jshelly
Established
I know this probably sounds like bs but...
I'm having a little buyer's remorse after purchasing my M7, I'm thinking I may have been better off purchasing a used one.
It's not so much about the money I paid for it (although it is a big investment), I'm just concerned with maintaining it's condition. I wish someone would come out with a rubber "skin" similar to the ipod skins that I've seen.
Is there a case or cover that's going to help keep the normal wear and tear to a minimum?
Is it possible to have both a user and a mint M in one body?
I'm having a little buyer's remorse after purchasing my M7, I'm thinking I may have been better off purchasing a used one.
It's not so much about the money I paid for it (although it is a big investment), I'm just concerned with maintaining it's condition. I wish someone would come out with a rubber "skin" similar to the ipod skins that I've seen.
Is there a case or cover that's going to help keep the normal wear and tear to a minimum?
Is it possible to have both a user and a mint M in one body?
Khaled
Chaka
Hi. I think that as long as you keep it in a case instead of around your neck or shoulder, It will stay nice for longer. Do use a strap so you can put it around your wrist. You can also put a sticker to the bottom plate to avoid scratches when you put it down or you can buy another plate in user condition.
Leicas, as any other camera, are meant to be used. The more you use it, the sooner you'll forget about its mint status.
Leicas, as any other camera, are meant to be used. The more you use it, the sooner you'll forget about its mint status.
Photar
Down under
I would like to - but I force myself not to give an answer here.
But I am happy to confirm your 1st sentence.
Please enjoy your camera!
But I am happy to confirm your 1st sentence.
Please enjoy your camera!
back alley
IMAGES
i find you can't be too concerned about using your equipment or you drive yourself crazy.
if it really bothers you, sell this new one and get a good user. but if you can train yourself, use this fine machine and damn the scratches.
we are so funny sometimes, about our gear...guys with cars are the same, worrying about that first scratch in a parking lot.
my last car, i bought with a nice small dent in the door and never worried about getting 'my' first one myself.
use the camera and enjoy it. the reward will be all those great pics.
joe
if it really bothers you, sell this new one and get a good user. but if you can train yourself, use this fine machine and damn the scratches.
we are so funny sometimes, about our gear...guys with cars are the same, worrying about that first scratch in a parking lot.
my last car, i bought with a nice small dent in the door and never worried about getting 'my' first one myself.
use the camera and enjoy it. the reward will be all those great pics.
joe
jshelly
Established
JoNL said:
No need to hold back...
RayPA
Ignore It (It'll go away)
I got the Luigi 1/2-case; it helps, and is very nice. Now I worry about damaging the fine Italian leather... 
With or without a case it's an excellent camera to shoot with, so get some use out of it.
With or without a case it's an excellent camera to shoot with, so get some use out of it.
brightsky
Established
Luigi half case
Luigi half case
I'll second the recommendation for a Luigi half case.
The only time I remove it the half case is (obviously) to load film, or when I have the camera on a tripod. Leave the plastic on the bottom.
It's been a few years and my "new" camera still looks that way. The half cases are a great way to avoid normal bumps and scratches, especially if your camera is black. I don't worry about the beating the case will take, instead I think of what would have happened to the camera had I not bought the case. I even bought one for my old M4 and it is not perfect. You'll feel better if the camera is protected.
CM
Luigi half case
I'll second the recommendation for a Luigi half case.
The only time I remove it the half case is (obviously) to load film, or when I have the camera on a tripod. Leave the plastic on the bottom.
It's been a few years and my "new" camera still looks that way. The half cases are a great way to avoid normal bumps and scratches, especially if your camera is black. I don't worry about the beating the case will take, instead I think of what would have happened to the camera had I not bought the case. I even bought one for my old M4 and it is not perfect. You'll feel better if the camera is protected.
CM
JON@ jb-ci
Newbie
jshelly said:
Please just use it and enjoy it is a great camera. One of mine was dropped on concrete at two days old, picked it up and it worked fine that was three years
ago and it's still OK.
Regards JON
Ben Z
Veteran
I sold my demo black paint MP and bought 2 "bargain" grade M6 classics and a 28mm Voitlander lens for the same money. The MP was spotless when I got it and with a year and a half's use had some obvious scuffing (not the romantic patina everyone raves about, just ugly scuffs and spidermarks). It's not that I'm less concerned with preserving the appearance of my M6s, though they don't really look any worse than the MP did, but I certainly feel like I've got more for my money now--2 very similar cameras (with faster rewinding) plus a lens instead of one camera. So I can empathize with someone feeling like they should've bought used vs new. If I had bought that MP new rather than as a mint demo, I would've lost a fortune on it had I used it with the same regularity as I did.
gustav[] pEña
gustav[] pEña
You got to choose between thinking in photos at the moment or thinking about your camera at the moment.
My m4-p and Digilux 2 has a lot of minimun scrachest couse at moment I use whatever I found as a tripod or as a monotripod. Sometimes I use the camera in the ground to make ground shots verticaly and horizontaly....so, you can't be creative and keep your camera in good condition at the same time. I guess you're photos are going to become rigid. Enjoy your camera.
My m4-p and Digilux 2 has a lot of minimun scrachest couse at moment I use whatever I found as a tripod or as a monotripod. Sometimes I use the camera in the ground to make ground shots verticaly and horizontaly....so, you can't be creative and keep your camera in good condition at the same time. I guess you're photos are going to become rigid. Enjoy your camera.
ywenz
Veteran
Wow you either paid a lot for your MP or got a bargain on your M6s !!
Hektor
Leicapile
Treasure and enjoy your M7........but don't do it again.........
jlw
Rangefinder camera pedant
Put some tape on the corners and bottom plate and you'll accomplish two things:
1) The most frequently damaged areas will be protected.
