.... it seems I have bought an M5...

HuubL

HuubL

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...😱
I didn't need one, but for some strange reason I read all what was to read on the M5 the last couple of weeks and then, well, you know how these things go, when one crossed my path, ehh... I bit the hook.
I expect it here next week and it comes with a J9 + LTM to M converter.

Anyone has anything to say about the J9...?
 
Very good. Wayne will likely be in touch with the secret handshake, key to the club, etc.

You know you'll come to love the meter. And Tom A grips can be modified to work if a grip is your usual. Just don't collapse anything and you'll be fine.
 
Thanks guys. I hope the camera is as nice as the pictures I've seen of it and is functioning as smoothly as the seller says. I expect it is. I've had a nice communication with the seller. He seems an honest fellow photographer. Still has an M6, but is mainly interested in MF and bigger. Just imagine, he especially likes shooting 130 years old Kodak Panorams!

About my J9 question. I just saw the current thread by Georgev. After reading it I expect lots of the bonus lens! However, I already have an excellent 90 Elmarit and will probably sell the J9 when I've tried it out. I might do that here...
 
I think this is one of those love-it-or-hate-it cameras. I thought they looked big and clunky for a long time and was happy with my comparatively svelte M6; then the looks of the M5 started to grow on me. There are a lot of under-the-hood things to like about the camera. Sherry Krauter once described the meter to me as "the most on-the-money-honey meter Leica ever produced." I have found it to be accurate. I find the view finder to be exceptional - big and none of the flare that plagued the M6's. I also like the vertical-hang strap lugs, although I could see how that would backfire with pros carrying more than one camera. In the final analysis, for me there really are no bad Leicas. And the M5 definitely has its charms. Enjoy it. Post pix.

Ben
 
All Secret Indoctrination Credentials sent to our newest member of the Order of the Big Ugly Leica M5.

Enjoy!

What's a J9?
 
I guess it's a Jupiter-9, a great f2 85mm portrait tele lens.
Quite soft when wide open, but in an almost magical way.
 
Congratulations to the easily convinced... from another. I admit to having cruised the web in search of one. Fortunately, never yielded to temptation.

And I envy you too.

Oh, well... 😉 Enjoy your new camera!
 
Congrats on your new M5! Remember to meter in the horizontal position, then compose vertically. Great body and viewfinder for the Noct if you ave one, balances really nicely.

A great camera, enjoy!

Kent
 
HuubL said:
Just imagine, he especially likes shooting 130 years old Kodak Panorams!
Click to expand...

The Panoram can be one fun camera! I've got one that's been slightly modified for 120 film- not a problem as it is no collector's piece, this the most beat-up, worn out looking camera I've ever seen. Greatest 'shutter' sound ever.
 
Hello Huub,

Gefeliciteerd!
I can't say anything about the M5, but I do have a (black) J9 85mm. which I use on my FSU rangefinders. It is a fine lens, but it has a very complicated three-part focussing helix which easily could be mis-assembled if some less-competent repairman hasn't worked precisely enough. So quite a lot of the LTM J9's seem to suffer from focussing issues.

Be prepared too that on your Leica's the close-up focussing could be a bit off because of what seems to be a little different focussing 'curve' of the rangefinder cam. This is discussed extensively on the internet. My M's too are a bit off on 1 meter compared to my FSU cameras, but in a non-problematic extent for my 35- and 50mm lenses. But e.g. portraits with a 2,0/85 wide open however could be out of focus because of limited DOF.

I CLA'd my example myself with help of the great repair manual which is available on the internet, but in several attempts I didn't manage to cure completely some play which affects the back ring which pushes the camera's RF-cam. Of course this affects distance setting too.

Just give it an exciting try - sample variations on J9's are legendary too! Use a suitable tele-shade (49mm standard thread) since your lens might be hardly coated (just as mine ...)
There is an M2+J9 photo way down on my weblog (the cows in the fog).
 
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Blank288 said:
Hello Huub,

Gefeliciteerd!
I can't say anything about the M5, but I do have a (black) J9 85mm. which I use on my FSU rangefinders. It is a fine lens, but it has a very complicated three-part focussing helix which easily could be mis-assembled if some less-competent repairman hasn't worked precisely enough. So quite a lot of the LTM J9's seem to suffer from focussing issues.

Be prepared too that on your Leica's the close-up focussing could be a bit off because of what seems to be a little different focussing 'curve' of the rangefinder cam. This is discussed extensively on the internet. My M's too are a bit off on 1 meter compared to my FSU cameras, but in a non-problematic extent for my 35- and 50mm lenses. But e.g. portraits with a 2,0/85 wide open however could be out of focus because of limited DOF.

I CLA'd my example myself with help of the great repair manual which is available on the internet, but in several attempts I didn't manage to cure completely some play which affects the back ring which pushes the camera's RF-cam. Of course this affects distance setting too.

Just give it an exciting try - sample variations on J9's are legendary too! Use a suitable tele-shade (49mm standard thread) since your lens might be hardly coated (just as mine ...)
There is an M2+J9 photo way down on my weblog (the cows in the fog).
Click to expand...
Dankjewel Erik.
As soon as my gear arrives I will check the J9 out. I understand there is a lot of variation in quality between the J9s. As my set came from an able amateur photographer, I assume he made sure his was good. I checked your blog! There are great photos there! The misty cow shot is beautiful! If my J9 would be able to produce photos like that, I would be very happy!
 
Bigfoot & Bubba send their regards.

Don't leave the shutter cocked when the camera is not in your hands. This saves the battery.

A J-9 is an 85mm, 1:2.0 LTM lens, hey? I don't need one of those. The 8.5cm Nikkor is all I need.
 
I own both the Leica M5 and J9. Actually, the M5 is equipped with a Summicron 90/2 TS, while the J9 is used on a Leica CL, as companion of the Summicron C 40/2.
The Leica M5 is a very wizard camera, i love it too much.
I love also so mutch the J9, that i own from many years. I love the particular optical rendition of the J9.
I own also the CV 90/3.5 (that i use on Canon 7 and Leica IIIf) and a Nikkor LTM 85/2, that i use with BW film, on my Leica M3. Both are sensibly better than J9 (and more and more the Summicron 90...) but i won't separe me from the J9.
Ciao.
Vincenzo
 
I've been using an M5 for a long time, I can tell you if you happen to be using the original PX625 batteries ( I have a stash ) they last forever, 5 years or so and work to full power till they quit. Even leaving the shutter cocked and the meter active doesn't seem to effect them as the drain on the battery is very minimum. If you are concerned about battery drainage, the meter is light active so a cap or even a dark place.
 
Here it is:
M5.jpg

This is a nice looking camera with signs of use. Not one to keep in the cupboard, but as it feels very smooth, with all speeds running like they should, excellent curtains, a very clean and bright viewfinder and well-aligned rangefinder, it will be my everyday user for the coming weeks at least. I dressed her up with the 50 Summilux, a good match I think. The J9 looks great feels slick too.
 
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