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NB23 said:
I don’t agree that the M7 is the best. The shutter lag and general feel of the shutter annoys me a little. I’ve missed a few shots thanks to the shutter response and 5 years later I am still pissed.
Click to expand...

Have no idea what you're talking about. Shutter lag? You mean the half push that locks the meter, then the full to take the shot? That is an awesome feature. And the shutter is so smooth, and quiet. Even more so than all my other mechanical Ms because it doesn't rely on the clockwork gear.

But ok, everyone is entitled to their opinion, no matter how wrong it may be.
;p

p.s. I agree it is not the 'best'. The best one is that one that works best for you.
 
Back, again, to the original topic. Having owned and used Bessas - most recently the R3A and L, it is absolutely bonkers that they are now commanding more money than an M3 in many places.

It was designed to be a cheap Leica alternative - hence the original price point. And it was built to that price point. And you felt that price point in use. But now, worth more than an M3 or M4-2? Eesh.
 
I am not a RF guy or a Leica guy, so pardon me...............i assume there is a reason i do not hear about sales of the M4 or M5.?
WAS there a 4 or 5.?
 
My two M7s agree with me, there is a shutter lag, except on both mechanical speeds where there isn’t any.

Place your M7s speed dial at any speed, except both mecanical ones, and then press and release the shutter button with your index with a super fast motion. The result will be that the shutter won’t fire.

That’s enough for me to not favor the M7 for my street work. It has its spot, but it’s not the top 5.

Huss said:
Have no idea what you're talking about. Shutter lag? You mean the half push that locks the meter, then the full to take the shot? That is an awesome feature. And the shutter is so smooth, and quiet. Even more so than all my other mechanical Ms because it doesn't rely on the clockwork gear.

But ok, everyone is entitled to their opinion, no matter how wrong it may be.
;p

p.s. I agree it is not the 'best'. The best one is that one that works best for you.
Click to expand...
 
CMoore said:
I am not a RF guy or a Leica guy, so pardon me...............i assume there is a reason i do not hear about sales of the M4 or M5.?
WAS there a 4 or 5.?
Click to expand...
There was both an M4 and M5. The M4 is well regarded and sold well. The M5 was a flop and almost killed Leica.
 
Old Gregg said:
I probably burned through half a battery doing all kinds of variations of "super fast motion", hundred+ shots and couldn't reproduce it. Even tried the cable release! :smile: Zero difference between mechanical and electro-mechanical speeds. Zero difference with the M6 which I had side by side. I am not saying your M7 needs service, or perhaps there were subtle changes in its constructions between production runs. I honestly don't know.
Click to expand...

I will test both my M7 tomorrow, side by side
 
NB23 said:
My two M7s agree with me, there is a shutter lag, except on both mechanical speeds where there isn’t any.

Place your M7s speed dial at any speed, except both mecanical ones, and then press and release the shutter button with your index with a super fast motion. The result will be that the shutter won’t fire.

That’s enough for me to not favor the M7 for my street work. It has its spot, but it’s not the top 5.
Click to expand...


Your cameras are broken. Both my M7s work perfectly. Perchance have you been using soft releases? Those have been known to cause issues in the shutter release mechanism.

Quick video showing mine working perfectly:

Untitled by desmolicious, on Flickr
 
logan2z said:
There was both an M4 and M5. The M4 is well regarded and sold well. The M5 was a flop and almost killed Leica.
Click to expand...

The M5 didn't do well in the market at the time, but it is a superb camera. The design was just too different for the regular clientele and so didn't catch on.
I love mine - great size if you are using larger lenses, super accurate framing, spot metering, superb exposure info in the VF that is unmatched by any M since - film or digital!, superb design of the oversized shutter speed dial that allows it to hang over the edge for 1 finger use, rewind crank much quicker to use than any other film Leica (as well as being much sturdier).

If you look at the Zeiss Ikon ZM, they pretty much copied the outwardly physical design of the M5 - down to the position of the rewind crank, as did the Minolta CLE.
 
