Leica M5 What's the deal?

[Chucknova]

Why is the Leica M5 treated like the red-headed stepchild of the Ms? I've had a couple of M3s and IIIs, but I haven't ever even come across a 5. Does anybody on RFF use one? I'd like to know how they leic it.

 

[Monochrom]

some time ago i purchased one m5 with the lightmeter off, i fixed it and in the meantime i just fell in love with it, to me is the best m film out there.

It´s an easy going and fast shooter!

The speeds in the VF and the fact you can switch speeds with an intuitive dial makes an incredible camera.

On pictures i must say it´s not the most handsome!

But when you have one in your hands is really great!

 

[harmsr]

It is larger and strapped different. At the time of release if was not received well. If you shoot 50mm focal length, it is amazing. The VF is the best for 50 in the M lineup. If your light meter is working, being able to see shutter speed vs. meter reading in the VF is really nice.

When I was still shooting film M's, it was my favorite (but 50mm is my favorite also).

 

[Takkun]

And departed from the M3/M4 styling a bit--coaxial shutter dial and angled corners.

A lot of people seem to find it ugly, and I'll admit it lacks the elegance of the traditional body shape, but I would hardly call it ugly. Other still attribute it to the near-death of Leitz, but after reading extensively on their history, it's really become the straw man in that argument.
And another ding I've heard is the needlessly complicated and mechanical swing-out meter cell, to which I say, don't we all appreciate Teutonic over engineering?

 

[Mark C]

A number of little things add up to make it not quite as nice handling to me as an M4. Size, bottom rewind doesn't work as well for me (constantly folds up on me while rewinding, and less obvious for checking proper film load), some lens incompatibilities, shutter release not quite as smooth as M2/3/4 (because of moving the meter cell).

But the biggest issue for me was always the missing bottom frame line for the 35. With glasses I don't see the little corner nicks, and unconsciously compose the the very visible meter bar. I was not the only one with this issue, though you don't hear much about it today. I could care less about the meter, so all told just ditched it for the M4-2 when I was working.

Now film is just for fun, and I kind of missed the brute, so hand Sherry rebuild one for me with the bottom 35 frame out of an M4. I'm really enjoying it, though I still fight with the bottom rewind. That is at least partly compensated for by what I think is the best M takeup spool ever.

 

[SolaresLarrave]

I got one by sheer chance... and loved it! There are some quirks (especially if you're very used to the layout of the traditional M bodies) but it's easy to get over them, mostly because it's a well engineered camera and a pleasure to use.

Now, I shoot with 35mm glass mostly, and the missing frameline bottom never bothered me. What took some getting used to was the meter, because it's essentially a spot one, and you need to keep this in mind. Other than that, the styling is quite elegant but dated, and the fact that the rewind crank is ratcheted means that now you can rewind your film without the fear of the crank slipping out and undoing all the work. Sure, size and handling are different, but if you lay your hands on a good copy (which was my case when I purchased one from Dan Tamarkin) it's a really nice experience.

Now, let's see what others say about the position of the lugs... 🙂

I like them, by the way.

 

[Chrisrw]

I absolutely love mine. But it's the only Leica I've owned. I've mostly had my Canon 50/1.4 planted on it since I got it. It's smooth and quiet with a bright vf. I love the shutter speed readout and accessibility of the dial (although that's easy enough on my Bessa too). If feels great in my hands. It's like holding a sculptured piece of art. It fits my hands very well and allows for steady shooting with slow shutter speeds. A soft release help with that too. I didn't have the meter re calibrated, but adjusted the ASA and it was spot on. I think its about the same size as an M9, so I don't really know what all the fuss is about regarding it's size. I use a Gordy shoulder sling, so the 3 lug positions just gives me more variety in how I carry it.

 

[filmtwit]

The first year or so of production had technical problems.
Sherry has indicated that folks should avoid serial numbers running up to around 129300 range if I remember right. After that, they become her favorite Leica.

 

[Richard G]

Love it. Best Leica for wides like the 21 – easier to hold level and flat to the face of a building. Great balance with a fast 50. Love the 50 frame lines. The film speed dial and the cranked rewind are great. I love the brutalist design, especially as in my chrome 2 lug model. Great for walking in the rain slung under the arm.

 

[Steve M.]

I bought one years ago from KEH. Took it out of the box, played w/ it a while, and sent it back (did the same w/ a Fuji 690). Too big. Way too big. The Fuji was comically big.

 

[Spicy]

It's a bit of a brute, and as people have mentioned above, goes in a drastically different design direction than its forebears. People that love them really love them. People that don't are usually quite vehement in their displeasure.

There aren't that many of them (certainly they're a rather small proportion of the production numbers for the overall M family tree), and most people who bash them have never used them.

I quite like mine, but it certainly is different than the traditional-bodied Ms. Some call it the ultimate M, in that it takes full advantage of Leica's decades of experience with the -3, -2, and -4, and predates the "quality downgrade" some claim happened during the transition (possibly due to the huge commercial failure of the M5) to the subsequent M4-2 and M4-P, neither of which I feel deserve their "bargain M" reputations.

