Leica M7 Magic : Like a Digital M But Film!

The Leica M7 film camera is special. It’s a 35mm film rangefinder camera that feels near identical to using my digital Leica M10-P. Perhaps this is why the Leica M7 has become my most used film camera (vs Leica M3, Leica M6, Leica M-A). What makes the M7 different to other Leica M film cameras? All that coming up, sample photos and YouTube.

Compare all Leica M film cameras – Buyer’s guide

As a YouTuber and so called Leica expert, after 550+ videos there is a high chance I’ve reviewed the camera or lens that you’re interested in. Subscribe to the channel if you love all things Leica and speak to you there!

Leica M7 on sale

A friend tipped me off that there were some cheap Leica M7 cameras seemingly “on sale” on MPB in the UK. I seized the opportunity to take the punt and ordered a black Leica M7 0.85x finder version, worn but in otherwise good condition.  (I thought worst case I can just sell it again). That was in back in March, and you might remember the Leica M7 YouTube video. It went on to be my most used film camera of the year by far!

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Quick recap of Leica M film cameras

If you’re a new reader, please let me direct you to the granular detail Leica M film camera comparison article that lists all film camera models and comparable stats for each camera.

In brief, if we recap, the Leica M3 was the first Leica M rangefinder camera, released in 1953. Following that we had the Leica M2, Leica M4 (+ variants), Leica M5, Leica M6 and then in 2002 the Leica M7.

Bad timing

The timing of the Leica M7 release is perhaps why this camera isn’t more popular. At that time people were already moving to digital cameras. The Leica M8 was released in 2006 and then the Leica M9 in 2009 so both within 10 years of the Leica M7 launch.

Hybrid film camera from Leica

The Leica M7 is also different to most Leica M film cameras. It’s more like a hybrid between a standard Leica M film camera (say the Leica M6) and a digital Leica M camera like my Leica M10-P.

Unlike most Leica M film cameras which are iconic for their mechanical minimal designs and are deemed to last a lifetime, the Leica M7 relies on electronics to operate. This raises questions to the longevity of the camera and the step away from the classic Leica minimalism means many photographers turn to the Leica M6 instead of the M7.

Leica M7 specs + Useful info

Let’s recap the key Leica M7 specs if you want to compare to your camera:

• Leica M7 weight – 610g (+ batteries)(One of the heaviest)
• Available as – silver chrome/ black chrome (with red dot)
• Materials – solid brass top plate + bottom plate
• Shutter – electronic (1/60 & 1/125 speeds work without battery)
• Shutter speeds – Bulb, 4sec, 2sec, 1-1/1000 + Auto
• ISO dial on Leica M7 – Disc on the back of the camera (for meter)
• Does the Leica M7 have an on/off switch? Yes
• Leica M7 viewfinder framelines – 28/90, 35/135, 50/75 (pairs)
• M7 viewfinder magnification options – 0.58x / 0.72x / 0.85x
• Minimum focus distance of Leica M7 rangefinder – 0.7m
• Does the Leica M7 have a lightmeter? – Yes (Red LED display)
• Does the Leica M7 have a hotshoe for flash? – Yes (1/50 max sync)
• Film loading – Leica M7 use the Leica quick film load system
• Film rewind – Leica M7 has a film rewind crank (faster)
• Battery for Leica M7 – 2x Lithium CR1/3N (or 4x LR44 coin batteries)
• Will Leica M7 work without a battery? Yes – 1/60 & 1/125 speeds only

First impressions?

I bought the Leica M7 because it was a bargain price (relative to its value) not because i’d been lusting after one for months. The Leica M7 had somehow escaped my radar whenever I’d been looking at Leica M film cameras (for a few reasons listed below).

As for first impressions? This is one beautiful camera and I love the lightmeter readout when in auto mode. I didn’t notice the extra weight compared to my other Leica M cameras nor the taller camera body. I appreciate the on/ off power button too which locks the shutter so you don’t accidentally fire off a frame in your camera bag. If you’re like me you’ve probably advanced the shutter on your other Leica film cameras only to then not take the photo, camera goes back in your bag and then the shutter accidentally fires.

