Is the Leica M7 going strong in 2012?

[Asim]

Every review of the Leica M7 that I read about is almost ten years old.

There are barely any reviews or opinions from the past couple of years.

So I want to ask those of you that have been using an M7 for several years how its held up over time. Is it considered a promising camera now that its been around for a decade?

 

[Robert Lai]

The M7 has basically all the features of my 25+ year old Nikon F3.
I still use the F3 regulary. They both have just enough automation to make them fast to shoot with, yet are still manual focus film cameras. They both offer TTL flash control, which is very convenient.

By now, all the bugs have been worked out of the M7, or at least well known enough that you can work around them. The M7 is my only M mount Leica.

 

[TEZillman]

I've been using my M7 for 8 years without a problem.

 

[whitecat]

If the M8 was digital, what are they going to call the next rangefinder?

 

[finguanzo]

If the M8 was digital, what are they going to call the next rangefinder?

exactly....

 

[segedi]

If the M8 was digital, what are they going to call the next rangefinder?

M-X. Every manufacturer is in love with the X these days...

But back to the original question. I like my MP, but I also like AE, so got an M7. The MP is feeling lonely these days.

 

[Tim Gray]

I've had mine for a little less than 4 years. I love it. Thinking about getting a second. They are also probably the best deal going in Leica cameras. While other models have mostly seen their prices go up in the last 3-4 years, the M7 is about the same (or even cheaper).

 

[Araakii]

From a user perspective the M7 is doing fine, but the value keeps going down.

 

[Freakscene]

I have two. They're both great. One has had problems, but they seem to be all ironed out now. Nothing is 100% future proof.

Marty

 

[sepiareverb]

My two are going strong. I prefer the MP in the cold as the batteries in the M7 never seem to last as long, but I was out today with a .58 M7 and the Biogon 35/2. Positively spring-like here today, going to be -2° F tonight. We do pay here in Vermont for a clear day.

There are precious few things manufactured basically unchanged for ten years these days. Not much new to review.

 

[tightsqueez]

No need for a review... plenty of them around. Mine has seen two years in Iraq and has been dropped, blown up, crushed and desert dusted to the point I could barely see it was black.

It's always worked when I've needed it to. Today I find it wonderful for street and any type of film that needs a "perfect" exposure.

I picked mine up brand new back in 2004 and it's the .58 version. While I've had it serviced for it's abuse, I've had issues with the ISO readout and a battery draining issue. But... like I said before - works like a champ when I NEED it.

And it is ever so quiet!

 

[SolaresLarrave]

From a user perspective the M7 is doing fine, but the value keeps going down.

Really? That's odd... Out of curiosity I have checked the value of my M6TTL bodies and I don't think I could afford either, and always imagined the M7 going even further up... Perhaps, then, sometime in the future...

Nah, I have enough Leicas as it is. And I don't think there can be more issues with an AE camera that haven't appeared in ten years. So, M7 owners, rest assured! 🙂

 

[Tim Gray]

Yep. I've seen them going for as low as $1700.

 

[maddoc]

The M7 goes as strong as Leica want it to be in 2012. 🙂 It is a user camera, designed for most exact exposure possible with an electronically controlled but basically mechanical shutter.

 

[Araakii]

Really? That's odd... Out of curiosity I have checked the value of my M6TTL bodies and I don't think I could afford either, and always imagined the M7 going even further up... Perhaps, then, sometime in the future...

Nah, I have enough Leicas as it is. And I don't think there can be more issues with an AE camera that haven't appeared in ten years. So, M7 owners, rest assured! 🙂

The M6TTL and M7 prices are converging. For some reason people prefer the M6 even for the same price.

 

[mervynyan]

No need for review.

There are no technical aspects about it. ISO, shutter and aperture are all you need, perhaps one shall add auto-metering as prerequisite. So any reviews are just rave about built quality, which I think M7 is not as solid as Nikon/Canon F, Pentax L and other SLRs. But if you want a more than simple point and shoot but not computer, M7 is one fine camera.

 

[jsrockit]

NSo any reviews are just rave about built quality, which I think M7 is not as solid as Nikon/Canon F, Pentax L and other SLRs. But if you want a more than simple point and shoot but not computer, M7 is one fine camera.

Huh? 😕 😕

 

[Austerby]

The M6TTL and M7 prices are converging. For some reason people prefer the M6 even for the same price.

Really? From the prices I've seen the M7 is about 50% more expensive than an M6ttl (£900 vs £1400 give or take). Also the M7 is rising - I bought one secondhand in 2007 for £1200.

It is noticeable just how much a new Leica devalues - a new M7 is north of £3000 these days and all the secondhand prices I've seen are around half that.

 

[furcafe]

You seem to be asking the same basic question that you did in this thread: http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=115661

My answer to both of your questions is yes, as in this earlier thread:

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=114909

Every review of the Leica M7 that I read about is almost ten years old.

There are barely any reviews or opinions from the past couple of years.

So I want to ask those of you that have been using an M7 for several years how its held up over time. Is it considered a promising camera now that its been around for a decade?

 

[dcsang]

Yes.

As much as I may not like the inference or reference of this Charlton Heston quotation it suits me when it comes to my M7s:
"From my cold, dead, hands !!!!"

Cheers,
Dave 🙂