m5 or not m5

[bobbyyoung]

I've been looking for a user M6 whilst I'm working here in London, haven't had much luck yet. Want something to take with me everywhere and take endless photos with, and price is obviously a thing, especially now, but the cosmetics of the thing don't worry me so much. Actually would rather have something looks like it's seen a bit of the world and remembers it, like my old nikon.
Just been offered a good price on an M5 via a friend of a friend, seems very well used indeed but apparently in good mechanical condition. Not considered the M5, wondered whether it's a good idea, longevity ec as I've read it's the model everyone made a whipping boy.. It'd be my first Leica, so it's all a big adventure, and i was advised by a photographer friend to check out the wisdom here on this site, hope that's ok.

 

[rxmd]

Disclaimer: I have been shooting an M5 for a couple of years now, I have been shooting other Ms, the M5 is my only M for a reason, and I'm fairly biased.

That said, it's a fantastic camera. The ergonomics are better IMHO than on other Ms. The meter is nice, and the option to change shutter speeds and see them in the finder without taking the camera off your eye is a major convenience advantage. Don't even get me started on the film rewind cranks on all other Leicas; and after you realize that you can carry your camera vertically over your shoulder underneath your jacket, you will start to wonder why you never thought of this before. A lot of energy went into the ergonomics on the M5, and as a result you realize how it makes you not feel and look like a compromising dork in places where other Ms do.

The reason why people make it a whipping boy are purely cosmetic: people so used to a camera 138mm wide that they can't stand a camera 148 mm wide. Nothing to do with longevity etc. As a result the M5 presents the best value you can get in M cameras, IMHO.

The meter is good, quite precise, the metering area being quite narrow (if you compare it to the M6). This means that you can meter quite precisely, but also that you have to take care what you're metering at. The metering area is indicated in the finder in some way for most focal lengths, so in practice this was never a problem for me (I've been shooting mostly 21, 40 and 50 lenses). Regarding the battery question, I've been using mercury batteries on mine for a while; I'm on my second battery in three years, the first one being the one I bought it with so I don't know how empty that one already was. You can get mercury batteries on eBay if you look for a while, you can have the meter converted to a different voltage, or use any of the mercury alternatives described in countless threads on camera forums.

You have to exert a little care with a precious few lenses that protrude very far into the body. This includes collapsibles in collapsed state. The only lens I have to which this applies (not counting collapsible Soviet Elmar clones) is the Russian 35/f2.8 Jupiter-12 wideangle. Not much of a limitation in practice. Actually in the unlikely event that you are addicted to using a J-12, you can even mount these if you modify the M-LTM adapter used to mount them a little bit, but you won't get metering. Basically with such a modified adapter collapsible and protruding lenses work just like they would on an M2/M3/M4.

In short, go for it.

 

[Benjamin]

People make a big deal about how the M5 is ugly, but really all Leica's are kind of ugly. I like it.

If you have big hands the M5 feels pretty great, though I have big hands and the other M's feel comfortable in operation.

The meter is excellent, the shutter dial is in a good place, and the vertical strap lugs offer some versatility though I would recommend that you try to get a three lug model if you can, so that you can attach the strap conventionally if you feel like it.

Great camera, get one.

 

[payasam]

"It'd be my first Leica, so it's all a big adventure" forgets that a Leica is just another camera.

Philipp is right to say that the M5 was criticised for things that had nothing to do with quality and functionality. I remember when it came out. It was in a way revolutionary and most people thought at the time that future M cameras would follow the M5 and not the M4.

 

[Rob-F]

If you like it, I wouldn't hesitate. It's a great camera, and you can always get your money out of it later.

 

[johannielscom]

I own an M5 and would recommend it to anyone. A used one still is a great looker in my book, and a used looking one also is quite stealthy since the design looks somewhat dated.

Mine is black chrome but the chrome is turning bright from gripping. I love the way it looks, although some consider this ugly.

Reminder: have the bottoms of diagonal lines touch and not the lines cross when in low light to correct the lack of sensitivity in the CDS cell and you'll be fine!

 

[Tuolumne]

I owned two, now 1. In many ways it is the most "modern" of all the film Leicas, with its excellent spot meter and handling. I wouldn't hesitate to own one. If you only have the 2 lug model, Luigi makes a beautiful case that lets it hang in the normal fashion.

/T

 

[zleica]

I have been using M3, M5 and M6 for years. The M5 is by far a better 'user.' To fully appreciate an M5, I would recommend using it alone. IMHO, M5 doesn't mix with other Ms, especially the M6. As far as many negative comments about the M5, I would suspect that those users compared M5 with M6 side by side and shoot only few rolls of film with the M5. The size and the weight of M5 feel much better than M6 for extended period of shooting IMHO. As a user, the M5 fits naturally for both shooting styles of shutter priority or aperture priority, whereas M6 is mostly suited for shutter priority shooting style. The shutter on M5 sounded differently than that of M3 and M6, but not noisier. In fact, in lower speeds, M5 is much quieter than other Ms. Hope this helps!

Kind regards,

 

[Benjamin Marks]

Another satisfied M5 user here. I bought mine off of awilder on this forum. I have both older and newer M's (M2, M3, M6, M8) so I have a slightly different perspective. Viewfinder: great. Metering accuracy: great. Size and heft: very good, but I am not as influenced by this criterion. No winder options: too bad. I happen to like the M5's aesthetics a lot.

I think the objection to the vertical strap was from PJ's who found that their cameras were banging into one another. Not an issue for me as I don't wear more than one camera at a time.

