Colin Corneau
Colin Corneau
What does that mean, exactly..??
MP vs M7 vs M6?
- Thread starter ktmrider
- Start date
- Latest activity Latest activity:
- Replies 38
- Views 12K
What does that mean, exactly..??
maddoc
... likes film again.
M7 has a delay of about 2sec after switching it on before the shutter will be responsive.
Pioneer
Veteran
I think you may be mistaken Ned. An M7's shutter lag is in the vicinity of 12 milliseconds. Not sure what the lag on the MP is, but the M3, considered a pretty responsive camera, is around 17 milliseconds.
However, even if those numbers were reversed, a 5 millisecond difference is hardly noticeable, particularly when our own shutter finger delay is between 200 to 250 milliseconds.
Besides, I think the idea of shutter lag in most film cameras is a bit of a white elephant anyway. I can't honestly say that I have missed a shot with film because of the shutter not firing when I wanted it to..
...unless yours truly forget to wind on. 😀
newsgrunt
Well-known
perhaps Ned means that he needs to press the release deeper than with the M6 or MP before the shutter trips.
lewis44
Well-known
DNG
Film Friendly
M7.........
get an extra battery.
get an extra battery.
ktmrider
Well-known
The batteries for the M7 last fairly long and are very small from what I have seen. I already carry a couple for the M9 and X100.
I really do like meterless M's with the M2 being my favorite. I just do not get all the fuss about carrying a spare battery. I mean we carry extra film and the camera would not work very well if we ran out of film.
If you think about it, I can carry a very, very small SD card in the M9 and take 350+ RAW images so the spare battery is just a bit of extra weight. The batteries for the M7 are so small as not to be a factor especially if you carry ten rolls of film to get the same 350+ exposures.
I do not know for sure but it seems to me that having two M bodies which can both be set to AE, have pretty much the same viewfinder, and one is shooting film and the other shooting digital would be pretty slick!
I really do like meterless M's with the M2 being my favorite. I just do not get all the fuss about carrying a spare battery. I mean we carry extra film and the camera would not work very well if we ran out of film.
If you think about it, I can carry a very, very small SD card in the M9 and take 350+ RAW images so the spare battery is just a bit of extra weight. The batteries for the M7 are so small as not to be a factor especially if you carry ten rolls of film to get the same 350+ exposures.
I do not know for sure but it seems to me that having two M bodies which can both be set to AE, have pretty much the same viewfinder, and one is shooting film and the other shooting digital would be pretty slick!
JuJu
Well-known
I used to have an M6 millennium and an MP, and currently use an M7. I'd vote for M7 for its quietest shutter of the three and AE. Just watch out for lemons before buying.
Richard Griffith
Established
I've been trying to decide between a M2, M6 or M7. Not sure if I am 'brave' enough to go meter less.
I didn't realise there would be so much love for the M7. Dealers I have spoken to have often been rather negative about it, not sure why
I didn't realise there would be so much love for the M7. Dealers I have spoken to have often been rather negative about it, not sure why
ktmrider
Well-known
I suspect the negativeness around the M7 has more to do with the Leica customer base then the M7 itself. Leica lovers tend to be very conservative and hate change. The Minolta CLE offered aperature priority twenty five years ago. It is not a new or radical concept for most people but you would think the ski had fallen because the shutter needs a battery to operate.
I remember when the tilted rewind crank caused hysteria when it appeared on the M4. Thus the old and slow (but strong) rewind knob on the MP.
I remember when the tilted rewind crank caused hysteria when it appeared on the M4. Thus the old and slow (but strong) rewind knob on the MP.
Richard G
Veteran
I like the travel of the shutter release button on my M2 best. After that I prefer the M9/Monochrom. I like least the M6 and M5 on which I have to depress the shutter release a long way to trip the shutter. I tried to have the M6 adjusted to be like the M2 and was told by the tech that he couldn't improve it.
ktmrider
Well-known
If I was rational (who on this forum is?), I would just use the M2 and M9. There is even a Leica R6.2 in the closet that seldom gets used.
aizan
Veteran
in that case, sell the r6.2.
how much use does the m2 get? is the lack of ae a problem?
how much use does the m2 get? is the lack of ae a problem?
Rob-F
Likes Leicas
I have M6, M7, and MP. First of all, while I think it's nice that the M7 has electronically controlled shutter speeds, I find nothing wrong with my M6/MP exposures. I wouldn't take the M7 on a shoot in preference to the MP just for that.
I would take the M7 under rapidly changing light conditions, with the sun going in and out every few seconds--like it can do in Colorado, for instance. I can grab a reading off any reasonably "average" subject area, squeeze the button halfway, recompose, and shoot before the sun goes in--or out. Of course, I can do this with my Nikon FE2 or FM2a, just as well. Apart from this, I don't really need an M7, because I like to take a few moments to think through my exposures--a reading here, a reading there, decide, set the camera, and shoot. Old school.
Yes, the M7 is quiet, but so is any Leica RF. It's not that different. My quietest camera is my X100, which makes no sound at all.
