Leica M5... good choice?

[BillBingham2]

Very well done indeed. Like Tirus, attornies come with a high price tag. The M5 is just too different to go with the "had it for years" line.

Does not stop one from lusting though, look don't buy, look don't buy......

B2 (;->

 

[johannielscom]

Just today bought mine for only EUR 300.00 from a fellow Dutchman. Will be mailed out to me after X-mas. It is a 129xxx number, so I'm curious about the 'shutter drum' issue, since I have no idea what this issue is, and how costly it can turn out!?

I'm close to my favorite Tommy Oshima kit: An M5, M-Hexanon 50mm 1.2 and Kodak E100G is the best I can do, as opposed to his Leica M5, with Noctilux 1.0 and Kodachrome 100.

Trouble is, I'm in with the One camera One lens Challenge, so will have to refrain from using it until that's over... 😉

 

[venchka]

Welcome!

Welcome!

...

Trouble is, I'm in with the One camera One lens Challenge, so will have to refrain from using it until that's over... 😉

It would be silly not to use a new M5 the very day you get it. 😀

So switch to the M5 for the 1 lens/1 camera project. 😎

 

[maddoc]

Just today bought mine for only EUR 300.00 from a fellow Dutchman. Will be mailed out to me after X-mas. It is a 129xxx number, so I'm curious about the 'shutter drum' issue, since I have no idea what this issue is, and how costly it can turn out!?

I'm close to my favorite Tommy Oshima kit: An M5, M-Hexanon 50mm 1.2 and Kodak E100G is the best I can do, as opposed to his Leica M5, with Noctilux 1.0 and Kodachrome 100.

Trouble is, I'm in with the One camera One lens Challenge, so will have to refrain from using it until that's over... 😉

The M5 is great and for the heavy Noctilux it is a match like in heaven ! 🙂 BTW, Tommy Oshima has switched to a Konica Hexar RF to use with his Noctilux since some time now...

 

[HuubL]

Just today bought mine for only EUR 300.00 from a fellow Dutchman. Will be mailed out to me after X-mas. It is a 129xxx number, so I'm curious about the 'shutter drum' issue, since I have no idea what this issue is, and how costly it can turn out!?

I'm close to my favorite Tommy Oshima kit: An M5, M-Hexanon 50mm 1.2 and Kodak E100G is the best I can do, as opposed to his Leica M5, with Noctilux 1.0 and Kodachrome 100.

Trouble is, I'm in with the One camera One lens Challenge, so will have to refrain from using it until that's over... 😉

That's a great price Johan. You'll love the camera. The M5 is a wonderful camera, with extras you don't get with the other Ms. Congratulations!

 

[Vincenzo Maielli]

The Leica M6 have a more modern SBC cell, while the M5 have a CDS cell: but if you learn to use correctly the CDS cell, the Leica M5 is very nice to use. Moreover, the finder of the M5 is slightly better than finder of the M6. I own a Leica M5 and i remained literally bewitched. The quality body construction is very high, the exposure system is very useful and robust, the battery problem is easily solvable by a MR9 battery adapter.
Ciao.
Vincenzo

 

[johannielscom]

...BTW, Tommy Oshima has switched to a Konica Hexar RF to use with his Noctilux since some time now...

You don't say! I have once held and looked through a Hexar RF and was greatly disappointed. I LOVE the Hexanon glass, but the combination of the narrow viewfinder and the whirring motor was too much to take from the Hexar RF.

I might have considered (due to shooting a Minolta CLE with same size viewfinder back then) if a mod had been available to stall the transport (by using a button to cut the electric circuit, for instance, transport only engages if button is released), but the combination of the two was too much for me.

I wonder how Oshima focusses the Noctilux on an .60 finder... My combo will be a Hexanon 50mm 1.2 with the M5 and already I'm worrying about focus since I normally shoot M3's...

Camera will probably ship today and I will then receive by Wednesday, possibly Friday...

Oh, I'll know then, not to worry 🙂

 

[johannielscom]

The Leica M6 have a more modern SBC cell, while the M5 have a CDS cell: but if you learn to use correctly the CDS cell, the Leica M5 is very nice to use. Moreover, the finder of the M5 is slightly better than finder of the M6. I own a Leica M5 and i remained literally bewitched. The quality body construction is very high, the exposure system is very useful and robust, the battery problem is easily solvable by a MR9 battery adapter.
Ciao.
Vincenzo

😀

You're making me smile, no even GRIN, totally ready to go out with the camera after reading this!

 

[P. Lynn Miller]

The Leica M5 is the best M ever. And with a large lens such as the Nokton 35/1.2 it is perfectly balanced.

Congratulations on the new for you M5.

Edit - OK, I may not have an objective point of view!

 

[maddoc]

I wonder how Oshima focusses the Noctilux on an .60 finder... My combo will be a Hexanon 50mm 1.2 with the M5 and already I'm worrying about focus since I normally shoot M3's...

