M5 - Re-Discovering Leica

[Krosya]

A while back I used to own 3 different Leica cameras - M3, M6 and IIIF. While all were good and useful, I really never got very attached to them. While I liked a small size and old quality feel of the IIIF, I really didnt care for it's squinty viewfinder. Plus most of my lenses are M-mount, so that camera didnt see much use and got sold.
M3 and M6, while not bad never really excited me all that much, even after CLA on both I still felt that they just were not "me". What made me sell them - was discovering Konica Hexar RF. In many ways a much better camera for me. Yet desire to have "all-mechanical" camera was still there, so to fill that gap I got a Bessa R2M. Great camera, yet I only used it once, as Hexars see all the action usually. At one point Canon 7 came into picture, and while a great camera, fact that it's LTM - makes it far less usable for me.
So after reading a thread on Leica M5 and doing some research (there is a great article on pnet on M5) I thought I'd give one a try. All it's features sounded interesting, plus since it looks and handles somewhat different from a "traditional" M leica made me take a serious look at one. Well, whats a better way to do it other than to get one and see what develops 😉
Today I received my new to me black 2 lug M5.
Fisrt impressions - What an AMAZING camera. It feels much better in my hands. Great viewfinder. Easy to focus. Changing shutter speeds is a breeze. Very solid Wetlar built. I love the racheted rewind on the bottom.
Before, I always hated bottomloading of all my Leicas. For some reason this one loads much easier. I think a bit different loading system was implemented (but I'm not 100% sure), but it just does it right!
It's light meter is much better to me than one in M6. - just feels more intuitive to me. All in all - after just one day - I'm very impressed! Time will tell if this love affair will last, but for now it'll be hot and heavy! 😉
I wish I didn't go for the "most popular" M, like I did before, but rather started with this one. I really don't get why this camera was not success when it was introduced and I can perfectly see why prices of it keep going higher and higher, surpassing all the other Ms (other than M7 and MP). Can't wait to run my first film through it!

 

[Keith]

Have fun with the M5 Krosya. There was a couple of things that I really liked about mine when I had it ... the meter, aside from very low light, is excellent and the shutter speed dial is brilliant with it's fingertip control.

Compared to an M it is a bit of an ugly duckling ... I didn't mind it's looks though!

 

[Krosya]

Heeey! Who are you calling uglyyyy? 😉 It's beautiful!

 

[J J Kapsberger]

Before, I always hated bottomloading of all my Leicas. For some reason this one loads much easier. I think a bit different loading system was implemented (but I'm not 100% sure), but it just does it right!

On my M5 the take-up spool can be pulled out. With the base plate off, hold the camera right side up so that gravity causes the spool to extend out enough for you to get hold of it. Carefully pull it out. The film can be loaded in similar fashion to an M2/M3. Does yours have this feature?

 

[maddoc]

The M5 is nice !! 😎 Only problem I see with the M5 is that one has to handle and use this camera to find it out. 😀

For fast and heavy 50mm lenses like the Canon 50/1.2 or Noctilux it is the ideal M camera, makes handling much easier.

 

[photogdave]

Same type of meter as the CL - I also prefer it to the M6. I would be 100% happy if I could just get a match-needle meter and the M5 shutter dial on my M6!

 

[HuubL]

Congrats Krosya, you're a member now! That protruding shutter speed dial was such a clever invention that even Canon copied it in its wonderful EF SLR. I have both the M5 and the EF and love them dearly. If only after the demise of the M5 Leica would've implemented this single improvement in its later retro-looking Ms, we would have had much quicker and easier RFs.

 

[kknox]

I have had two in the past, sold them both to try the other M's. Good news my third M5 will be here in the morning. I too will be back in the M5 cult, great camera. Lets keep it quiet so the prices stay low for us. Good luck with your new camera.

 

[Krosya]

On my M5 the take-up spool can be pulled out. With the base plate off, hold the camera right side up so that gravity causes the spool to extend out enough for you to get hold of it. Carefully pull it out. The film can be loaded in similar fashion to an M2/M3. Does yours have this feature?

