M5, What a Camera

[P. Lynn Miller]

Lynn, great photo !

I've had the upgrade done at http://www.stevecamera.com. Not sure about price, it was in the context of other stuff (meter replacement and CLA). But they are very responsive.

Roland,

Thanks for the compliment on the photo!

I will get in touch with them about upgrading my M5 to a .85 finder. What frame-line did you choose?

In my opinion the M5 is not about the normal compact, light-weight RF style, but about being to utilize the key advantages of a rangefinder camera in the most efficient method. That is the actual method of focusing by coincident is still the easiest way to accurately focus in no light, the meter of the M5 is a spot allowing very precise light readings, and the size and weight of the M5 balances nicely with big lenses, Nokton 35/1.2, Nokton 50/1.1, Summicron 90, and I suspect that Noctilux and Summilux 75 would handle nicely as well. And the density of the M5 allows hand-helding at ridiculously low shutter speeds with a reasonable success rate.

Just my opinion... of course!

 

[Vickko]

The M5 is the perfect camera for some of the larger Leica lenses, e.g. Noctilux, 75 Summilux, and I anticipate nicely balances a 21mm Summilux

Vick

 

[lemalk]

Ugh. This makes me miss the M5 I sold last year.
It was just a perfect camera. The size, weight - everything!

...then I remember the cost and pain of film.

Until I win the lotto, digital is the way to go.

But...congratulations to all the M5 owners out there. It is a *phenomenal* camera.

 

[kdemas]

I totally agree, the M5 is really nice for larger lenses. I enjoy the ergonomics in general with any lens.

It also has one of the nicest finders for the 50mm focal length and, in my opinion, the quietest shutter of any M.

 

[zleica]

M5, by far, the best user body of all M cameras.

 

[Bill Blackwell]

M5 - What, a camera? 😱

 

[helen.HH]

I had an opportunity to have an M5 loaned to me
i LOVED it !!!!
so much so that I am in the process of now Purchasing it
The shutter speed dial is Supreme, the Meter spot on, the Size/Weight keeps me Steady
and I LOVE the boxy Shape with the Beautiful White engraving
and NO red Dot...yea !!!

in the past I have Owned an M2 & M4 / now an M6ttl .58
but the FAVORITE will be the M5

 

[kdemas]

I had an opportunity to have an M5 loaned to me
i LOVED it !!!!
so much so that I am in the process of now Purchasing it
The shutter speed dial is Supreme, the Meter spot on, the Size/Weight keeps me Steady
and I LOVE the boxy Shape with the Beautiful White engraving
and NO red Dot...yea !!!

in the past I have Owned an M2 & M4 / now an M6ttl .58
but the FAVORITE will be the M5

You're going to love it Helen. Though I use my M7 (.85) and M8 more (I like AE) it is always nothing short of a pleasure to break out the M5. If it had AE I's probably never put it down.

Enjoy 🙂

 

[kzphoto]

I was looking to have a .72 VF replaced with a .85 in my old M6 TTL. DAG quoted about $350 for the upgrade with an MP condenser / upgrade. This quote was about a 6 months ago.

Roland,

Where and how much... I have sent several E-mails to known Leica mechanics regarding upgrading to a .85 finder, but never had a reply.

Thanks!



Yes... taken at the corner of Crown and Oxford.

 

[Nokton48]

I just Adapted a Rapidgrip to Mine and I Like It.

I just Adapted a Rapidgrip to Mine and I Like It.

I think it improves the balance with long lenses, like my 90mm F2 V1 Summicron, the 50mm F1.2 Canon, 85mm F1.5 Canon, etc.

My favorite Leica to use, hands down.

 

[Steven Dooley]

It's my favorite, too.
Meter, viewfinder, build quality, shutter speed dial, ratcheted film rewind...

I also appreciate the fact we have someone like Sherry who expertly restores them to full operating condition as if they just left Wetzlar.

Welcome to the club, Helen!

 

[roundg]

This is my M5

 

[bennyng]

OOhh!! The famed 8 element 35mm Summicron. Sure looks nice on the M5.

Cheers,

 

[Alpacaman]

The M5 is such a brutalist sexy camera. I really like it, I wish I had one. How does the rewind mechanism feel to use? Because it seems like the best rewind mechanism of any Leica camera to me, as it all hidden away.

 

[StaaleS]

The M5 rewind mechanism is a joy to use. Really fast and smooth.

The only caveat, if coming from a regular M, is to break the ingrained habit of opening the camera at once when you turn it upside-down 🙂

 

[roundg]

OOhh!! The famed 8 element 35mm Summicron. Sure looks nice on the M5.

Cheers,

Thanks, bennyng. I found the lens sits on M5 more comfortable than on a M6. M6 is too narrow to protect the goggle.

The M5 is such a brutalist sexy camera. I really like it, I wish I had one. How does the rewind mechanism feel to use? Because it seems like the best rewind mechanism of any Leica camera to me, as it all hidden away.

The rewind mechanism of M5 is the best in all M, IMHO. Very smooth and very fast. Especially, no worry for film roll back.

 

[P. Lynn Miller]

What frame-line do you use with the goggled Summicron? I had chance to buy a Elmarit? 135 with goggles for a fine price, but turned it down. Not a great fan of 135 even on my Nikon F's.

 

[roundg]

What frame-line do you use with the goggled Summicron? I had chance to buy a Elmarit? 135 with goggles for a fine price, but turned it down. Not a great fan of 135 even on my Nikon F's.

The goggled Summicron brings up the 50mm frameline, then adjusted to match the view of 35mm by the goggle.

The main drawbacks of the goggle are 1) reduce the brightness of the VF
2) introduce some distortion in VF. But in real use, they are not big issue.

 

[roundg]

BTW, once I saw someone has a M5, whose VF upgraded with a so called MP one. It has the stardard frame sets as 35/135,50/75,28/90. I believe it's a M6 0.72 VF with the MP flare-Reduce upgrade.

It's said the VF was changed by DON from DAG.

 

[rxmd]

BTW, once I saw someone has a M5, whose VF upgraded with a so called MP one. It has the stardard frame sets as 35/135,50/75,28/90. I believe it's a M6 0.72 VF with the MP flare-Reduce upgrade.

Why would it need a flare reduction upgrade? It was never downgraded to the somewhat more flare-prone M6 finder in the first place.