Leica M5... good choice?

[Erik van Straten]

Pepe, I collapse mine on my M5 without problems. Just try it to collapse VERY carefully if you want to be sure.

Sug, very nice M5 you have there!

Erik.

 

[maddoc]

50/1.1 is a stretch for the M5 meter. At full aperture the M5 meter gives slightly wrong readings also with the Noctilux. The reason is that the diameter of the rear element is to large and therefore not all light hits the CdS-cell located in short distance behind the rear element. When the M5 was constructed the f/1.4 lenses were the fastest lenses available so that is the M5 limit.

Well, besides two M2's and the upcoming M5, there is an M9 in the cabinet and somewhere around here is a R6.2 with a few lenses.

I had ordered a 50f1.1 yesterday but cancelled the order. I have never even handled an M5 so first things first. I have two weeks to return it if I do not like it. And since it appears to take all my M mount lenses including the 15 and 21, I may have enough of them at the moment.

 

[Erik van Straten]

50/1.1 is a stretch for the M5 meter. When the M5 was constructed the f/1.4 lenses were the fastest lenses available so that is the M5 limit.

Gabor, this statement is incorrect. The M5 was constructed for use with the Noctilux 50mm f/1.2. This lens was introduced in 1967.

Personally I've seen no wrong measurements when using the M5 with the Nokton f/1.1. On the contrary.

Erik.

 

[maddoc]

Erik, you are correct, the 50/1.2 was actually introduced 1966.

I had problems metering with Noctilux at f/1.0, though.

Gabor, this statement is incorrect. The M5 was constructed for use with the Noctilux 50mm f/1.2. This lens was introduced in 1967.

Personally I've seen no wrong measurements when using the M5 with the Nokton f/1.1. On the contrary.

Erik.

 

[Rob-F]

The collapsible Summicron can be collapsed safely on the M5. Equipped with the 12549 shade from the Elmar-M it makes a nice compact set.

Erik.

Are you sure the Cron 50/2 collapsible can collapse safely on the M5? I just want to be sure before I put it on.
Thanks,

absolutely

I don't own this lens, but it's on the "do not collapse" list.

I own it but it does not seem to protrude as much as my leica 21/2.8. I want to be sure before I put it on.

Pepe, I collapse mine on my M5 without problems. Just try it to collapse VERY carefully if you want to be sure.
Erik.

I can assure everyone it is OK to collapse the 50mm Summicron on the M5. I took very careful measurements on mine. I made a depth gauge from heavy card stock to test the dimensions. There is enough clearance with the lens collapsed. Here's what you can do if you want to check for yourself. With no film in the M5, open the back. collapse the lens slowly while you watch through the back door. The lens barrel will bottom out before it reaches the meter stalk.

 

[Erik van Straten]

I had problems metering with Noctilux at f/1.0, though.

Maybe because of the extreme cos4 vignetting of the Noctilux f/1.0. The Nokton 50mm f/1.1 suffers much less from this problem. This is explained a bit in the Leica M book by Osterloh, German version, 1986, page 40: "Beim Noctilux-M 1:1/50 mm und Noctilux-M 1:1.2/50mm erfolgt eine korrekte Belichtungsmessung erst ab Blende 1,4 und kleiner." On page 44 Osterloh states that this problem also occurs with the M6.

Erik.

 

[maddoc]

I am thinking about this. The vignetting becomes visible at the film gate position but the CdS-cell is located closer to the rear element. Therefore it might not register all of the light at this position.

Maybe because of the extreme cos4 vignetting of the Noctilux f/1.0. The Nokton 50mm f/1.1 suffers much less from this problem. This is explained a bit in the Leica M book by Osterloh, German version, 1986, page 40: "Beim Noctilux-M 1:1/50 mm und Noctilux-M 1:1.2/50mm erfolgt eine korrekte Belichtungsmessung erst ab Blende 1,4 und kleiner."

Erik.

 

[Erik van Straten]

The vignetting becomes visible at the film gate position but the CdS-cell is located closer to the rear element. Therefore it might not register all of the light at this position.

Yes, it is a kind of spot meter, but the closer it gets to the optical elements, the indecipherable it becomes what it actually mesures.

Erik.

 

[css9450]

I'm assuming the M5 metering cell is on a little "stalk" that rises and lowers, like on the CL?

 

[Erik van Straten]

I'm assuming the M5 metering cell is on a little "stalk" that rises and lowers, like on the CL?

Yes, it is a bit like the CL.

Erik.

 

[Erik van Straten]

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

Erik.

 

[Erik van Straten]

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

Erik.

 

[pepeguitarra]

If you click here, you can see how it works.

 

[css9450]

If you click here, you can see how it works.

Interesting. Somehow I had not seen a picture of the metering cell before, not even in the M5 manual on the butkus.com site.

 

[Erik van Straten]

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

Erik.

 

[Erik van Straten]

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

Erik.

 

[Huss]

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

Erik.

That is solid! Love that density.

 

[Erik van Straten]

Thank you, Huss!

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

Erik.

 

[harvester]

lovely Set 'Harvester'
thoroughly Enjoyed them & I too Love Contrast !

thanks helen.

the M5 goes everywhere with me 🙂

+ it's great to see so much healthy M5 discussion hereabouts.

AP

 

[BLKRCAT]

Erik perhaps you could answer this but I've owned my M5 for almost 5 years now and I've never quite understood why there is a B1-B30 setting on the shutter speed. Is there actually any use for it or merely cosmetic.