In terms of a value for the money, I'd go with an M5 or M6. The main advantage to an M6 is that it is newer, the batteries are less exotic and there are more winder options. M6 VF is worse, in my book. Also the M6 electronics are solid state, but I am not sure that is a benefit. The only Leica circuits I have had problems with are in an M6 and an R4.

Good luck in your choice. If your friend would let you, I suggest you borrow the camera for a week. Give yourself an assignment of shooting one roll of film a day -- have them developed at a 1 hour lab so that you can see how well you and the camera get along. In the end, M5-M6, it is not going to matter a lot. Either are capable of producing wonderful images in the right hands.

Check back in and let us know what you chose. And of course: post some pictures.

Ben Marks

 

[kknox]

Had 3 over the years, used all the film M's. The M5 by far has it all. I have large hands its great, I like the meter & the shutter speed in the viewfinder. The later serial #'s the shutter speed dial clicks into place a little nicer. Just dont collapse a lens all the way in you will ruin the meter. I wash I had my M5 back, the metering is dead on. Buy it.

 

[maddoc]

I had one for a short time, great user camera. Only drawback for me was the meter being hardly visible in low-light. Otherwise it is the most advanced M Leica (film) and very good for the "heavier" lenses.

 

[venchka]

Bigfoot and Bubba say, "What are you waiting for?"

Curious. In these times, what is the M5 from a friend of a friend selling for in the Old Country? In case Bubba needs to be placed for adoption.

 

[capitalK]

I bought Tuolumne's second M5 body and couldn't be happier. It feels great in my big paws and I have found the meter to be very reliable with Wein cells. I love the 2-lug, I have it hanging over my left shoulder and I can have another camera around my neck so they don't knock.

 

[venchka]

Read this.....

http://cameraquest.com/m5.htm

The M5 is the last M body built in Wetzler the old way. Largely by hand. You can feel it.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Understandably, M5 users love the M5.

Equally understandably, Leica dropped it and brought back the much smaller, handier M4 because even without a meter it was a camera that many preferred.

Possibly, Leica made the right choice. I'm not saying they did: merely that M5 fans have always been a minority.

Cheers,

R.

 

[rxmd]

Well at the time they certainly did; there's little point in producing something nobody wants.

There probably was something like the "spirit of the time", so what was meant as an improvement was perceived as a deviation from the One True Way by reviewers and users. Nowadays, however, photography has changed so much in general that it is easier to see the improvement for what it is, and as a result the attitude of the 1970s may easily seem foolish.

 

[HuubL]

The M5 is a great camera. Different from the other Ms, but great. It was already mentioned above, in several ways it's more sophisticated than the other Ms: ratcheting rewind, shutter speed scale in viewfinder/meter needle, protruding shutter speed knob, still has the self timer, superb (hand) build, brass body, lugs...
I've got older Ms and an M6 also and mostly shoot M5 and M6 (for the meter). But for nostalgic looks, I like the M5 the best.

 

[bobbyyoung]

I've been at work for the last few hours, I can't believe how many replies! Thank you so much, it's brilliant to get all this information, I need to process it all! thank you everyone, what a terrific forum this is.

venchka thank you for the link.. I think the friend of a friend (sounds ominous I suppose) is asking 525GBP, and can't really barter too much. got a couple of weeks to decide on it. (and btw the old country is going quite well today it seems. unless you're gordon brown who's having a bit of a shocker, daily, it seems. Like a sit com without the canned laughter. Or laughter of any kind.)

so i suppose I was initially wondering when i posted would i be able to get an M6 for 600 GBP in a similar used condition, as it's a fair bit newer?
perhaps the sales notices on this website, will have a look at them. was advised to check out the classic camera store near the british museum but all the cameras they hold seem to be a fair bit pricier, and as i say, i'm very far from being a collector.

(although the working knowledge of the m5 from you all here does sway me towards that camera...)

rxmd, that's all really useful and so detailed, appreciate it. I have been wondering what lens to get, i think i'd like to start with a 50 and charge around with that for a while. that's the one i had on my ancient canon slr for ages and it was great.

Payasam, thank you very much, and I do completely see it's a camera, but I suppose I just mean it's fun thinking about buying something you really feel you'll enjoy using and which you hope will be with you for a long while. Camera's (I've only owned two in my thirty years so probably shouldn't comment, but they were both older than I was) seem to have their own characters and peculiarities so choosing one seems an enjoyable process. I do want one that is used as I say, so it can go everywhere with me.

(As to its ugliness, cle-rf- i've always felt pretty peculiar looking so maybe it'd be a match. the m6 might show me up.)

And thank you everybody for your advice, fantastic...

away for work at the weekend, but after that it's decision time, i will let you know..

 

[jarski]

sometimes M5 takes time to get used, and learn to like it. currently its my only M-body, so its probably getting more use than before. bought it 2006 from used camera dealer in Sao Paulo, and I doubt I will ever sell it since it reminds me of those days (even when am not using it).
this is something thats completely missing in todays eBay culture, one usually does not know the history of gear. it (in my theory) prompts easy buy-sell-buy-sell spree.

 

[HuubL]

525 UKP seems about the going rate for used M5s. I guess, with a bit of luck you should be able to find a good user M6 foor 600 UKP as well. Best prices you find here or on Ebay. But expect to also have a Leica repair person to CLA the body. After all, these are 30-40 year old cameras by now. A good CLA will set you back another 150-200. And then you need a lens (one at first, but you will want another one in a week or two...😉