M7 DX reader - does it affect price?

[nksyoon]

Hello everyone, hope someone here can help me.

I've just received a M7 0.58, bought from ebay. Contrary to the seller's description, it has the old DX reader (row of pins) rather than the optical DX reader. The DX reader seems to be working, but I won't know until results from the first roll are seen.

Does Leica still perform the upgrade without charge?

I like the camera and would rather not return it, should the presence of the old reader mean I should have paid less for it? What is the price differential for the upgraded DX reader?

 

[maddoc]

I have never seen a difference in price for used M7 because of the DX reader but sometimes because of the more expensive MP-style VF finder upgrade. If it is a rarer M7 0.58x I would keep it and ask the seller to pay for shipping cost when you send the camera to Leica Solms for the upgrade.

 

[Tim Gray]

When I bought my M7, I didn't notice any real difference in price. Not sure if Leica still does the upgrade for free. Write to them and ask.

 

[Beemermark]

Since the upgrade was / is free there shouldn't be any difference in the price of the camera. Still, I tell the seller, nicely, he described it in error and try to get shipping or soemthing refunded.

I wouldn't worry about it too much. I think 95% of the time they work fine, though it does make it a little harder to get the canister back out.

 

[RichardB]

As of this Spring upgrade was still free but you are without camera for 3 months.
Get your money back or a few hundred dollars for the wrong description and your inconvenience.-Dick

 

[peter_n]

I agree that there doesn't seem to be a price differential. I had two M7s, one with and one without and sold them a couple years ago when this was a hot topic. No real difference as I recall. The optical reader does make canister removal easier though...

 

[nksyoon]

Thanks for the comments, will wait for Leica's response to the upgrade cost question.

 

[Tim Gray]

I spoke to Sherry K, months later, and she advised me to stay away from the M7.

I spoke to some guy who only shoots digital, and he advised me to stay away from film cameras 😀

No really, I have an M7 and have had zero problems. I bought it from Pop Flash about two years ago and it's easily my favorite camera. I got one with the optical DX reader, so it's electronics had already been overhauled by Leica at some point.

Not saying the M7 is for everyone, but if you think it might be and you get one in good shape from a good seller, it should make you very happy.

 

[sc_rufctr]

The problem as I see it is that the seller misrepresented this camera.

Instead of contacting Leica I would be emailing the seller and asking him or her to explain.
It's not the camera you agreed to buy and the seller needs to know that.

OK... Moving on. If it's working fine as is then is it really a problem?

I understand how you may want things to be just right....
But for me, I think my GAS obsession stops me taking as many pictures as I could be... Weird I know 🙁

 

[nksyoon]

Update:

1. Leica agreed to replace the DX reader out of "goodwill", covering parts and labour. I cover shipping the camera to Solms.

2. The seller agreed to refund me the cost of shipping the camera to Germany and back.

I really like the camera and wouldn't want to return it so this is a reasonable solution, but I wouldn't buy from that seller again.

 

[Tim Gray]

Sounds like it worked out. Hope Leica can do a reasonably quick turnaround.

 

[wintoid]

Yes, I'd be interested to hear the turnaround as I've just been talking to them about having mine done too.

 

[Freakscene]

I had problems with both kinds of DX readers. If it aint broke . . .

Marty

 

[peter_n]

Mine took about five weeks.

 

[nephilim]

I bought a used M7 earlier this year (past the warranty period) and it had the old DX reader. Later, I send the body and a couple of lenses to Solms, to get some issues fixed. They replaced the reader for free, but the remaining repairs were expensive enough ;-) It took them just 2 weeks (including shipping within Germany).