M5! M5! M5! M5!

[Nokton48]

Hi All,

My new M5 just arrived from the Netherlands. Feels great in my hands, got it strapped up, Softie & Hairtie attached, Sync plugs and Eyepiece Cover from Don Goldberg, ready for a roll of XX! Having a neighborhood Independence-Day party, so M5 will be going 😱

It's not as tall as M2 with Tom A's Rapidwinder attached, but it's a teeney bit wider, but feels like an old friend (already). The M4-type lever wind feels good, but I'm not used to it yet. Meter agrees with Sunny-16, so I am -good to go- 😀😀😀😀😀

Here's M5 with my favorite Canon F1.2 lens, souped-up. BTW Leica recommended this body to shoot with the original F1.2 Noctilux (with good reasons):

 

[Nokton48]

M2 Meets M5

M2 Meets M5

Here are the two bodies, as M2 meets M5. I'm totally pleased. 😎

 

[tmfabian]

very nice, are they playing nicely?

Here are the two bodies, as M2 meets M5. I'm totally pleased. 😎

 

[Nokton48]

So far, they are behaving themselves.............

 

[Ron (Netherlands)]

Very nice couple! btw you have a lot of 'ropes' hanging out there, why is that?

 

[venchka]

Oh. Did somebody get an M5? And love it at first touch? Scandalous. Simply scandalous.

Enjoy!

 

[lawrence]

The M5 is great but check the meter. Mine reads about a stop too optmistic compared to my Nikons, Sekonic meter or M6TTL. In other words, I set the M5 meter as if the film is a stop slower than normal.

 

[lawrence]

Oh yes, and don't forget it's a spot meter so be careful where you aim that thing 😉

 

[sepiareverb]

What's with the hair tie?

 

[Nokton48]

"What's with the hair tie?"

It keeps the Softie/shutter from tripping, when I don't want it to. Of course, I'm already learning, don't advance the M5, to save the battery. So, with this M5 body, it's a moot point. I've taken dozens of photos of the inside of my Domke Bag with M2, for instance.

 

[sepiareverb]

Nice trick.

 

[Nokton48]

Thank You.

 

[Nokton48]

The M5 is great but check the meter. Mine reads about a stop too optmistic compared to my Nikons, Sekonic meter or M6TTL. In other words, I set the M5 meter as if the film is a stop slower than normal.

Thanks, I will consider that, during my initial "break-in" period. I prefer spot-metering, in low-light situations. So I think most likely, the M5 will be ideal for my uses.
Love the way it handles, so far.

 

[rxmd]

Of course, I'm already learning, don't advance the M5, to save the battery.

Or put a cap on the lens. Most CdS meters won't use the battery when it's dark.

Philipp

 

[Nokton48]

That's good to know-- I prefer to keep the shutters cocked on my cameras, so they are ready to use!! Missed photo moments, if you don't :bang:

Sooo, I'm back to capping the lens up tightly, and using the Hairtie under the Softie with M5. This works -really- well, and you can buy a dozen black nylon hairties for $2. I also use them on all my Minolta SRT's. Works great on just about any camera body with any type of soft release.

 

[raid]

I rarely see chrome finish M5 cameras. Mostly, they come in black.

 

[gb hill]

So the meter is activated by cocking the lever & not pressing the shutter?

 

[sepiareverb]

Like many older metering cameras, the meter is on when the shutter is cocked and the lenscap is off.

 

[Nokton48]

"I rarely see chrome finish M5 cameras. Mostly, they come in black."

In some early M5 literature I just received, Leitz referred to it as "White Silver". Actually, it's the same finish, as you can see, as any classic early M-body. This is an early M5, it dates from 1972, by my calculations.

 

[maddoc]

That M5 looks nice ! 🙂 Don't forget to post some photos !!