M7 0.85 finder - flare resistant coating or MP-like solution ?

[alexz]

While selling my M3, I'm tuned for 0.85 M6/M6TTL with MP finder upgrade looking for such.
Meanwhile, I was offered a nice M7 0.85 of S/N beginning with 2854...
Searching through the net for the into, I've got the impression that 0.85 M7 has been produced of two versions, first with the finder being coated to reduce the flare issue, the later ones (S/N starting at 2885... ?) incorporated flare resisting optical solution inside the RF optics (which arguably the same or near the same as implemented in MP).
According to S/N, what is offered me is pre-MP flare-resisting model i.e. by coating. Can it be correct ? Do I understand correctly that there was no 0.85 M7s with neither coating nor MP-like solution ? I.e. all 0.85 M&s have been treated to some degree or another to fight that flare issue ?

Those who shoot with 0.85 M7 having coated VF - how do you feel the coating really helps to reduce the issue ? (as opposite to an un-coated 0.85 like in 0.85 M6TTL)

Thanks.

 

[Freakscene]

I have a 0.85 M7. It was non-MP when I got it and it flared more than any other finder I've used. I got it upgraded to the MP fnder and it is better but it still flares in some lighting conditions. Not all lighting conditions can be countered by moving your eye - there are some angles where the finder just flares.

Marty

 

[alexz]

I have a 0.85 M7. It was non-MP when I got it and it flared more than any other finder I've used. I got it upgraded to the MP fnder and it is better but it still flares in some lighting conditions. Not all lighting conditions can be countered by moving your eye - there are some angles where the finder just flares.

Marty

Thanks Marty.
Would you mind to tell me the S/N of your camera ? Perhaps there where production batches of M7s that did not incorporate neither coating nor MP-finder ?

 

[Freakscene]

Hi Alex,

The camera is in the 2 851 7xx range. It came with the coated finder. I have used others with this finder and in 0.85 particularly, they flare.

Marty

 

[alexz]

Well, thanks.
Not really comforting facts..but something to consider...
Chances I'll be able to borrow that M7 for a trial period, will try to fetch the maximum out of it including flaring-prone conditions...
From your experience, what are typical conditions where flare was most obvious ?

 

[peter_n]

alexz, Leica use serial nrs. in batches. They do not necessarily use the lowest range of available numbers when they select a batch, so some "older" serial nrs. are actually more recent than "newer" serial nrs. I had an M7 that theoretically should have had the MP finder, but it didn't.

 

[alexz]

Thanks Peter.
So I guess you had M7 0.85 with S/N beginning of 2885 that hasn't MP-finder incorporated in it ?

 

[thomasw_]

...
From your experience, what are typical conditions where flare was most obvious ?

Shooting inside in low light. I use a MP with a 0.85x VF and it helps when inside a lot.

 

[alexz]

Shooting inside in low light. I use a MP with a 0.85x VF and it helps when inside a lot.

Shooting inside at dim lighting but with bright side stray lighting to hit the RF at certain angles ?

Given Peter's info in regard of non-consistency with S/Ns in regard of presence of MP or non-MP finders, I'd like to be able to put the M7 I'll pick to a test that will let me the idea how prone this particular camera is to flare.

 

[peter_n]

Thanks Peter.
So I guess you had M7 0.85 with S/N beginning of 2885 that hasn't MP-finder incorporated in it ?

No, I had a 0.85x M7 with the MP finder, but also a 0.72x M7 that didn't. Leica replaced the VF in the 0.72x M7 under warranty and I've since sold both bodies.

 

[alexz]

OK, thanks.