Leica M7 Instruction Manual
LEICA M7
Bedienungsanleitung /
Instructions
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The CE-Labelling on our products certifies that these products meet the
basic requirements of current EU guidelines.
Warning Notice
Modern electronic equipment is sensitive to electrostatic discharges.
Electrostatic charges of tens of thousands of volts can be picked up easily, for instance by walking across a synthetic carpet. These electrostatic charges can be discharged when touching your
LEICA M7/MP, especially if the camera is on a conductive surface.
If this discharge only affects the camera body, it is completely harmless to the camera’s electronics. Despite the additional built-in protective circuitry, the external contacts, such as those
for the battery and the rear contacts, should not be touched if at all possible on safety grounds.
Should you wish to clean the contacts please do not use (synthetic!) optic microfiber cloths, but
rather a cotton or linen cloth. Any possible electrostatic charges can be fully discharged by deliberately touching radiators or water pipes (conductive, earth-connected objects).
Please avoid soiling and oxidizing the electrical contacts by assuring that your LEICA M7/MP is
stored in a dry place with the protective covers in place.
When a lens is mounted, the shutter must be protected from intensive frontal sunlight, e.g. by
attaching the lens cap or by keeping the camera in the shade or in its case. If this is not observed, the lenses’ magnifying glass effect, which increases with larger apertures, could cause
damage to the shutter curtain. With large apertures, this can happen quickly.
This context should always be regarded, in spite of the fact that in practice shots with the sun in
the frame rarely involve large apertures.
Foreword
Dear Customer,
Congratulations on your decision to purchase the
LEICA M7. You have chosen an excellent and
unique rangefinder camera.
We wish you many years of pleasure and successful photography with your camera.
We recommend that you read these instructions
first in order to derive full benefit from the photographic possibilities offered by your new camera.
65
Contents Page
CE-Notice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64
Foreword . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65
Nomenclature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68
Viewfinder displays . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .69
Attaching the carrying strap . . . . . . . . . . . . .70
The power supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .71
Compatible batteries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .71
Loading and replacing the batteries . . . . . . .71
Automatic battery check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .72
The main switch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .73
The shutter release button . . . . . . . . . . . . . .73
The shutter speed dial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .74
The quick-wind lever . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .75
Exchanging the film . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .76
Opening the camera . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .76
Loading the film . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .77
Closing the camera . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .77
Advancing the film to the first frame . . . . . .78
Rewinding and removing the film . . . . . . . . .78
Setting the film speed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .79
The following settings are possible . . . . . . .80
Film speed displays in the viewfinder . . . . . .80
The set, displayed and used film speed . . . .81
Setting an exposure compensation . . . . . . .82
Example of a compensation to plus . . . . . . .83
Example of a compensation to minus . . . . .83
Attaching a lens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .84
Removing a lens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .84
Leica M lens design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .85
The focusing ring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .85
The aperture ring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .86
The depth of field scale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .87
Lens hoods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .88
Use of older Leica M lenses . . . . . . . . . . . . .88
How to hold the camera correctly . . . . . . . .89
The bright-line viewfinder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .90
The frame selector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .92
The rangefinder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .94
Coincidence (double image) focusing . . . . . .94
Split-image focusing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .94
Exposure metering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .96
Switching on the exposure meter . . . . . . . . .96
The exposure modes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .97
The aperture priority automatic
exposure mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
97
Metering memory-lock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .98
66
Setting the exposure manually . . . . . . . . . . .99
The "B" setting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .100
Meter sensitivity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .100
Light levels below the measuring range . . .100
Switching off the exposure meter . . . . . . . .101
Metering diagram . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .101/103
Metering fields in the viewfinder .102/104/105
General information on exposure metering .106
Flash photography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .108
