Leica m7 serial numbers year series#

What I do see though is a marked improvement in the brightness of the frame lines, especially in moderate light conditions.

I havenвЂ™t yet seen much of a difference between it and the previous M6 TTL. The viewfinder has apparently been given a new antireflection coating. Since lithium batteries have extremely long shelf life, and these two batteries are so tiny, taking a couple of spares along on any trip is no hardship. In the event that you lose power there are two mechanical, non-battery dependant shutter speeds available 1/60 sec and 1/125 sec. Leica claims about 65 rolls of film to a set of these lithium batteries. This allows for the cameraвЂ™s aperture-preferred autoexposure capability, and automatically controlled speeds down to 30 seconds and manually set speeds to 4 seconds are available. ItвЂ™s still the same cloth focal plane shutter that Leica has used since the early Paleozoic ( this is a good thing), but instead of mechanical speed control itвЂ™s now electronic.

Two 1N type batteries are used instead of just one, because the shutter is now electronically controlled. Exposure compensation is handled through the use of a dial on the back of the body. The LEDвЂ™s are bright and clear and can be read in virtually any light. Once autoexposure is added thereвЂ™s the need to inform the user of what shutter speed has been chosen, and this Leica has done through the use of an LED display in the viewfinder. Did I really want or need autoexposure? But when I started using the camera I realized, ' Of course I do.' I regularly use autoexposure on virtually every other camera that I work with, so why not with the Leica? Especially with a Leica, given the type of shooting that it is best at. Seriously though, when a friend first told me of the features of the M7 prior to its official release, and then again when I subsequently read the press announcement, I was not terribly excited. But heyвЂљВќ Leica is a conservative company and wanted to be sure that the technology worked well. Yes, I know, every other camera on the planet including $49 point and shoots has had this for about 20 years. But, have you driven a Ferrarilately? For that matter, have you looked at the transmission of a Formula 1racing cars lately? I rest my case. I know, I know, there are those for whom this is as repugnant as placing an automatic transmission in a Ferrari.

Leica m7 serial numbers year series#

I say only, but for a M series Leica this is a major advancement. The only new shooting function is aperture priority autoexposure. Photographed with a Leica M3 and 50mm f/2 Summicron lens Functions If youвЂ™re already an existing or prospective Leica user, jump right in, because the rest of this article assumes that you know what an M6 is all about and want to know what the M7 has to offer thatвЂ™s new, different and worthwhile. It explains the camera and the mystique, and has links to other Leica articles and portfolios on this site as well as elsewhere.

If you are not yet a Leica aficionado a good place to start is my Leica M6 TTL review. An enhanced and complimentary version, since the M6 TTLcontinues in the product lineup for the foreseeable future. In the spring of 2002 Leica came out with the M7, an enhanced version of the venerable M6. To which my response is, ' Get over it!'. This canвЂ™t be as good as what has come before. New M series Leica bodies only come along about once a generation, and when they do there is usually much gnashing of teeth and beating of breasts. Leica users are a very conservative breed.