Soon to be M7 owner.

[Aaron04]

First time poster, long time lurker.

Finally stepping it up to the big leagues. Traded in my D700 for a real camera. I'm living in Japan and ordered an M7 from a different shop, I'm going to end up paying 600 in addition to my D700 ( camera cost was 1600).

I'm supposed to pick it up on Wednesday, and I just wanted a couple things to look at to check its condition. I'm going to test the shutter obviously and make sure the meter works. Other than that, any big gotcha's that I should look for in a used Leica. I'm not worried about new/old DX system or viewfinder. It was listed in AB condition on the website, with minor scratches being the only issue. But I doubt the company ran any film through it.

Any help on this would be greatly appreciated. For my new system I also purchased a ZM Planar 50mm f2.

Seriously cannot contain my excitement for this new camera. But don't want to let that make me get a lemon. FWIW I'm also moving back to portland earlier this year, so servicing should not be an issue soon.

THANKS!

 

[Srono]

+ You can negotiate some warranty from the shop and then run few rolls of films through it. You will be fine. Reputable shop normally checked and rate accordingly so not much to worry. If they do not want to give any warranty, skip the deal.
+ D700 is a real camera 🙂

 

[Richard G]

Must be a great camera. Seriously looked at getting one. The quietest M Leica. Autoexposure on the M digitals is great. It must be even better with color neg and black and white.

 

[35mmdelux]

30 day warranty is common at a shop. You said you weren't worried about the vf however I would be worried if it wasn't updated. This the achilles heel of the M7. Also, test to see if the battery drains too fast. This is a relatively expensive repair if it has to be fixed.

I've had my M7 for about 6 yrs. It is a fantastic camera. enjoy

 

[jonmanjiro]

"AB condition" sounds like a Fujiya Camera rating... if its Fujiya Camera, you get two weeks to test the camera and return it if its faulty. You also get six months warranty. Besides checking all the normal things, check that the DX reader is working correctly as its a common problem area with the M7.

 

[Aaron04]

Thanks for all the replys!

Yes the D700 was a great camera, I just couldn't justify using it over my xpro1. Plus I have got back into film a lot more.

As for the viewinder is there an easy way to tell for sure if its the new or old?

I've heard the old style is orangish, and the newer one more blued. Is this true?

The store is Kitamura Camera.

They rated my 700 as AB and it was pristine. So hopefully I get the same.

 

[jonmanjiro]

Thanks for all the replys!

Yes the D700 was a great camera, I just couldn't justify using it over my xpro1. Plus I have got back into film a lot more.

As for the viewinder is there an easy way to tell for sure if its the new or old?

I've heard the old style is orangish, and the newer one more blued. Is this true?

The store is Kitamura Camera.

They rated my 700 as AB and it was pristine. So hopefully I get the same.

Kitamura is just as good as Fujiya regarding returns and warranty.

The serial number is the easiest way to tell what kind of finder is in the M7 - anything from about s/n 2885xxx and later will have the "improved finder".

 

[mfogiel]

I would look for the usual things: RF alignment, DX reader functioning, putting a film through to see, if the exposures are correct ( just take the same shot changing across all apertures on the lens), and if there are no light leaks or scratches on the developed film.
I like using mine with the Motor Winder M, which gives me a handy grip and allows to take faster shots when something is going on, or lets me make multiple portraits without recomposing. In my 0.85x I have also made remove the 75mm frame.

 

[Aaron04]

I'd like to think I got it for a steal!!!

Camera is in pristine condition. Still has plastic on the baseplate!!!! Only a small, teeny tiny rub mark next to the hotshoe.

Viewfinder is crystal, inside is dust and grime free.

I wouldn't have blinked and eye pulling this new out of a box.


But, it's a s/n 278xxx, so I think it's the old dx reader and viewfinder. Not sure on the viewfinder yet. But fairly certain about the reader.

Still waiting for my lens to test more thoroughly. But it's beautiful.

 

[maddoc]

There were some factory-refurbishments done by Leica AG, mine is 2777xxx and has the MP viewfinder and optical DX reader upgrade as indicated by the sticker on the box.

 

[parasko]

Some users don't consider the old viewfinder to be a problem but it does 'fade out' and it is more difficult to focus than the updated MP finder in certain lighting situations. You can always send to Solms for the upgrade if you find that it is a problem, after you have used it for a while.

Great purchase. Congratulations! It is the best camera ever made. I have 2 😀

 

[Aaron04]

Either way. I coming from a yashica 35cc as my only other rangefinder.

I think I'll be okay. I seriously gasped when I looked through the vf in the store, so clear and beautiful!!!

 

[Ansel]

Context is everything... I found the viewfinder to be teeny weeny awful coming from a Hasselblad 500 CM! But have got used to it now...

 

[MCTuomey]

Congrats on your M7! To me, the best all-round shooter of the film M's, yep. Btw, the M7 does really nice long exposure work (timed and counted down, up to ~30 seconds), if you feel like doing something a bit different (night photography 🙂) once in awhile.

 

[bobby_novatron]

Congrats on your M7, I have a silver & black one with the 'MP' finder. Mine has the old-style DX film contacts, but I've never had a problem with them.

The biggest issues for me with the M7 are:
1. It eats through batteries a little quicker than other film cameras I've owned
2. The M7 doesn't like cold weather very much. But then again, I live in Canada. Most cameras don't like the cold.
3. When the batteries start to fail, the camera starts to act flaky -- the LED display will 'pulse', and sometimes the DX readings will go wonky.

The solution of course is to just keep a couple of spare batteries with you in your camera bag.

Best of luck with your new camera!

 

[grandallj]

I don't know if it's a common fault with the M7, but the first one I got from KEH had a problem with the meter: the meter would shut off when I set the shutter to 1/4". So in addition to checking the meter at all apertures on your lens, make sure you check the meter at all shutter speeds.

 

[Robert Lai]

M7 checkpoints

M7 checkpoints

If you want to know about the DX film speed reader, just pop a film cannister into the left hand side cavity. If it drops out easily, it has the new optical reader. If it won't fall out on its own, it is being held in by the electrical feeler arms of the electrical DX reader. My electrical DX reader would occasionally lose contact with the film, and I would lose the film ISO speed. After a few rolls of this, I sent it to Leica to get the optical DX film speed reader. But, if you don't encounter a problem, then there is no need to do this. Leica will change the DX reader for free.

I also had the MP finder upgrade, but the RF patch can STILL white out in severe backlight. So, it does not make the RF patch immune to flare. A solution is to put a finger over the translucent panel for the frameline illumination - should eliminate the flare, if any.

I never had problems with battery drainage. Mine seems to be very parsimonious with current usage, and I don't even bother to turn it off. You can lock the shutter and turn the meter off by a collar around the shutter release.

It's a beautiful camera, and you will love it.

 

[Aaron04]

UGH! Still no lens, and I can't find batteries in Japan.

 

[jonmanjiro]

I've used 4x SR44 batteries successfully, although Leica Japan didn't like that and removed them from the camera when I got my M7 checked over one time (a service they offer for free for the M7 and other current production cameras).

 

[whitecat]

I had a M7 and it is a great camera. It had the MP finder. Good feel to it. I sold it and got a Zeiss ZM when I found the viewfinder is so much brighter. Buying a Leica and having to "upgrade" it sounds so crazy.