I feel I need an M7

[Goodyear]

No-no-no-no-no. Take the readings where you stand - if it's overcast, you don't even have to worry about which direction it's pointed. Add or subtract a stop or two if the subject's in different light (it's all about developing an instinct for light), then don't touch the meter again until the light changes.

Good advice.

 

[grantray]

Fell for the M7? Could have been (financially) worse. Such as an al la carte M7 designed to look like the black MP-4. Now THAT would have cost you.

Off to Spanish Harlem to shoot..

-grant

 

[JohanV]

When my photography teacher heard I bought the M7 he told me he'd prefer a Nikon DX2 for the money.
I asked him what he'd expect to get for it in five year's time.
No reply....
Hope he forgives me before the end of term evaluation. 😉

 

[Gid]

Congratulations. There is nothing quite like being able to have what you want - whether you need it or not 😉 - I know 🙂

Enjoy.

 

[former member]

Congraulations on the New Leica M7. Just read through the thread.

I switched to "classic" RF's when my daughter started moving around. I still use SLR's, but have an easier time focussing the RF's with fast 50's and short/fast portrait lenses. I tend to shoot wide-open a lot when indoors, and usually at F4 or 5.6 outdoors for the narrow DOF.

Got a three rolls back from the playground last week, shot with a Nikon Sp and 8.5cm F2 lens, mostly at F4. Almost all were in focus. And no latency when the shutter is snapped or viewfinder blackout when the picture is taken.

Here is the shot from my "Avatar". Shot with a Canon 7 with Canon 50/1.4.

Probably the hardest part was pushing the Tire Swing and using the camera in between pushes.

 

[JohnL]

Just about any decent aperture-priority camera will solve your problems. The M7 is one very good example. Shooting aperture-priority does not mean forgetting your (ball-park) shutter speed, or not compensating for dark/light backgrounds etc. It's just a slightly different approach, that works especially well in varying light.

 

[MCTuomey]

Congrats on the M7. Lovely choice.

I was thinking about the photo you posted, Johan. Isolated subject in focus. Distracting background downplayed through the use of wide aperture DOF. And the problems of making such photos: erratic subject movement in a narrow focus plane; changing light and shadow.

Well, this is the realm of the sportsshooter. It's what they do for a living. With very specific tools: fast auto cameras and fast telephoto lenses.

Pared down to the non-professional, one choice would have been an SLR with predictive autofocus and aperture-priority autoexposure mated to a medium focal length, fast telephoto. E.g. Canon A2 + 135/2 lens. Cost = USD $800 used. Your choice of 400 B&W to go. Those kids will be frozen crisply in motion with the backgrounds hauntingly blurred away. Just like any good sports photo.

I make this comment not to discourage buying a partially auto M body. Goodness, no. But it struck me while reading the various posts that an RF, no matter which body, isn't really close to being the right tool for what you described as your goal.

 

[JohanV]

I make this comment not to discourage buying a partially auto M body. Goodness, no. But it struck me while reading the various posts that an RF, no matter which body, isn't really close to being the right tool for what you described as your goal.

I have to admit that the aforementioned goal was more the 'final straw' than the 'prime reason'. I just got fed up with fiddling with all the buttons, instead of concentrating on the picture, which is just what I could do with the Contax G2.
But since I first looked through my first M's little window upon the world, I just found that I couldn't return to the G2, it just doesn't feel right anymore...

So I guess someone is going to offer me a pittance for my G2 and all that lovely Zeiss glass, and I may just be able to get a Leica strap for the money....

 

[MCTuomey]

But since I first looked through my first M's little window upon the world, I just found that I couldn't return to the G2, it just doesn't feel right anymore...

Which pretty much decides it all, except for the problem of deciding which M to put in the bag for the day. A very fine problem to have, of course. 😀

 

[steelheart]

Err on the side of caution

Err on the side of caution

I don't know if an M7 will save you, but it can't hurt!! I'd get one just to be on the safe side if I were you. 😀

 

[sf]

Anyone want to trade their M7 for a KM Multi Pro?

maybe I'm kidding, but I might not be.