Leica M7

Pre-production - Leica M6A

The accessory shoe of this pre-production version of Leica M7 was engraved "M6A" and there was a small switch located below the shutter release²⁴⁰. The speed dial also included an "auto" setting²⁴⁰. Leica successfully integrated an excellent auto exposure system, a high-quality viewfinder display, and useful features such as DX film speed coding²⁴⁰. Best of all, if the photographer desired, the camera could still be operated manually, just like the Leica M6 Classic²⁴⁰.

Essentially, it was a Leica M6 Classic with additional features²⁴⁰. However, since the controls were electronic rather than mechanical, the Leica M6A allowed for step-less and longer shutter speeds, making the camera even quieter²⁴⁰. Additionally, it offered two standby mechanical speeds of 1/60 and 1/125 seconds as a fail-safe in case the battery failed²⁴⁰.

Leica had made significant advancements to the Leica M6A by partnering with Metz to address the sync speed issue³⁵⁷.

Production

Leica M7 was introduced at the Photo Marketing Association (PMA) photo fair in Orlando at the end of February of 2002⁵⁰³. Leica M7 was produced between 2002-2009⁴³⁹. "M7" had been a registered trademark of Leica Camera AG since June 14, 2002⁵³⁴. Leica M7 was the first model in the M series to feature an aperture-priority mode³⁵⁷. It had an electronically controlled shutter capable of mechanically producing two different exposure times when necessary³⁵⁷. This aperture-priority mode, along with the shutter speed display in the rangefinder, was subsequently adopted by all digital M models³⁵⁷. Additionally, the housing and technical specifications were consistent with those of the Leica M6 TTL³⁵⁷.

This camera featured aperture priority auto exposure and displayed the selected shutter speed in the viewfinder³⁵⁷. The shutter speed range extended from 32 seconds to 1/1000 of a second, with an AE lock that activated by slightly pressing the shutter release²⁴⁰. The display brightness adjusted automatically according to ambient light²⁴⁰.

Flash synchronization up to 1/1000 of a second was possible (non-TTL) when using a 3502 adapter and a compatible flashgun²⁴⁰. The camera included DX coding for film speed, which displayed the set speed for 2 seconds upon power-up and indicated if there was no film or if manual settings differed from DX²⁴⁰.

The rangefinder and bright line frames were akin to those on the Leica M6, while the top plates of the Leica M7 was now made of brass instead of zinc alloy²⁴⁰. The dimensions remained the same as Leica M6 TTL, with the camera weighing 610 grams²⁴⁰.

The Leica M7 was set to be delivered in March 2002, with various models expected in the following months²⁴⁰. Stefan Daniel noted that development received approval in February 1999, facing design challenges particularly with the new viewfinder display and shutter²⁴⁰.

The camera was priced at $2,350, which was 20% higher than that of LeicaM6 TTL²⁴⁰.

Catalogue Numbers

10501 - Leica M7 0.58 in black chrome⁵³⁴.

10503 - Leica M7 0.72 in black chrome⁵³⁴.

10504 - Leica M7 0.72 in silver chrome⁵³⁴.

10505 - Leica M7 0.85 in black chrome⁵³⁴.

Special Editions of Leica M7

Leica M7 Titanium "Sheikh Al-Thani" was introduced in 2002 or 2003 in quantity of 1 cameras³⁵⁵,³⁵⁷. A one-of-a-kind camera was commissioned by Sheikh Al-Thani³⁵⁵,³⁵⁷. The camera was made entirely of titanium, without eyelets for the carrying strap and without leather³⁵⁵,³⁵⁷. The owner's name and the year were engraved on the top plate³⁵⁵,³⁵⁷. "Handmade Titanium Camera" was engraved on the back of the top plate and the Leica logo was engraved on the front³⁵⁵,³⁵⁷. The serial number on the hot shoe was 8888888 along the special numbering 1/1³⁵⁵,³⁵⁷. The camera was delivered with five lenses also made of titanium: Elmarit-M 21 f/2.8, Summilux-M 35 f/1.4 ASPH., Noctilux-M 50 f/1, APO-Summicron-M 90 f/2 ASPH. and APO-Telyt-M 135 f/3.4³⁵⁵,³⁵⁷.

Leica M7 Edition Hermès was introduced in 2009 in quantity of 200 cameras³⁵⁵,³⁵⁷. It was created in collaboration with Hermès³⁵⁵,³⁵⁷. The silver chrome-plated camera was available in a calfskin version - orange or étoupe - supplied by Hermès³⁵⁵,³⁵⁷. There were 100 of each version, which were specially numbered on the hot shoe³⁵⁵,³⁵⁷. The cameras were supplied with a matching Summilux-M 35 f/1.4 ASPH and a Leicavit³⁵⁵,³⁵⁷.