Reasons why I shouldn’t like the M7

If you’ve read enough of my blog posts (or seen my YouTube videos) you’ll know the following criteria tick my box when I’m looking at film cameras –

• Ideally full mechical without batteries (like my Leica M-A)
• Smaller cameras are perfect (my 1930s Leica I c)
• Lightweight metal cameras are fantastic (my Leica MD-a)
• Feel robust and beautifully made (Leica iii + M cameras)
• Fully functional and accept my lenses (Leica M especially)

If we apply this list to a Leica M7 you can see why I didn’t consider it previously. The M7 requires batteries and it’s bigger and heavier than similar Leica M cameras. That said, it’s beautifully made and some of the additional features really suit me.

Leica M7 black chrome vs black paint

On the topic of black chrome or black paint (assuming you’d like a black Leica camera), most photographers seem to prefer the idea of the gloss black paint such as the black Leica MP. (I avoid black paint Leica M cameras as I don’t like seeing fingerprints all over my paintwork plus I prefer cameras looking newer for longer). As the Leica M7 only comes in black chrome that simplifies the situation but what surprised me is how much I love the worn look.

When I bought my used Leica M7 it had already been enjoyed sufficiently that the black chrome had worn to give this stunning gunmetal grey finish. Unilke my black Leica M-A that i’m trying to keep looking new for as long as possible, the M7 makes me want to use it more. It’s similar to using my silver chrome Leica M3 SS where I just enjoy it and don’t think about wear and tear.

Why I love the Leica M7 lightmeter

If you’ve used Leica M film cameras with a light meter like the Leica M6 Classic, normally you have two opposing red arrows to indicate under or overexposed [ > < ]. The Leica M7 in manual shutter mode displays the two arrows plus a red dot [ > o < ]. The dot indicating that the camera thinks that your exposure is correct. This is quite primitive when compared to some other 35mm film cameras.

The beauty of the Leica M7 light meter is when the camera is set to auto exposure the meter readout is a numerical display giving exact shutter speed values. (I sometimes use auto mode first to meter a scene and then put the camera back into manual and dial in the required shutter speed that was displayed in the viewfinder.

For me the Leica M7 has the best light meter display of any Leica M camera. (It’s more similar to Leica R film camera meter readout like my Leica R7).

Comparing the Leica M7 vs Leica R7

Despite a similar name, the Leica M7 and Leica R7 are completely different cameras. Leica R cameras like the Leica R7 are SLR film cameras and more similar to Nikon film cameras like my Nikon FE2. Leica M cameras as we know are rangefinder cameras.

Owning both cameras I can tell you without bias that the Leica M7 feels like a Leica. Precise, minimal and a mechanical marvel (albeit that needs batteries!) The Leica R7 can still take great pictures but feels very budget in the hand. The film advance is sloppy and soft with no precision or resistance (a step down from the earlier Leicaflex SL which feels more Leica like).

It gives me zero enjoyment to advance the film or press the shutter on the R7 but it does give me access to the amazing Leica R lenses. Note, you can’t focus Leica R lenses on a Leica M7 as these lenses are not rangefinder calibrated.

Yes the Leica R7 offers a lot more “mod cons” – 1/250 flash sync speed, 1/2000 maximum shutter speed, built-in diopter and at a cheaper price point, but it feels nothing like a Leica. This makes sense as the Leica R7 was built as part of a Leica collaboration with Minolta. I’m not anti-Minolta. I love my cheap Minolta X300 but the R7 definitely isn’t a proper Leica camera.

Leica M7 is taller than M6, MP etc

If you’ve never owned other Leica M film cameras you will likely never notice but the Leica M7 camera is slightly taller than almost all other Leica M film cameras. The M7 is around 80mm tall compared to the standard 77mm for most other cameras. This sounds like a pointless detail to mention but it does mean that some Leica lenses will not fully function.

One example is the Leica Summicron 50mm f2 DR (Dual range). You can’t attach the close focus goggles when using a Leica M7 due to the 3mm extra body height. This limits the use of the lens to 1m for close focus.

Leica M7 vs Other Leica M film cameras

As mentioned for a detailed side by side comparison of all Leica M film cameras check out the Leica M film camera comparison article. For this write-up I will just list the reasons I prefer the Leica M7 to other Leica M cameras to help you understand why I use it.

Benefits of the Leica M7 vs Leica M3

Reasons I choose the Leica M7 over my Leica M3 include –

• Built-in light meter
• Hotshoe for modern flash triggers
• 28mm + 75mm framelines (I use both a lot)
• Rapid film load and film rewind crank

*Benefits of the Leica M3 are the 0.91x magnification viewfinder, uncluttered individual framelines, all metal single piece film advance lever and premium-feel build quality.

