Leica M5... good choice?

[ray*j*gun]

Well........opinions are fun..... IMO, the M6 (I have a classic) is like Rodney Dangerfield and because they are not considered collectible they are a bargin compared to age and original cost. I love mine and would not give it up.

However the M5 is becoming collectible and I think the difference in price between the two is not worth the functional differences. But I really believe the best Leica is the one you lust after because no one really needs a Leica.

Ray

 

[Mudman]

The M5 is a very special machine- a little different, but it grows on you. I took mine out of the closet after a year, convinced that I should sell it. That was 2 weeks ago- I have now run a couple of rolls theough it, and no way am I going to sell it ! It is beautiful, and wonderful to use.

There's your problem - when selling gear, never ever use it again. It'll remind you why you bought it in the first place.

 

[johannielscom]

It has arrived!

It has arrived!

...However the M5 is becoming collectible...

I love collecting. I use the collection all the time 😀


Anyway, hate to say that I have received the too-big, ill-metering, too-heavy and Leica-name unworthy M5 today.

The seller included a non-matching number M5 box and four Wetzlar 39mm filters that I will keep until a lens that fits them materializes in my collection.

The M5 is a keeper, already in love with the meter. I have put Konica Impresa 100ASA in it, to see if it will meter correctly with the 50mm 1.2 M-Hex lens.

BTW, this is my first M with a hot shoe. I have quickly found out that the old compact Rollei E15b flash is a perfect match for the body, just as thick, just as black 😎 and even pocketable

 

[venchka]

Amen!

Amen!

The M5 is a very special machine - It is beautiful, and wonderful to use.

All in favor of adopting this as the official Secret Society slogan say, "Aye!"

 

[gliderbee]

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.

I just stumbled on this discussion about the M5. What is that DIY solution to the flare problem of the M6 ? Any info (pictures, how-to) somewhere on the net ?

Thanks,
Stefan.

 

[Hilm3]

Aye!

My M5 is beautiful, very special, and easy to use. It is the only one of my M's (3, 5, 6, 7) that I fondle. The odd-numbered M's are the best and the M5 is the oddest of all.

Perfection is an M5 + Summilux 50 + Tri-X.

 

[Nokton48]

Perfection to me is M5 with Canon 50mm F1.2 w/original hood, and Eastman XX 5222 film. 🙂

 

[Vincenzo Maielli]

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.

A) The Leica M5 is big:
my Leica M7 is 138 x 79,5 x 38 mm, my Leica MP is 138 x 77 x 38 mm, while my Leica M5 is 150 x 84 x 36 mm. Who's really care, in the real world?

B) The CDS cell of the M5 is out of date and unreliable:
I use, without trouble, both the silicon cell on my M7 and MP, and the CDS cell on my M5. The CDS cell of my M5 is dated, sure, but is fully realiable: the secret is a perfect knowledge of the pros and cons of the CDS cell, to use responsible manner.

C) Its is not M looking camera:
I own Leica M3. M2, M4, M5, MP and M7 last version (with the MP improved viewfinder) and I use all of them. I don't care about the aesthetics, the real quality is elsewhere.

D) The Leica M6 is a better choice (than M5):
OK, the silicon cell is more modern, more simple, more fast to use. But the viewfinder quality? The viewfinder of the Leica M6 is in the same league of the Leica M4-2, M4-P and the first version of the Leica M7. Instead, the viewfinder of the Leica M5 is in the same league of the Leica M3, M2, M4, MP and the last version of the Leica M7. In respect to the previous Leica M cameras, with the Leica M4-2 of the 1977 the viewfinder was modified, better yet simplified. Was removal a component of the viewfinder, while one of the remaining element in optical crystal, was replaced by an acrylic element, which over time may tend to become opaque. Furthermore, due to the simplification of the viewfinder, from the Leica M4-2 to the first version of the Leica M7, their viewfinders are more prone to flare. The viewfinders of the Leica M3, M2, M4, M5 and MP and the last version of the Leica M7 are flare free.
Finally, you have overlooked another famous charge against the Leica M5, the supposed weakness of her particular meter's activation system. Exactly, supposed... my M5 was released in the 1974 and his light meter has always worked perfectly, never missing a beat in his way of activation. The same things happens for all the Leica M5 I've got to try.
Therefore, Gentlemen of the Court, I will conclude my speech, arguing in accord with Mr. Geoffrey Crawley, that the Leica M5 is a truly masterpiece of engineering, whereas that was designed during the sixties. And is still perfectly usable.
Ciao.
Vincenzo

 

[rpilottx]

Lookin for One

Lookin for One

I have owned an M2/3/4/4-2/4P/M6/M6TTL and probably should have hung onto a few of the ones I sold since 1976. Anyway, I have an M4 and am looking for something with a meter(not an M6) and thought I would try the M5. I am talking to Sherry about one as we speak.

I think it would work great with the 35f1.2. I come from the era of CdS cells and way back when, TTL was optional on both Nikon F's and Leica M's.

I may go with a Bressa R if I decide AE is the way to go. Don't want to fork out the cash for an M7.

 

[capitalK]

Got my 2-lug M5 on this board just over a year ago for $650 and I'm thrilled with it. Bught it to use with my Bessa R2A but I think I will sell the Bessa soon... I never use it anymore.

I may get a CLA done on it to add a 3rd lug, framelines and have it adjusted for modern batteries but truthfully it works great for me with Wein cells.

 

[Innerimager]

Have a 3 lug. Sherry converted the battery, but the wein cells were fine also. I love shooting it. The analogue metering system is very "organic", seeing the shutter speed is a big plus. Size and weight are excellent for stability. I love the 35 cron version 4 as it's lens cap. The 35mm VF is uncluttered and leaves just enough space around the framelines. Just a great photographic tool. best....Peter

 

[Erik van Straten]

Leica M5, Ultron-M 35mm f/1.7, Tmax400.

Erik.

 

[Erik van Straten]

Leica M5, Summilux 35mm f/1.4 pre asph v1, Tmax400.

Erik.

 

[BLKRCAT]

Leica M5, Nokton 50mm F1.1, Tri-X.

j.

 

[Erik van Straten]

Great choice, BLKRCAT.

Leica M5, Summilux 35mm f/1.4 pre asph v1, Tmax400.

Erik.

 

[BLKRCAT]

Thanks Erik. Ive been shooting with this combo for a couple years now. The Nokton fits the M5 well.

Leica M5, Summicron 50mm V2., Tri-X@800.

 

[rhl-oregon]

One Leica to rule them all

M5 ZM 28 2.8 Arista Premium@80

 

[rhl-oregon]

..Well, maybe not, but one Leica to rule my heart ;-)

M5 40 1.4 Nokton MC Foma 400 @320

 

[Huss]

Kickin' images gents!

Got a question about mine.. I never had any finder flare issues, then the RF mechanism had to be replaced as it started to separate. Sherry put in the MP frames with the 28mm lines. I actually preferred it with the old ones, with 35mm being the widest, but I digress.
Anyway, it now flares like crazy. Sherry says everything is normal, but to me it isn't. I am using a temp fix by putting a tiny piece of electrical tape on the frame illuminator window, which works but obviously darkens the frame lines.

 

[BLKRCAT]

say what you want about the 35 being the king of bokeh, but Id say the planar is no slouch!