s._hon Posted October 24, 2006 Share Posted October 24, 2006 Hi, I would like to know starting from what serial number of M7 that has a MP viewfinder. I just bought a M7 with SN 2851xxx. Is it with a modified viewfinder? Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dennis_cheng1 Posted October 24, 2006 Share Posted October 24, 2006 2,88x,xxx or higher Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
umut_arslan Posted October 24, 2006 Share Posted October 24, 2006 There is no known serials for that, said a leica service technician, from switzerland nidau. They must take apart the rangefinder unit or top plate to see which version. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Blackwell Images Posted October 24, 2006 Share Posted October 24, 2006 This question has come up a number of times before in this forum and ultimately the serial number cut-off for the M7 finder change is unclear. However, your number seems to fall into the cut-off range. Even if you contact Leica with the question they will not be able to tell you definitively as they did not record the numbers. Therefore, the top must me removed to determine if the finder has the upgrade or not. “When you come to a fork in the road, take it ...” – Yogi Berra Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
s._hon Posted October 24, 2006 Author Share Posted October 24, 2006 Can I just remove the top myself or just leave it alone? How can I tell it is a modified VF? Can I tell the different just by looking into the VF? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mpo Posted October 24, 2006 Share Posted October 24, 2006 I understand your curiosity but, believe me, it has no real importance. I own a perfect M3 (reputed to have best viewfinder of all), an MP (with the best modern viewfinder) and an M7 #277xxxx (with the first viwefinder, M6 style). The M3 viewfinder never flares. The MP is flares a little if you don't align your eye properly in the finder. The M7 simply flares a little more... nothing to anguish for, you'll never miss a shot because of this. If not side by side, I cannot tell you which is which. Both are excellent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
furcafe Posted October 24, 2006 Share Posted October 24, 2006 I have to disagree w/Marcelo. Depending on the magnification of the VF, whether the user wears glasses, shooting conditions, etc., there can be a *big* difference in the amount of flare in the RF patch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
s._hon Posted October 24, 2006 Author Share Posted October 24, 2006 I don't wear glass. I am expecting to receive my M7 this week or next. It is a .72 mag and I will only use 50mm for now. I plan to get a current version 50/f2.8 Elmar-M. But I don't seem to find a used one for sale. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mpo Posted October 24, 2006 Share Posted October 24, 2006 That's right. My MP is 0.85 (the flariest) and the M7 is 0.72 (medium in its category) I wear glasses (heavily short sighted), but use correction lenses with all my cameras, not eyeglasses. BTW, these finders are so good (all) that I can focus properly even without glasses or correction lenses... if necessity arises. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Blackwell Images Posted October 24, 2006 Share Posted October 24, 2006 "Can I tell the different just by looking into the VF?" No. “When you come to a fork in the road, take it ...” – Yogi Berra Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alun Posted October 25, 2006 Share Posted October 25, 2006 But is it not possible to tell from the external appearance of the VF? Someone suggested to me (an experienced Leica salesperson) that the tell-tale sign on the MP finder is the blue- ish 'bloom' on the VF glass... I've no idea whether this is the case or not and as my M7 is currently at Leica for work I have asked them to tell me which VF it has. --alun Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andre_bosmans Posted October 25, 2006 Share Posted October 25, 2006 Last august I asked Solms if M7 2781471(produced in june 2002) had the MP VF. The answer was negative. This might be an indication that Leica knows exactly the serial # when the M7 got the MP VF. Would be very interested to know why this mystery is kept alive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al_kaplan1 Posted October 25, 2006 Share Posted October 25, 2006 They might know for sure that yours doesn't have it but still not know what the exact cut-off was, only that it was after yours was produced. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andre_bosmans Posted October 25, 2006 Share Posted October 25, 2006 Just saw on Ebay-Germany an M7 #2782804 with the new MP VF (so they say). Andre Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Blackwell Images Posted October 25, 2006 Share Posted October 25, 2006 "This might be an indication that Leica knows exactly the serial # when the M7 got the MP VF." Use some common sense people! Any camera prior to 2,8xx,xxx was definitely not produced with the new VF. Leica knows when the MP was introduced and they know when the MP/M7 cameras were made. What they don't know is where in the line the M7 cameras made the change (the numbers in the transition from old to "upgraded" finders were not recorded). All finders (prior - all the way back to the M4-2) can be fitted with the MP finder upgrade. So any camera produced prior to 2003 CAN have an MP finder if it was upgraded. If Leica (or the best technicians) can't tell if the finder has the upgrade without taking the top off, then you won't be able to tell either. “When you come to a fork in the road, take it ...” – Yogi Berra Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Blackwell Images Posted October 25, 2006 Share Posted October 25, 2006 BTW, my M7 (sr. 2,77x,xxx) was produced in 2002 - prior to the introduction of the MP - but it has the MP finder upgrade. How can that be? Because I had it upgraded. “When you come to a fork in the road, take it ...” – Yogi Berra Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
s._hon Posted October 25, 2006 Author Share Posted October 25, 2006 I have not gotten my M7 yet. But it has flare when I look into VF, then it is a non MP VF? If it is a MP VF, then there should not be any flare at all? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mpo Posted October 25, 2006 Share Posted October 25, 2006 "If it is a MP VF, then there should not be any flare at all?" No, it wil flare anyway, but less. Only the M3 finder does not flare at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Blackwell Images Posted October 25, 2006 Share Posted October 25, 2006 "If it is a MP VF, then there should not be any flare at all?" The "upgraded" finder will make the RF flair resistant, not flair free. That means the finder still might flair with the new finder from time-to-time. All Leica M7 cameras have coated RF windows designed to help prevent RF patch flair. So regardless of which finder your camera has, you may never have a patch fade-out problem. After you receive the camera just use it and enjoy it. If the RF patch flairs on you then take (or send) it to a reputable Leica technician and ask him/her to check it over. “When you come to a fork in the road, take it ...” – Yogi Berra Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
35mmdelux Posted March 2, 2009 Share Posted March 2, 2009 <p>Is it "flair" or "flare?"<br> I always thought "flair" was for, ahemm, well you know...</p> <p>(interesting discussion).</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mohir_ali Posted March 3, 2009 Share Posted March 3, 2009 <p>2885XXX<br> I have an M6 and don't worry about FLARE.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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