I too like the M7. To reverse an analogy, it is a digital M without a sensor. Works in exactly the same way and is a painless transition to film for, say, an M11 ussr. But you are right in the battery issue. The new M6 is probably the sweet spot for a new film camera. I am not one to buy a limited edition and put it on the shelf for ten years. Better to buy a series camera and use it!

I have been using mine extensively. every day. it ate so many batteries that I sold it, because I used to run out on trails & travels. seems to be different with different cameras… I liked the M7 most of all leicas. looking at the price of the cameras it seems best tu buy a ltd edition of some titanium mechanical camera, not unpack it & sell it 10 years later. meanwhile I use medium format. even the best 35mm lens can’t match MF quality. there are super cheap 4×45 by fuji, for some more money on can get 67 which is amazing even by digital standards.

Subjectively, the battery problem is most noticeable if the camera is not used for a time. I use my M7 sparingly and I have found battery problems. If, as in your case, you are using it all the time the batteries seem to last longer. Strange.

My M10 on the other hand only gets about a day of shooting on a battery.

Yes, you are right. I’ve had good relationships with the M2 as well as the M3 and M4 (but not the M5 which I have not had the pleasure of trying). As you realise, however, this article was looking at M cameras with built-in light metering which some people do prefer. But enjoy the M2, it is probably a more sensible buy than the M-A.

I have seen some rangefinder flare in some models, but nothing that would bother me. I have not seen any in the wonderful M3 viewfinder.

William

You could be right on the investment front. It’s just that you can have a lot of fun without much, if any, depreciation — all other issues set aside.

Both yours and Wayne’s points are well made. For sheer pleasure and economy, an old OM-1 would do just as well. I don’t do a lot of film, partly because I am too lazy to do my own processing, but mainly because everything I take tends to be time-sensitive — needing to get it on the blog as soon as possible. But I would really like to spend more time shooting the M7, M6 and the others.