Thinking out loud: Will M7 be the last film M?

[pvdhaar]

Hey, if we're dreaming about what may give, then why not something like a CL(E)-D, a digital CL(E)? Same concept, focus on affordability and compactness.. If that were announced, I'd be saving up. Heck, I'm saving up right now, but there's nothing in sight that's within my budget and that's compatible with M mount lenses at the same time..

 

[-kk-]

oh yes, a properly thought out 'compact' line ala CL would definitely interest me.

 

[peter_n]

Hi,

I still hope for a film M based on the shutter in the M8. like a M7 but with that shutter.

Cheers,
Michiel Fokkema

Yes I agree. I asked for one of those in the German Leica forum when the M8 came out as apparently company people read that forum.

I think the Bessa R4 has stolen a march on Leica so I don't see them doing a wide-angle special. If they stopped producing film cameras and I needed a replacement I'd get a ZI.

 

[35mmdelux]

Look at Leicas' historical pattern. Generally they develop a product and stick with it a long time. The future holds reduced film camera sales(duh) as more RF shooters go digital. I think the M7 will have a short life (10 yrs). The MP will hold out longer because, as Stephen said, it appeals to the traditionalists, is fully mechanical, and will have more repair outlets into the future. The M7 will always need to go to Leica for repairs due to its electronics. I can see the MP around a long time for those that like solid well build products.

 

[boilerdoc2]

Absolutely a film camera with a 1/250 flash sync would be a big improvement and 1/8000 shutter speed. Of course, my F6 does that now, but an M7+ would be really nice.
Steve

 

[Nachkebia]

And if they do that Steve, bonus would be 28mm f/1.4 asph 😀

 

[nikon_junkie]

😕 Am I the only one content with a M3 and M6? What am I missing?

 

[GrahamWelland]

At the end of the day Leica are in the business of making money and staying in business. I don't think that there's much incentive to invest anything in film bodies from this point forward aside from perhaps a few minor improvements for the die-hard film shooters.

I'd expect M7/MP to be the end of the line. Expect new and better lenses perhaps and certainly successors to the M8 at some point (although I doubt anytime soon). It's just the reality of the photographic market these days.

 

[ggirino]

an MP with A-perture priority mode ?

 

[jaapv]

I'd expect M7/MP to be the end of the line. Expect new and better lenses perhaps and certainly successors to the M8 at some point (although I doubt anytime soon). It's just the reality of the photographic market these days.

But..I expect them to be built for many, many years more, even if only a-la-carte.

 

[Peter55]

M5

M5

Well to me the M5 is the best Leica M ever made. Simple and all manual except the battery powered TTL light meter. I love the two analog needles, one for light and one for shutter speed. Match them up and you have a correctly exposed photograph. I don't really like cameras with LED's to indicate exposure. I have a nice Nikon FM2 that has them and I wish it had the match needles. The M7 & Mp both have LED's so I don't want either.
I hope that my M5 lasts the rest of my life, I'm sure it will.
My rubberized cloth shutter curtain is so silent and I like that. The maximum shutter speed of 1/1000 sec is far and away more than I need, even with my Summilux 50mm f/1.4.
The overhanging dial that adjuts the shutter speed is so intuitive, I do not ever have to look at it and I never have to remove my eye from the viewfinder when changing the shutter speed as their is also a linked shutter speed nmber dial visable in the viewfinder.

 

[erikhaugsby]

I don't want anything more than an M2. Leica ruined my longing for other models when I looked through the M2 viewfinder--it is just that perfect.

And I find the internal meters of later models to be too intrusive into the finder, so when I need to meter an external is no hassle for me.

 

[giellaleafapmu]

Digital is the future of leica, and thats where I hope they focus their attentions.

Ah, I already heard that...SLR is the future of Leica! They were wrong the first time I am not too sure they are not this time...

GLF