7 vs 7ii
This looks like a decent deal, and I trust Adorama's used dept. ever since me E- condition RZ67 90mm 3.5 turned out to be mint condition.
Dead Link Removed
I'm not ready to buy this week, otherwise I may jump on this, who knows, it could stick around.
A couple of things to consider:
1. The 7 was discontinued some 15 years ago (give or take a few years) whereas the 7ii is still being manufactured. Having said this, one could find a 7 that was manufactured in 1999 and a 7ii that was manufactured in 2000 . . . . no big difference between the 2;
2. I strongly suggest you make absolutely sure that the rangefinder is perfectly aligned at all focusing distances, from a few feet all the way to infinity. There is nothing more nerve-wrecking than a rangefinder that is mis-aligned. The first rangefinder I purchased was grossly misaligned and it drove me crazy. Fortunately, the store had a 14-day return policy and I was able to return it for a full refund.
3. Two other things to consider:
3.1 that the meter works well;
3.2 that the light curtain works well and is light tight
I would not buy a 7 or a 7ii without a full-refund return policy. 14 days is more than ample time for one to receive the unit, play with it, and even shoot a roll or two or film and test everything. That's what I did.
These cameras are great but are
temperamental . . . . a bad meter, a bad rangefinder, a bad light curtain and you will hate using it!
My advice: don't focus too much on saving $100. Focus instead on getting a camera with everything working the way it is supposed to and a lens free of blemishes and fully operational. Remember ... if you like this camera, you will probably own it for many years. What's $100 or $200 after 300 rolls of film and 5+ years of use?
Hope this helps.