mikyor1
Established
First, a little background story on how I came to the M5.
Initially, when rangefinders first piqued my interest, I was looking at purchasing a M6 Titanium because I wanted something that would last and look very pretty, then I started going to all the forums, youtube, flickr, and reading on anything and everything about the M6. I spoke with some colleagues who use Leica rangefinders and spoke on the phone with Sherry Krauter for hours and learned a lot.
After learning about the flare issues, build quality of the M6 vs previous models, and zinc bubbling, I strayed from my original plan to go for an M6. So naturally I decided to go for a classic body. I was absolutely set on a M4. Searched wide and far, set aside around 1200 USD to get a good body/cla.
While searching I came across a superb deal on ebay, for a black M5 for $600. It was a gamble because it had really crappy photos, but it stated it had a CLA by this famous rollei repair guy (confirmed by Sherry that she knew him as well), and so I pulled le trigger.
The only reason I initially had no interest was because it looked ugly, and the common theme of forum posters that it was ugly, deemed by cameraquest as the orphan. All really subconciously offputting to say the least.
I used it for 3 weeks but the GAS was not satisfied, then purchased a M4, which came yesterday. Only due to the fact that I wanted a classic looking M, and what better model to compliment my M5 than a M4 right??
First the M4, was beautiful and all, but whilst shooting, I noticed it wasnt as comfortable. My fingers were cramped, my pinky had no where to sit, and it just didnt feel right. Albeit pretty.
Ultimately, I started to fall in love with my M5, sheerly off of the ergonomics. Its a little thinner, little wider, and kind of squared. Placement of the shutter dial, viewfinder position relative to the extension of the left side. Everything just worked and felt perfect.
Granted, im relatively a big guy. 210 lbs and 6'1" with a preference to the width of a flamenco guitar fretboard, the M4 was just not the right size. It felt like my focusing fingers, face to the viewfinder, and shutter grip were all too closely cramped.
As a result, i'm selling my M4 and buying a second M5, in chrome.
Also just recently, my film counter stopped resetting and is stuck right under 40, and my vertical alignment is slightly off (found out while focusing on lights at night), which really bums me out, but now I got an excuse to get it serviced.
Do any of you M5 folk have a similar experience?
Incase youre wondering:
M3 - wasnt a choice because of .91 viewfinder ( i use 35 a lot)
M2 - didnt like the manual film counter ( and difficult to find without viewfinder decementing that didnt cost a lot)
M7 - too electronic
Initially, when rangefinders first piqued my interest, I was looking at purchasing a M6 Titanium because I wanted something that would last and look very pretty, then I started going to all the forums, youtube, flickr, and reading on anything and everything about the M6. I spoke with some colleagues who use Leica rangefinders and spoke on the phone with Sherry Krauter for hours and learned a lot.
After learning about the flare issues, build quality of the M6 vs previous models, and zinc bubbling, I strayed from my original plan to go for an M6. So naturally I decided to go for a classic body. I was absolutely set on a M4. Searched wide and far, set aside around 1200 USD to get a good body/cla.
While searching I came across a superb deal on ebay, for a black M5 for $600. It was a gamble because it had really crappy photos, but it stated it had a CLA by this famous rollei repair guy (confirmed by Sherry that she knew him as well), and so I pulled le trigger.
The only reason I initially had no interest was because it looked ugly, and the common theme of forum posters that it was ugly, deemed by cameraquest as the orphan. All really subconciously offputting to say the least.
I used it for 3 weeks but the GAS was not satisfied, then purchased a M4, which came yesterday. Only due to the fact that I wanted a classic looking M, and what better model to compliment my M5 than a M4 right??
First the M4, was beautiful and all, but whilst shooting, I noticed it wasnt as comfortable. My fingers were cramped, my pinky had no where to sit, and it just didnt feel right. Albeit pretty.
Ultimately, I started to fall in love with my M5, sheerly off of the ergonomics. Its a little thinner, little wider, and kind of squared. Placement of the shutter dial, viewfinder position relative to the extension of the left side. Everything just worked and felt perfect.
Granted, im relatively a big guy. 210 lbs and 6'1" with a preference to the width of a flamenco guitar fretboard, the M4 was just not the right size. It felt like my focusing fingers, face to the viewfinder, and shutter grip were all too closely cramped.
As a result, i'm selling my M4 and buying a second M5, in chrome.
Also just recently, my film counter stopped resetting and is stuck right under 40, and my vertical alignment is slightly off (found out while focusing on lights at night), which really bums me out, but now I got an excuse to get it serviced.
Do any of you M5 folk have a similar experience?
Incase youre wondering:
M3 - wasnt a choice because of .91 viewfinder ( i use 35 a lot)
M2 - didnt like the manual film counter ( and difficult to find without viewfinder decementing that didnt cost a lot)
M7 - too electronic
