Leica m7 misaligned frame counter

[Pillan]

Hello guys, I’ve just acquired a new Leica m7 black paint a la carte from a reputable seller in Hong Kong. I was shooting yesterday and I realized that the film counter is not aligned with the arrow. This is my second m7 and I don’t remember that the other one has this issue. The camera came with the Leica certificate that came out from Germany in September 2024. What you guys think? I’ve seen other cameras with this “issue”, but I’m looking for more information on this. The camera is working good whatsoever.

maybe is just an aesthetic issue…

Thanks!!

 

[santino]

It is an aesthetic issue but should not happen to a premium product like a Leica.

 

[Richard G]

My M6 frame counter stopped moving altogether. Apparently it’s a disc glued to a shaft with small contact area. Not their best design. I suspect this m7 was repaired without proper care for the alignment. Always liked the timeless simplicity of my M2 frame counter. I’ve never seen an M7 I would buy. All the ones I’ve seen online seem to have a problem where the body covering is peeling away from the edge near the top cover containing the frame line illumination window, and otherwise beginning to peel from the back door. That sort of thing would drive me mad. I don’t see it with other M Leicas for sale.

 

[maddoc]

First production batch M7 are known for ISO dial issues and in case of black chrome finish, the finish can literally been wiped off. My M7, bought as Leica refurbished and upgraded to optical DX reader and MP-style VF, had the ISO dial issue and was sent to Leica Germany under the one year warranty provided. They weren't able to fix it but after their repair attempt, the frames were slightly off-set and no longer aligning perfectly with the sprocket holes as they were prior to the repair. Later Leica Japan did a quick fix by tightening the screw that holds the ISO dial mechanism and this fix lasted at least for a couple of month. My M-A had out-of-box a horizontally misaligned RF and focus was off. At least Leica Japan was able to adjust it.
The misaligned frame-counter, never seen this issue before. It is the a-la-carte option black frame counter, maybe somebody was in a hurry assembling the camera? Better check for other issues too.

 

[Out to Lunch]

I bought an M7 chrome a-la-carte some 15 years ago and the frame counter remains spot-on. Also no peeling of the leatherette -plastic but solid German plastic, of course. Re. Richard G's remark on the M2, I am now lusting after one and in the exhausting process of convincing myself to buy it.

 

[Richard G]

I bought an M7 chrome a-la-carte some 15 years ago and the frame counter remains spot-on. Also no peeling of the leatherette -plastic but solid German plastic, of course. Re. Richard G's remark on the M2, I am now lusting after one and in the exhausting process of convincing myself to buy it.

Mine was serviced thirty years into my ownership, and serviced by a Wetzlar born and trained technician, in Melbourne. The two revelations from his contirbution was restoration of the clutch component of the rewind process, stopping recoil between each wind, and much easier rotation of the large frame counter disc. Previously I worried about breaking a fingernail. No longer. In 500 years when they look at these cameras, it will be like the scientists in Woody Allen's "Sleeper". "So you're telling me that after developing the M2 frame counter, they actually went back to the M3 type in subsequent cameras? I wonder what they were thinking." (Of course I'm one eyed and mischievous on this score.) PS It likely inspired the shutter speed dial on the M5.