold mine M7 so far... I dont know why but its just a hard step to go.

 

cheers, Tom

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Hmmm. I am also on the cusp of giving up my M6TTL. I came to the M6 via the purchase of a R-D1 and several Leica lenses. My problem is that try as I may I do not seem to get the same consistent results out of my M6 as I do out of the R-D1.

 

The main attraction is the lack of crop factor. I also think that the black and white results are better than converting colour digital images. There is also the confidence factor of using a very well made piece of kit. The actual resale value is in the range of £500-700 which sounds like a lot of money but in relation to Leica kit is actually not a lot, so the imperative to turn it into something else is not there.

 

On the other hand I do not do much black and white photography. My scanning results have been very hit and miss. Perhaps I have a poor scanner but then I'd have to pay £500-750 to get a Nikon coolscan which means more expense just to see if I get any improvements. I can sometimes spend several hours just trying to get a decent scan from a colour negative. So, application and workflow are not strong motives for keeping the M6TTL.

 

Anyway, I am somewhat divided at present. Should I keep it or should I sell it. Of course, only I can really answer that question :confused:

 

LouisB

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