Leica M5... good choice?

[alonbenav]

Hey Raoul!

The battery is definitely the least of your worries. I'd recommend buying a C.R.I.S battery adaptor that uses the standard 386 battery as a substitute for the old PX625 mercury battery. A little pricey for what it is but your other option is purchasing the WeinCell alternative for $7. I had the M5 for a minute but the body isn't compatible with several Leica lenses that have protruding rear elements. Also, if you have the Summicron 50mm DR lens, you can't use the goggles and the piece where the goggles fit on the lens itself will scrape your body in the shape of a small crescent moon.

The M5 is great in that it's the last Leica model to have a brass top plate instead of the copper top plates that M6 and beyond use. Also I loved the option to use the strap mounted horizontally or vertically. Plus, it FEELS substantial. But the weight became a bit of an issue for me when I shot over a prolonged amount of time. I also thought the metering was cool and it felt just as natural as using the illuminated arrows.

Lastly, $850 is pretty standard for M5's but the warranty is a nice bonus. You can definitely find one's that are in great condition for a little cheaper if price is a factor.

Hope this helps a little!

Best, Parker

Ps. - If you are in the market for a C.R.I.S battery adaptor I'd be happy to sell you mine! Just private message me 🙂

PM'd you about that adaptor 🙂

 

[agoglanian]

Hey Raoul!

The battery is definitely the least of your worries. I'd recommend buying a C.R.I.S battery adaptor that uses the standard 386 battery as a substitute for the old PX625 mercury battery. A little pricey for what it is but your other option is purchasing the WeinCell alternative for $7. I had the M5 for a minute but the body isn't compatible with several Leica lenses that have protruding rear elements. Also, if you have the Summicron 50mm DR lens, you can't use the goggles and the piece where the goggles fit on the lens itself will scrape your body in the shape of a small crescent moon.

The M5 is great in that it's the last Leica model to have a brass top plate instead of the copper top plates that M6 and beyond use. Also I loved the option to use the strap mounted horizontally or vertically. Plus, it FEELS substantial. But the weight became a bit of an issue for me when I shot over a prolonged amount of time. I also thought the metering was cool and it felt just as natural as using the illuminated arrows.

Lastly, $850 is pretty standard for M5's but the warranty is a nice bonus. You can definitely find one's that are in great condition for a little cheaper if price is a factor.

Hope this helps a little!

Best, Parker

Ps. - If you are in the market for a C.R.I.S battery adaptor I'd be happy to sell you mine! Just private message me 🙂

I tried one of the battery adapters and for some reason it was giving me a meter reading that was 3 stops off. I wound up returning it and I'm using the camera meter less until I can send it to Sherry for a tune-up. She said she would convert the meter to run off of 1.5v batteries.

 

[Erik van Straten]

Leica M5, Summilux 35mm f/1.4 pre asph steel rim, Tmax400.

Erik.

 

[Erik van Straten]

Thank you, Helen, but I am afraid that it will be broken down.

Erik.

 

[Huss]

I tried one of the battery adapters and for some reason it was giving me a meter reading that was 3 stops off. I wound up returning it and I'm using the camera meter less until I can send it to Sherry for a tune-up. She said she would convert the meter to run off of 1.5v batteries.

She did that to mine when I had it serviced. Best thing you can do for that camera, never have to deal w battery issues again.

 

[agoglanian]

Yeah that's my thought. I'm just trying to space out my camera / lens servicing costs because it all adds up pretty quickly!

Seems worthwhile though.

 

[Erik van Straten]

Leica M5, Summilux 35mm f/1.4 pre asph steel rim, Tmax400.

Erik.

 

[Erik van Straten]

Leica M5, Summilux 35mm f/1.4 pre asph steel rim, Tmax400.

Erik.

 

[Erik van Straten]

Leica M5, Summilux 35mm f/1.4 pre asph steel rim, Tmax400.

Erik.

 

[Erik van Straten]

Leica M5, Summilux 35mm f/1.4 pre asph steel rim, Tmax400.

Erik.

 

[Erik van Straten]

Leica M5, Summilux 35mm f/1.4 pre asph steel rim, Tmax400.

Erik.

 

[ramosa]

Leica M5... good choice?

Leica M5, Summilux 35mm f/1.4 pre asph steel rim, Tmax400.

Erik.

---------

Erik: beautiful image. It really shows how the Lux 35 can be a great traditional street lens--as compared to its other (and different) usage as a playful dreamy lens when shot at f2.

 

[Erik van Straten]

Thank you, Ramosa.

Leica M5, Summilux 35mm f/1.4 pre asph steel rim, Tmax400.

Erik.

 

[Erik van Straten]

Leica M5, Summilux 35mm f/1.4 pre asph steel rim, Tmax400.

Erik.

 

[Erik van Straten]

Leica M5, Summilux 35mm f/1.4 pre asph steel rim, Tmax400.

Erik.

 

[Erik van Straten]

Leica M5, Summilux 35mm f/1.4 pre asph steel rim, Tmax400.

Erik.

 

[mkvrnn]

M5 owners

M5 owners

I love the way M5 owners stick together, trying to convince each other that the M5 wasn't the ugliest camera Leica ever made and somehow actually worth the inflated prices common to most used Leicas.

 

[Erik van Straten]

I love the way M5 owners stick together, trying to convince each other that the M5 wasn't the ugliest camera Leica ever made and somehow actually worth the inflated prices common to most used Leicas.

They are worth more than those inflated prices because they are the best Leica's ever made and there are not many around. Get a good one now you still can.

Erik.

 

[splitimageview]

obviously hasn't seen the Leica SL...

 

[Range-rover]

I second Helen on how great the M5 is.