Leica M5 Automatic anyone?

[Ororaro]

I would have pegged it a few years earlier when the CV lenses and bodies started to get some legs. I'm not sure (I mean that literally, not as in "I don't think") the M8 has really done anything to expand RF use? I have the impression, which might be wrong, that most M8 users were already Leica users, not new "converts."

ng

A Telltale sign of new converts is a new lens lineup (summarits) and the prices going up on almost all lenses. If the pool of users was unchanged, the used market would be enough...

 

[radi(c)al_cam]

bump!

Old thread, but good 🙂

I'd say, quite a lot of good answers regarding this intriguing «automatic» prototype can be found here:

http://www.novacon.com.br/odditycameras/leicam5.htm

—— BTW, time travellers, I have a question! (I guess that's stuff for another thread.) When and why did the camera makers start to use the term «automatic», or even «fully automatic», and what did it mean then? — AFAIK, it was decades before I was born, but many of you here are a tad older than me, so I expect you can and will answer that 😉

 

[David Hughes]

Hi,

From memory, the model II was called auto-focus or auto-focal because it had the coupled RF built in. I expect the word's been around and used a lot longer; hype has a long history.

Regards, David

 

[Dralowid]

Take a look at the profile of the body from below and tell me where you've seen that body shell before. It is a production body...

The rounded back of an SL?

 

[radi(c)al_cam]

Take a look at the profile of the body from below and tell me where you've seen that body shell before. It is a production body...

The rounded back of an SL?

vs. Leicaflex SL

vs. Leicaflex «I» («pie shaped frame counter»)

… IMHO, the M5 «automatic» prototype is already styled more like a Minolta SR than a Leicaflex (but officially their cooperation began about a decade later).

 

[radi(c)al_cam]

By the way, there is a close cousin of that M5 prototype, that went to market—but is scarce, anyway:

cf. http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=93223&page=2 (post #67)

OK I found another Super 35 to replace the one that went into a kit I made for a friend. Had to buy from the Leica shop in Vienna in the end but it's in great nick.

Just thought you might like to see the shutter cocking mechanism; it's a trigger under the lens which you crank with your left index finger. really fast and natural. I wonder why it didn't make it onto many other cameras?

And one of the top with the lightmeter cell and RF window

And I PROMISE to post some pics from the cameras soon. Each body has a half finished roll in at the moment so I'll finish them off and post some results!!

ped