Compatible flash units . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .109
Attaching and connecting the flash unit . . .110
The TTL flash mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .110
Settings for TTL flash mode . . . . . . . . . . . .111
Flash exposure displays in the
viewfinder with the SF20/SF 24D or
compatible flash units with
SCA 3502/3501 adapter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
111
Displays in TTL and automatic flash mode .111
Displays in manual flash mode . . . . . . . . . .112
Synchronisation on the 2nd shutter curtain 113
High Speed Synchronisation flash mode . .115
Strobe flash mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .116
Flash LED displays in strobe mode . . . . . . .116
System accessories for the LEICA M7 . . . .117
Interchangeable lenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .117
Filters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .117
Viewfinder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .117
Viewfinder magnifier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .118
Eyesight correction lenses . . . . . . . . . . . . .118
LEICA MOTOR M . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .119
Bags and cases . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .119
Tips on maintenance of your Leica
camera and lenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .120
Alphabetical index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .122
Technical data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .123
Other Leica products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .125
Projectors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .125
Binoculars and spotting scopes . . . . . . . . .125
Leica Academy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .126
Leica in the Internet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .126
Leica Information Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . .126
Leica Service Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .127
67
Nomenclature
0 1. Base plate holding pin
02. Battery compartment cover
03. Lens release button
04. Eyelets for carrying strap
05. Red button for lens alignment
06. Release lever for film rewinding
07. Automatic frame counter
08. Shutter release button with threaded socket
for cable release
09. Main switch
10. Quick-wind lever for advancing the film and
cocking the shutter (is set to stand-by position when shooting)
11. Shutter speed dial with clickstops for:
• Manually adjustable shutter speeds from
4s to 1/1000s, inc. two mechanically controlled speeds - 1/60s and 1/125s, which
are available at any time, i.e. even without
battery power,
• "" for 1/50s synchronising speed for
flash operation
• "B" for long time exposures
• "AUTO" for aperture priority automatic
exposure mode (with manual aperture
pre-selection) with shutter speeds from
32s to 1/1000s
12. Rangefinder window
13. Accessory shoe for flash control with:
• Central (triggering) and
• Control contacts
14. Bright-line frame illumination window
15. Angled rewind crank
16. Viewfinder window with mirrored strips for improved LED visibility in bright light and engraved viewfinder magnification factors
17. Fixed ring with index for focusing, alignment
button for changing lenses and depth of
field scale
18. Focusing ring
19. Aperture ring
20. White index dot for aperture setting
21. Frame selector
22. Viewfinder eyepiece
23. Socket for connecting flash units with cord
24. Camera back
1
25. Tripod bushing A
/4, DIN 4503 (1/4")
26. Base plate
27. Exposure compensation scale with range of
1
±2EV in
/3EV steps
28. Exposure compensation ring with white index dot
29. Film speed dial with:
• ISO speed values from 6 to 6400 and
• DX position for automatic setting from
ISO 25/15° to ISO 5000/38°
68
30. Release button for exposure compensation
C (75 mm)
C (50 mm)
A
B
D
ring
31. Base plate catch
32. DX contact strip
33. Schematic diagram for inserting the film
34. Coupling for motorised film transport
35. Take up spool
36. Contacts for transfer of the selected film
speed setting mode – automatically using
DX code or manually, or the manually set
film speed and any exposure compensation
set
Viewfinder displays
A. Using LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes)
Four-digit seven segment digital display with
decimal point and raised point (with automatic brightness control, adjusted to the outside
1
brightness
) for:
• Display of the automatically or manually
set film speed,
• Reference to any exposure compensation
set,
• Display of the automatically controlled
shutter speeds in aperture priority mode,
• Reference to the use of exposure memory
lock,
• Warning of over or under exposure or
being below the measuring range in aperture priority mode
• Run-up of shutter speeds slower than 1s
and
• indication of battery level
Two triangular and one circular LED:
• Jointly as a light balance for manual exposure adjustment and for
• Warnings when below the metering range.
Flash-shaped LED:
• Flash status
B. Bright-line frame for 50mm and 75mm
(Example)
C. Metering field for focusing
B (75 mm)
1
Earlier Leica M lenses with additional viewfinder optics for adjustment of the image field size cover the
outside brightness sensor in the viewfinder window,
limiting the automatic control.
B (50 mm)
C
69
Attaching the carrying strap
!
70
The power supply
To control the shutter – apart from the two mechanical and therefore permanently available
shutter speeds of 1/60s and 1/125s – and for
exposure metering, the LEICA M7 requires two 3
1
volt DL
/3N type lithium batteries. They are also
necessary for the electronical triggering of a
connected flash unit.
Lithium batteries can be stored for many years
with only a slight loss of power. This is a particular
advantage if the camera is often not used for long
periods of time.
