Can the M7 still be repaired and for how long?

[Giulio Zanni]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Hello friends,

I was told that the exposure meter of the classic M6 cannot be repaired anymore. Is it the same for the M7? I already have an M7 but before investing in a second body I would like to make sure that it could still be repaired in the future.

Many thanks, Giulio

[Anbaric]

Some of the top independent technicians (e.g. Cameraworks) officially no longer support the M7, though I imagine you can still get repairs on the non-electronic components done by third parties. Leica still service it, but this may be a slow and expensive process and spares for this unique camera won't be available indefinitely. Main meter circuit boards for the M6-TTL became unavailable about 15 years after the camera was discontinued. The M7 has already been out of production for 6 years, and like the M6-TTL its electronics depend on turn of the century technology. In the long term, it will probably be the least serviceable Leica rangefinder camera, since all the others can be made to work mechanically even if their meters can't be fixed, whereas the M7 is almost entirely dependent on its electronics. Even if all faults can be fixed today (can they?), I suspect this won't be the case a decade or so from now.

[M9reno]

Giulio, if you love the M7, why stop at one?  🙂

You could justify buying a second precisely for the opposite reason you give: namely as a backup for the first. should that one ever become unserviceable.  That was my own line of thought when the M7 line was discontinued (I have two).

[hansvons]

2 hours ago, Giulio Zanni said:

I was told that the exposure meter of the classic M6 cannot be repaired anymore. Is it the same for the M7?

A photographer's perspective: A year ago, I bought a freshly CLAed M6 from the early eighties, obviously with a light meter that cannot be repaired. If the light meter died, it would become an M4P. It's not the worst fate, but it's nothing I wouldn't mind. On the contrary, I would hate it if that happened, and I'd sell it, probably losing 1k. However, that didn't stop me from buying that 40-year-old camera because the light meter has a reputation for being relatively robust. In the meantime, I shot over 100 rolls with the M6 (about 200 proper keepers and another 400 undecided shots), and the light meter is still working as of day one.

A collector's perspective: Don't buy a camera with electronics. They will inevitably die. 

The M7 is still repairable. It has advantages over an M6, especially if it's a later model with the MPs range finder optics. I was thinking of getting an M7 because it's the better camera from a photographer's perspective. But I chose the M6 plus a very good M4P as a second body (you always need a second body; that's why Ms come in pairs) for roughly the same budget as a pristine M7 would cost. 

If I were thinking of getting a single M (not a pair) and had the budget for a proper, late-model M7, I'd probably add another 1k and opt for the '22 M6. That would be the compromise for the occasional film photographer who's looking for a life-long solution in that particular niche. 

As you already own an M7 and are happy with it, I'd get a second one without further thinking because it's your camera of choice and that matters more than repairability. 

 

 

 

 

Edited June 7, 2024 by hansvons

[TomB_tx]

I added an M7 to my gear a few months ago knowing the electronics would likely not be repairable, but also a probability it could have a long life. This is a later build with MP VF & IR ISO detection. Really like the auto exposure execution, and feels just like my M 2,3,4,6 etc.

[Giulio Zanni]

Thanks a lot guys for your thoughts. I think a second M7 will be. At the end of the day, not much different from my 240 in term of electronics. I just can't shoot digital anymore since I came back to film and I love the A exposure for those action shots.

Best, Giulio

[Evo]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

For what it's worth I talked to the Leica Store LA today and they said they can and will repair the light meter in the M6 classic, but it would probably have to go back to Germany, not NJ.

[Anbaric]

12 hours ago, Evo said:

For what it's worth I talked to the Leica Store LA today and they said they can and will repair the light meter in the M6 classic, but it would probably have to go back to Germany, not NJ.

I wonder if they know this for sure? While some faults can certainly be repaired (e.g. a wire that has come loose and needs resoldering), anything that requires replacing the main circuit board reportedly hasn't been possible for some time, e.g.:

https://www.dagcamera.com/store/p166/Leica_M6-_Classic-_No_More_Main_Circuit_Boards.html

https://www.cameraworks-uk.com/post/is-your-leica-m6-slowly-becoming-an-m4-p-no-more-light-meter-pcb-s

It's possible this has changed. There was talk of Leica making new meters that could be installed in the Classic, presumably derived from the M6 Reissue meter, and this might even be possible for the M6-TTL (though it would probably effectively become an M6 Classic):

https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/368353-lightmeter-for-m6-ttl/page/4/#comments

But we've heard nothing recently. It would be great to have a update directly from Leica.

[AnakChan]

My M7 has gone back to Leica since mid May for a power on problem. I’d call that electrical (even though it may not be the light meter itself) but Leica is fixing it.

[69xchange]

On 6/10/2024 at 8:34 PM, Evo said:

For what it's worth I talked to the Leica Store LA today and they said they can and will repair the light meter in the M6 classic, but it would probably have to go back to Germany, not NJ.

I don’t believe it until Leica themselves release an official statement or state it in an email.

A year ago there was someone posting on Reddit claiming that they were a Leica representative and that they were replacing m6 light meters, but apparently that was false. My point is, sometimes even sale reps don’t know what they are talking about.