When will I be able to buy an M7 at places like B&H, Cameraworld and Adorama? It seems like it's out, but not enmass...

-- tim (emulsion71@hotmail.com), March 24, 2002

Answers

Check with Rich Pinto at www.photovillage.com. Looks like the M7 will be available in the US at the end of this month. You can buy it on Ebay overseas at the present time.

-- chris a williams (LeicaChris@worldnet.att.net), March 24, 2002.

They are freely available from official UK dealers now. Less VAT and with delivery to the US prices around $2350

-- Giles Poilu (giles@monpoilu.icom43.net), March 24, 2002.

You can buy an M7 now at Camera Wholesalers in Stamford Connecticut.

They have one on the shelf in the box, a .72 model but black or chrome I don't know. I think they said $2400.

They keep a good stock of Leica there. Ask for Rich

-- Neil Swanson (neilsphoto@yahoo.com), March 24, 2002.

I know this is a Leica thread which I certainly enjoy. I was in Keebler and Suchart Photo in Palo Alto CA last week for the first time. They have 2 stores across the street from each other on California Avenue. It is a great shop to see most anything photographic including Leica. One of the stores is committed to professional rental and digital. The guy behind the counter told me that they expected the new Canon D60 digital slr in the store within a month. Cheers.

-- Don (wgpinc@yahoo.com), March 24, 2002.

Bergen County Camera in Westwood NJ has them in stock.

-- Jay Bee (JBee193@aol.com), March 24, 2002.

all the leica dealers seem to have gotten at least one batch so far, with more to come this week. tamarkin and hansen i think have actually sold thru two deliveries. in boston, newtonville camera and levines have sold their initial alotments (although i think michael at newtonville has a couple that are technically not spoken for). park square camera still have a few for sale. unfortunately, all that's come thru so far are the black .72 versions. no .85, .58 or chrome (although this seems like a camera to buy in black -- but not black enamel.

-- roger michel (michel@tcn.org), March 24, 2002.

Roger, Why do you say that this is a camera to get in black?? Jack

-- Jack Belen (jbelen@aol.com), March 24, 2002.

"Roger, Why do you say that this is a camera to get in black??"

Mourning for the all-mechanical M6?

-- Not that *I* believe it's dead!...8^)

-- Andy Piper (apidens@denver.infi.net), March 24, 2002.

Spoke to Ken Hansen last week and he said he will have them in the store next week. The price is $2350. The telephone number is 212 3170923 and the address is 509 Madison Avenue in New York City.

-- Albert Knapp MD (albertknappmd@mac.com), March 24, 2002.

Helix in chicago had 2 last week. I got one.

-- Gil Gracia (gil-garcia@worldnet.att.net), March 24, 2002.

why in black? well, first off, i hope it is obvious that this is a very subjective thing, but here is my reasoning: (1) chrome and black enamel seem more suited to classic cameras, i.e. mechanical cameras; (2) leica is only going to make the chrome cameras with .72 mag, while black will come in .58, .72, and .85 (and i am getting a .85); and (3) the m7 seems best suited to candid street photography (i personally would only get the AE feature for this purpose), and black is a more stealthy color. i guess that's it.

-- roger michel (michel@tcn.org), March 24, 2002.

tamarkin, photohabitat, eli kurland -- basically all the nyc dealers expect to have more this week. i bet if you shop around you mite be able to swing a little deal if you get a lens in the package.

-- roger michel (michel@tcn.org), March 24, 2002.

B&H now shows the M7 as 'in stock' however they are closed until the 2nd week of April for Holiday. I wonder how many they got in:

http://www02.bhphotovideo.com/default.sph/ FrameWork.class?FNC= ProductActivator__Aproductlist_html___246981___LEM7TTL.72B___USA___CatI D=0___SID=ED113D17FD0

-- Tim (emulsion71@hotmail.com), March 27, 2002.

I got mine from Sam Shoshan (Classic Connection) for $ 2350. Dealers in the USA have gotten small shipments and are expecting more shortly. Your guess is as good as mine as to availability over the next few months. Based on past history, Leica may or may not have made enough M7s to satisfy the initial demand. However, it is clear that chrome M7s and black M7 0.58 and 0.85 will not be available for the time being; the black M7 0.72 is the only one currently offered. Leica expects the latter to be the best seller.

-- Eliot (erosen@lij.edu), March 30, 2002.

Correction, Camera Wholesalers in Stamford Connecticut has 3 M7s on the shelf now as of 3/29/02.

All .72s, chrome or black unknown. I just saw the 3 boxes

-- Neil Swanson (neilsphoto@yahoo.com), March 30, 2002.