Why I use the Leica M7 vs Leica M2

My reasons why I use the Leica M7 over my Leica M2 include –

• Built-in light meter
• Hotshoe for modern flash triggers
• Auto frame selector dial
• 28mm + 75mm framelines
• Rapid film load and film rewind crank

*Benefits of the Leica M2 are the uncluttered individual framelines, all metal single piece film advance lever, self timer and lower price point.

Advantages of the Leica M7 vs Leica M4-P

Why I pick up the Leica M7 over the Leica M4-P include –

• Built-in light meter
• Shiny object syndrome (nice to use a different camera)

*The Leica M4-P is similar to a Leica M6 but without a light meter so is cheaper.

Benefits of the Leica M7 vs Leica M6

Reasons why I use the Leica M7 over my Leica M6 Classic include –

• Auto exposure mode and nicer meter readout
• Power on/off switch
• Option of TTL flash if I’m messing around with flash

*Many purists will prefer the Leica M6 as a more iconic camera that should be easier to repair and doesn’t rely on batteries. Original used Leica M6 Classic cameras (not the re-issue) are cheaper than a Leica M7.

Why I use the Leica M7 vs Leica MP

Reasons why I use Leica M7 over the Leica MP that I sold include –

• Auto exposure mode and nicer meter readout
• On/off switch design (I forget less)
• Film rewind crank (for faster operation)
• Often at a lower price point

*Benefits of the Leica MP are the all metal single piece film advance lever and mechanical shutter (batteries only required for the light meter – should last forever). Great camera.

Advantages of the Leica M7 vs Leica M-A

Why I choose the Leica M7 over my Leica M-A include –

• Built-in light meter + Auto mode
• Film rewind crank (for faster operation)
• M7 is already well used vs. my minty Leica M-A
• Often at a lower price point

*Benefits of the Leica M-A are the simplistic minimal design, all metal single piece film advance lever and mechanical shutter (no batteries – should last forever).

Do I recommend the Leica M7?

So taking account of the pros and cons listed above, do I recommend that you buy a Leica M7? No. For most students that ask me I usually recommend these cameras –

• Classic Leica M3 (for the best made/ best viewfinder option)
• Leica MP or M6 (If they want a light meter and a newer camera)
• Leica M-A (If they don’t need a light meter and want a new camera)

One of my US Patreon/ students just got themselves a Leica M3 to get back into film. A UK Patreon/ student friend just bought a new silver Leica MP as he wanted one Leica film camera to pass onto his children. Both fantastic cameras.

Who should buy a Leica M7?

If I use the Leica M7 yet recommend other cameras, who is the Leica M7 best suited to? On paper as mentioned it doesn’t suit my preferences but I still love it. For me the Leica M7 is best suited to photographers that currently use a digital M rangefinder camera such as the Leica M10 and want to enjoy a similar workflow but with a film output. If you love using auto mode then the Leica M7 is definitely for you.

Film cameras don’t need to slow you down

If you hate the idea of missing photos because you’re fiddling with your camera settings then the Leica M7 might be for you. Like with digital Leica rangefinder cameras, just set your shutter speed dial to “auto” exposure mode and then the camera will work in aperture priority. Set your lens aperture based on your lighting conditions, film speed (and the desired outcome) and the camera will do the rest. The Leica M7 AE lock means you can recompose easily too, exactly like when using a Leica M10.

Best Leica film camera for newbies

If you currently use a digital Leica M camera and you mostly shoot in auto mode the Leica M7 would be the perfect entry point into film Leica. You can shoot in the same way as you enjoy but now get to enjoy a more pleasing film output.

“Leica M7 has no soul”

Many photographers gravitate to Leica M cameras to kick back and slow down. To enjoy a more deliberate “pure” form of photography as they say. Leica M cameras are seen as minimal as they lack many additional features found on cameras from other brands. People are drawn to Leica M cameras for that minimal full mechanical experience and the sound of the cloth shutter.

It’s for these reasons why some say the Leica M7 has no soul. First, it sounds different thanks to the electronic shutter. Perhaps more precise and more dampened. (I quite like the M7 shutter sound but it sounds very different to my 1930s Leica Ic). Second, if you have the camera set to auto, some say you don’t stop to think before clicking the shutter. Less intentional might result in sloppy framing and poor compositions (similar to how many use digital cameras thanks to unlimited clicks).

