Tried the M7 at the shop.

[colker]

A very clean one. Shutter was quiet. VF was bright. It felt better than my M3. My VF is blueish and lacks the M7 contrast.
I could have bought that camera.. 3k though. It had just came from a repair at Leica.

Otoh I also tried a DR Summicron which felt horrible w/such bad ergonomics and heavy weight. It had the funky eyepiece. It looked cool but.. I want a focus tab!

Also tried a 135mm Elmar. Leicas are not tele cameras. 135mm belong on slrs.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

How different does it feel in hands comparing to M3?
Then I had M3 it was like no any other Leica. It and out.

 

[colker]

How different does it feel in hands comparing to M3?
Then I had M3 it was like no any other Leica. It and out.

It´s lighter. It feels more refined. VF is brighter... I don´t mind the lines of the many lenses (the so callled "clutter") but the meter diodes and speeds on frame really bothers me: high end professional cameras should show NOTHING on the Vf except an image and framing lines. That´s why i set my digital on PROGRAM or auto aperture and had a Pentax 67 w/no meter: i am looking at the image and nothing else. Other than that is very very nice and feels better than the M3... unless mine is seriously damaged and i doubt it since it just came from leica center and tech said everything is by the book.

 

[bucs]

I think the M3 and M2 had blue tinted VFs to bring out the yellow RF patch. I'm not sure if the M4 had it also.

I found later cameras to have brighter VFs because they did not have the same tint.

AE would be nice to have but I have the [irrational] fear that the electronics might die on me sooner or later.

 

[colker]

I think the M3 and M2 had blue tinted VFs to bring out the yellow RF patch. I'm not sure if the M4 had it also.

I found later cameras to have brighter VFs because they did not have the same tint.

AE would be nice to have but I have the [irrational] fear that the electronics might die on me sooner or later.

The bad surprise was the DR Summicron. It felt all wrong for me: unfamiliar, uninviting to work with.. I just took it out of my list.

 

[Rob-F]

A very clean one. Shutter was quiet. VF was bright. It felt better than my M3. My VF is blueish and lacks the M7 contrast.

Funny, it doesn't look blueish! 😀

Otoh i also tried a DR summicron which felt horrible w/such bad ergonomics and heavy weight. It had the funky eyepiece. It looked cool but.. i want a focus tab!

They are great for black and white. You could always get used to it! 🙂

Also tried a 135mm Elmar. Leicas are not tele cameras. 135mm belong on slrs.

Agreed! 90mm is the limit for me! In fact, I like the 85mm on my Nikons.

 

[Rob-F]

I tend to pick up my M7 more than my other Leicas. I think with a little patience, you will find an M7 at a better price. Watch the classifieds!

 

[colker]

I tend to pick up my M7 more than my other Leicas. I think with a little patience, you will find an M7 at a better price. Watch the classifieds!

Camera felt tight and hungry for shooting. VF was very very bright. rangefinder patch was so brilliant. I just wish those red shutter speeds would go away... maybe i could get used. It´s a fantastic camera. I have no problem w/ electronics.. as long as it keeps working. I had Pentax 67 w/ electronic shutters and never had a problem but Japanese cameras are more dependable😉. M7 is significantly lighter than M3. The weight of the M3 is good though for slow shutter shooting... it helps stabilize the camera.

The DR Summicron is heavy in a bad way.. i understand IQ is epic but the ergonomics.. oy.. it didn´t give me a sexy time.

 

[maddoc]

The M7 is 30 g heavier than the M3 .... 😉

M7 is signficantly lighter than M3. The weight of the M3 is good though for slow shutter shooting... it helps stabilize the camera.

 

[colker]

The M7 is 30 g heavier than the M3 .... 😉

LOL... 🙂... and it felt lighter. Feelings! NOthing more than feelings...

 

[maddoc]

The work of the fairies in Solms vs those in Wetzlar! 😉😀

LOL... 🙂... and it felt lighter. Feelings! NOthing more than feelings...

 

[kshapero]

I've had them both. I also could not get past all the potential problems with the M7 electronics, although I never had any. Felt like I needed built in metering so settled on a sweet black chrome M6. Been with me for 11 years now.

 

[Richard G]

The M7 is bigger so feels lighter. The M3 is dense so seems heavier. A Hasselblad is heavier but it’s mostly air inside and seems light for its size. .