Leica M7 Viewfinder Selection

[donald_macklin]

Greetings,

I have been taking photographs with my M3 ,50mm,f2.8 Elmar

since 1979.Most enjoyable experiences.This year I wish to

acquire an M7.My lense choices for this camera will be

50mm,f2.0 Summicron-M, and the 90mm,f2.0 APO

Summicron-M.I do not plan on using the M7 with any wide angle

lenses(I will use a 28mm,f2.0 Summicron-M ASPH with finder on

the M3).I would like to know which built-in viewfinder would work

optimally with the M7 and the lense choices I have made.I wear

spectacles, and from what I have read in various forums I may

have problems using certain viefinder/lense

combinations.Please share experiences and thoughts on this

matter.

Thank you in advance.

[al_kaplan1]

The 90mm Summicron can make use of a .85 finder's accuracy. On the other hand the 28mm would be best with a .58 finder so you can use the camera's frameline easily. Since your M3 has even more magnification than a .85 M7 it would be even better suited to use your 90mm 'cron. Given your choices I'd put the 90 on my M3, get a .58 M7, and use the 50 on either one.

[mark-j]

I used M3's for 30 years, then bought an M6. I enjoy the meter in the M6, and then purchased a 0.85 for use with the 90's. I use a 28 also, but do not feel the need for a wider viewfinder. You can use an auxilliary finder with the 28, but not as well with the 90. Al puts forth a good argument for the 0.58, but it didn't hold up for me. I am too used to the M3 finders, hence the 0.85. I also have a 0.72 M6, but I still use the 0.85 more, even with the 28.

 

Ultimately it is your choice. Try borrowing (ha-ha), renting or at least looking through the various finders to see what suits you best. If you would like, I will loan you one of mine, but you have to come to my camera, not the other way around.

 

Cheers.

[steve_brantley2]

I have the M6TTL (.85) and the M7 (.72), and I keep my 28mm lens on the .72 viewfinder. On my .85 M camera, I lose the 28mm framelines, and shot composition suffers from parallax error. I would recommend the standard .72 viewfinder. By the way, I strongly recommend the M7.

[albert knapp md]

Toomas: I would suggest that you get the .72 in order to remain

versatile. Supposing your beloved M3 or even the M7 crashed?

You must have a second body that can handle ALL your lenses.

NOW, we know that Leica gear NEVER breaks down of course

(:>))))), but anything can happen so be prepared.