rxmd
May contain traces of nut
Hooray! My M5 is here.
See pictures; top view:
And front view:
Not a polished minty unused beauty, that #1350177. A camera that looks like a workhorse and will serve as one. ("I like my... cameras... used. [Maniacal laugh.]") As an object I like the design very much, the clean lines and the straightforward design appeal to me more than those of the M[23467P]. Size is perfect for my hands; the body does look large, but it isn't much bigger than the Kiev and only 10mm or so wider than the Bessa I'm used to, and the controls fit my hands very well, much better than other M's I've had in my hands. Now that I've got it, I understand those comments even less that say the M5 is as big as a flatbed scanner (to quote a random guy at photo.net), nor those commentaries in the 70s that made such a fuss about it. Then again, I guess journalists are paid to make a fuss about things.
Now for a little heresy. In direct comparison the M5 shutter does not sound much quieter than the Bessa R shutter. The M sounds a little bit deeper than the R, which does sound a little tinny in comparison, but the noise level is pretty comparable. The R offers higher overall and sync speeds in comparison; the M shutter offers intermediate speeds, which OTOH I don't need that often. Both are beaten hands down by the shutter of my Kiev 4AM, which is definitely best for street photography among all of my cameras (one reason I'll keep the Kiev, no matter what happen in M39- and M-land).
From a tactile point of view the Leica wins. But then they are very different. The Bessa is a camera to toss into your bag and carry with you all the time. I wouldn't do that with a new Leica. Mine is dinged and beaten enough that I'll probably do it anyway. The big thing about the Leica is the advance lever IMHO, it is very convenient and smooth.
It does not feel like a religious experience to have the first Leica. It's a camera. It's a device to be used, not fondled and worshipped. As an item of use it's a rather good one, though. And since I have big hands, like in-camera meters and tend to side with underdogs, I guess an M5 was the best first Leica to get.
Now all I have to do is hunt for some LTM-M adapters (35 and one or two 50s) and I'm set. 🙂 Incidentally, does the CV 21/f4 Skopar work on the M5 or do I have to use a modified LTM adapter?
Philipp
See pictures; top view:
And front view:
Not a polished minty unused beauty, that #1350177. A camera that looks like a workhorse and will serve as one. ("I like my... cameras... used. [Maniacal laugh.]") As an object I like the design very much, the clean lines and the straightforward design appeal to me more than those of the M[23467P]. Size is perfect for my hands; the body does look large, but it isn't much bigger than the Kiev and only 10mm or so wider than the Bessa I'm used to, and the controls fit my hands very well, much better than other M's I've had in my hands. Now that I've got it, I understand those comments even less that say the M5 is as big as a flatbed scanner (to quote a random guy at photo.net), nor those commentaries in the 70s that made such a fuss about it. Then again, I guess journalists are paid to make a fuss about things.
Now for a little heresy. In direct comparison the M5 shutter does not sound much quieter than the Bessa R shutter. The M sounds a little bit deeper than the R, which does sound a little tinny in comparison, but the noise level is pretty comparable. The R offers higher overall and sync speeds in comparison; the M shutter offers intermediate speeds, which OTOH I don't need that often. Both are beaten hands down by the shutter of my Kiev 4AM, which is definitely best for street photography among all of my cameras (one reason I'll keep the Kiev, no matter what happen in M39- and M-land).
From a tactile point of view the Leica wins. But then they are very different. The Bessa is a camera to toss into your bag and carry with you all the time. I wouldn't do that with a new Leica. Mine is dinged and beaten enough that I'll probably do it anyway. The big thing about the Leica is the advance lever IMHO, it is very convenient and smooth.
It does not feel like a religious experience to have the first Leica. It's a camera. It's a device to be used, not fondled and worshipped. As an item of use it's a rather good one, though. And since I have big hands, like in-camera meters and tend to side with underdogs, I guess an M5 was the best first Leica to get.
Now all I have to do is hunt for some LTM-M adapters (35 and one or two 50s) and I'm set. 🙂 Incidentally, does the CV 21/f4 Skopar work on the M5 or do I have to use a modified LTM adapter?
Philipp
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