Leica M5... good choice?

The M5 has always been one my favorites because of the highly sensitive semi-spot meter with a reasonably well defined metering area. Battery issues aside, the reason I had to eventually switch to the M6 and future variants was due to a shift in spectral sensitivity of the M5's CdS cell with age towards longer wavelengths, in other words it became more sensitive to reds and less sensitive to blues. I found this to be true on more than one sample of M5s that I came across. This was not the case with modern silicon blue cells introduced with the M6 where sensitivity was flat across the visible spectrum. It may not be a big issue when shooting B&W film but for narrow latitude slide film, it became problematic. I suppose one could have the meter cell replaced with a new one but I suspect that would not be cheap. I eventually gave up shooting Leica film cameras many years ago because of the added cost and delays in getting quality E6 processing with the market shift to digital.
 
It is interesting to read everyone's views on this camera. I am intrigues by the M5. With prices for an M6 now skyrocketing, I am considering if this could be the next film Leica to also jump up in price. It is - battery issues aside - other than the MP and M6, the only film Leica with a built in meter. Though I wonder if an M2/M3/M4 are better packages despite not having a built in meter. As soon as the meter goes on an M6 is it behind those cameras in the pecking order?
 
scautez said:
Though I wonder if an M2/M3/M4 are better packages despite not having a built in meter. As soon as the meter goes on an M6 is it behind those cameras in the pecking order?
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If you do only B+W there is nothing better than M2/M3/M4. They can always be serviced.

The M5 is bigger, heavier and some of them have problems with their rangefinder spot. If you have a good one it is a great camera with incredible precise framelines. Mechanically it is the best M-Leica there is. A class of its own.

Erik.
 
gelatine silver print (summilux 35mm v2) leica m5

Erik.

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I love the M5 but I haven’t owned an M camera I didn’t love (M2, M3, M6, MP, M7) and I only sold the M6 and M7 because I couldn’t see any reason to use them after getting the MP. If you get a nice M5 I’d hold on to it. They really grow on you!
 
j.scooter said:
He said that a number of the seals at the top and front of the camera were not in good shape and one under the top cover was missing.

He just went in and added the missing seal and changed the replaced the seals and thankfully that did the trick. He also used thicker than original seals around the front windows.
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Do you havethe name and location/business of this tech handy?

Hap
 
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