Leica M5... good choice?

[Huss]

I think it's great the way all you M5 owners stick together, doing your best to convince each other that it's not the ugliest camera ever built.

The M5 is the best Leica for people who take photos.

 

[Bille]

The M5 is the best Leica for people who take photos.

I wonder what forced Leitz to reshape the M5 at the time. What was wrong with the M4 really?

Here is an interesting M6 prototype before Leica came to their senses (about middle of the page) http://gmpphoto.blogspot.de/2014/10/the-fascinating-world-of-prototype.html

 

[Alfonso B]

I wonder what forced Leitz to reshape the M5 at the time. What was wrong with the M4 really?

No metering, no shutter speed in vf, no double exposure etc. M5 was the last M designed for actual photography. They would have never put form over function, M3 would have been way uglier if it would have been necessary. Improvements could not overcome the fact that SLR:s ruled because rangefinders were inferior cameras just like some species rule because others are inferior. I am so going to get banned..

M4.2 and later are designed to make old men with small dicks feel better about themselves and they seem to be very good at it. Carrying a rolex is not about knowing what time it is.

 

[Erik van Straten]

Try a Nikon F with Photomic FTn meter head. Then pick up a Leica M5. Then you'll know what the M5 is about.

The M5 tried to put aside the Nikon F, not the M4.

Erik.

 

[Bille]

M4.2 and later are designed to make old men with small dicks feel better about themselves and they seem to be very good at it. Carrying a rolex is not about knowing what time it is.

The M4-2 was about current technology when it was new. I don´t see why it should have catered to old men specifically.

I agree about Rolex and modern Leica to some extent. Note that Leica and Rolex were much more affordable back then though.

 

[Bille]

Try a Nikon F with Photomic FTn meter head. Then pick up a Leica M5. Then you'll know what the M5 is about.

The M5 tried to put aside the Nikon F, not the M4.

Erik.

That Photomic Nikon is one ugly machine.

 

[Sid836]

Not anything against the M5, but to me it is the ugliest M Leica. 🙂

 

[Chromacomaphoto]

Leica M5, Nokton 50mm 1.1, Ilford Delta 3200

Would like to add yet more love for this great M5 shot. Don't suppose you would care to guess at the shutter speed from memory and / or whether you shot and devved it for box speed (always hear about 3200 being best at 1000 and so on). I have some in the fridge and would like to develop (no pun intended) my night shooting in such a manner.

 

[Bille]

This was a good thread, lets not ruin it with daft comments like the very recent ones above... If you like the M5 then that's great, if you don't that's great too, just move on

How about starting your "own" M5 appreciation thread and "just move on"?

Also read this:
"I'd love to hear opinions about this camera"
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showpost.php?p=407585&postcount=1

 

[benmacphoto]

The M5 is the best Leica for people who take photos.

This is how I feel as well after owning one for a while now.
I ended up selling my other M film bodies.
The M7 may surpass the M5 in shooting with aperture priority mode which I really enjoyed using.
But the M5 ended up being the perfect film M for how I like to photograph.
And as a bonus I like the way it looks.

 

[ktmrider]

I have owned all the film Leicas made since 1970 including a few made before that date (M3 and M2). I only recently became the owner of a black M5 which has been through Sherry's magic. I can only say that for actual use it puts all the other manual film models to shame.

For those of you who think it is ugly, well that is your opinion and like the saying goes everyone has an opinion. Move on!

 

[BLKRCAT]

Would like to add yet more love for this great M5 shot. Don't suppose you would care to guess at the shutter speed from memory and / or whether you shot and devved it for box speed (always hear about 3200 being best at 1000 and so on). I have some in the fridge and would like to develop (no pun intended) my night shooting in such a manner.

I'm pretty sure it was either 1/125 or 1/250. I remember shooting it and looking at my settings after the fact thinking, this is far too underexposed.

 

[Alfonso B]

Can't move on. It's horrible. Like vw 1303s over a standard beetle. I'm thinking about bidding on a clean one, in box with manuals. Can't see any sense in buying a beat up M5 as they ask 2/3rds of the price.

 

[Monochrom]

Hi,

The m5 is just awesome, easy to shoot with, the needles and speed info are great to decide over/sub exposures.
The funny thing is that the hotshoe is not aligned with the center of the lens mount.
So i will find out next friday (when is scan my last roll) if there´s going to be any parallax problem using the 21mm lens and the auxiliary VF.

Cheers,

 

[Chromacomaphoto]

I'm pretty sure it was either 1/125 or 1/250. I remember shooting it and looking at my settings after the fact thinking, this is far too underexposed.

Thanks, so I'm guessing at box speed of 3200 too then right? Sorry for mild thread jacking!

 

[Chromacomaphoto]

Hi,

The m5 is just awesome, easy to shoot with, the needles and speed info are great to decide over/sub exposures.
The funny thing is that the hotshoe is not aligned with the center of the lens mount.
So i will find out next friday (when is scan my last roll) if there´s going to be any parallax problem using the 21mm lens and the auxiliary VF.

Cheers,

I've never looked through the finder of one as they are not often seen in the shops and circles I go to fondle leicas. Tell me please, is the meter needle visible when shooting in the dark/night or is it harder to see like a Nikon Fe or similar?

 

[rajmohan-fotograf]

I've never looked through the finder of one as they are not often seen in the shops and circles I go to fondle leicas. Tell me please, is the meter needle visible when shooting in the dark/night or is it harder to see like a Nikon Fe or similar?

It is fainter in dark situations, but as long as you can find a little bit of light, it will give you at least a little illumination on the needle area, enough to read.
The M5 has a very nice finder and great ergonomics - I like mine very much.
Whether it is aesthetically appealing is subjective - to each her/his own. But as photographers, we're usually behind the camera, using it, rather than looking at it; so for me, handling usually trumps appearance.

 

[BLKRCAT]

Thanks, so I'm guessing at box speed of 3200 too then right? Sorry for mild thread jacking!

Sorry 1600, a bit closer to base speed, rather than box speed for delta 😉

 

[DanielDuarte]

I just picked up an M5 in "exc" condition from Tamrakin. Paid 850 shipped to my door.
It's a late model 135XXXX. It has "Memphis Photo Supply" inscribed but that doesn't bother me.
Camera came with the battery converted.

So far I love it. I have big hands so I like the "extra" size. The VF is special. Visible shutter speeds and easy to read needle. also, the overhang shutter speed dial is very, very nice!

Now, I just have to get my eyes used to 35mm film as my primary format is 8x10.

 

[Chromacomaphoto]

Sorry 1600, a bit closer to base speed, rather than box speed for delta 😉

It is fainter in dark situations, but as long as you can find a little bit of light, it will give you at least a little illumination on the needle area, enough to read.
The M5 has a very nice finder and great ergonomics - I like mine very much.
Whether it is aesthetically appealing is subjective - to each her/his own. But as photographers, we're usually behind the camera, using it, rather than looking at it; so for me, handling usually trumps appearance.

Thanks to both of you for the great info, useful and much appreciated.