I just don't get it. Am I missing something? My ASA is set to DX. Intermitently that tiny led blinks. Sometimes it does, sometimes it doesn't. It does not seem to be related to over or under exposure. Maybe its on the blink so to speak. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

-- John Abela (jamriman@yahoo.com), June 05, 2002

Answers

i had the same prob. upon close examination, the comp dial (which also activates the LED) was not PRECISELY (and i mean precisely) seated at the null position. check to make sure both the dials are precisely where they should be by turning them and relocking them at zero. this should cure the prob. good luck!

-- roger michel (michel@tcn.org), June 05, 2002.

Yep, that inner dial on a dual dial ISO/Comp wheel is a ridiculous design... Couple this with the blinking light that only stops blinking IF you have a DX can loaded AND you are set (exactly) to DX on the ISO wheel AND you have no exposure compensation dialed in, and you have just outlined two of my biggest complaints with the M7.

Cheers,

-- Jack Flesher (jbflesher@msn.com), June 05, 2002.

I don't know why the DX indicator in the M7 couldn't have been simply a constant-lit "+/-" symbol. I also was disgusted at the cheapening of the ISO dial from the strong push-turn-and-release on the M6 to a very weak set of detents. Perhaps, along with the DX-contact alignment and freeze-up problems, both these features of the beta- test batch will be corrected when actual production begins ;>) Remember that the 1st run of M6 classics had less sensitive meters and non-blinking LED's (so you didn't know if the lenscap was on) and the 1st run of M5's had weak detents in the shutter speed dial, which were corrected later.

Has anyone looked at the *inside* (where the contacts are) of the backplate between the M7 and M6TTL? I wonder if an M6TTL backplate could be interchanged with the M7 and still properly key in the ISO to the meter. I'd happily do without the compensation setting (never have used it on any AE camera)to get the more secure ISO setting. Then I'd disconnect the DX LED. I'm sure that LED could be unplugged even now, but with the ISO setting so easily disturbed it wouldn't be a smart move.

-- Jay (infinitydt@aol.com), June 05, 2002.

We are talking about a $2300 camera, right? And a camera that has apparently been in R&D for a number of years? And now we're stooping to awkward work-arounds for a design defect caused, no doubt, by the systematic cheapening of the product. In another, somewhat related thread, Roger Michel suggested a two-word answer: "Passport Warranty." On that and this issue I propose a single-word response: "Inexcusable."

-- George (davecasman@yahoo.com), June 05, 2002.

i'm very satisfied with the camera and have concluded that it was well worth the money to me. sure the detentes could be a little stronger, but i've only knocked the dial out of kilter once in many weeks of daily use. i really don't think there is any raft of problems here; just people learning how to use the beast. and if leica changes the iso/comp dial, i'm sure the new wheel will be retrofittable. everybody knows (or should know) that when you buy one of the first examples of a brand new product, there are bound to be some bugs. you just have to decide if the "i can't wait factor" is strong enough to offset these potential nuisances. the f100 and f5 both had significant teething problems. heck, the new $265,000 aston martin vanquish has already had a redesign of its hydraulics. a person who gets irked by small probs should certainly wait until the 2nd production run. simple as that. did people really think there were going to be NO probs at all with the M7??

-- roger michel (michel@tcn.org), June 05, 2002.

and george -- two things re: my "passport warranty" answer. i was responding to marc's concern about the fact that his camera is jammed, not the basic design of the camera. marc's m7 is clearly sick. moreover, i think the fact that leica stands behind its products in a way that is unique to the camera industry (does anybody else offer anything close to a five year passport warranty??) is very relevant to this discussion. i never would have bought a brand new product from a company that did not have a great reputation for service. i believe that if there are defects in the m7, they will be rectified.

-- roger michel (michel@tcn.org), June 05, 2002.

They most likely offer a 5 year passport because: 1. They have already charged you for it by asking 2000 odd USD for that body which is worth about 100USD. 2. It acts as a 'buffer' for poor QC. 3. They want you to buy new instead of buying second hand for 1/3 price prob in same condition.

-- Karl Yik (karl.yik@dk.com), June 05, 2002.

karl -- (1) in what sense is it worth $100 (or $1000 if that is what you meant)?? what cameras, bought new, are avilable at those price points that have similar build quality and feature?? (2) it certainly costs more to service cameras post-production than to make them rite the first time. apart from complexities having to do with who bears the cost of manufacturing (leica AG) and the warranty (leica usa), it wouldn't make economic sense to build shoddy cameras that require frequent repair. (3) please direct me to where i can purchase (preferably in large quantitues for resale) as new M7s for $750. your are feistier than usual today mr. yik.

-- roger michel (michel@tcn.org), June 05, 2002.

I suspicion that within a year or two M7s will be delivered that rectify these complaints e.g. a three branch "decision tree" for DX anomilies that only yields one type of visual warning thus forcing a three step check list to determine the problem. That along with the jamming problems that a few have experienced, and the plastic battery cover.

Hard to stomach with a $2,300 instrument in part sold on quality? Sure. But not necessarily that hard to understand, even with the year or so of field testing. I'm sure they will work these out, particulary in these days of instant world wide communication capabilities for much of their customer base making these problems known.

The real question is if they will openly offer the proper retrofits to that same loyal base who took the plunge early, in no small part based upon the faith regarding the quality of the product.

I'll bet they will.

Best,

Jerry

-- Jerry Pfile (Jerry Pfile@MSN.com), June 05, 2002.

Pretty astonishing really...all these problems with features that are staples on $250.00, low end slrs.

Inexcusable is an understatement.

-- Jim Tardio (jimtardio@earthlink.net), June 05, 2002.

Yeah, and the $250 Canon Rebel G could do that High Speed Flash Sync trick in E-TTL mode, too.

Leica could stand to get a clue.

-- George (davecasman@yahoo.com), June 05, 2002.