Harsh environments

[Avotius]

I have heard a few stories about people and their leica M's in some really nasty environments but I havnt been able to find one yet about people with the M7 in those places. I am looking pretty keen on getting an M7 really soon and wonder if anyone out there in RFF land has used their M7 in those really out there situations totaly out of the norm.

For instance, im here in China, around Sichuan province, a mere half days bus trip from my home and im in the Tibetan region (not Tibet but as close as you can get besides being there). The elevation in a place I went to a few months ago was well over 3000 meters, my gf and her EOS 30V ran through a fresh set of batteries after about 15 rolls with is about 3 times what it ususaly goes through them at, plus her camera kept giving her weird focus errors up there, anyway...

Has anyone ever used their M7 in those truly high elevations, or in some nasty conditions? Im curious to hear how the electronics in the camera held out since we all know the mechanical part is second to none. Interested in knowing about battery life in high elevations, any errors encountered with whatever, etc etc. Im pretty sure the camera will last better then the squishy part behind it but still love to hear those stories, and hey if you dont got an M7 but still got a story to tell I (and probably others) would love to hear it.

 

[laptoprob]

The M7 is not known for its fantastic battery life anyway... Probably worse in the cold.
Last models screwmounts (starting in the war) were adapted for cold weather by addition of ball bearings in the shutter. The M series has adopted this I guess. Everything with batteries in vulnerable in the cold. Take an M2 or M3!

Or a Hexar RF, ofcouse! 😀 The Leica never built by Leica!

Rob

 

[terrafirmanada]

You should probably contact Leica. My Leica Manual is from the M5 era, and it talks about having professioan servicing done to your camera (wet lubricants removed, and sometimes replaced with graphite or not at all). I have read that there are more high tech lubricants that are used nowadays. So my manual is dated. But it does talk about batteries dying, which you already know about. One good tip they did have is using handwarmers (the chemical kind) to keep your film from tearing. Of course condensation is always an issue in the cold. It would be interesting to see what Leica has to say. I wouldn't be surprised if they suggest an MP.

 

[ducttape]

Hi, I brought my M7 up to Northern Canada last February:

Hudson Bay

It handled well.

Leica in NJ suggested being careful because some of their people have used it in cold and they said it is not up to spec in cold weather. Besides the obvious of bringing a ton of batteries, they suggested using hand warmers or judicious use of pockets, etc etc. However, i found neither necessary.

I'm planning on bringing the M7 south next December, along with a Nikon for digital. Yes, plenty of betteries, but I am fully expecting it to perform well.

Send pics of Tibet!