Help! I've done it.

[rxmd]

Help! I've done it. I just bought a Leica.

It's an M5, the most desirable of them all. I saw it on the auction site (#300085312050 with pictures), noticed that it didn't sell, asked the owner who is in Berlin if we can meet so I can have a look at it, and now it's mine. It's a beauty and snuggles into my big hands just so nicely. I'm getting it on Monday. EUR 500, that's at present about $640. Paid 200 up front, the rest upon receipt. Not a bad deal IMHO.

What are the consequences?

1. I guess I'm irredeemable now. I've become part of the Leica crowd that I used to scoff at for the last two years or so. And I haven't even got my PhD yet. 😉 I'll hang around in Leica forums and tell everybody that the M5 is the epitome of camera construction and that all other Leicas, let alone all other cameras, are undesirable and either incapable or for posers.
2. No GAS for a while. The only camera-related things I'll buy until the end of the year are LTM to M39 adapters, one for 35mm and one for 50mm. Maybe one for 90mm if I get my J-9 back until April, but that has no hurry.
3. I might restructure my camera collection and sell some stuff here on RFF that I haven't used in a while or that is becoming unnecessary now. I don't want to be a collector. This includes a Zeiss Super Ikonta medium format folding rangefinder, and couple of lenses for 35mm and medium format. Depending on how radical I'll be with the things I might also sell my user Canonet and/or my very much user Bessa R.
4. I guess it's inevitable that I'll be becoming a camera snob who looks down at others because they only have a Bessa, an M6 or other lowly stuff. If I ever go that way, feel free to reprimand me 😉
5. Did I mention I'm excited?

 

[Keith]

I too own 'Bigfoot' ... and I must admit it does set one apart from the crowd somewhat!

Congrats ... 🙂

 

[rxmd]

Actually I think the size issue is much, much overrated. It doesn't feel much bigger than my Bessa and actually smaller than the Kiev 4AM that I've been using for street photography. What's the difference in width to the "normal" M's, eight millimeters or so? My fingers are much bigger than that.

(Look, I'm becoming an M5 snob already.)

 

[FrankS]

I wouldn't mind a black M5. Oh wait, I'm done! 🙂

 

[FrankS]

Amazing deals don't count. 🙂

 

[Keith]

I wouldn't mind a black M5. Oh wait, I'm done! 🙂

Without an M5 Frank ... how can you possibly be 'done?' :angel:

 

[JNewell]

When I think of the absolute apogee of mechanical cameras, I think of three:

Nikon F2
Leicaflex SL2
and, of course, Leica M5

In my opinion, nothing before reached the state of mechanical perfection represented by these three, and everything that came after was lesser.

 

[ChrisN]

I too own 'Bigfoot' ... and I must admit it does set one apart from the crowd somewhat!

Congrats ... 🙂

I used my M5 yesterday at a family wedding (just snapshots). What amazed me was the number of people, apart from the pro, using dSLRs. They seem to becoming fairly commonplace. The M5 barely rated a glance, and I guess anyone who saw me take photos would have thought "that poor guy, his flash isn't working"!

 

[Xmas]

Please remember to mill the 35mm adopter if you are using a J12...

Noel

 

[thomasw_]

I love my Leicas, all 3🙂 But the M5 is such a great camera for a guy with large hands. The battery issue is a non-issue now. It is my favourite Leica M with TTL, and that is saying a lot. The M5 was the last Wetlzr hand-made camera; its design is pure brilliance. The only thing I prefer about my M3 over my M5 is the VF itself; was there ever a better VF than the M3? But the M5 is a tank with the most silent of shutter mechanisms...and that counts for something🙂

yes, FrankS, the M5 is a definitely a canuck camera-buff's camera: it feels like our land, it is fairly large like our land, and it is quirky but lovable like our land. I think you will not be 'done' until you obtain and use the M5🙂

 

[Krosya]

Help! I've done it. I just bought a Leica.

It's an M5, the most desirable of them all. I saw it on the auction site (#300085312050 with pictures), noticed that it didn't sell, asked the owner who is in Berlin if we can meet so I can have a look at it, and now it's mine. It's a beauty and snuggles into my big hands just so nicely. I'm getting it on Monday. EUR 500, that's at present about $640. Paid 200 up front, the rest upon receipt. Not a bad deal IMHO.

Well, first of all - congrats on a new to you Leica.
I have a question. WHY is M5 most desirable one? I never had one, but I don't really want one either. Maybe I don't get what its all about, but I'm pretty happy with my M3 and M6 and see no need or DESIRE for an M5. If it works for you - great, but why such an assumption that its THE MOST desiable one?
I hear people talk about M3 and M2, maybe M4 that whay, but M5? Hmmm. Can anyone explain to the M5's magic?

 

[FrankS]

Krosya, I think there was a little tongue in the cheek in that post.

 

[rxmd]

Please remember to mill the 35mm adopter if you are using a J12...

Is that so that the camera thinks no lens is mounted and won't bring out the meter? Clever.

Isn't this coupled to the framelines? Where do I have to mill it? (Don't forget I'm new to the whole "M" thing. That, however, doesn't stop me from already being completely convinced that it's the one and only lens mount and from putting it in right after the Wonderbra on my personal all-time favourites of invention 😉)

Philipp