Leica M7 Titanium "9/11 Memorial" was introduced in 2005 in quantity of 1 cameras³⁵⁷. John Botte, a New York police photographer who documented the attacks of September 11, 2001, designed this special edition of the camera and commissioned it from Leica³⁵⁷. The camera, made of titanium, was delivered with a matching Summilux-M 50 f/1.4 ASPH lens, also made of titanium³⁵⁷. The camera had an engraving of part of the destroyed steel structure of the World Trade Centre, the emblem of the New York Police Department 23 and the words "To Those Who Made the Ultimate Sacrifice, September 11, 2001" on the top plate³⁵⁷. John Botte's signature was engraved on the back of the plate³⁵⁷. The black leather cover was stamped with the abbreviation NYPD in several rows³⁵⁷.

Leica M7 China's 1911 Revolution was introduced in 2011³⁵⁷. Launched in China to mark the 100th anniversary of the Xinhai Revolution³⁵⁷. The black-painted cameras had green leather coating³⁵⁷. They were supplied with a Summilux-M 50 f/1.4 lens, which was also painted black³⁵⁷. A quote from Sun Yat-sen, the founder of modern China, was engraved on the top plate and the lens hood³⁵⁷. On the back of the top plate "Centenary of the Xinhai Revolution 1911-2011" was also engraved in Chinese³⁵⁷.

Leica M7 Titanium "50 Years LEICA M System" was introduced in 2004 in quantity of 550 cameras⁵⁰⁸. The 50-Years-M edition was offered in two sets⁵⁰⁸:

One set was limited to only 50 units⁵⁰⁸. These cameras had serial numbers ranging from 3000001 to 3000050⁵⁰⁸. In addition to the anniversary "1954-2004 50 Jahre M-System." engraving, each camera featured one of the years from 1954 to 2004 etched on it⁵⁰⁸. This exclusive set came in a titanium-coated aluminum suitcase from Rimowa and included the following lenses in a titanium edition: Summicron 28 mm f/2 Asph, Summilux 50 mm f/1.4 Asph, and Apo-Summicron 90 mm f/2 Asph⁵⁰⁸. The unique set was priced at €20,000⁵⁰⁸.
The other set included 500 models with serial numbers ranging from 3000051 to 3000550, featuring the engraving "1954-2004 50 Jahre M-System."⁵⁰⁸ This set came complete with the Summilux-M 50 mm f/1.4 Asph⁵⁰⁸. With a bit of luck, the set could have been purchased from a specialized dealer for €10,000, starting in October of 2004⁵⁰⁸.

Leica M7 Titanium number 3000000 was presented to Sebastião Salgado in May of 2005 by Dr. Josef Spichtig, CEO of Leica Camera AG⁴¹⁶. The camera was auctioned off at the 8th WestLicht Camera Auction on November 27, 2005⁴¹⁶. The net profits from the sale were to be directed to Salgado's trust fund, which focused on the protection of tropical rainforests and reforestation programs in Brazil⁴¹⁶. In a personal letter to the buyer, Salgado expressed, "Dear friend, the outcome of the auction will allow for the planting of approximately 100,000 trees. Thank you once again for helping us continue our efforts toward hope through the magical transformation of this prestigious, unique Leica camera into a tropical forest. With my kind regards, Sebastião Salgado."⁴¹⁶

Leica M7 Flag M7 - In the final months of 2002, Leica produced a limited number of special demonstration cameras for its agencies in various countries⁵³⁴. These cameras featured a color reproduction of the flag of the country where the agency was located on the top plate, often accompanied by a legend such as "Test Camera France."⁵³⁴

For the Scandinavian countries, there was a single design that incorporated the flags of Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Denmark, superimposed on each other⁵³⁴. In the case of Switzerland, instead of a flag, there was an outline map of the country along with the legend "Test the Best."⁵³⁴

For the Belgium agency, 25 cameras displayed the legend "Photo Alpha."⁵³⁴ Meanwhile, the Canadian cameras featured an outline of a maple leaf in red, enclosing the number "50" instead of a flag⁵³⁴.

The following numbers of cameras were issued to each agency: 6 cameras to Australia, 30 to Austria, 35 to Belgium, 2 to Brazil, 50 to Canada, 50 to France, 60 to Germany, 30 to Great Britain, 4 to Greece, 50 to Italy, 30 to South Korea, 8 to Luxembourg, 35 to Netherlands, 4 to New Zealand, 10 to Portugal, 25 to Scandinavia, 10 to Spain, 40 to Switzerland, and 100 to the U.S.A⁵³⁴.

Leica M7 CPA Edition was introduced in 2006³⁵⁷. This special series was produced on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the founding of the China Photographers Association³⁵⁷. The silver camera with à la carte vulcanite leather and a special engraving on the top plate was delivered as a set with a black Summilux-M 35 f/1.4 ASPH³⁵⁷.

Leica M7 50 Anniversary Midland Leitz was introduced in 2003 in quantity of 50 cameras³⁵⁵.

Leica M7 betriebsk was introduced in 2004 in quantity of 100 cameras³⁵⁵.