M6 vs. M7 Longevity

Not sure if my experience will help you at all but here goes:
I owned an M6TTL from 2003 til June of this year. It was my first Leica. My love. I couldn't afford to put a lens on it till almost 2004. That was nearly a year the camera sat on the shelf. I bought a 35/2 biogon and used the camera for lots of BW work.

Just a few weeks ago, an opportunity presented itself: Trade an M6TTL for an M7. I just needed a bit of cash to sweeten the deal. I made the trade and I have no regrets. I loved my M6TTL and I still do. I miss it dearly. But the M7 is just... better. Aperture priority mode, DX coding, MP finder, and the on/off switch. The on/off switch is enough to get rid of my M6TTL.

Long story short: Find what works, and use it. I still incident meter almost every exposure so the AE mode seems redundant. I'm just happy to know that it is there, waiting for me if I ever need it.
 
20% longer is only 1/5 but 20% shorter is 2/5 of a stop (or near half a stop as maddoc pointed out).


Why? Because one stop less exposure is half (50%) of the original exposure but one stop over requires twice the exposure (100% more)
 
Shutter speed accuracy at fast shutter speeds... I regularly shoot wide open with 100 Ektachrome tranny film at the top end of the shutter speed range. Not one single bad exposure. M6 TTL.

Get what YOU want.

Steve.
 
Last edited:
Chriscrawfordphoto said:
20% longer is only 1/5 but 20% shorter is 2/5 of a stop (or near half a stop as maddoc pointed out).


Why? Because one stop less exposure is half (50%) of the original exposure but one stop over requires twice the exposure (100% more)
Click to expand...

Sure it's true, but metering is a lot more variation than that...

Cheers,

Juan
 
The only reason I have for not buying an M7, is that I am not rich... It's not just paying the body: I know I'd be a bit worried about bumps, camera falling down, or even being stolen, apart from Leica's high CLA's and repairs price... But if I had a lot more money, I would get one... And I wouldn't avoid dangerous places with it... But I'd get a black M2 before... By now, back to my reality... If not for its mechanical speeds, I would never be interested in the M7, because I like 1/2000, less weight and back door loading a lot more...

Cheers,

Juan
 
Juan Valdenebro said:
If not for its mechanical speeds, I would never be interested in the M7, because I like 1/2000, less weight and back door loading a lot more...
Click to expand...

I would agree. Given the Zeiss Ikon and the M7, I would pick the Zeiss Ikon over the M7 90% of the time. The other 10% is when I need a Leicavit or Motor Winder M which the Zeiss does not have options for.

In any case, it's still the M7 over the M6 for me.

Cheers,
 
An M7 is my regular camera; an M6TTL my back-up. I prefer the build of the M7 -- it feels better, heavier, has the brass top plate and has had the DX upgraded and the MP finder installed. The on/off collar switch is a pain. The electrics on mine have been consistently problematical and it has been to Solms three times for electrics-related malfunctions. It is now *almost* entirely OK -- it still usually shows the flashing dot that indicates ISO set at a different speed to the canister and I either ignore this or rap the ISO dial on the back plate with my thumb and the dot disappears.

It seems to me that as far as the M7 is concerned one can either be lucky or unlucky in the specimen one gets. Some report faultless electrics; others have problems. I have fallen into the latter category.

As far as the M7's AE is concerned I can probably count the number of times I have used it one one hand in the years I've had the camera. Yes, in really rapidly changing conditions -- a sudden shift from shooting against the light, say, to a shot that presents itself in the shadows -- it can be useful. Flick the shutter speed wheel to auto and you know you'll get the picture. But in practice I have never taken to the AE function. I find it faster and more dependable to set aperture and shutter speed manually and fire away until I see it needs changing. I always struggle to find the pressure point for AE lock during shutter release, and for my money I always thought AE was better implemented on the Bessa I had, which activates with the shutter release but has a thumb button on the back plate for AE lock. Used with a rapidwinder you can even hold the exposure between shots, which you can't do on the M7. Oddly enough I *did* use that and found it genuinely useful.

I love my M7 because it gets me good pictures and I bought it new, so feel especially attached to it but if I could only keep one body then if I'm absolutely honest I rather think it would be the M6TTL.
 
I would get the M7. Look at is more in terms of an investment. If you ever resell it what would it be worth. Unless you are a heavy user or abuser I think you would get years of trouble free shooting with either one. I have owned three Leicas. IIIa, M3 and M6. Not a single issue with either. Just make sure you buy a good one out of the gate and take care of it.
 
I've had one M6TTL and two M7s, all great cameras. AE on the M7 has stepless shutter speeds which gives you very accurate exposures for slides, a major reason to buy the body. I'd give some thought to an M6TTL, still hundreds cheaper than an M7 and probably more reliable meter circuitry than in the classic M6.
 
I would go for the M7. Those camera's never let me down.

3651118994_f3c666dc99_o.jpg


I like the MP viewfinder, I have one with the older DX reader, no problems.

I think the battery issue is really overrated, spares cost no space. 😀
 
Just to add my experience with my pair of M7's, I must have been lucky because no problems to report with either. Have shot them from +40C to -40C without a hiccup.
 
I own a Wetzlar M6 and love it, but the M7 entertains a possibility for my next M. I own 3 Nikon F3's and an electronic shutter and battery dependency has never been an issue in over 15 years. AE can be useful, but I almost always shoot manual BTW. A smooth quiet shutter is a big asset. Also a MP is on the list but right now I'm too broke.

Cal
 
hmmmm.. makes me wonder should I sell my M7 after all. am "freeing cash" because of long and expensive trip, but perhaps this sale is not mandatory 🙄
 
I have never ever had exposure issues with my M6/MPs that I would put down to the camera. The mechanical 'inaccuracy' is such a non-issue here. Seriously...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom