In this Leica M7 Review I want to highlight some of the great features which made photography so awesome long before digital displays became so popular on mechanical camera’s.  The Leica M7 is an electronic and mechanical camera hybrid.  You control the on off electronically while using the mechanical range finder and shutter for capturing images.

I want to point out that this camera does not utilize digital memory of any kind.  The only way to capture an image with this camera is on film.

Leica M7 Review:

The M7′s lens was built with the Leica M design and has a focal range of 21mm-135mm.

If you opt for the optional flash unit, you can set it to be triggered by the second shutter curtain.

It also has the ability to shoot at 2 film speeds which can be controlled manually or automatically.

When taking into consideration the functionality of the Camera it’s easy to become disillusioned into thinking the camera’s functionality doesn’t out weight the cost, however, this couldn’t be further from the truth.

When you are purchasing a Leica, you are paying for quality of material, accuracy of performance and the precision materials that go into making it one of the most respected camera brands available.

The M7 is little.  Coming in at 3.1 x 1 x 3.8 inches this little guy only weights 1 pound.  You can easily take shots one handed while being able to focus on your timing rather than your arm strength.

Originally introduced in 2002 and replacing the M6 TTL this 35mm range finder camera is no longer being produced by Leica. However, it is still possible to find an unopened device on sites like Amazon.

The Leica M7 uses Varta CR1/3N Lithium batteries for the electronic functions.  It’s easy to remember the old days of batteries and feeling the need to keep several extra pairs in your pocket seem to spring  to mind.  However, the lithium batteries pack a punch and have a much longer life that traditional AA’s.  As a matter of fact many wireless security system providers have switched to these lithium batteries because of their durability and power.

This camera is not for the casual photographer.  There is very few automated systems on it so you have to do virtually everything manually.  This may seem like a daunting task to the novice but if you are looking to expand your skill set and take a large jump into the big time the Leica M7 is great for that.  Not to learn on by any means but to improve and hone your skill set.

Leica M7 Review:  What are the Pro’s?

• Light weight and portable

• Film loaded for those who love doing their own developing.

• Electronically controlled silk curtain shutter, for guaranteed accurate exposure times.

• Aperture priority autoexposure

Leica M7 Review: What are the Con’s?

• The DX contacts fit tightly against the film roll making in a little more difficult to remove than it’s predecessor the M6

• The electronic on/off switch causes a slight delay.  This could mean the difference between the exact shot you wanted compared to directly after the shot you wanted.

• The shutter readout is hard to see if you sport eye glasses.  When looking into the range finder you need to give a little effort when trying to see it.

I hope you’ve learned a lot from my Leica M7 review and can now appreciate the beauty of pre-digital power.

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