Born at last after seventeen years, the M7 is a hybrid of classic Leica values with modern electronic advantages that results in a camera that is faster than ever while still having the soul of a Leica. There is a certain feel to the mechanical operation of a Leica's functions that is oddly satisfying in an emotional context, and this is the essence of the Leica hallmark. That has not changed, but instead been infused with aperture-priority autoexposure, an informative viewfinder, high-speed flash synchronization and more. The M7 is as whisper-quiet and easy to focus as ever, it just does so with the speed and control that only modern accompaniments can give. The lower 0.58x viewfinder magnification in this model is particularly well suited for photography with wide-angle lenses and, compared to the 0.72x viewfinder system, it also brings an enormous improvement to eyeglass wearers.