I didnt check if it can be pulled out. I already have film in it, so I cant check, but I think I dont have that feature, as loading diagram on the bottom is basically the same as it was with M6. But spool itself is a bit easier to operate/grab leader of the film with than M6. And I like it this way, as I didnt care for the way M3 had it with a pull out spool. M6 was better, but film leader would slip off sometimes. In my M5 it seems to grab it pretty secure, so I think it's the best one I used so far out of all Leicas I've had.

 

[maddoc]

If I remember correctly, the spool of all M5 cameras can be pulled out and correctly oriented (that is according to the drawing) re-inserted. A nice feature especially in cold weather.

 

[thomasw_]

Krosya, I am happy that another M5 user appreciates its bottom rewinder and its awesome light metering. I wish the MP came with match needle metering...less distracting than leds imo.

 

[Keith]

As much as they're a nice camera I think they've become somewhat of a curio for Leica fans. You can't really call yourself an M shooter until you've at least tried an M5 and a lot of people also probably get one assuming it will be THE camera for them ... it wasn't for me.

Like my M7 and a few other variants it's gone ... and I've return to my M2/M3 combo!

 

[waileong]

How do you guys deal with the mercury battery issue?

 

[maddoc]

How do you guys deal with the mercury battery issue?

Mine has an adapter (have never checked it ...) or you could use a Wein-cell. You can also have the camera adjusted to 1.5V and use P625 cells with 1.5 V.

 

[waileong]

From my research, wein cells are expensive. Can the meter really be adjusted to 1.5V? Because from what I understand, the problem is not the adjustment, it's because alkaline 1.5V batteries don't give a constant voltage during their life, hence resulting in inaccurate meter readings.

 

[maddoc]

As I have read it is better to use Silver-Oxide 1.5V cells instead of alkaline battery types. The former have a discharge curve more similar to mercury cells. There is a good information on this problem at the Leica FAQ site.

 

[HuubL]

I use Wein cells. They last about a year in the Dutch (rather humid) climate. They cost me about 6.50 US$. Insignificant in comparison to the amount of film I use in one year. I haven't yet tried to dismantle the cells. I understand that you could open the exterior shell and replace the actual battery with a cheapo Zn-air hearing aid battery. Anybody tried that?

 

[Nokton48]

Krosya,
Enjoy the M5. Try out your Canon F1.2 on it, the overall package is perfectly-handling. Or other big lenses, like the 90mm F2 Summicron, or my 85mm F1.5 Canon. Love the meter, I've -never- had a problem seeing the needle, even at night. Don't know what people are talking about, they should try it before they comment. Love mine and keeping it, after two years of use.

 

[venchka]

Welcome!

Welcome!

Bigfoot & Bubba extend a hearty "Welcome aboard!"

It appears that Memphis has assumed the duties of Secret Handshake instructor. Thanks! About time I got some relief. 😀

Batteries: I managed to assemble a stash of PX625 mercury cells. I recently replaced a Gossen Luna-Pro with a Luna-Pro SBC so I only have to feed Bigfoot & Bubba my precious mercury cells.

Wein Cells: They work and they work well while they work. Once they stop working, it is a very simple matter to seperate the battery from the washer that makes them the same size as the PX625 mercury cell. In fact, the Wein cells are nothing more than a 675 battery in a ring to equal the size of the PX625. When the battery is dead, after 6-12 months, place the battery in the open end of a 1/2" hex socket. Stand the socket up on a sturdy surface. Get something metal that is slightly smaller than the battery diameter. I used a punch that is 1/8" to 3/16" in diameter. Strike the punch with a hammer and the battery pops out of the washer. Piece of cake. A 675 hearing aid battery press fits in the washer. It took a lot longer to type the instructions than to actually perform the separation.

Enjoy your M5. Let the others grumble and mumble about all of the things that are wrong with the M5. We know the truth.

Cheers! 😎

 

[raid]

I traded my M5 many years ago, and I never really gave it a chance to stay with me. I was new to leica cameras and to RF photography, and having bought three Leica M cameras within a few month scared the heck out of me. I sold an M4-MOT and the M5, and I kept the M3.