Compatible batteries
1
Lithium cells - Duracell DL
- Kodak K 58 L - Philips CR
- Ucar 2 L 76 - Varta CR
1
1
/3N
/3N
/3N
Loading and replacing the batteries
01. Release the bayonet lock on the battery com-
partment cover (2) by turning it to the left (approx. 40° anti-clockwise) and remove it.
02. Wipe any oxidation residue from the batteries
using a clean cloth.
03. Insert the first battery into the battery com-
partment with the minus pole pointing upwards (corresponds to the markings in the
battery compartment) and push it upwards.
Then insert the second battery in the same
e
p
n
O
C
e
l
s
o
position in the remaining section of the compartment.
Note: To allow easy removal, the contact spring
presses the lower battery slightly towards the
cover. The final position of the batteries is only ensured by replacing the cover.
04. Replace the cover against the spring pressure
and lock it into place by turning it to the right
until you feel it click into place.
05. To remove the batteries, carry out these steps
in reverse. The upper battery will slide downwards by itself when the camera body is in a
vertical position. To assist this, you can lightly
tap the camera on your hand.
71
At room temperature and measurements of 10s
per exposure, a new set of batteries should last
for approximately 65 36-exposure films, or 2340
exposures.
Automatic battery check
If the decimal display LEDs or the light balance
flash when exposure metering is activated, the
batteries should be replaced. If the batteries do
not have sufficient power for the electronically
controlled functions of the camera (exposure metering and the electronic shutter speeds), "
bbcc
lights up or the displays disappear altogether.
In these cases, you can continue to use the
camera with the two mechanical shutter speeds
of 1/60s and 1/125s available and exposure
metering based on estimation or using an external
hand exposure meter.
Note: The electrical circuit can be broken by
oxidation of the battery surfaces; this will also
cause the LEDs to go out. In this case, remove the
batteries and clean them with a clean cloth. If
necessary, also clean the contacts inside the camera.
Important!
• New and used batteries, or batteries of dif-
ferent types or from different manufacturers,
should not be used together.
• The battery contacts must be kept clean.
• Batteries should not be incinerated, recharged,
opened, dismantled or heated.
• Used batteries should be removed as soon as
possible and should not be disposed of in
normal waste, as they contain substances
harmful to the environment.
• To ensure that they are properly recycled, you
should take the batteries to a dealer or recycling point.
• Batteries should be stored in a cool dry place.
”
72
9
8
ab
The main switch
The main switch (9), designed as a click-stop
lever, is on the front underneath the shutter
release button (8). To turn on the camera, move
the lever to the right, to cover the red marking (b).
In its idle position, i.e. when it is to the left and
the red marking is visible (a), it turns off the
camera electronics and, at the same time, mechanically blocks the shutter release to prevent
accidental exposures.
If the shutter is cocked when turning on, the
exposure meter is also activated. Initially, the film
speed is displayed or flashes in the viewfinder for
2s (depending on the setting, for more details see
the section "Film speed displays in the viewfinder”
on page 80/81). The display then changes and the
the exposure meter results light up for 14s. If the
shutter is not cocked when turning on, there is no
display.
In manual mode the shutter can be released immediately after the main switch is turned on;
when set to aperture priority mode you must wait
approx. 2s (until the film speed display has gone
out).
Note: If the camera is being transported in a bag,
for example, or will not be used for a long period,
it should be turned off at the main switch.
The shutter release button
The shutter release button (8) has two pressure
levels. Pressing it down lightly to the first pressure
point activates exposure metering if the shutter is
cocked. After the shutter release button is released, the metering system and the display in the
viewfinder remain active for approx. another 14s
(for more details see the sections under "Exposure metering” on page 96).
With the aperture priority mode, pressing down to
the 2nd pressure point locks the metered exposure value, i.e. the shutter speed determined by the
camera (for more details see the section
" Metering memory-lock ” on page 98).
Going past the 2nd pressure point releases the
shutter.
73
11
10
7
The shutter release button should be pressed
gently – not jerkily – until the shutter opens with a
quiet click. The shutter release has a threaded
socket to accept standard cable releases.
Note: The second pressure point canno
t be de-
tected when using cable releases.
