M5 Show and Tell

[venchka]

It's just a place to store Kodachrome until you send it to Dwayne's.

Paraphrasing a signature I see on some forum: There are 10 kinds of people in the world. Those who use and like the M5 and the other 9.

 

[J J Kapsberger]

Not a bad looking camera, that M5.

 

[venchka]

Strange is in the eye of the beholder

Strange is in the eye of the beholder

Maybe it's the slightly square ends?

 

[cmogi10]

and oversized body

 

[dreamsandart]

When the M5 came out Leica compared it to a classic body with a MR meter, it had cleaner lines and was not any bigger in volume, still 'compact' compared to the standard SLR body. And YES, there are 'advantages' to the M5 as I've said: the easy to adjust shutter speed dial, a rewind that really works well, finder information that gives more, and a really good semi-spot meter with an analog readout are the most useful to me. Almost forgot... the only M with both meter and self-timer which if your travelling makes it easy to get you and your friends in the picture.

Some users like how it balances with larger lenses and if you are using them the extra size of the M5 doesn't seem to matter. But I also like the camera with a compact 35 (pre-ASPH Summilux or Summicron), kind of equals out the lens/camera size.

When I carried around an ALPA 12 with the M5 it seemed even smaller still 😉

 

[dreamsandart]

Duh...it never occurred to me to hang it that way. I mean with the strap running all the way through both lugs so the camera can slide along it. That's neat!

/T

I use a long leather strap now and yes its adjustable/slides through the lugs. Makes it easy to put in front or back at your side with the over the shoulder across the chest style of wearing. I'm going to be getting a Japanese traditional silk strap to use in the same way. The advantages are getting away from leather which I try to do and that you can make a knot to shorten if needed very quickly to put the camera on the neck in front if needed.

Another advantage of the M5 - the very strong 2 lugs system - that gets the strap out of the way of the advance hand.

 

[bankcheck]

Yes, it's a great camera consider all the feathures it has - meter, timer, double exposure, friendly shutter speed dial...... this is the camera I can shoot without taking my eyes off the finder. Better particularly if you use the 50 lux or other larger lens.

 

[sepiareverb]

And perfect shutter speed dial.

 

[Big Hairy Bee]

I'd take one and use it without hesitation!

 

[venchka]

It's all relative

It's all relative

and oversized body

Having never owned any other M body, I can honestly say that the M5 seems very normal to me. My Canon VI-T bodies are the same height and depth and only 1/4" shorter. My Canon EF SLR body is a little larger than the M5 and has exactly the same shutter speed dial/film advance layout. Very nice when using both cameras.

As dreamsandart pointed out, and I can confirm, place a winder and meter on any other Leica M or Canon RF body and then talk to me about size.

 

[Vincenzo Maielli]

I'm a very fanatic lover of my black chrome Leica M5! Mine was made in 1974. I use a Kanto MR9 adapter, to replace the PX625 battery.
Beautyful shot, Wayne! Also i own the LTM Nikkor 85/2 (fantastic lens), the Summicron 50 DR (incredible performer) and the very nice Canonet G-III QL 17. In the past time, i owned a Minolta Autometer IV F: now i use the Gossen Starlite.
Ciao.
Vincenzo

 

[venchka]

Thank you Vincenzo! I have mixed feelings about the Minolta meter. Perhaps I shall start a replacement fund.

My 51.9mm Dual Range Summicron is probably my best and my favorite lens. I paid too much for it. That doesn't bother me. The lens was worth every cent.

 

[J J Kapsberger]

And perfect shutter speed dial.

Seconded. It lies perfectly in position for my finger. Simply turn it in the direction of the needle and boom, metering is done.

The M5 is a very fast camera, exceeded in terms of speed only by the automatics--M7 and M8.

 

[Vincenzo Maielli]

As for me the DR Summicron is my best lens. I don't pay any money for it, but the price was very highest indeed, because the DR Summicron was inherited by my dear dad. He owned two Summicron 50, DR and rigid, alternatively mounted on the Leica M4. He was a very fine photographer and a big man.
Ciao.
Vincenzo

 

[Mudman]

Do you think this is a best buy in the m series for price and range of features?

 

[rxmd]

Do you think this is a best buy in the m series for price and range of features?

Yes.

Over here they've been starting to sell on eBay for under 500 EUR - two in the last month for 430 and 450 EUR. They're cheaper than M4s and only slightly more expensive than M2s. And you get a built-in spot meter and the best ergonomics of any M in my opinion. Apart from the fact that you get a first-class camera, they're hard to beat on price/performance as well.

It's really only the "but it's so big" argument from people that stands against it. It's not about size, it's about having the M6TTL's 138x80x38 mm programmed into your head. These are usually the same people who then put Leicameters and Rapidwinders and Noctiluxes and grips and Luigi cases on their camera. As soon as you concentrate on taking pictures instead of the idea that your camera must be 138x80x38 and may not be 150x84x38, the M5 is a great camera.

Philipp

 

[venchka]

There you go. When you put it up to your eye, who the HECK knows how big it is, hey?

Stepless shutter. Hasn't been mentioned yet. Try that on any other M body.

 

[Ororaro]

There you go. When you put it up to your eye, who the HECK knows how big it is, hey?

Stepless shutter. Hasn't been mentioned yet. Try that on any other M body.

I think all the Ms have stepless shutters, except around 1/15

 

[J J Kapsberger]

I think all the Ms have stepless shutters, except around 1/15

According to the MP instruction manual, "Intermediate values may not be used."

 

[dreamsandart]

The M5 shutter was an improved version of the M-series shutter with a slightly different design in the shutter cam. The standard shutter on the M2/M3/M4/M6... could be set to intermediate speeds between the clicks but these speeds were not continually consistent.

The M5's shutter on the other hand is a step-less design with smooth progression of speeds between the clicks to work with the step-less meter, its the only M-seriers that has this feature (the Leicaflex also had this design).

With shutter speed adjustment tolerances (excepted tolerances are usually up to +/- 20%) and film exposure latitude I'm not sure how valuable this really is in practical use. But with using the M5 meter it does give you the 'effect' of getting the exposure just right using the shutter speed dial.