The M7 shutter release has a "notchy" feel. I have to press through a hard point to get from the meter reading to the shot. NOT a deal-breaker; but the feel is different from any of my other Leicas. It is different from your M2 and M9; you will notice the difference, and it does interrupt your mind/brain/body/camera connection when using a another Leica along with the M7 and going back and forth.
I generally would rather shoot my MP or my M5 in preference to my M7.
I would take the M7 under rapidly changing light conditions, with the sun going in and out every few seconds--like it can do in Colorado, for instance. I can grab a reading off any reasonably "average" subject area, squeeze the button halfway, recompose, and shoot before the sun goes in--or out. Of course, I can do this with my Nikon FE2 or FM2a, just as well. Apart from this, I don't really need an M7, because I like to take a few moments to think through my exposures--a reading here, a reading there, decide, set the camera, and shoot. Old school.
Yes, the M7 is quiet, but so is any Leica RF. It's not that different. My quietest camera is my X100, which makes no sound at all.
The M7 shutter release has a "notchy" feel. I have to press through a hard point to get from the meter reading to the shot. NOT a deal-breaker; but the feel is different from any of my other Leicas. It is different from your M2 and M9; you will notice the difference, and it does interrupt your mind/brain/body/camera connection when using a another Leica along with the M7 and going back and forth.
I generally would rather shoot my MP or my M5 in preference to my M7.
tuanvinh2000
Well-known
When i got my M6 it was the same, really long press before it fires. 2 second adjustment in the bottom from the repair guy fixes it forever, totally retire my soft release. I like the M2 shutter fire too very assuring 🙂
Roma
Well-known
M7 can start having brain farts if it gets exposed to water, at least the one I used to own did. If you ask Sherry Krauter, she will tell you to stay away from it if you do any serious work because there are too many parts that can fail (she said that she has replaced numerous on/off switches on M7s, for example).
M6ttl is more reliable and still has the shutter dial that turns the same way as your M9.
M6ttl is more reliable and still has the shutter dial that turns the same way as your M9.
ktmrider
Well-known
My M2 is my go to film camera. Both my SLR's (R6.2 and 500CM) do not see much use. I suspect it is more due to the fact that I prefer rangefinders after using them almost continuously since 1975 (especially for the type of photography I do these days). And I have absolutely no problem with using my M2 and an incident meter. Perfection in film may very well be an M2, 35mm lens, TriX and an incident meter. As Tom likes to say, Leica really got something right with the M2.
Funny, but I also find myself using both cameras (X100 and M9) that have AE more and more in the AE mode. I do not mind technology and using it's capabilities to make life easier. I turn the AE off when the lighting gets complicated.
As I said before, you really can not go wrong with any Leica M. Of course, for the money I may spend, I could also upgrade the M9 to the M240.
And as I said before, too many decisions. If a meterless Leica, then M2, 4, 4-2 as I really like the uncluttered viewfinder. If a meter camera body, then I will put up with the clutter in an M6. Do not use flash so M6TTL does not appeal (had an early one and it ate batteries until sent back to Leica for correction). And other then being a newer camera, the MP is too similar to the M6 for more then twice the money. If film AE, then M7 or Zeiss.
Funny, but I also find myself using both cameras (X100 and M9) that have AE more and more in the AE mode. I do not mind technology and using it's capabilities to make life easier. I turn the AE off when the lighting gets complicated.
As I said before, you really can not go wrong with any Leica M. Of course, for the money I may spend, I could also upgrade the M9 to the M240.
And as I said before, too many decisions. If a meterless Leica, then M2, 4, 4-2 as I really like the uncluttered viewfinder. If a meter camera body, then I will put up with the clutter in an M6. Do not use flash so M6TTL does not appeal (had an early one and it ate batteries until sent back to Leica for correction). And other then being a newer camera, the MP is too similar to the M6 for more then twice the money. If film AE, then M7 or Zeiss.
Richard G
Veteran
I still use the M2 but it was given to me by my father and I look after it more than the other cameras. Maybe I should get a user M2. That viewfinder is magic. The 50mm frame lines so perfect. I still can't work put the 50 frame lines in the M9.
ktmrider
Well-known
As I expected, we each have a favorite Leica M model and there is certainly nothing wrong with that. I have been leaning toward the M7 but when I really think about it, the M2 or M6 is just as appealing. And I have never tried the M5 so maybe I should give it a chance.
I was going to order the M7 today from Tamarkin. But I am in Xela, Guatemala, for another ten days working on my Spanish. I am thinking about visiting his store in Chicago instead. I will be heading to St Louis to visit my sister at the end of April and it is only 300 miles from STL to Chicago. It might be fun to walk in and explore every option in the Leica display case including a possible new M7/MP or even MA.
I certainly do not have to be in any rush and who knows, an excellent deal may just pop up here in the classifieds. Aloha, Rich
I was going to order the M7 today from Tamarkin. But I am in Xela, Guatemala, for another ten days working on my Spanish. I am thinking about visiting his store in Chicago instead. I will be heading to St Louis to visit my sister at the end of April and it is only 300 miles from STL to Chicago. It might be fun to walk in and explore every option in the Leica display case including a possible new M7/MP or even MA.
I certainly do not have to be in any rush and who knows, an excellent deal may just pop up here in the classifieds. Aloha, Rich
Similar threads
- Article
- Article