The shutter speed dial
The size and position of the shutter speed dial (11)
on the LEICA M7 are ergonomically perfect: on
the one hand it is extremely easy to operate even
with the camera held to the eye. On the other
hand, it is still well-protected against the settings
being accidentally changed.
In addition, the direction in which it turns
(like that of the aperture ring on the lenses)
corresponds to the exposure meter displays in the
viewfinder for manual setting: for example, if the
left-hand triangular LED lights up, turning the dial
in the direction of the arrow, i.e. to the right, leads
to the slower shutter speed required.
The LEICA M7’s shutter speed dial is used to select the two exposure modes – aperture priority
mode by setting it to the "AUTO” position marked
1
in orange or red
, manual mode by selecting one
of the shutter speeds from 1/1000s to 4 s, the
sync speed 1/50 s for flash mode in the ""
1
position marked in orange or red
, or "B” for long
time exposures. When the dial is set to "B”, the
shutter remains open for as long as the shutter
release button is depressed.
In aperture priority mode, the exposure is controlled automatically and continuously, with shutter speeds in the range from 1/1 000s to 32 s.
These shutter speeds, like most of those set
manually, are created electronically, which means
they are only available if there is sufficient power
(more information can be found in the section
"The power supply” on page 71).
1
To ensure optimum visibility, these engravings are in
orange on black chromium plated cameras and red on
silver chromium plated cameras.
74
By contrast, the shutter speeds of 1/60s and
1/125s, which can be selected in manual mode
and are additionally identified by a white line engraved next to the values, are created mechanically and are therefore always available, i.e. even
with no power supply.
Note: The click-stops for the electronic and mechanical shutter speeds differ distinctively when
engaging, i.e. between the "" and 1/60s or
1/125s and 1/2150s positions. This is determined by mechanical adjustment of a lever and is
therefore normal.
The LEICA M7 shutter speed dial does not have a
stop, i.e. it can be turned in any direction from any
position. It engages at all engraved positions; this
can be felt particularly at the "AUTO” position.
This ensures that the settings can easily be detected even without a visual check, e.g. with the
eye to the viewfinder, and prevents accidental adjustment. Intermediate speeds cannot be used.
Due to the changeover between electronic and
mechanical control or vice versa, the distances
between the "" position (1/50s) and 1/60 s or
1/125s and 1/250s are slightly greater than
those between all other settings.
For more details on setting the correct exposure,
see the sections under "Exposure metering” on
page 96.
The quick-wind lever
The quick-wind lever (10) is used to advance the
film, to cock the shutter and to automatically
advance the frame counter. The film can be transported either by moving the lever as far as it will
go or by several short strokes. For rapid sequences, you can put the lever into a "ready position”
or leave it in that position.
75
31
1
35
36
3334
Exchanging the film
Always start by making sure that there is no film
already in the camera by turning the rewind crank
(15) gently in the direction of the arrow. If there is
any resistance, proceed as described on page 78.
Hold the camera in your right hand with the base
plate pointing upwards
Opening the camera
01. Raise the latch (31) on the base plate (26),
02. turn it to the left,
03. remove the base plate, and
04. fold the back (24) out towards the rear.
Note: With the back of the camera open, three
contacts (36) for transmission of the set film
speed to the camera’s controls can be seen on the
back and inside the camera housing. These
contacts are gold-plated and are therefore corrosion free and, as far as possible, insensitive to dirt
and dust. Special care of these contacts is not
required.
However, when loading a film, you should ensure
that soiling or direct exposure to rainwater etc. is
prevented.
This also applies to the DX contacts (32) in the
film cartridge chamber.
76
Notes:
• The film leader must be trimmed as is the case
with all ready to use films.
• If the film leader is pulled so far out that it pro-
trudes slightly from one of the slits on the opposite side of the take up spool; this does no
affect the functioning of the camera. It is only in
frosty conditions that the film must be inserted
exactly as shown in the schematic drawing, i.e.
the film leader may only be taken up by one slit
on the take up spool so that the protruding end
of the film cannot be broken off.
Loading the film
05. Hold the film cartridge in the right hand and
insert it about half-way into the empty chamber
Note: The cartridge is pushed past the springloaded DX contacts during loading. The principle
of this means that you will feel slight resistance.
06. Take the film leader and pull it until it is in the
take up spool (35) as shown in the schematic
diagram (33) on the inside of the camera
housing, and
07. carefully press the film cartridge and the film
leader into the camera with your fingertips.
