Leica M5... good choice?

[oltimer]

+1 to this one. It created an in house competitor for the M5. Pretty stupid move IMHO.

Regards.

Actually the M5 stood on it's own for almost 3 years before the CL came out. I believe the 5 came out in '71, and the CL '73. Totally different in our hands at that time compared to the M3's and 4's that all us Leica fans were using. And I remember many guys buying new lenses for their 3's and 4's at that time which no doubt helped Leitz through this period.

 

[coelacanth]

Took my M5 to the cabin we spend every Christmas break in. I'm reaching for the M5 when I want to bring a camera that just works. I'm usually a sunny 16 guy, but I really love how M5's light meter works.

Nothing special but a snap from the trip. Shot with Summicron 35 v4, Tri-X in Diafine.


Back at the cabin by Suguru Nishioka, on Flickr

 

[ktmrider]

M5 went with me on a recent two week trip to Mexico as my only Leica. As someone else said "it just works".

 

[BLKRCAT]

Thanks giulio and Erik!

 

[helen.HH]

M5... Summarit 50 1.5



Stormy train yard view... by Helen Hill, on Flickr

 

[Erik van Straten]

I love that one, Helen!

Erik.

 

[oltimer]

I'm wondering if Helen has an issue developing with her shutter curtains in her camera? I have 24 inch monitor and can see a 2 inch wide strip on the upper right. What do you think Erik?

 

[helen.HH]

I love that one, Helen! Erik.

Lovely of You Erik, Thank You !

I'm wondering if Helen has an issue developing with her shutter curtains in her camera? I have 24 inch monitor and can see a 2 inch wide strip on the upper right. What do you think Erik?

I see it too but I don't think so.... Shot a whole roll, no other photos have 'that' look ( the square lighter gap)
The train yard photo was shot thru a dirty train car window , in a storm, passing thru ~ perhaps a reflection
Well Oltimer, arghhh lets hope not ...:angel:

 

[oltimer]

Helen, your explanation makes solid sense. Obviously your camera lens was not square to the window glass; and more pulled away on the right side to pick up the reflection. Gook Luck

 

[Erik van Straten]

Yes, I saw it too, but I thought that is was a reflection.

The picture reminds me of the work of Junku Nishimura. He too works with the Summarit!

Erik.

 

[lovely_sausages]

Alright everyone, I'm diving in headlong here. I realize I am quite late to the party, but, I'm hoping that someone can explain to me the difference between the 2 lug and 3 lug models? Surely it's not just a difference of an extra lug? And if so, well then I guess the joke is on me.

 

[sepiareverb]

Mostly just the extra lug. Reportedly the later models have some inner improvements, but I don't think that's anything earth-shaking. The third lug is a great improvement for handling IMO.

 

[oltimer]

Alright everyone, I'm diving in headlong here. I realize I am quite late to the party, but, I'm hoping that someone can explain to me the difference between the 2 lug and 3 lug models? Surely it's not just a difference of an extra lug? And if so, well then I guess the joke is on me.

That's a great question; and I remember clearly when the M5 came out. When the M5 1st came out in 1971, all of them were 2 lug; so the camera could hang vertical. More or less you could swing it out of the way under your arm. Sometime when the CL came out in 1973; and complaints from existing users about the 2 lug; Leitz added the 3rd lug so the camera could be held horizontal. I guess it boils down to which way you like your camera to hang, but again it was not unusual for photographers to be carrying 2 cameras at one time, with one in front and one under the arm to avoid banging them. Hope this helps answer your great question.

 

[Erik van Straten]

Maybe the three lugs have to do with the lightmeter. It is advised to mesure with the camera in a horizontal position. So when doing quick mesurements a horizontal hanging camera has advantages.

Personally I prefer a horizontally hanging camera. A vertically hanging camera is clumsy.

Erik.

 

[oltimer]

Maybe the three lugs have to do with the lightmeter. It is advised to mesure with the camera in a horizontal position. So when doing quick mesurements a horizontal hanging camera has advantages.

Personally I prefer a horizontally hanging camera. A vertically hanging camera is clumsy.

Erik.

Good point Erik, and do remember about how it was recommended for horizontal meter readings. But I also remember reading before about keeping the lens cap on too prevent excess light hitting the shutter curtains and "possibly" developing pin holes there?

 

[Erik van Straten]

Yes, I remember that too, but measuring the light with the lenscap on is not very smart. You have to remove the lenscap too when actually making pictures!

Erik.

 

[oltimer]

Ist of all, I want to acknowledge how great of a camera today I believe the M5 is. Back in 1971; I was a young 29 years, in a Leica club with all old fogies like I am today. The next close age in the group was 45, and all the way up 85 years young. They all took their time with a tripod and light meter to do the proper Leica thing, and you just could not get them to even consider the M5 with it's internal meter. Most of them used B/W Panotomic X (asa32) which was the sharpest film available at that time. I never ever gave the M5 any more thought till the M6 came out, and than just could not get the right deal from the dealer. To be fair to the M5; it has stood the test of time compared to some of the M6 and the M7 problems.

 

[dreamsandart]

The 2 or 3 lugs has nothing to do with the light meter. Yes, the camera light meter reading was recommended to be taken in the horizontal position, but this is because the meter is of the ‘floating’ needle type (slightly effected by gravity at the wrong angle was thought), and the designers couldn’t get around this technology of that time.

The reason for the 3rd lug was sales. Leitz originally intended for only the 2 lug version. The ‘practical’ thinking was to free up one side so straps didn’t get in the way of the ‘working hand’ (advance, shutter release, shutter speed adjustment). Personally I also found the camera hanging to the side vertically made it not seem so large and heavy ;-)

But… customers complained, and the 3rd lug was added to later production and retrofitted to earlier 2 lug cameras on request. Customers basically said they were use to having their Leica horizontal on their chest, and also for those that had 2 cameras in the over-under position, the 2 lug M5 just didn’t work.

As for the light meter with or without cap… When the shutter is advanced the meter arm is raised, so the light meter is ‘on’, no ‘off’ till the shutter is released. To prevent access drain on the battery when not taking photographs and with the shutter advanced it was recommended to put a cap on. In actual practice the drain on the original 625 battery is very minimal. A single original battery should last about 5 years I found without any worry about conservation.

 

[Erik van Straten]

The 2 or 3 lugs has nothing to do with the light meter.

Indeed, not with the meter itself, but with the act of metering they have to do. When you have the camera horizontally on your chest you can bring the camera much more convenient up to your eyes than when you have to dig it up from under one of your arms and have to put it horizontally. Just try it. The strap will always be in the way.

No, the vertical hanging was not a bright idea. It was a pity for this great camera. I am very happy with my "Kameraleder" case so I can carry my camera, a two lug, on my chest.

Erik.

 

[dreamsandart]

I guess I should have said, the original design intent involving 2 or 3 lugs had nothing to do with metering, it was purely about carrying the camera and holding it [without straps in the way for the 2-lug].

Good for you! You found a way to use the camera better for you 🙂

Personally, I've had both, and the 2-lug version just works for me better. I wear an M5 with the strap across my chest, camera to the side under the right arm. It's out of the way till needed, comfortable, safe, feels less weight, easy to bring up, and no straps in the hand or extra unused lug digging into my palm. The strap isn't in the way, it's hanging down from the left side, I can also grip the camera with it, or pull down with tension on the body for a more steady shutter release.

But I do understand your point. One thing nice about the 3 lug version is having both vertical and horizontal options.