2) Your camera will look like a rough 'n' rugged "user," so nobody will accuse you of being a mere equipment fondler.
Black gaffer tape (the real thing, not cheapo "duct tape") looks good on black cameras and won't ooze adhesive. For chrome cameras, you might try the headlight protection film sold at auto supply stores; I haven't tried it on a camera yet, but it works well on headlights and is very durable.
1) The most frequently damaged areas will be protected.
2) Your camera will look like a rough 'n' rugged "user," so nobody will accuse you of being a mere equipment fondler.
Black gaffer tape (the real thing, not cheapo "duct tape") looks good on black cameras and won't ooze adhesive. For chrome cameras, you might try the headlight protection film sold at auto supply stores; I haven't tried it on a camera yet, but it works well on headlights and is very durable.
kbg32
neo-romanticist
Nothing like having a camera wear through the years with one's use.......
Years later, you can look at it and enjoy the "patina" you put on it, knowing all the images that you took with it.
Enjoy it. Don't worry about keeping it in pristine condition.
I have 2 M4s that have traveled with me everywhere for the last 25+ years. I look at them and know they will serve me well for the next 25+ years. The "patina" they have acquired is all mine.
Cheers,
Keith
Years later, you can look at it and enjoy the "patina" you put on it, knowing all the images that you took with it.
Enjoy it. Don't worry about keeping it in pristine condition.
I have 2 M4s that have traveled with me everywhere for the last 25+ years. I look at them and know they will serve me well for the next 25+ years. The "patina" they have acquired is all mine.
Cheers,
Keith
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SolaresLarrave
My M5s need red dots!
The first time I put a scratch on the body of a lens I was a bit overwhelmed. I thought about finding some special paint to cover it up. Then, one of my bodies showed some wear in a corner, and another showed one of the plastic corner protectors had lost a bit of the edge.
Then, a Leica camera representative said to me, in a completely different context, that cameras showing some use "can tell a story."
That did it for me. If you saw my Elmarit 135/2.8... that lens probably can write novels!
So, Jshelly, just use and enjoy the camera. It's meant to be used, and it'll tell stories later. Don't fret too much about stuff that hasn't happened yet... but be aware that it'll happen, and then your camera will look like a badge of honor around your neck.
BTW, I never used the case I had except for storage purposes.
Then, a Leica camera representative said to me, in a completely different context, that cameras showing some use "can tell a story."
That did it for me. If you saw my Elmarit 135/2.8... that lens probably can write novels!
So, Jshelly, just use and enjoy the camera. It's meant to be used, and it'll tell stories later. Don't fret too much about stuff that hasn't happened yet... but be aware that it'll happen, and then your camera will look like a badge of honor around your neck.
BTW, I never used the case I had except for storage purposes.
CZeni
DaDa is everywhere.
jshelly said:
Take the camera, load film, shoot. When finished, put the camera in your camera bag. Use it. Enjoy it. Make pictures with it. That's I'm doing with my new M...
Fred
Feline Great
Hey,
Just get out there and use it.
If you sell it you'll probably look for the best condition used one and end up buying it back.
You know the complete history of the one you have and a long passport if anything unfortunate happens.
I do know how you feel though. Anything in 'new' condition will not stay new for ever if it gets used. It will take a long time and thoughtless care and exposure to really nasty conditions to look really rough. After that long time it will have grown on you such that you'll never want to get rid of it. Inside it will probably still work like the first day you got it and thats what matters. Fortunately an M7 (not a la carte) will not be in black paint of the MP which allegedly suffers wear the most initially (but looks better after a very log times use). Both the chome and black can take the knocks.
Have fun using it and post some stuff in the gallery.
Just get out there and use it.
If you sell it you'll probably look for the best condition used one and end up buying it back.
You know the complete history of the one you have and a long passport if anything unfortunate happens.
I do know how you feel though. Anything in 'new' condition will not stay new for ever if it gets used. It will take a long time and thoughtless care and exposure to really nasty conditions to look really rough. After that long time it will have grown on you such that you'll never want to get rid of it. Inside it will probably still work like the first day you got it and thats what matters. Fortunately an M7 (not a la carte) will not be in black paint of the MP which allegedly suffers wear the most initially (but looks better after a very log times use). Both the chome and black can take the knocks.
Have fun using it and post some stuff in the gallery.
Chaser
Well-known
there is a cheap option too
http://www.aki-asahi.com/store/html/patch/M2M3/set/index.php
these should help a bit and they are only $3.50 and it covers the top and bottom plate ... sortof works like the i-pod cases only it really sort of disappears a bit more and has no noticable bulk
http://www.aki-asahi.com/store/html/patch/M2M3/set/index.php
these should help a bit and they are only $3.50 and it covers the top and bottom plate ... sortof works like the i-pod cases only it really sort of disappears a bit more and has no noticable bulk
FrankS
Registered User
It's kind of like marrying a beautiful, virginal woman of your dreams, and then never touching her. Hopefully this sets you straight!
ZeissFan
Veteran
Look, it's just a camera. A very expensive camera, but a camera nonetheless. It's an object -- it's not more important than family or life, and it shouldn't be.
It can take wonderful photos, and that's about all you can ask of it.
It's a thing, and it can be replaced. It will never talk to you. It can't give you the meaning of life. It doesn't make you a better person, and hopefully it won't change who you are as a person.
Keep the camera in a half case and around your neck. And stop fretting over the small things in life that in the end don't matter.
It can take wonderful photos, and that's about all you can ask of it.
It's a thing, and it can be replaced. It will never talk to you. It can't give you the meaning of life. It doesn't make you a better person, and hopefully it won't change who you are as a person.
Keep the camera in a half case and around your neck. And stop fretting over the small things in life that in the end don't matter.