For photographers that like to savour every click, the Leica M7 might not be for you. If however you use it as a tool then automation might mean getting more shots. I’m more than happy using the M7 for my photos (but I don’t use auto mode that often/ very rarely).

Mechanical vs Automatic – It’s like watches

Cameras are a lot like watches. I own some nice full mechanical watches like my red dot Nomos Club Campus that you might have seen is a few YouTube videos. Think of these like most Leica M film cameras. They require me to wind them up if I’m swapping between watches.

For that reason, day to day I tend to wear my solar powered Seiko Prospex Speedtimer over my Porcelain dial Seiko Presage. Maybe this is why I use my Leica M7 over my Leica M3! The built-in light meter is just a nice to have for certain occasions and it gives me a few extra useful features.

Leica M6 vs Leica M7 for street photography

Knowing what we now know, would you pick a Leica M6 or Leica M7 for street photography? If you are a reportage or documentary photographer that likes to catch those fleeting moments, there is a strong argument to get the Leica M7. If the image is more important than the process I think this makes sense.

If however you look forward to a day out with your camera and one roll of film lasts you the entire day you might prefer the Leica M6. For those planning to use the same camera for the next 20 years for those occasional enjoyable days out, then full mechanical cameras like the Leica M6 (or similar) may make more sense just because you don’t need to worry about future electronic issues.

Leica M7 vs Leica M5

The Leica M7 vs Leica M5 is styled to look like the iconic Leica M film cameras. All Leica M film cameras look very similar except the Leica M5. The Leica M7 is slightly taller and heavier than say a classic Leica M6 but to the most part looks very similar. In contrast the Leica M5 is a different design and some call it the ugly duckling of Leica cameras. (Many viewers write to me and ask why I’ve never made a video about the M5. If I ever get one I will make a video, I promise!)

One benefit of the Leica M5 over the later Leica M7 is the shutter speed dial is displayed in the viewfinder when adjusted manually. This is absent on the M7.

The finer details – Leica M7 upgrades

So far I’ve tried to keep the information fairly broad to cover most of the common features of each mentioned camera. The Leica M7 does however include some technical upgrades compared to earlier cameras. Technological advancements of the Leica M7 over the earlier Leica M6 include:

• Aperture priority “auto” exposure mode (as mentioned)
• AE lock – Auto exposure lock (Recompose easily)
• Electronic shutter (replacing the standard mechanical shutter)
• DX code reader (automatically reads the ISO speed of your film)
• +/- exposure compensation (if use auto mode)

Leica M7 with flash

Here are some test photos from the first few rolls shot testing the Leica M7 with flash. All photos below were shot with a Zeiss Biogon 35mm f2.8 ZM and either on camera or off camera flash. Double click any image to view full res and for more details.

Limitations of flash with a Leica M7

One limitation of all Leica M film cameras is the 1/50 maximum flash sync speed. This feels so slow compared to my Nikon FM3a which has 1/250 flash sync speed. When shooting at 1/50 it is easy to capture motion blur in the image so I ask my subjects (normally models) to keep still. All the photos above were captured at 1/50 (or slower).

This digital photo below illustrates the effect of flash freezing part of the image and motion blur behind.

Leica M6 TTL vs Leica M7 for flash

The Leica M6 TTL and Leica M7 both offer TTL flash photography when using the correct flash unit. Through the lens flash metering will work on both cameras with flash units like the Leica SF20 and similar models. (You can also use flash sync cables like the Nikon SC-17 for off camera flash – popular with many street photographers).

Some photographers love TTL flash but as you saw from my example images shared above I tend to prefer to use manual flash settings.

Leica M7 HSS flash

One advantage of the Leica M7 over the Leica M6 TTL is that in HSS mode (high speed sync), the Leica M7 can sync to 1/1000 compared to the standard 1/50 with the Leica M6 TTL. This sounds fantastic, game changing, almost too good to be true.

I was really excited to use this feature of the camera but sadly none of the flash units I tried worked at 1/1000 with the M7. (I even had a long conversation with Leica Wetzlar but eventually we gave up on the project).