Huss said:
The design was just too different for the regular clientele and so didn't catch on.
Click to expand...
Right, that was my point earlier when @Old Gregg was talking about the retro rewind knob, black paint finish etc. of the MP. Leica buyers tend to prefer the traditional M design and feature set, and when Leica veers away from the proven formula bad things tend to happen.
 
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The M5 is the best.

2 things that the marketing/design team didn’t do right: cannot accept a winder/motor, no 1:1 finder.

The bigger camera called for a bigger finder. Also, the bigger camera called for winding capability.

If the M5 came with these 2 built-in upgrades, it would have been the best selling M.

I Love mine.
 
logan2z said:
......but I'm pretty sure that's what many/most Leica buyers want. Black paint in particular, seems to be very desirable amongst Leica owners, and there are many people who pay loads of $$$ to have places like Kanto strip the chrome off their cameras and paint them with black paint.
Click to expand...


It would be an error to assume that the opinions expressed on that brand specific website/forum are in any way representative of the population of current Leica film camera users.
 
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BradS said:
It would be an error to assume that the opinions expressed on that other brand specific website/forum are in any way representative of the population of current Leica film camera users.
Click to expand...
True, I am extrapolating. But you'd think Leica knows it's customer base pretty well (despite some previous missteps) and would make different choices if they thought that would help sales.

At the moment, they can't seem to keep up with demand for M-As and MPs, so perhaps they made the right choices after all :shrug:
 
logan2z said:
.....but you'd think Leica knows it's customer base pretty well (despite some previous missteps) and would make different choices if they thought that would help sales.
At the moment, they can't seem to keep up with demand for M-As and MPs, so perhaps they made the right choices after all :shrug:
Click to expand...

I think it is a bit more complex...and as interesting as it might be to examine, the subject is surely beyond the scope of this thread.
 
They used to sell brand new AC Cobras for $5995. Now they go for $1M+.

What's the world coming to?
 
BobD said:
They used to sell brand new AC Cobras for $5995. Now they go for $1M+.

What's the world coming to?
Click to expand...

Inflation. Back when Cobras were $6k the median annual US household income was $6000.
Yeah, few of us have a $1Million median income now, but the rich folks who want collectible things inflate things much more.
My dad and I saw a used Cobra 289 in a used car lot when I was about 10, it was 'only' $6000 back then

But they all are not attrociously priced. A dealer 3 miles from my home had one listed:
"Take a look at this 1965 Shelby Cobra 289 for sale because this 1965 Slabside 289 Cobra was crafted by John's Custom Fabrication of Coos Bay Oregon
Very nice 1965 Shelby Cobra replica for sale from San Francisco Sports Cars. This 1965 Slabside 289 Cobra was crafted by John's Custom Fabrication of Coos Bay Oregon. Finished in Blue with Black interior and only 1,259 original miles she is a stunning example. A correct fiberglass body sits on a fully engineered rectangular tube chassis designed for spirited driving. To ensure quality and reliability the steering, brakes, transmission and differential are all Mustang II components. Rear exit exhaust and street bumpers round out her authentic styling. This car needs nothing, and is in showroom condition.

Asking $39,500 ono for this Special Build. "
​
OTOH
"A 1965 Shelby Cobra owned by Carroll Shelby from the day it was built until his death in 2012 has been sold for $5.94 million"​
 
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wiltw said:
...but if that were the case, Carrol Shelby had to have built those cars in 1930
Click to expand...

Ever had Carrol Shelby's chili mix?

Off on a tangent now, while waiting for NB23 to report back on the condition of his Leicas, I really enjoyed the movie Ford vs Ferrari.
 
Huss said:
Ever had Carrol Shelby's chili mix?

Off on a tangent now, while waiting for NB23 to report back on the condition of his Leicas, I really enjoyed the movie Ford vs Ferrari.
Click to expand...

I was too busy having sex with a newly acquired second focomat 2c, and ditching the recently acquired IIa, yesterday.

Took me the whole day, plus a 3.5 hours drive. Huge wrestle fight to carry the thing into my darkroom, then clean, then test and find out many little bugs that I’ll need to fix today.
I hope the thing stays and doesn’t move from its current place for the next 30 years. Was painful, but will be rewarding each and every time I’ll use it.
 
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