Focus is no big problem with the Hexar RF / Noctilux @ f/1.0. The RF patch has quite some contrast:

But I agree, nothing better than a M3 for fast 50mm lenses 🙂. BTW, the M5 meter is limited to f/1.4 (or 1.2 ?) and using a larger aperture while metering can give wrong values.

 

[Nokton48]

I bought a chrome beater from the Netherlands for $530 about a year ago #136XXX. I like to use mine with the Canon 50mm F1.2 and 85mm F1.5 and it's perfect to use with such big lenses. A great matchup, and I love the built-in meter. After close to a hundred rolls, I know I'll be keeping it. Great complement to my M2.

 

[HuubL]

I bought a chrome beater from the Netherlands for $530 about a year ago #136XXX. I like to use mine with the Canon 50mm F1.2 and 85mm F1.5 and it's perfect to use with such big lenses. A great matchup, and I love the built-in meter. After close to a hundred rolls, I know I'll be keeping it. Great compliment to my M2.

Hihi, you mean great complIment for the M5 and great complEment to the M2...
The M5 is a terrific camera and I can imagine it goes well with the BIG lenses. A Canon 0.95 50mm would be a perfect match.

 

[J J Kapsberger]

...the M5 meter is limited to f/1.4 (or 1.2 ?) and using a larger aperture while metering can give wrong values.

Interesting. Source?

 

[Platinum RF]

I do not like M5 for the follwing reasons:
It is big
It has out of date and unreliable Cds photo cells
it is not M looking camera
M6 is the better choice.

 

[J J Kapsberger]

I do not like M5 for the follwing reasons:
It is big
It has out of date and unreliable Cds photo cells
it is not M looking camera
M6 is the better choice.

Wrong.
Totally wrong, as my own low-light shooting with the M5 shows me.
Correct. It looks better (far sexier).
Why? The M5's built the classic old fashioned Wetzlar way--i.e., better than the M6. Leica admitted no compromises that plague the M6: the M5 has the flare-free RF patch; the M5 doesn't have the M6's zinc cover plate. And, it has a self-timer.

 

[Carlos Cruz]

Wrong.
Totally wrong, as my own low-light shooting with the M5 shows me.
Correct. It looks better (far sexier).
Why? The M5's built the classic old fashioned Wetzlar way--i.e., better than the M6. Leica admitted no compromises that plague the M6: the M5 has the flare-free RF patch; the M5 doesn't have the M6's zinc cover plate. And, it has a self-timer.

Don't tell them it's a secret 😀

Proud to own a m5 😀
thanks Huubl

 

[HuubL]

Don't tell them it's a secret 😀

Proud to own a m5 😀
thanks Huubl

Hi Karol, how is the M5 doing? Got lenses for it? Did you find someone to fit a third lug?
Greetings
Huub

 

[Carlos Cruz]

It's purrfect 🙂 no need for 3rd lug I learnt to live with it hanging vertically, right now using my canon lenses 35/2 and it still is my dream machine 🙂 not bad for 30+ camera with unreliable metering and awful design 🙂

 

[awilder]

Sorry to be a wet blanket but the choice I had to make was between a freshly serviced M5 by expert Sherry Krauter and my MP. I kept the MP and sold the M5 despite having a love affair with the M5 for years. The M5 despite being a better built mechanical camera than anything that followed, had some drawbacks I've noted on more than one M5 over the years. I found the meter to be less accurate than an M6 as it's readings will vary to within at least +/- 1/2 stop depending on how you hold the camera, i.e. vertical vs. horizontal as well as aiming low or high which will cause variation in accuracy. I also found that despite adjustment of the circuit 'pots' to the 'nth degree, meter accuracy varies a little more than the M6's silicone blue cells most likely due to aging of it's twin CdS cells. Bear in mind of course that these errors are of far less consequence with negative film than with slide film that can sometimes require accuracy to within 1/3 stop. Other minor quibbles are limitations of certain lenses like the 21/3.4 SA or early 28/2.8 Elmarit that require modification of their mount to be used on the M5 without damage to the meter. Lasly keep in mind if the body hasn't been serviced in a number of years, a CLA may run a few hundred $$ to bring it up to snuff.

 

[Platinum RF]

Wrong.
Totally wrong, as my own low-light shooting with the M5 shows me.
Correct. It looks better (far sexier).
Why? The M5's built the classic old fashioned Wetzlar way--i.e., better than the M6. Leica admitted no compromises that plague the M6: the M5 has the flare-free RF patch; the M5 doesn't have the M6's zinc cover plate. And, it has a self-timer.

If you like the old Wetzlar fashion go buy a M4. M6 is an excellent user M camera with a great meter. The patch flare problem can be fixed less than $40 (DIY) or fixed by DAG alike leica repairman. The Zinc cover plate is thick than the M5 brass top cover, they brass differently, M6 resistent dent impect better than M5.