If you read up on this topic, you need to find a Metz 54 MZ3 flash to use the 1/1000 full flash sync speed with your Leica M7. Personally I like to use off camera lighting for my portraits so I went down the rabbit hole searching for wireless triggers to use HSS off camera. Eventually I had to give up so I’m limited to the usual 1/50.

Large shutter speed dial on Leica M7

The Leica M7 shutter dial is a larger diameter (like the Leica M6 TTL) when compared to the Leica M6 Classic and other M cameras. The direction of the shutter dial is also reversed so the dial now moves in the same direction as indicated by the light meter arrows in the viewfinder.

I’ve never complained about the smaller shutter speed dial of the Leica M film cameras but I see why people love the larger dial of the Leica M7 and M6 TTL.

Testing my Leica M7 calibration

My favourite way to check my Leica rangefinder camera calibration is accurate is to do mirror selfies. What some users may not realise is for sharp images you need both your lens and your camera to be calibration to work together as a team. Some of my lenses pair better on my Leica M3 and others better on the Leica M7 (for example, and when shooting lenses wide open at the minimal focus distance). For digital shooters the same is true for digital Leica M cameras. Some lenses pair better on my Leica M262 and others on my Leica M10-P.

Leica M7 double exposure

In these two photos below, I was testing multiple cameras and lenses and reloaded the same film across two camera bodies. I accidentally overlapped a few frames resulting in these Leica M7 double exposures. Kinda cool!

Note, unlike the Leica R cameras there is no option to shoot a Leica M7 double exposure mid-roll by flicking a switch. The same is true for all Leica M film cameras. You could reload an exposed roll of film or manually rewind a frame but neither is super accurate or an exact science.

More Leica M7 sample photos

After buying my Leica M7 I was struggling to find time to develop my film. Finally I’m starting to catch up with the developing and scanning so here are some sample images. That’s why it’s taken me so many months to post this article. I had to wait until I had time to develop and scan some of my images!

These photos were shot during a Patreon meet-up in Toulouse where a group of us came together from 5 different countries for a fun weekend, connected by our love for Leica. Thanks again to Arno and his girlfriend for hosting us!

Best lens for the Leica M7

If you are looking for the best lens for your Leica M7 check out my extensive lens reviews which cover most lenses made for Leica M mount, new and old. The best lens for you will depend on how your eyes see the world, ie. what focal length best represents what you are seeing. Next you need to consider the maximum f.stop you require and finally the look and rendering of your perfect lens. Faster aperture lenses tend to be more useful with film cameras especially if you normally shoot with ISO 100-400 speed films.

Does the Leica M7 camera need a battery?

Yes for most functions. The Leica M7 camera requires 2x CR1/3N 3V batteries (Or you can use 4x LR44 small coin batteries similar to found in most cameras such as the Leica M6). The Leica M7 shutter will fire mechanically without battery if you use 1/60 or 1/125 for emergency situations.

Leica M7 serial numbers production year

Leica M7 serial numbers started with 277xxxx back in 2002 when production started. Records suggest that serial numbers starting 28xxxxx are likely to be what is classed as early models. My Leica M7 serial numbers starts with 278xxxx and is an early model.

Early models lack the Leica MP viewfinder upgrade and the improved DX code reader. I’ll explain below. If your Leica M7 camera serial number starts with 29xxxxx it should be the updated later model but some early models were upgraded too so there is no clear cutoff.

Early Leica M7 viewfinder upgrade

Early Leica M7 cameras have a Leica M6 TTL style viewfinder. Despite the M7 finder being multi-coated it can still flare in bad light where you can’t see the rangefinder patch. With the release of the Leica MP, the camera viewfinder was redesigned to prevent the flaring issue. The MP updated finder was then added to later dated Leica M7 cameras and there was an option to upgrade the viewfinder in early Leica M7 cameras.

If I point my Leica M7 viewfinder towards the sun I can flare out my frame lines and rangefinder patch so that confirms mine has the original viewfinder similar to that in my M6.

Leica M7 DX code reader upgrade

Older Leica M7 cameras have the original mechanical DX code reader. Later models have the upgraded optical DX code reader. Why the change? The Leica M7 mechanical DX code reader were reported to be inaccurate if the contacts were not kept clean and resulted in film canisters getting jammed in the camera.

For this reason, the Leica M7 DX code reader was later upgraded to an optical reader. The problem with the upgraded Leica M7 optical infra-red LED DX readout is the infrared light can potentially fog highly IR-sensitive films. My camera has the pre-upgrade DX code reader but I’ve experienced no issues with it.

