M5, dead meter..or not? Help!

I can check with a LTM tomorrow... theres a old dirty camera store near by that should have an adaptor I can use to take a look... side note, the ad said 3 lug and its a 2 lug. I know its not huge deal, but still irritating. Should've just got an M6.
 
bibowj said:
side note, the ad said 3 lug and its a 2 lug. I know its not huge deal, but still irritating. .
Click to expand...

It is a big deal, as it is a different camera. Seems they may have sold you one, but shipped you a different broken one.

Did the ebay ad show a serial # in the photos? If so you can compare that to the one you have. As for that, did the photos show a 3 lug camera?
 
Well I returned the camera to the guy and the good news is that he paid the return shipping (which was $80), so Im happy with that at least. Overall its too bad though, I actually really liked the weight and feel or the M5....maybe even a little more than my M3.
 
I don't know whether you're in the US or Europe, but if you take a look at the eBay auctions there's a fairly large number of M5s for sale. You just have to be careful and ask if the meter works, and make sure that there's a return policy.

Now... I purchased my two M5s from stores (one had an eBay sales store and the other was Tamarkin), and that covered me when it comes to duds. It may be a good idea that you do the same thing, especially now that you've been bitten by the M5 bug.
 
It's easy to be bitten by the M5 bug. I have an M2, M3, and an M5, and by far my favorite is the M5. I like the ergonomics of it over the other two and of course the meter is a major plus in combination with the shutter speed dial slightly protruding out where it can easily be turned while never moving your eye from the viewfinder. I've read numerous posts , articles, comments, etc. about the ugly, big, and, as a result, unpopular M5, but unless a person has used one and hopefully another M model to make a fair comparison they won't realize what a terrific and well thought out M camera it really is.
 
Joseph Burke said:
It's easy to be bitten by the M5 bug. I have an M2, M3, and an M5, and by far my favorite is the M5. I like the ergonomics of it over the other two and of course the meter is a major plus in combination with the shutter speed dial slightly protruding out where it can easily be turned while never moving your eye from the viewfinder. I've read numerous posts , articles, comments, etc. about the ugly, big, and, as a result, unpopular M5, but unless a person has used one and hopefully another M model to make a fair comparison they won't realize what a terrific and well thought out M camera it really is.
Click to expand...

I think what happened is one infamous blogger in the US (I shall not speak his name!) bad mouthed it, w/o of course having used one (like most of his 'tests' he never actually uses the equipment which is why all the pics of them are from the mfgs). And then that poor reputation spread because of the "i heard it on the internet ' syndrome.
I love love love my M5. It is very different than my M3s, and in a good way.
 
I like the two lug M5: nothing to foul the right hand on the camera. I'd buy another one if you like big 50mm lenses. The M6 is a size and weight advantage and is also one of the best Leicas ever, but the M5 has a certain class and heft that I would miss.
 
M5 ,meter not working..

M5 ,meter not working..

I think the price was really good!
The meter working a disappointment but not a total loss.
Should have phoned Sherry and had her input..
Many Leica service people hate the M5.
The Seller from Japan did return all the money and shipping.

I was offered one, new, when they simply did NOT sell.
The price excellent but i already had my M3 and a backup M2.
My main pro cameras had moved to SLR.
Mostly Pentax and later Nikon-F.
I wanted and needed to see my actual photo.

I would love to use one one.
I liked the 3 strap lugs, the loading, the lovely viewfinder.
The few owners I have met, love theirs..
One Ex-Leica service person totally loathed the M5.
He mentioned cracked shutter drums(had that on my M3)
and the meter not being positive but varying in exposure readings.
I reckon that the CDS cells and electronics are almost finished.
 
M5

M5

I purchased an m5 with the 35 /1.4 summilux in 1982
No one wanted them .
The m5 is bigger than the beloved m3 m2 m4 camera .
I really loved the camera and shot for 14 years with it .
The frankenleica has the best ergonomics of the m series
And a very accurate meter system .
When the mercury battery was discontinued I had a difficult
Time making a battery last in it and the meter readings were not as accurate there are now adapters to use silver type cells , crisis is one that's availible .
The ugly duckling Leica m5 is before it's time ,
Try to buy a later 13xxxx number as all the bugs were worked out .
Most of these were 3 lug .
In 1982 no one wanted the summilux , it had a reputation of losing contrast
Wide open at 1.4 , well the summicron is great through the whole range ,
Although at 1.4 , wait that is not a possibility !!!
The summilux now sells for a lot more than the summicron .
The m5 is a great camera , however it's size and different shape was not
Accepted very well at the time .
 
Vics said:
The M5 has been unpopular since its release, long before bloggers.
Click to expand...


I think that was because of several factors.

The 'traditional' Leica buyer who wanted nothing that strayed from the M2/M3/M4 design ethos. Think about it, even now we insist that our digital Leica rangefinders are as similar as they can be to the original M series. My digital M-E would be a better camera if it had far more complete exposure information in the VF, the way the M5 has, and if it had a shutter speed dial that was larger and overlapped the front of the camera. The way the M5 does it. It would be better if it had a spot meter like the M5, instead of the vague meter easily fooled by highlights. It also would be better if it had a dedicated ISO/exposure compensation dial, but that would stray too much from the beloved M form. So we can't have that.
The M5 was released at the same time as the CL/CLE models which were much cheaper.

I knew nothing of the M5 until I read some bloggers' views, who bad mouthed it. So I thought that it was as they said. Until I actually used one. Now I think of it as the lost Leica, the one that is arguably the best film camera they ever made.
 
Hi,

Just so we don't start another rumour; the M5 came out before the CL and the Minolta CLE came out much later after both the M5 and CL production had ceased.

Regards, David

PS (Edit) the number of cameras being sold in January has more to do with the Christmas bill's arriving and having to be paid...
 
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