M7 Optical DX Reader question

[RAN]

Hello
Pardon my ignorance
How can I tell if a particular M7 has an optical dx reader or previous version

Thanks in advance

RN

 

[kbg32]

It is not optical, but contacts that are in the cassette film chamber. They aren't hard to miss. They press up against the film cassette when it is in the chamber. All commercially available films are coded on the cassette and relay the ISO to the camera. If not, use the DX wheel dial on the camera's back door.

 

[RAN]

Thank You

I read that Leica replaced the contacts with another solution as they were prone to error
I was looking at a couple used M7s and we coudnt tell if this was the case with the pieces
We looked at..

 

[kdemas]

The only time I have ever had an issue with the contacts is with Kodachrome. anything over 100asa has been no problem at all.

Kent

 

[Tim Gray]

Someone will pop up with a link to the picture at some point. The electrical ones look like little pyramids if I recall correctly. The optical ones are flat. There are six of them in the side of the camera where the canister goes.

 

[peter_n]

RAN, here's what an optical M7 DX reader looks like. The lock on the base has an additional washer too. In the left half below see the flat reader (not the mechanical pins) and on the right side the extra washer on the lock mechanism. If the ones you're looking at look different from this then they are the original mechanical DX readers.

 

[Beemermark]

It is also somewhat difficult to remove the film canister with the original contacts. Since there is no physical contact between the film canister and optical scanner, the canister drops right out. I have two M7's and found the original fingers so annoying that I had Leica convert them both to optical. Cost was 6 weeks and $0.

 

[RAN]

You Guys Rock!
Thank You

 

[menos]

Thanks for the info guys - is an upgrade from mechanical to optical readers generally free of charge?

I have a second hand Leica M7 0.85 with old readers.
Does the annoying DX warning LED still blink continuously in the viewfinder after an upgrade (I never use DX reading, but push the metering a few stops generally).

 

[Tim Gray]

It might be free of charge. Contact Leica.

The LED will blink if you have the ISO selector set to anything other than DX or the film's speed OR you have exposure compensation set. So yes, it will still blink.

I really don't see how it's annoying. It's *so* tiny.

 

[peter_n]

The one in my picture above was updated under warranty. It's quite an operation and the camera is sent to Solms for the work. They also cleaned and adjusted the innards and replaced the top and bottom plates. I think they also recovered it too. It came back in five weeks looking like new, I couldn't believe it.

 

[Beemermark]

As I said above I sent both my M7's (at the same time) to NJ to have it done. One camera I bought new and was still under warranty. The other one I bought used. NJ sent them both to Solms and quoted me 6 weeks for the job. I didn't keep track of the dates but I think I got them back a lot faster then six weeks. Solms replaced the film reader and completely went thru both cameras. Cost was zero. Since the one camera was bought used and not under warranty I was really surprised, very happy also. The Leica site lists the repair sites for each country. Call them and asked.

 

[menos]

It might be free of charge. Contact Leica.

The LED will blink if you have the ISO selector set to anything other than DX or the film's speed OR you have exposure compensation set. So yes, it will still blink.

I really don't see how it's annoying. It's *so* tiny.

It is tiny annoying then ;-)

I am still in love with my M6 classic meter, so the M7 viewfinder looks like an arcade machine to me 😉
I think, how Leica implemented the metering display of two differently strong glowing LEDs is pure perfection in the full spirit of the Leica M.

Fully functional but yet absolutely stripped of unnecessary complications - most simplified.

Thanks all for the feedback regarding the DX reader. I don't use the DX reader - it would be only an improvement of popping the film out of the camera rather than pulling it.

 

[kbg32]

RAN, here's what an optical M7 DX reader looks like. The lock on the base has an additional washer too. In the left half below see the flat reader (not the mechanical pins) and on the right side the extra washer on the lock mechanism. If the ones you're looking at look different from this then they are the original mechanical DX readers.

My M7 still has the original DX readers.

 

[sepiareverb]

Both DX readers can have issues. I have an M7 at Leica right now getting the newer optical reader replaced. I kept seeing the flashing 'ASA' and lower dot, and shutter speeds were all over the place as the camera defaulted to ISO 100 from whatever film was in the camera. This camera came to me (used) two years ago or so with the new reader but NOT the extra washer.

 

[menos]

Both DX readers can have issues. I have an M7 at Leica right now getting the newer optical reader replaced. I kept seeing the flashing 'ASA' and lower dot, and shutter speeds were all over the place as the camera defaulted to ISO 100 from whatever film was in the camera. This camera came to me (used) two years ago or so with the new reader but NOT the extra washer.

Sounds like somebody kept a spare baseplate and gave you another with the camera.
Strange concept of some Leica users anyway with all the religious baseplate protection procedures going on 😕

 

[RichardB]

Sounds like somebody kept a spare baseplate and gave you another with the camera.
Strange concept of some Leica users anyway with all the religious baseplate protection procedures going on 😕

If you have multiple M6's and M7's, all the baseplates interchange and if you use Motor M's and Leicavits, then you remove the base plates and its(at least for me) impossible to keep track of which one goes where.
I have two M7's going back for the optical reader upgrade and when they return I will have two assure I keep track of them when my Motor M's or Leicavit are installed.-Dick

 

[peter_n]

I've also heard of users having problems with the newer optical readers. There were a number of workarounds including avoiding cassettes from one or two companies as I recall. I believe that the optical readers are considered to be more reliable than the mechanical ones though. Having said that I had a 0.85x M7 with a mechanical reader for a few years and no problems whatsoever.