Problems using IR film in Leica M7

IR film in the Leica M7 is not something I’ve tried but viewers of my YouTube video confirmed that you can’t shoot IR film in these later models of the Leica M7 due to the upgraded optical DX code reader. If you love the idea of shooting IR film then perhaps look to get an early Leica M7 camera or any Leica M film camera except the M7.

Leica M7 portraits

As a model photography and someone that wrote the Model Photography Guide Handbook (eBook) here are some Leica M7 portraits. As my Leica M7 has the 0.85x viewfinder it is perfect paired with a fast 75mm lens like the Voigtlander Nokton 75mm f1.5. This has been my most used setup with this camera for model shoots.

Developing and scanning my M7 negatives

I’ve written film developing articles before and I still use the same process today for my M7 negatives. For film scanning my setup has recently changed and now I use the Valoi Easy120 scanner attached to my digital Leica SL or Leica SL2-S. Check out the video below.

To edit the images I import the DNG files (scans) into Lightroom I then just apply my MrLeica Film preset pack to invert my B&W images rather than needing to buy Negative Lab Pro.

Scanning is great to be able to share images online and to make photobooks but my real goal is to print some of my best negatives in the darkroom. If you’re interested in my books or prints please add your preferences here.

Best film for the Leica M7

Some say that the Leica M7 is the best Leica M film camera if you are shooting slide film thanks to the accurate electronic shutter. I spoke to a skilled technician who explained that because the Leica M7 shutter timing is based on both electronic and mechanical components it can be out of timing like mechanical shutters but in theory requires less frequent servicing.

My film of choice at the time of writing is Kentmere 400 black and white film. This is the best value film on sale in the UK today whereas pre-Brexit Fomapan 100 was cheaper. See my full Kentmere 400 review and reviews for many of the film stocks.

Leica M7 brass top plate

Brass is better. The benefit of the Leica M7 brass top plate (and bottom plate) is unlike the older Leica M6 and some Leica M4-P cameras, the top plate doesn’t suffer from zinc bubbling (aka. corrosion). Unlike brass, zinc can corrode due to impurities resulting in the paint work bubbling up on the top plate. Thankfully this will never be an issue on a Leica M7.

Can you service a Leica M7 camera?

The general answer seems to be yes you can service Leica M7 cameras but I’ve noticed that not all repair centres accept the M7. Worst case, you can send your camera back to Leica Wetzlar for repair but the cost will likely be higher compared to servicing full mechanical cameras. (My Leica M7 is covered by the 12 month shop warranty so if I experience any issues I can return it back to the shop).

Why is the Leica M7 camera not more popular?

When people think of Leica M film cameras they probably think built for life and full mechanical. As the Leica M7 requires batteries to operate rather than just for the light meter, it is perhaps not the first choice.

Leica M7 electronics

Electronics in premium film cameras have always worried me. I sold some very nice high end cameras like the Hasselblad XPan, Contax 645, Contax T2, Mamiya 7, Fuji GA645 (to name a few), mainly because I worried about the electronics failing and I’d wake up to an expensive brick. These are 90’s film cameras whereas the Leica M7 was released in 2002.

Early electronics were not as reliable as they are today so many believe that the Leica M7 is more like a digital Leica than a 90s film camera. People don’t avoid the Leica M8 or Leica M9 just because they use electronics so the same could be applied to the Leica M7. Yes there is always a risk but the same is true for any electronic device.

Best camera bag for a Leica M7?

I use different Wotancraft camera bags depending on my camera lens setup –

• Leica M7 + pancake lens – Wotancraft accessory pouch
• 1x Leica M cameras + 2x standard (bigger) lens – Wotancraft Pilot 2L
• 2x Leica M camera + 2-4x lenses – Wotancraft Pilot 3.5L or EDC 3.5L

What strap do I use for Leica cameras?

For all my Leica cameras (Leica iii, Leica M, Leica R) including the Leica M7 I use Wotancraft leather camera straps. My preference is Wotancraft wrist straps (with Peak Design quick release anchors) if I’m using multiple cameras in a small camera bag. If I’m wearing one camera I tend to use a Wotancraft leather neck strap. I often use red straps as you can see on my Leica MDa below but I have black too for a stealthier setup.

Is the Leica M7 discontinued?

