Features of Leica M7
Focal length of 21 to 135mm Stepless automatic shutter control .58x magnification viewfinder integrated with LED 35mm compact rangefinder camera Electronic controls with on/off switch
Leica's M7 35mm compact rangefinder camera has been historically renowned for its build quality and outstanding performance, as field-tested by the most demanding photojournalists and avant-garde artists. The lens is built with the Leica M design and has a focal length of 21 to 135mm. All manual operations continue to be present, but this newest update now sports electronic control and operation with an on/off switch that starts it all. You can now make automatic exposures with the stepless electronic shutter speed control with metered value storage. The cloth focal plane shutter has turned electronic, controlling exposure time silently and accurately. An unusual but undoubtedly useful feature is the viewfinder with LED display, a total of 33 different readings are visible to keep you on top of all the information. With an additional flash unit installed, the second shutter curtain can trigger the flash. The two film-speed settings, manual and automatic, eliminate bad exposures that come from setting the wrong film speeds. Film loading, advance, and rewind remain manual for greater control.
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Leica M7 Customer Review(s):
Summary: classic
Rating: 5 (out of 5)
Comment: The Leica M7 is a superior intstrument in the realm of 35mm film cameras. The name alone stands for over 70 years of excellence.
Its through the lens metering system helps the photographer get the right exposure, without the use of a light meter. This is particularly essential when shooting street photography. With a muted shutter and compact metel frame you can allow yourself to act as a vouyer as you silently snap away.
Unlike most SLR's (single-lens-reflex) which offer a wide variety of lens, the range of lens avaliable for this model are limited to the classic 35mm, as well as a few wider angles.
But I warn you, this particular camera is not for the weak wallets. A starting price of about 2,400 dollars leaves room only for those commited to owning optimum equitment. However you'll be safe in the knowledge that you'll probably have more money around your neck than most rappers.
Any serious photojournalist who is seeking a professional carrier should invest in this purchace.
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Summary: Leica M7 rangefinder camera optimized for wide angle lenses
Rating: 5 (out of 5)
Comment: This version of the Leica M7 has the same features as the standard M7 with 0.72x viewfinder, most notably aperture priority automation and TTL (Through The Lens) flash, but lacks the frame line for a 135mm lens. It is designed for those interested in using primarily wide angle lenses and for those who wear eye glasses. Unfortunately, the Leica M7, unlike the Leica MP, is virtually dead except for two shutter speeds when your batteries die out. And yet despite this inconvenience, the Leica M7 is the quietest, best handling Leica M rangefinder camera I've come across. Regrettably, the 0.58x viewfinder model is no longer in production, except via the expensive Leica A La Carte program, so if this version of the M7 appeals to you, buy it soon!
Is the Leica M7 a 35mm camera for everyone? Of course the answer is no, since a rangefinder camera, unlike a single lens reflex (SLR) camera, has a very limited range of lenses. It is superb with wide angle and normal lenses since it is often easier to focus with a rangefinder than a SLR, and can be as fast, if not faster, than the latest autofocus SLRs. The Leica truly excels as the ideal tool for discrete documentary photography, producing what the late Henri Cartier-Bresson referred to as the 'decisive moment' photograph. So if you care deeply about making great documentary photography images, then perhaps the Leica M7 should be your premier 35mm camera.
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