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LEICA M7 compared to the Zeiss Ikon and Minolta CLE
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(about actual relative sizes)
June 2009 Rangefinder vs. SLR cameras
LEICA Camera Reviews LEICA Lens Reviews
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Introduction top
Intro Specs Performance Usage Compared Recommendations
The LEICA M7, Zeiss Ikon and Minolta CLE all do the same thing and use the same lenses.
Here are the minor differences.
Finder
| Finder framelines | 28, 35, 50, 75, 90, 135mm |
28, 35, 50, 85mm |
28mm, 40mm, 90mm |
| Do frame lines for longer lenses interfere when shooting wider lenses? | When shooting 28mm, 35mm and 50mm, frame lines for 90mm, 135mm and 90mm lenses get in the way |
only at 28mm |
Never |
| Finder magnification | 0.72x (0.58x and 0.85x optional) |
0.74x |
0.58x |
| Auto parallax correction | Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Auto magnification correction w/distance* | No |
No |
No |
| Rangefinder spot visibility | Fair (flares) |
Excellent |
Excellent |
| Easy to cover RF port with finger? | Yes |
Yes |
No |
| Frameline illumination window | Plastic |
Coated ground glass |
Ground glass |
| Finder blockage with most 28mm lenses** | moderate |
minor |
minor |
| Finder speed display | Just fixed digits |
Meaningful LED tree |
Meaningful LED tree |
| Finder speed range | 32s - 1/1,000 |
1 - 1/2,000 |
1 - 1/2,000 (including arrows) |
| Finder display increments | Half stops |
Full stops |
Half stops |
| Resistance to finder smudges | Poor |
Poor |
Good |
| Focus ambiguity *** | moderate |
moderate |
minor |
| Effective RF base length | 50mm |
55.5mm |
29mm |
5
* Only the Contax G1 and Contax G2 do this, or of course any SLR.
* * Zeiss and Minolta are smart enough to put the viewfinder farther away from the lens mount than LEICA.
* * * When focusing on vertical patterns like stripes or fences, it's possible to think you're in focus where in fact you're focused a click or two off! Smaller base-length finders reduce this.
Metering, Exposure and Shutter top
| Auto and manual exposure | Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| TTL metering | Yes |
Yes |
Yes, off film |
| TTL flash | Yes, off film |
No |
Yes, off film |
| Flash Sync | 1/50 |
1/125 |
1/60 |
| Meter pattern | semi-spot, only |
Center-weighted |
Center-weighted |
| Meter works | Only with cocked shutter |
Only with cocked shutter |
Always |
| Exposure compensation | Difficult; have to stop shooting |
Easy; done by feel |
Easy; done by feel |
| AE Lock | Yes |
Yes |
No, use manual |
| Manual metering | Yes, 3-LED |
Crappy blinking LEDs |
No; measure in Auto mode |
| ASA setting | Difficult and unreliable |
Easy and positive |
Easy and positive |
| ASA setting lock? | No |
Yes |
Yes |
| Shutter | Horizontal cloth |
Vertical Metal |
Horizontal cloth |
| Leave shutter cocked? | OK |
OK |
Not overnight |
| Shutter sound | Softer dull clunk |
Click |
Click |
| Shutter speeds, manual | 4s - 1/1,000 |
1 - 1/2,000 |
1 - 1/1,000 |
Shutter speeds, auto (as tested)  |
38s - 1/1,000  |
8s - 1/2,000 |
5s - 1/1,000 |
Shooting top
| Film loading | Convoluted |
Easy |
Easy |
| Film back | Have to remove and hold separate bottom plate of camera! |
Hinged |
Hinged |
| Film-type reminder | None |
Peep hole |
Box-end holder |
| Lens mount | Dull chromed brass |
Solid stainless steel? |
Solid stainless steel |
| Lens mounting | Smooth |
Swell |
can be gritty |
| Lens release | Covered-up and hard to hit |
easy to press |
easy to press |
| Bulb Exposures | No battery drain |
Drains batteries at 15mA |
Drains batteries at 25mA |
| Mechanical speeds | 1/60 and 1/125 |
None |
None |
| Self timer | No |
No |
Yes |
| Trigger pull | Notchy and disjointed |
Clicky |
Smooth and perfect |
| Rewind button | Lever on front |
Button on bottom |
Button on bottom |
Rewind crank |
Fantastic and angled |
Upside down and backwards |
Upside down and backwards |
Power top
| Batteries | 2 - CR1/3N (harder to find) |
2 - A76 (found everywhere) |
2 - A76 (found everywhere) |
| Battery check button | No |
No |
Yes |
| Power switch | Yes, just a safety catch |
Yes, but can lead to lost photos. |
yes, just a safety catch |
| Instant wake-up | Press shutter in |
Press shutter |
Just touch shutter |
| Need to turn off power switch? |
Never |
Never |
Never |
Mechanics, Introduction and Price top
| Size, inches WHD | 5.4 x 3.1 x 1.5" |
5.4 x 3.1 x 1.3" |
4.9 x 3 x 1.3" |
| Size, millimeters | 138 x 79.5 x 38 mm |
138 x 78 x 32 mm |
124.5 x 77.5 x 32 mm |
| Weight w/film | 22.265 oz./631.2g |
16.790oz/476.0g |
14.290 oz/402.3 g |
| Feels like | A tank |
A Pentax K1000 |
a Minolta XG-1 |
| Exterior finish | Black chrome metal |
Black or silver |
Black chrome metal |
| Top and bottom covers | Brass |
Cast aluminum |
Plastic |
| Shutter dial | Solid engraved aluminum |
Metal |
Plastic |
| Markings | Engraved |
Engraved |
Engraved |
| Demeanor | Loud LEICA logos and model numbers |
A normal camera |
Discrete gray lettering |
| Serial Number | Discretely engraved into hot shoe |
Loudly engraved into top cover |
Discretely engraved into hot shoe |
| Dependability | Fair |
Very good |
Very good |
| Introduced | 2002 |
1980 |
|
| Price, 6/09 USA | $4,400 new |
$1,410 new |
$400 used |
Recommendations top
Intro Specs Performance Usage Compared Recommendations
Get the LEICA M7 if you deserve the best. Get the LEICA if you do a lot of long bulb time exposures or need to meter out to longer than a few seconds.
Get the Zeiss Ikon (or a Nikon F6) for practical photography.
Look for a Minolta CLE if you want the smallest, lightest possible LEICA camera.
PLUG
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