M5 - No meter display

Beemermark

Beemermark

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Just picked up an M5 from eBay and there is no meter display in the viewfinder, none, nothing. No speed indicator either. Otherwise the camera is nice and works well. VF is clean and RF contrasty.

Anybody seen this before. I hate to send stuff back but I probably will this one.
 
I'd be tempted to call Sherry Krauter and talk to her first.
Is the cell arm still there?

If someone "de-metered" the M5, you might offer it for sale here, as we have a good population of eccentric folks that just might be looking for something like that! Or trade - but not for my M5 (don't even think about it 😱)
 
Odd, then. If I were to remove the meter, I would remove the arm, too. Maybe it was recently serviced by someone who forgot to put the meter assembly back in? Or a do-it-yourself CLA gone bad?
 
Hilm3 said:
Odd, then. If I were to remove the meter, I would remove the arm, too. Maybe it was recently serviced by someone who forgot to put the meter assembly back in? Or a do-it-yourself CLA gone bad?
Click to expand...

I just checked it with an M to LTM adapter on the body with no lens and the arm doesn't pop up all the way.
 
Not having a finder display is -strange-. I would second calling Sherri, She's an expert on the matter. Call her and tell her what you have. Believe me, you will get an opinion.
 
Has Sherry gotten better on returning repairs in a timely manner? I used to send her a lot of stuff back in the 80's and 90's but finally gave up because stuff didn't come back at all.
 
I found you have to call her and talk to her. She's not really an email person.

I suspect you have a short. From what I remember, the meter is otherwise harder then hell to see down in the lower left center otherwise.

Beemermark said:
Has Sherry gotten better on returning repairs in a timely manner? I used to send her a lot of stuff back in the 80's and 90's but finally gave up because stuff didn't come back at all.
Click to expand...
 
If I remember correctly, it took about three weeks or so for her to give my M5 a CLA a few years back. It's a great camera with brilliant features which sadly is not appreciated my most Leica M shooters. Good luck!
 
I also recall Sherry is easiest to get on the phone in the late afternoon/early evening N.J. time. She's a night person.
The viewfinder illumination window isn't blocked? That is the narrow glass window on the edge of the top plate above the viewfinder window. The stationary needle moves with the shutter speed. What is the ASA set to? Set it to 100. Put a 50mm lens on. Go outside in the daylight. Don't put a finger over the finder illumination window. Shutter speeds and needle should be visible and changing as you turn the shutter speed dial with your right index finger.
cock the shutter. No meter unles the shutter is cocked.
HOWEVER, if you don't see a white horizontal stripe along the lower edge of the viewfinder with a narrower black stripe across the middle, two needles and shutter speed numbers, SEND IT BACK! Hold the camera to your eye. Press the preview lever to the right. One of the needels will move to the cutout below the white bar showing the battery is good.

ps: Meter arm or no, the display is missing from the viewfinder. Not good!
 
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Earth to Rangefinder Forum: The meter strip, needles and shutter speeds show up in the viewfinder WITHOUT the battery and WITHOUT the arm being up and in place.
If i read the first post correctly, the camera has no meter display.
As for returning it, did the seller know the M5 has a meter? Did the seller claim the meter was working? Was the camera priced to refelect a working meter? If so, send it back. There plenty of nice working M5's around.
 
I echo Wayne, above. The camera has a meter display even if the battery is dead, and it's a small strip with two lines (one diagonal, one vertical). The shutterspeeds should be visible too.

Now, if these things don't show up, then I'd consider sending the camera back. However, check the auction language. If the seller didn't offer anything about the camera, you may not have a leg to stand on. If the seller claimed it was operational, then you're in luck, 'cuz the seller failed to disclose its condition.

Best of luck! 🙂
 
Thanks guys. I didn't think I was crazy. I had Bigfoot in hand looking at the meter display and typing at the same time.
No meter. No M5. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
 
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