Compare and contrast M5 and M6(non-TTL) 0.85

[johnastovall]

I'm wanting to get at least one M film body with built in metering and thought I had narrowed it down to the M6 (non-TTL) 0.85 but has had two very knowledgable Leica shooters tell me I should really give serious consideration the the M5.

Those who have used both or use the M5 now what are it's positives and negatives? Same for the M6 (non-TTL) 0.85?

 

[maddoc]

It might be only of limited help (because I had the 0.85x M6TTL) but now use the M5 as the only metered body. The 0.85x M6TTL allows a more precise focusing of 50mm and longer wide open but wearing glasses, the 35 frame lines are hard to see and 28mm needs an external VF. The M5 - if correctly calibrated - has a very precise spot meter but the needle of the meter is only difficult to see in very low light. Weight difference is a minor issue but the M5 body is remarkable larger. Setting shutter speeds with the M5 while looking through the VF is very easy and the shutter speeds can be seen in the VF, similar to the CL.

I found the M5 being the only M Leica, which handles better with a soft release, the meter arm mechanism remarkably increases the force needed to press the shutter.

Otherwise, the M5 is very well made, easy to load and very intuitive to use.

Cheers,

Gabor

 

[Benjamin Marks]

M5 positives: great viewfinder (no RF patch flare), shutter speeds viewable in VF, spot metering, vertical strap lugs (to me anyway -- it could be a pain if you carry two cameras on straps), last of the hand-made measure-and-adjust M's.

M5 negatives: no mercury batteries available (may need conversion), no winder/motor accessories, heavier than M6, larger than M6, meter needle drifts a little if camera not held level (minor annoyance, easy to adjust to), legacy system (cameras are generally older than M6's), age, parts availability (?), issues with some lenses (including collapsible lenses) due to meter arm in the light-path.

M6 positives: smaller, lighter, winders/motors available, solid state electronics, batteries readily available, parts readily available, age, usable with all Leica lenses including collapsibles and those with "eyes".

M6 negatives: RF patch flare, in my experience Leica's electronics not top-in-class (although many experience no problems), some find rotational direction of the shutter speed dial annoying (never bothered me), rumored rf-allignment issues (not a problem on my sample).

I have both cameras and enjoy them both. I like Tom Abramson's rapid winders and so am glad to be able to use them on the M6 when needed. I know some don't like the look of the M5; personally, I think it is a great-looking camera and a sleeper in terms of its feature set.

No bad choices here really. Good luck.

Ben Marks

 

[venchka]

Select company

Select company

The M5 comes with initiation into The Cult of The M5 and a secret handshake.

I will be happy to instruct you in both.

It might cost you. A few minutes with some of your Leitz lenses made from pure Unobtainium on Bigfoot & Bubba seems fair. 🙂😀😎

Good luck in your quest.

 

[raid]

Go by relative age of each model. Both are great cameras. I had an M5 but I sold it years ago. Now I have an M6 Classic 0.85. I have no regrets. The M6 is "more modern", if you can call it.

 

[P. Lynn Miller]

I have owned and used an M3 and M5. While I loved the M3, I have big hands and actually found the M3 cramped to use after while. I did have to return the M3 due to mechanical defects otherwise I would still own it.

But I love my M5, in fact, as you can see in my signature and avatar, I am on the hunt for a second M5. I find the larger size perfect for my hands, the viewfinder is superb, the metering does take some getting use to, but is extremely precise. I simply cannot fault the M5 in anyway. The one and only down-side to the M5 that I have found is when you need the meter the most, you cannot see it. But that is going to be fixed on my M5 very soon.

I like the M5 so much that I was thinking of trying find a complete beater to send to Sherry Krauter and have her install an 0.85 finder in it, and use that body exclusively for my 50mm and longer lenses.

But as to how it compares with the M6, I really cannot tell as I have only held an M6 in the store.

But to me the M5 is the perfect user M...