M7 discontent

[TJV]

I've been shooting quite a bit of late, spreading the load equally between my M7 and M3. It's got me to thinking that I am really not happy with the M7's viewfinder. I'm not talking about magnification here (it's a 0.72) but with it flaring a lot, causing not only a blanking our of the focus patch, but also losing the frame lines altogether. As I noticed earlier, my 50mm lines are not quite "standard" as the bottom line only consists of two small lines in the corners and a large blank gap at the bottom. Especially after coming off the M3, I'm finding this a real problem. I just love the large mag' of the M3 and I'm also really enjoying using a 35mm Voigtlander viewfinder for my 35mm work.
Does anyone out there know if the upgrade Leica ended up doing of the finder helped stop the framelines dissappearing as well as the focus patch? What does this mod cost?

Most importantly, what are your thoughts? I love my M7 but this 50mm frameline issue is really hindering my enjoyment of it when using it with my favourite focal length.

Tim

 

[ferider]

Talk to Don, he can change your framelines to others and inform
you about the flare issue. I would assume somewhere between US 200 and
300 for the upgrade, depending what you want to do wrt framelines ...

But frankly, since you like your M3, I suggest to just get rid of the M7
and to buy another classic body. Gives you money for another lens,
for instance. I still don't understand the frameline issue. I have never
looked through an M7. But my M6 classic has almost solid 50mm lines,
except for missing corners. Very similar to the M2. For 50, nothing
beats an M3 however.

Roland.

 

[Harry Lime]

Sounds like you may have one the early M7 bodies without the "flare fix".

I have one of those and Sherry K. applied the 'flare-fix' upgrade to it. Ever since it works like a charm. If I remember correctly Don will do the fix for around $200. (dagcamera.com) http://www.lhsa.org/repair.html

The M3 rangefinder has a slightly differnet mechanical design, than the one used in the later M cameras.

But with the flare upgrade the M7 finder works perfectly. It's a great camera, especially if you like to shoot the 35.

 

[x-ray]

I dislike the partial frame lines in the MP also. I talked to both DAG and leica NJ about replacing them with lines that are full and both told me it can not be done. The partial bottom line was for the led display.

 

[StuartR]

It's funny how different things affect different people. I did not even notice that the MP and M7 had different framelines than the M6...and I use all three! I checked and sure enough it's true. In any case, the flaring is of course a separate issue. I have an M6 classic and my MP and M7 are both with the upgraded finders. I think it does make a significant difference. It's worth doing if the flaring is bothering you and you can be without the camera for a little while.

 

[peter_n]

It's funny how different things affect different people. I did not even notice that the MP and M7 had different framelines than the M6...and I use all three! I checked and sure enough it's true. In any case, the flaring is of course a separate issue. I have an M6 classic and my MP and M7 are both with the upgraded finders. I think it does make a significant difference. It's worth doing if the flaring is bothering you and you can be without the camera for a little while.

Me too. There was another post recently here about a partial, not missing bottom frameline (I think it was the 50 on an M7) and I had to check my own camera to verify it. I never noticed it before either. I'm not a careful framer so maybe that's it.

I also agree with Stuart anout the VF upgrade. I didn't suffer with this problem with my M6TTL and only recently with my 0.72 M7. Leica replaced the M7 VF under warranty and there is a significant difference as Stuart states.

 

[Berliner]

$262 by Leica. Just got my M6 TTL back from the upgrade. It is much improved, and well worth it, but not a total fix...some flaring under adverse conditions still exist. The framelines & RF patch still occasionally 'flare out' of view, but not like before-when it appeared that any light source in front of the lense caused me to loose the RF patch & framelines--very annoying.

I only noticed because I bought the M6 TTL to back-up a new MP without the flare problem--after looking throught the M6's finder, it became apparent that I could not live with the M6's flare issue. All better now!~

 

[PhotoMat]

Tim:

I had DAG upgrade my M6TTL viewfinder in January. The price was $190 + shipping.

 

[x-ray]

The flare in my M6 doesn't bother me much but the partial frame line does when I'm trying to square up a vertical shot and keep vertical lines parallel with the frame edge.

 

[35mmdelux]

I have no flare problem with my 2,9xxx M7.

 

[peter_n]

You shouldn't have. It is well into the serial numbers where the upgrade was begun in manufacturing.

 

[sepiareverb]

I've got the newer finder also in both 7's- don't have any trouble- nor in the 5 or 6 for that matter. I don't mind the missing frame line bit- I'm pretty careful with composing and don't miss it. Perhaps since I started with the M7 .72 I never knew what I was missing- and I've never looked through an M3.

 

[ferider]

I've got the newer finder also in both 7's- don't have any trouble- nor in the 5 or 6 for that matter. I don't mind the missing frame line bit- I'm pretty careful with composing and don't miss it. Perhaps since I started with the M7 .72 I never knew what I was missing- and I've never looked through an M3.

I told you, you should 🙂 Might be even nicer than the Leica SUV 😀

 

[sepiareverb]

I told you, you should 🙂 Might be even nicer than the Leica SUV 😀

I know, I know, but where is a VT fella to find one?

 

[TJV]

Tim:

I had DAG upgrade my M6TTL viewfinder in January. The price was $190 + shipping.

This seems like a really good price.
Losing the framelines and patch is a real pain for me. I think I could live with a partial lower line if the corners etc didn't flare out and dissappear. I think it's become a real problem since winter here in New Zealand, when the sun is really low and I'm shooting mainly after 3pm when I finish my day job. That makes sense, especially since I've been playing with shooting into the sun etc. Makes me realise how much of a dream the M3 really is! I've got to say though, the M7 is beautiful. Definatly worth upgrading the viewfinder. Also makes me think about the M8's viewfinder. I enjoyed shooting with that, even though I ran into a lot of problems.

Now, there's an M2 for sale at work. Exelent condition...