No love for my black M7...

akptc

Shoot first, think later
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Dec 9, 2005
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The M7 I am selling here is getting very little love.. 😕 The poor thing is stuck on a shelf, all cold and lonely...

Recent discussion about film-M prices possibly falling makes me thing a $2K price tag on a minty M7 may be too high?

I see lots of folks jumping on bargain-priced M6s here and there though. It seems that an extra ~$800 for AE just isn't worth it for a lot of people.. Just musing here (and shamelessly promoting my M7 🙂)
 
I'm a lucky M6 classic user myself and don't need AE lock 😀
but anyways good luck, I'm sure someone will buy it.
 
Use magic to turn the M7 into an MP and I might be interested... 😉
 
Holy Mackeral! The M8 comes out and you can't give an M7 away! Might as well start vacuum wrapping those M7's right now with a dessicant packet and put them all in climate controled safe.

a little melodramatic I know but I'm trying to have some fun here.
 
When Nikon, Canon etc. introduced their DSLRs they cut the legs out from under the prices of their used film SLRs. And those were "workhorse" cameras formerly used throughout the professional photography industry.

Despite "mount compatibility" , things like crop factor and lack of manufacturer support were "silver stakes" into the heart of their film gear

Did you think it would be any different with Leica?

Your M7 is essentially an orphan piece of gear. A great piece of gear, mind you. But of little to no interest anymore to the manufacturer.

Sorry.
 
Athena said:
When Nikon, Canon etc. introduced their DSLRs they cut the legs out from under the prices of their used film SLRs. And those were "workhorse" cameras formerly used throughout the professional photography industry.

Despite "mount compatibility" , things like crop factor and lack of manufacturer support were "silver stakes" into the heart of their film gear

Did you think it would be any different with Leica?

Your M7 is essentially an orphan piece of gear. A great piece of gear, mind you. But of little to no interest anymore to the manufacturer.

Sorry.

1. That happened when Nikon and Canon were into several generations of digital SLR's already. I think it would have been unwise for them to have done that with the introduction of their very first DSLR, as you are suggesting with Leica. What you are saying may eventually be true, but I think it may be too soon to say that even before the M8 has even hit the shelves.

2. I may be mistaken but I don't think Leica has decreased the prices for new M bodies. In fact, due to currency exchange rates, the prices may even have gone up.

3. Nikon/Canon's market demographic is quite different from Leica's.

I think what we are seeing is, as Peter suggested in a different thread, people dumping their MP's, M7's and even M6's for the M8. Demographically, MP and M7 owners would be the most likely to upgrade to the M8.

Just my 2c.
 
Well, yeah, it would be kind of silly to get rid of one's only M7, not the case here though. Oh well, I'll let it sit for a while, see what happens.

Btw, with some decent gaffer tape, who could tell it's not an MP? 😉
 
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I know the M7 is probably a better camera for me. But as I am selling my M2 and M3 to buy an MP I am particular about body style (the M7 paint is better though). My own regrets at this point were not being able to internally meter under all circumstances. I am not looking forward to the lights in my windshield, but I need them.
 
Athena said:
Did you think it would be any different with Leica?

Your M7 is essentially an orphan piece of gear. A great piece of gear, mind you. But of little to no interest anymore to the manufacturer.

Sorry.
Yes it is different with Leica, as you would expect. The M7 and MP continue to be of great interest to Leica, just take a look at the latest issue of LeicaWorld magazine. They point out that they are justifiably proud of the M8 but equally committed to the analog side of photography. Also please understand that not every Leica owner is panting to ditch their M bodies in order to buy a digital camera. Many of us are very happy to stay with film.

Andy I'm surprised your 0.58 mag M7 hasn't moved, particularly since the magnification is now only available via the a-la-carte program. Maybe this post will give it a bit of a bump! 😉
 
akptc said:
Thanks Everyone for your feedback. The M7 may just end up staying in the family after all (only 67 days, 3 hours, 34 minutes and 21 seconds ‘till Christmas 🙂 ).

Feel free to pass it to me at Xmas 🙂

I think the .58 VF makes it just a bit more specialised and therefore a bit harder to move. I'm sure you'd shift it on the auction site - bigger audience.
 
Thanks Peter, I totally agree. Even amongst newbies like me, film holds a charm that digital lacks. While we are all happy to snap away with DSLRs, taking a “real” picture (that’s how I think of it) is something else entirely. And, the M7 is so easy to like!

Gid, I just added you to my list, will let you know if you make it before the Christmas budget runs out 🙂
 
I think that if you can afford to keep it you should. Once the hype over the M8 has died down I think the interest in top film Ms will return. I'm quite sure that there will be some disappointment in the digital RF experience - not with the camera or the quality of its images, but the process.
 
raid said:
I think that the digital adventures by Leitz will fail. My guts feeling tells me so. Raid
I'm hoping the M8 venture is helpful to Leica, but not at the expense to the other Ms. Given the funds, I'd probably entertain the ideal of acquiring this particular M7.


- Barrett
 
ive been hunting for a 58 m7 for a while and I really really really want your camera, but as soon as I mentioned it to my father he gave me the whole going into debt, blah blah blah thing (even though I would be paying for it, not him, I dont live at home anymore...) and wouldnt let me buy it. Crap. Whats the use of having my own 2500 dollar credit card if I cant use the damn thing?
 
Avotius said:
ive been hunting for a 58 m7 for a while and I really really really want your camera, but as soon as I mentioned it to my father he gave me the whole going into debt, blah blah blah thing (even though I would be paying for it, not him, I dont live at home anymore...) and wouldnt let me buy it. Crap. Whats the use of having my own 2500 dollar credit card if I cant use the damn thing?

You're not alone. I get the "you're using up all of your money!" speech from my mother everytime I say I want to buy a new camera.
 
Andy,

When I was looking for a more "modern" M, to compliment my "old" M4s, I was lusting for a 0.58 M7. I came across a mint 0.72 at an unbelieveable price, and couldn't pass it by. My "normal" lens for me is 28mm. The 0.72 just gets by. It's a bit crowded in there and sometimes I use the Voigtlander mini finder. Having Leitz change the viewfinder to 0.58 costs around $900. If you can do it, keep it Andy. You might regret getting rid of it.
 
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