Leica M5... good choice?

[harvester]

on the shinkansen with an M5.

 

[ktmrider]

Waiting Anxiously

Waiting Anxiously

Well, I am still waiting for the M5 I sent back to Sherry at the end of July since I thought I had too many film M's. I called her a couple weeks later changing my mind and requested that she add the third lug and recover the camera.

Hopefully, it will be here soon after talking with her today. She and I are both the same age and she has had a medical problem for the last month which has slowed down her turn around time. I just had my second angioplasty and the results were good.

I am traveling in October and really want to take the M5 along. Am thinking it and the Nokton 35f1.2 may be my total travel kit on a return to the Philippines.

 

[pepeguitarra]

I got one with two lugs, and I love the way it hangs and the way it carries. It is the camera I use the most now. Although last week, I used my M3 with the 90mm lens and can tell you it is a sweet deal, the 90mm frame is absolutely huge!!

 

[helen.HH]

'Ktmrider',
So pleased to hear You are on the mend , doing better and soon off to the Philippines
Enjoy your Trip with whatever 'M' is there for You
😉

 

[coelacanth]

I took my trusty M4-P to my recent Ireland trip because I just didn't have enough time to familiarize myself with the M5 at that time. Now that I have spent some time and ran a few rolls with it, I think I am now definitely feeling fully comfortable with the size and UI, and appreciating the unique benefits over other Ms. I think I'll be taking the M5 to my next trip.


The Last Push by Suguru Nishioka, on Flickr

With Summicron 35/2 v4 + Tri-X @ ISO1000.



Catching up in the cave by Suguru Nishioka, on Flickr


Darth Fuzzball by Suguru Nishioka, on Flickr

With Summilux 50/1.4 Pre-ASPH E46 + Tri-X @ ISO1000.

 

[Erik van Straten]

Junku Nishimura, my favorite Japanese photographer, is also a fan of the M5.

See this:

http://www.junkunishimura.com/img/workshoptext.pdf

Erik.

 

[ktmrider]

M5 Finally!

M5 Finally!

Sherry dropped me an email last night. My M5 is finally done and on the way!

I shot with it for a week in July and returned it to Sherry deciding I did not need three M film bodies along with a R body and an M9. Changing my mind, I called her back two weeks later asking her to add a third lug and recover the camera. Well, Sherry's mother passed away and she has had some mobility problems preventing her from getting to her workshop.

I did not bug her too much. And as she and I are the same age, I understand about medical stuff coming up. Anyway, the black M5 is on the way and will arrive in time for a three week trip to the Philippines. And one of the M2's got traded for a mf camera so I was down to one film M!

I decided to keep the photo equipment on this trip simple so originally I planned on an M2 with 35/90 combo and TriX. Well, the trip will give me a chance to really get into the M5 and back into film. The M9 is staying home (and might be sold).

It looks like Sherry is back in the game and I have been talking to her about a 50f14 Summilux but that is another post.

 

[ktmrider]

I finally have a tracking number from Sherry on the M5. It will arrive just in time for a trip to the Philippines with a 35/90 lens combo and lots of HP5. I was tempted to take the M2 for color (in my experience the tropics shout out for color) but I have a FujiX70 arriving tomorrow as I just sold the M9. The color jpegs from the Fuji are to die for.

 

[Ronald M]

My main concerns are the cost of the repairs for the M5 and its size.

And you would be correct. Also availability of parts. That camera has very different insides.

 

[:: Mark]

See this:
http://www.junkunishimura.com/img/workshoptext.pdf

Yes, Junku Nishimura is excellent!

And I had not seen that PDF before. I particularly like the comments "don’t develop drunk!" - shortly followed by "Ok, let’s go back to the darkroom with these 3 kinds of liquid plus beer" 🙂

 

[Huss]

My main concerns are the cost of the repairs for the M5 and its size.

And you would be correct. Also availability of parts. That camera has very different insides.

The size is perfect if you like to use larger lenses like the CV 35 1.2, ZM 35 1.4, CV 50 1.1 as it balances much better than on the smaller bodies.
And with smaller lenses, the lenses disappear which makes them even more lovely to use.

Leica announced a few months back that they will be reintroducing finder frames. I wouldn't worry. I've had mine 'rebuilt' by Sherry and she said it should be good for the next 40 years. I have no reason to doubt that.

 

[mpaniagua]

The size is perfect if you like to use larger lenses like the CV 35 1.2, ZM 35 1.4, CV 50 1.1 as it balances much better than on the smaller bodies.
And with smaller lenses, the lenses disappear which makes them even more lovely to use.

I just love to use Summilux 50 pre ASPH with the M5. M5 really goes well with medium-large lens.

 

[ktmrider]

I just unboxed the M5 after it lived at Sherry's for 2.5 months. She recovered it and added a third lug. For those that do not know, she had a medical problem and someone posted that her mom died at the same time.

Well, she is back and the camera is awesome. M9 got sold last night, one M2 traded for Pentax 645 and a couple lenses. Current M cameras were both purchased from Sherry-an M2 last year which she claimed to be one of the nicest she had seen in ages and an black M5 . I am back to film!

 

[BLKRCAT]

Welcome welcome

 

[helen.HH]

Wooohooo , Lovely 'ktmrider' !!

 

[ktmrider]

M5 with 50f1.1 Nokton

M5 with 50f1.1 Nokton

I plan on using my M5 with the 35f1.2 as the combo balances really well although a bit heavy. I was wondering if people using the M5 like the camera with the 50f1.1 Nokton.

I mean I know it would be about the same weight as the M5/35f1.2 combo but have you encountered any problems? I am guessing the spot meter on the M5 works really well in available darkness (have not had a chance to try it out in that environment yet).

It would be great to see some photos and hear your opinion of the M5/50f1.1 combo.

 

[Huss]

I was wondering if people using the M5 like the camera with the 50f1.1 Nokton.
.....

It would be great to see some photos and hear your opinion of the M5/50f1.1 combo.

Paging Erik van Straten to the M5 courtesy phone. Paging Erik van Straten...

 

[Erik van Straten]

Leica M5, Nokton 50mm f/1.1, Tmax400.

This one is at about f/2. The extreme corners stay behind a bit, due to coma, but there is absolutely no distortion.

This one is at full aperture.

Full aperture.

f/2.

Leica M5, Nokton-M, 50mm f/1.5, Tmax400, full aperture. The Nokton-M 50mm f/1.5 is aspherically corrected and so more clinical.

Erik.

 

[SolaresLarrave]

I just returned to shooting my M5s and it's certainly fun... For a long time I had been using meterless M bodies, but one day, just because, decided to take my M5s for an airing (plus, I got a nice silver lens for one of them! 🙂 )

I sent the E-6 film I burned with them to a lab called "The Darkroom" and we all will get to see them when the rolls return. In the meanwhile, I'm glad ktmrider stayed with film and got a nice M5 to boot! 🙂 Now, take care of yourself!

 

[pepeguitarra]

I just returned to shooting my M5s and it's certainly fun... For a long time I had been using meterless M bodies, but one day, just because, decided to take my M5s for an airing (plus, I got a nice silver lens for one of them! 🙂 )

I sent the E-6 film I burned with them to a lab called "The Darkroom" and we all will get to see them when the rolls return. In the meanwhile, I'm glad ktmrider stayed with film and got a nice M5 to boot! 🙂 Now, take care of yourself!

I am waiting to see the results of the Darkroom. I have been sending my rolls there and I want to see how others feel. They use Ilford developers, not sure which one.