Yes sadly the Leica M7 was discontinued in 2018 after 16 years of production. If you want to buy a new Leica M film camera today you have 3 camera options –

• Leica M6 (Re-issue) – Black chrome with red dot
• Leica MP – Black paint (not red dot)(silver version discontinued)
• Leica M-A – Silver chrome or black chrome options (no red dot)

Leica M7 price

The price of a Leica M7 when released in 2002 was around $2500. By 2018 the price had increased to almost $4800. Used price in the UK today, you can find them from around £3500 (clean copy) at the time of writing.

Is a Leica M7 a good investment?

For a short term mindset, say 1-5 years, you shouldn’t loose money if you buy a used Leica M7 and resell it later. For 5-20 years a would perhaps look at other Leica M film cameras that are not battery dependent. Leica M3, M2, M4, M6, MP, M-A etc are all popular.

Is the Leica M7 worth it?

Is the Leica M7 worth it will depend on the price that you pay. If you can find a Leica M7 camera for quite a bit less than a Leica M6, I feel they are a great deal. The Leica M7 camera was originally listed at a similar price to the Leica M6 and Leica MP when available new.

All Leica M film cameras do the same job so it’s just a matter of picking the camera at the right price point for you. If price is not an issue, select the camera model that ticks your box based on the finer details and finish.

Buying a used Leica camera

If you’re looking to buy a used Leica M film camera there are two common options. First, buy your camera from an individual either on eBay or via a contact. You often find cheaper prices doing this but the camera could fail on you tomorrow. (This is true when buying any film camera). 

Second, and my preference when buying expensive cameras is to ideally buy from a shop that offers a 6-12 month warranty. That way you have peace of mind that if anything stops working, you can just return the camera.  The Leica Manchester store in the UK sell new and used Leica cameras with warranty. I bought my used Leica SL 601 from them and something else more recently which you’ll hear about soon. My Leica M7 was from MPB and that also came with 12 months warranty.

*The same is true if I buy digital Leica cameras. I bought my Leica M10 from Park Cameras in the UK so when it developed a fault I was able to return the camera to Leica Wetzlar Germany under warranty at no cost to me. Phew!

Comparing different Leica film cameras

This video shows many of the Leica M film cameras including the Leica M7 –

Most common question – Leica M6 or M7?

What is the best camera for you, Leica M7 or Leica M6? As covered above, I think for most people getting into the Leica M system the Leica M6 camera makes more sense. The Leica M6 will go on forever as it’s full mechanical (excluding the battery) whereas the M7 may eventually die as it’s battery dependent.

Why I use the Leica M7

As someone that owns the Leica M6 and M7 I tend to use the Leica M7 for a few reasons –

• Light meter readout of the M7 in auto mode gives numerical reading (not dots / arrows)
• I bought a well used Leica M7 verses my more mint Leica M6 (worn finish looks great)
• My Leica M7 has the 0.85x finder vs usual 0.72x so more accurate for precise focus
• Auto exposure mode is like having a digital Leica M10 that shoots film – very easy

Zeiss Ikon ZM – Leica M7 alternative

If you don’t mind stepping away from the Leica brand a close alternative to the Leica M7 is the Zeiss Ikon ZM. Prices often the Zeiss Ikon ZM are often above cameras like the Leica M3, M2, M4-P but are usually less than the price of a Leica M7. Zeiss fans love the bigger brighter viewfinder, faster flash sync speed and other features. See the Zeiss Ikon ZM camera in this video –

Are Leica better than Nikon?

Someone is always going to ask, so to finish, just my 2p worth. Most film cameras from any brands will let you take nice photos. Reliable film cameras with quality interchangeable lenses such as those from Nikon offer fantastic value for money. You know I love my Leica cameras but I enjoy Nikon SLR cameras too. If I have a trip to somewhere that is perhaps less safe or very dusty/ sandy I can take a cheaper Nikon camera and worry less. (The same is true for using Soviet rangefinder cameras for that matter).

I’ve done many reviews on Nikon film cameras but a few favourites are the Nikon FE2 and Nikon FM3a for portraits (with the beautiful light meter needle dial in the viewfinder) and the Nikon F3 paired with a waist level viewfinder for a completely different shooting experience.

Questions?

We covered a lot of detail so if you have any questions feel free to get in touch. Find me on YouTube, Instagram, book a Zoom call or follow my photography journey here.

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