I just wish there was a bigger market for bits and bobs for them -- I would love a brown Zhou case or M-grip for mine, but the number of owners simple won't support the resources for developing stuff for such a different shape.

The match-needle metering is simply a revelation. I hate LED meters, as they give such a poor idea of overall light levels (either on or off).

 

[David Hughes]

Hi,

Like the CL the body has the rewind at the left hand end of the base plate. If you wind on keeping the camera up to your eye then you can feel the rewind knob turning by putting a finger on it. I find that very convenient.

There was also a bit of resistance to it because real photographers don't use meters, they "know" the light.

And if the metering was regarded as a complication then why would anyone buy the more complex M6 or M7 or M8. It might have something/more to do with Minolta's involvement and building it for Leica but what's wrong with sub-contracting? No one object to others making embellishments for the M range; meaning leather stuff. And no one rants about using none Leica lenses, which are as radical as using a none Leica made body...

I put the so called "problems" of the CL and M5 down to the traditionalists, who didn't like or want change but were OK with the IIIc and M range changes. But what people do and don't like and cling on to is seldom logical.

Regards, David

 

[kpembo]

I like the M5

I like the M5

I bought an M5 from another RFF member about three months ago. I have not used other Leica cameras. It is big, but I was used to larger cameras after using a Canon RF7 (slightly smaller) and an Epson R-D1s (roughly the same size). The size issue seems a bit of a moot point to me as you really need to use a Barnack or clone to get something truly small.

The camera is not as attractive as the other Leica M models, but I got over appearances after using the Canon RF7.

I get great exposures from the camera. The view finder is wonderfully bright and clear. The lack of bottom frame in the 35mm has caught me a few times, but I'm gradually remembering to correct for the problem.

It is easy to load - the only cameras that are easier to load are quick load or automatic loading. I really like that I don't even have to shape the leader for bulk loaded film - you can leave it square cut.

The meter takes some getting used to as you have to learn to look at it at the correct angle. I had to add O-rings to my collapsible I-50 lens to make it safe to use on the M5 due to the moving meter arm, and had to buy a new M-LTM adapter for my 28mm lens which was perfectly safe to use, but had an adapter ring on it that was designed to protect against damaging the M5 meter (some earlier Leica 28mm lenses protruded too far into the chamber and would have damaged the moving meter arm).

I find that even though I have small hands, the ergonomics are fine for me if I use a mini-soft release.

pembo

 

[porktaco]

love mine. didnt expect to.

wonderful finder. matchneedle meter. overhanging shutter speed dial. i wish it were smaller, but i find myself reaching for it surprisingly often these days. i'm going through a maybe-i-should-have-only-one-film-camera stage. oddly, this is the one i think i'd keep.

 

[Mark C]

I've never understood why they didn't adopt the M5 style takeup spool on later cameras. Maybe it was just an avoidance of anything from the ill fated camera.

 

[Rodchenko]

I suppose with the M5, it's the difference between looking at it, and looking through it. It has a great range of features, and wasa real groundbreaker. Shame the reviewers couldn't get past the looks.

Confession: I have a certain amount of vanity wrt cameras. I like pretty ones. Shallow, I know.

 

[zleica]

It's the most comfortable rangefinder camera to shoot. To fully appreciate the M5, one should really just use the M5 along without mix it with other M's for an extended period of time, or an outing/trip. The problem for M5 is that it doesn't mix with other M's well. For me, I will pick up an M5 over M6/7 any day! But I need to take two bodies, I will go with M3 and M6 combination.

 

[Chrisrw]

wonderful finder. matchneedle meter. overhanging shutter speed dial. i wish it were smaller, but i find myself reaching for it surprisingly often these days. i'm going through a maybe-i-should-have-only-one-film-camera stage. oddly, this is the one i think i'd keep. __________________
- Adam

My sentiments exactly. As much as I'd like the money from some sales, every time I hold the 5, I just can't let it go. Hence the Bessa R2, Nickel Heliar 50/3.5 and Color Skopar 75/2.5 gotta go.

 

[Roger Hicks]

As others have said, those who love it, love it. The rest regard it as a great ugly overcomplicated lump. What's puzzling is how many people base their assessment of M5 fans/non-fans on this choice, regarding the fans as great ugly overcomplicated lumps too. I don't like it, but then, I don't like Rollei TLRs either. Or OM Olympuses. This does not mean that I regard their devotees as hopeless idiots, though in some individual cases I do begin to wonder.

Cheers,

R.

 

[Nokton48]

Best most deadly-accurate spot metering system I have ever used in any 35mm camera. That is saying a lot. Not M3-like but I could have cared less. Very intuitive to use. Too bad it was a flop because of the times and circumstances, Leica put so much research into the camera.

With bigger lenses it shines and is nicely balanced.