johnastovall Posted November 18, 2008 Share #1 Posted November 18, 2008 Advertisement (gone after registration) I've been looking at the M7 and some used prices look interesting. What have your user experiences been with it? I read conflicting reports as to it being nosier than the M6 or the same. Pro's, Con's or comments? How does the M7 compare to the M6 (non-Ttl) 0.85 I just love to over research any purchase. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted November 18, 2008 Posted November 18, 2008 Hi johnastovall, Take a look here M7 0.85 Pros and Cons?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
echorec Posted November 19, 2008 Share #2 Posted November 19, 2008 I have had several M6 and M7 (but no 0.85 yet...hopefully soon) The M6 is quiet but the M7 is even more quiet and feels super smooth to use. The M7 is slightly larger though. If you are very used to the M2, M3, M4 and M6 classic you will notice the (small) size difference. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ron110n Posted November 19, 2008 Share #3 Posted November 19, 2008 M7, Pros: About the best metering Leica to my experiece ever had. Cons: Easy to forget to leave the the camera ON for weeks which shortens the battery life. The battery works the meter and the electronic shutter, don't forget. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill Posted November 19, 2008 Share #4 Posted November 19, 2008 M7, The battery works the meter and the electronic shutter, don't forget. Except for the manual shutter speeds of 1/60 and 1/125, of course On the whole the electronic shutter confers more advantages than disadvantages. It is extremely accurate, and gives access to much longer shutter speeds for low light tripod work. I moved from an M6 to an M7 .85 as soon as they became available, and have never regretted it. It is a fine camera, fast handling and reliable. It is definitely quieter than the M6, and generally very smooth in operation. The .85 framelines are clear and easy to see even for a spectacle wearer like me, and I have successfully used it with a 28mm lens using the whole of the viewfinder field as guidance. It is a perfect pairing with my M2. The one "improvement" I have made is to fit an Abrahamsson Rapidgrip. This has a small compartment in the base which takes spare batteries. Regards, Bill Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted November 19, 2008 Share #5 Posted November 19, 2008 M7, Cons: Easy to forget to leave the the camera ON for weeks which shortens the battery life. The meter shuts down after about 5 minutes, and only works when wound on. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob_f Posted November 20, 2008 Share #6 Posted November 20, 2008 There are really two questions here. 1.) Reasons to get an M7. 2.) Reasons to get a Leica with a 0.85 finder. I find the M7 to be the quietest of all my Leicas--and I have a drawerful. The Aperture priority auto-exposure is very good for shooting fast, giving you the same advantage as it does on any camera model. For more considered work, I prefer manual exposure. The 0.85 finder is best for accurate focusing with the Noctilux; the 75mm Summilux; and the 90mm Summicrons. But it is hard to see the 35mm frameline, so one would not plan on using a 35mm lens much with this finder. Also, there is less room around the outside of the framelines. That room outside the frame can be an aid to composition. Those of us who wear glasses will have additional difficulty with the larger framelines. So: it is a specialist camera for those who use the lenses that are both longer and faster. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lightpainter Posted November 20, 2008 Share #7 Posted November 20, 2008 Advertisement (gone after registration) I am selling my M7 0.85 here in the forum. Reason? My M8. I have not worked with film for about a year now. I both had the M6 and M7 with the 0.85 finder (my favourite choice since, if I go for shorter lenses, I prefer the attachable finders). I like both cameras, but I agree with some peple here: the M7 is really fast to work with, it's quiet and feels great. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
russell c. greenberg Posted November 21, 2008 Share #8 Posted November 21, 2008 Dear lightpainter, I would not sell the M7 .85 so fast, if your M8 has to go to Solms for repair,you can use your M7 for a back up camera. My M8 went back to New Jersey 7 times for various repairs. Each time I used my M7 .85 as a back up camera. Thank -god that I kept my M7 .85 back up. IMHO personally, I feel naked w/o a Leica camera with me . Sincerely, Russell Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
russell c. greenberg Posted November 22, 2008 Share #9 Posted November 22, 2008 I am selling my M7 0.85 here in the forum. Reason? My M8. I have not worked with film for about a year now. I both had the M6 and M7 with the 0.85 finder (my favourite choice since, if I go for shorter lenses, I prefer the attachable finders). I like both cameras, but I agree with some peple here: the M7 is really fast to work with, it's quiet and feels great. Dear lightpainter, Please read my post from yesterday(regarding M7 0.85) before selling your M7. You might think twice before selling this camera. Sincerely, Russell C. Greenberg Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kivis Posted September 11, 2009 Share #10 Posted September 11, 2009 There are really two questions here. 1.) Reasons to get an M7. 2.) Reasons to get a Leica with a 0.85 finder. I find the M7 to be the quietest of all my Leicas--and I have a drawerful. The Aperture priority auto-exposure is very good for shooting fast, giving you the same advantage as it does on any camera model. For more considered work, I prefer manual exposure. The 0.85 finder is best for accurate focusing with the Noctilux; the 75mm Summilux; and the 90mm Summicrons. But it is hard to see the 35mm frameline, so one would not plan on using a 35mm lens much with this finder. Also, there is less room around the outside of the framelines. That room outside the frame can be an aid to composition. Those of us who wear glasses will have additional difficulty with the larger framelines. So: it is a specialist camera for those who use the lenses that are both longer and faster. I actually prefer a 35mm lens on my M7 .85. I like that it feels up the view. I feel like I am getting "my money's worth." And I wear glasses. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff S Posted September 11, 2009 Share #11 Posted September 11, 2009 I had M6s and M7s, and the latter were my favorite for many of the reasons already stated above...wonderfully quiet and smooth, etc. On the M7, I had both the .58 and .85, for wide and longer lenses, respectively. If I owned just one, I would probably prefer the .72 for greater versatility. Magnifiers, if you don't mind them, can overcome some viewing difficulties. And, Tim Isaac now produces magnifiers that go in both directions...from .85 to 1.25 and greater...so that's an option on any M7 finder. Jeff PS..wow, I just realized this thread is ancient....but I'll leave post anyway Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
thomasw_ Posted September 12, 2009 Share #12 Posted September 12, 2009 I actually prefer a 35mm lens on my M7 .85. I like that it feels up the view. I feel like I am getting "my money's worth." And I wear glasses. I don't wear glasses like Akiva, just contact lenses. But I am 100% in favour of using the highest magnification, EBL M body that I can. If you can learn to shoot your 35s with both eyes open while using the .85x VF, then you can learn to compose with info from both eyes quite effectively. Indeed it has become my preferred way to compose with my 35s: one free eye and one VF-filed eye, it gives me a perfect balance. And the increased focusing accuracy of the ,85x VF is sooooo useful in low light or while using faster apertures. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kivis Posted September 13, 2009 Share #13 Posted September 13, 2009 I don't wear glasses like Akiva, just contact lenses. But I am 100% in favour of using the highest magnification, EBL M body that I can. If you can learn to shoot your 35s with both eyes open while using the .85x VF, then you can learn to compose with info from both eyes quite effectively. Indeed it has become my preferred way to compose with my 35s: one free eye and one VF-filed eye, it gives me a perfect balance. And the increased focusing accuracy of the ,85x VF is sooooo useful in low light or while using faster apertures.fully agree on this. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomasis7 Posted September 13, 2009 Share #14 Posted September 13, 2009 I don't wear glasses like Akiva, just contact lenses. But I am 100% in favour of using the highest magnification, EBL M body that I can. If you can learn to shoot your 35s with both eyes open while using the .85x VF, then you can learn to compose with info from both eyes quite effectively. Indeed it has become my preferred way to compose with my 35s: one free eye and one VF-filed eye, it gives me a perfect balance. And the increased focusing accuracy of the ,85x VF is sooooo useful in low light or while using faster apertures. soooooooo true /avid m3 user and is looking for a m7 0,85 in market of used things Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
innerimager Posted September 14, 2009 Share #15 Posted September 14, 2009 I have both a 0.72 and 0.85 M7. A 50 lux asph lives on the 0.72. And while my 75 lux is my favorite on the .85, I also, to my surprise, prefer my 35 lux on the .85, and of course the 90 lenses on it as well. In other words, I love the 0.85 finder. If the M9. or some future full frame digital M ever offers a 0.85 finder I'll be much more tempted to get one! best...Peter Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sdai Posted September 14, 2009 Share #16 Posted September 14, 2009 I must be one of the rarest guys who actually has always hoped that Leica could build a new M with even larger magnification factor. Both of my a-la-carte M7s are 0.85 plus a 1.25x constantly screwed on ... one for a 50 lux asph and the other for a 90AA. I guess it really depends on who you are and what you do. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomasis7 Posted September 14, 2009 Share #17 Posted September 14, 2009 I must be one of the rarest guys who actually has always hoped that Leica could build a new M with even larger magnification factor. Both of my a-la-carte M7s are 0.85 plus a 1.25x constantly screwed on ... one for a 50 lux asph and the other for a 90AA. I guess it really depends on who you are and what you do. not only you. I wish for 1:1 (i have rd1) .. and i dont care about missing 35 lines.. with my spectacles I see 50mm lines in M3. M3 vf is very special and I cannot live without it. 0,85x with 1,25x extender becomes 1.06. How does it work with spectacles seeing 50mm lines? without spectacles it might work You have 2x m7 0,85? Im gonna have 3x m3 and 1x m7 0,85 Crazy huh? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sdai Posted September 14, 2009 Share #18 Posted September 14, 2009 0,85x with 1,25x extender becomes 1.06. How does it work with spectacles seeing 50mm lines? without spectacles it might work You have 2x m7 0,85? Hehe ... I've used this setup long enough and that's one of the few things which I've never paid much attention to. I chose the 50mm focal length more because of its natural perspective. Most of the times I took shots for kids and family etc, as long as everyone's face is in the viewfinder then it's good enough. LOL Cheers! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craftsman Posted September 15, 2009 Share #19 Posted September 15, 2009 I have the MP with .85 viewfinder and much prefer it over the .72 especially with a 35mm lens. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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