Infamous M5. Have you noticed...

[RayPA]

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder Ray. Perhaps it's my age, but I do find the M5 handsome enough. Like a '72 corvette (well, almost) 🙄

Yeah, but compared to Leica's collection of beauties?!! The M5 is handsome, yes, but a Rene Zellweger kind of handsome (still very desirable!!). 😀 (and in fairness maybe someone can come up with a male equivalent).


.

 

[Tuolumne]

Yeah, but compared to Leica's collection of beauties?!! The M5 is handsome, yes, but a Rene Zellweger kind of handsome (still very desirable!!). 😀 (and in fairness maybe someone can come up with a male equivalent).


.

Patrick Swayze?

 

[Chris101]

Cool link.......

Chuck Norris has got to be the most tallented men in entertainment. Such range of style and emotion.







😉

 

[cmogi10]

Patrick Swayze?

Swayze is just damn hot. 😎

 

[RayPA]

Swayze is just damn hot. 😎

with or without the mullet?


😕

 

[KoNickon]

I didn't see the Chuck Norris link.

Anyway, the analogy I like is to think of the other M Leicas as the various Porsche 911 iterations, and the M5 as more akin to the 928. Different concept (front V engine vs. rear boxer) and shunned by many traditionalists, but a fine car.

 

[cmogi10]

with or without the mullet?


😕

I'l take it either way! 😱

 

[Pablito]

the very coolest link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HiGwgXKl7kQ

 

[Matthew Runkel]

The original premise is just wrong, and silly, and easily disproved merely by reading current eBay listings (unless M5 sellers "always" lie about the condition of their offerings, in which case you're on your own). I don't see the point of it.

 

[sepiareverb]

The original premise is just wrong, and silly, and easily disproved merely by reading current eBay listings (unless M5 sellers "always" lie about the condition of their offerings, in which case you're on your own). I don't see the point of it.

Ah, yes. Then us M5'ers can go back into the dark till the next round😉

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

Yeah, but compared to Leica's collection of beauties?!! The M5 is handsome, yes, but a Rene Zellweger kind of handsome (still very desirable!!). 😀 (and in fairness maybe someone can come up with a male equivalent).

I'm sorry, Ray, but I can only come up with male-to-camera beauty equivalents this way: the Leica M5 and Pentax Spotmatic are like Rodney Dangerfield.

No respect! 😀

 

[dreamsandart]

Haven't keep up with the used M5s available, but many of the ones I've seen are either well used of not at all [or for a long time], the two case ends of Leicas in most need of a good CLA (Leica need to be used to stay in good working condition). If you have doubts about the M5 durability ask Sherry Krauter or Don Goldberg about them. I know Sherry will tell you the M5 along with the M3 are the 2 best Leicas ever made.

I must be an odd photographer; I like the M5, 1st version 50 Summilux, 1st version 90 Summicron and for good measure the 4th version Summicron, and have an Apple Macbook Pro, even have a Porsche Boxster S (not a 'real'' Porsche some will say but it was a gift and is a real fun roadster to drive, and not a 70s Corvette 😱 eech.

Was out last night with the M5 and my new MP, although there is something to be said to the diodes in low light readability (much like the Xmas tree lights we have up), the M5 with its semi-spot meter was able to take the reading the MP could only hope for, and without lighting up the [viewfinder] night (hint: an index finger over the lower part of the finder makes the needles AND shutter speed more visible when needed).

 

[JNewell]

hmm...I think the M5 is lacking a bit in the style/looks department for that to be accurate. 😉 🙄

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Actually, when designed (late 1960s), the M5 was thought to be the leading edge of industrial styling!!!

 

[Peter55]

So Ned are you getting an M5?

So Ned are you getting an M5?

Or has your curiosity been satisfied with the answers? If you wish to learn more about the M5 please read Stephan Gandy's words on his web site Cameraquest.com

Besides what you think of the M5 which I do not agree with there are many actual design features that Stephan talks about. He never mentions a need for more frequent CLA. But he does describe the overhanging shutter speed dial with the speeds displayed in the viewfinder via mechanical link. An Overhanging dial allows you to find it with your finger without taking your eye from the viewfinder. Obviously since the dial changes the speeds and they are displayed in the viewfinder you do not need to remove your eye from the viewfinder to know your shutter speed. The 2 match needles, one for aperture and the other for shutter speed is a very fine method of obtaining proper exposure. The M5 is in essence a spotmeter type camera and the 50mm frame lines are rounded to indicate the exact area. He also describes the hand workmanship. Please give it a read and think on it before you make your purchase. It is bigger than your M but it has the built in light meter and that is why. I use Walgreen's Zinc Air Hearing Aid Batteries at 1.4v instead of the original 1.35v batteries. The exposures are correct and I did not have to have the camera modified to accept the batteries. Size 675 you get 6 batt's for $5 and they last 3 to 8 months each.

Me? I have an M5 and first version 50mm f/1.4 Summilux. I'm content. Did not need a CLA, it was listed in BGN condition at KEH.com for $845 a year ago. After a few hours of enjoyable hand polishing of the chrome body with only a soft cloth the M5 looked brand new. It works that way too! Oh I did use ArmorAll on the black vulcanite and it looks new now as well.

This combo has on occasion produced my best photographs, and in low light too! What I mean by best, is not only technically correct but also the "mood" was caught. This has something to do with the low light I would think.

I see you a lot now over at dpreview. You seem to be getting along well with MarkE. For which I am thankful as both of you are proficient Leica Rangefinder film posters. A rare breed over there.

Artist Eyes ~ Peter

 

[J J Kapsberger]

Actually, when designed (late 1960s), the M5 was thought to be the leading edge of industrial styling!!!

And it was. In my opinion It's more stylish than any other M body. To me it's the M body an Italian design house would've conceived. Its shape and lines noticeably capture a pleasing late-60s aesthetic.

 

[RayPA]

Actually, when designed (late 1960s), the M5 was thought to be the leading edge of industrial styling!!!

yup, and so was the Edsel.... 😉 or better yet the Tucker. The latter might be a better correlation to the M5.

I agree with Gabriel. The No Respect camera!

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[dreamsandart]

yup, and so was the Edsel.... 😉 or better yet the Tucker. The latter might be a better correlation to the M5.

I agree with Gabriel. The No Respect camera!

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My Dad went to school with Tucker, a guy way ahead of his time and a real thinker about doing things better/different.

 

[rodneyAB]

M5 V10 500hp

 

[Ororaro]

M5 V10 500hp

You see? All M5s are monsters.

 

[rxmd]

hmm...I think the M5 is lacking a bit in the style/looks department for that to be accurate. 😉 🙄

You've obviously never taken a look at some of the Macs before the iMac transparent plastic revolution. Here's some of the models most popular with graphic artists:

The Quadra 950:

The PowerMac 9600:

The IIfx:

The philosophy seems to be "It's big, so what? You're supposed to get your work done with it, not spend all your time fondling it lovingly."

Philipp