Important!
Correct film transportation should not
be checked with the camera open, as the base plate is designed in such a way that replacing it on the
camera guides the film into the correct position.
Closing the camera
08. Replace the camera back,
09. hook the base plate onto the retaining pin on
the side of the camera (1),
10. return the base plate to its normal position,
ensuring that the camera back is completely
pressed against it so that it is enclosed by the
base plate, and
11. lock using the latch.
77
Advancing the film to the first frame
12. Advance the film to the next frame by means
of the quick-wind lever (10), and release the
shutter.
13. Pull the film taut by carefully turning the
rewind crank (15) in the direction of the arrow.
The film is being properly transported if the
rewind crank turns in the opposite direction to
the arrow when the quick wind lever is operated again.
14. Finally, release the shutter again and cock the
shutter for a third time. The frame counter (7)
now shows "1” and, after checking or setting
the film speed (29), the camera is ready to
use.
6
Rewinding and removing the film
When the last frame has been exposed, the quickwind lever can no longer be operated. Before the
film can be removed, it must be wound back into
the cartridge. To do this:
01. Turn the rewind release lever (6) to "R”,
02. swing out the rewind crank, and
03. turn the crank clockwise (in the direction of
the arrow) until you feel slight resistance and
the film is then freed from the take up spool.
04. Now open the base plate,
05. open the camera back, and
06. remove the film cartridge.
78
Note: Because of the spring-loaded DX contacts,
which press onto the film cartridge, you will feel
slight resistance when removing the cartridge
from the camera. If necessary, you can lightly
tap
the camera on your hand to assist you.
If a film is not correctly attached to the cartridge
reel, e.g. when using bulk film, the end of the film
may become separated and have to be detached
from the take-up spool.
To do this:
01. Remove the base plate of the camera in a com-
pletely dark room,
02. hold the camera with the base plate open and
facing downwards, and
03. slowly operate the quick-wind lever several
times until the film protrudes far enough to be
grasped and pulled out. If necessary, gently
tap the camera against the palm of your hand.
29
28
30
27
Setting the film speed
The dial (29) is used to select the desired type of
film speed setting – automatically in the DX position or manually by setting one of the values on
the scale between ISO 6/9° and 6400/39°. In
the DX position, the film speed is automatically
scanned from the film cartridge in the range ISO
25/15° to 5000/38°. (ISO is the international
designation for film speeds).
To set the speed, the locking dial is turned so that
the desired setting – DX or the desired value – is
opposite the white index dot on the exposure
compensation dial (28).
79
The following settings are possible
The section with a grey background represents
the speeds that can be set automatically by DX
code.
Scale Film speed Scale Film speed
6/9° 116/9° 1200/24° 1200/24°
- 11 8/10° - 1250/25°
- 1 10/11° - 1320/26°
12/12° 112/12° 1400/27° 1400/27°
- 1 16/13° - 1500/28°
- 1 20/14° - 1640/29°
25/15° 125/15° 1800/30° 1800/30°
- 1 32/16° - 1000/31°
- 1 40/17° - 1250/32°
50/18° 150/18° 1600/33° 1600/33°
- 1 64/19° - 2000/34°
- 1 80/20° - 2500/35°
100/21° 100/21° 3200/36° 3200/36°
- 125/22° - 4000/37°
- 160/23° - 5000/38°
6400/39° 6400/39°
Film speed displays in the viewfinder
Depending on the film loaded, the film speed setting and the exposure correction setting, different
displays light up or flash in the viewfinder for 2s
each time the camera is turned on with the main
switch, before the normal exposure meter displays then appear.
If the camera electronics detect an incorrect setting, the following display flashes to warn you: For
example, if the dial is set to "DX” but no DX-coded
film is loaded or a film with damaged or unreadable identification, "
110000
” flashes as an indication
that the exposure control is assuming a film speed
of ISO 100/21°. By contrast, if the dial is set to an
invalid position between "DX” and the manual val-
AASSAA
ues, "
” flashes for the entire display duration
of 16s, i.e. the exposure metering is not displayed.
In this case, exposure is once again as for
ISO 100/21°.
The table on the next page lists the different
operating statuses in detail.
80
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