M6 Classic or M5?

[Miles.]

Actually that line was not in jest. Don literally hates the M5 - "it's the most overengineered camera ever produced"; he's said he will no longer work on them, but if he gets one in he won't turn it away. As I recall he charges $455 for a CLA on an M5.

Keep in mind though - and I have it on good authority - that Don Goldberg is on track to retire in about four years!

He sure does make a lot of sacrifices for us, then!

Only 4 years? Yikes! Looks like I need to make sure all my dream mods have been done on my M's before he hangs it up.

 

[Rob-F]

Its so unfortunate that Don can't or won't work on an M5. Perhaps some horribly difficult to solve light leaks soured him, or he just doesn't have the parts to do things right.

A very nice guy with more work than he has time for.

But we do have Sherry Krauter, who is a leading expert on the M5 and CL. She's my choice.

 

[Rob-F]

I had a pair of M5's for a bit of time. Serviced by Sherry. Always thought they are the best metered film M, just a notch above the M7 due to the more accurate frame lines. Hated the diode metering of the M6. Still though, for me, the M2 is tops. Ha, ha, who needs a meter on a bloated body. Some love them.

I have a pair of M5s now. I agree about the metering. The improvements don't stop there: The shutter speed dial is perfectly placed, better than the other M models; The shutter can be set anywhere in between the marked speeds; the shutter mechanism is improved; and the extra weight and size is welcome in my large hands. I'll be shooting them in Colorado this fall.

 

[hap]

I am told, on good intelligence, that Zacks Camera Repair very competent and has successfully repaired M5's with light leak that DAG could not fix. Another alternative for M5 is Red Dot Repair, although I do not have any experience to confirm.

 

[mike rosenlof]

owner of two M5s. Prior to my purchase, one was worked on by Sherry, the other by DAG. Both work fine as far as I can tell. I'm left-eyed (exclusively), so the VF position doesn't matter to me, I love the shutter dial and know how to work with the semi-spot metering. It's all good to me. A while back I was considering a new MA or MP, but they didn't really bring anything new *in my way of working*, and that's when I bought the second M5. Works very well for me...

 

[Byrdman]

I’ve been shooting exclusively with an M3 for a few years and decided to try a metered Leica again. I owned an M6 in the past and wasn’t crazy about the build quality and LEDs, so I went with an M5 this time around. It arrived a couple of days ago and I have been loving every minute with it. The ergonomics and metering system are so wonderful to shoot with. I also happen to be a fan of the aesthetics and the build quality is outstanding. Mine was CLA’d and modified by DAG a couple of years ago: MP optics with original frame lines + 28mm lines.

 

[f.hayek]

Boils down to a matter of taste. Personally, have held the M5 and it didn't feel "right".

The M6 "Classic" haptics is just perfect. The shutter speed dial doesn't bother me the slightest. Have mine just as I need it (0.85x, upgraded MP optics) and it's rock solid in-hand. Don't see what others above refer to as 'lacking in build-quality'.

 

[Rob-F]

Mine was CLA’d and modified by DAG a couple of years ago: MP optics with original frame lines + 28mm lines.

Did you mean you still have the original M5 frameline masks intact with 28mm somehow added, or that the M5 frameline masks were replaced with MP ones? I suspect the latter. I would not like my M5 frameline set replaced with MP/M6 masks. They are smaller than the M5 original framelines and less accurate beyond the close focusing range. One reason I use an M5 is for its more accurate framelines at the distances I photograph.

 

[Byrdman]

Did you mean you still have the original M5 frameline masks intact with 28mm somehow added, or that the M5 frameline masks were replaced with MP ones? I suspect the latter. I would not like my M5 frameline set replaced with MP/M6 masks. They are smaller than the M5 original framelines and less accurate beyond the close focusing range. One reason I use an M5 is for its more accurate framelines at the distances I photograph.

I'm not certain, but I suspect you're right, or perhaps some sort of combination. It still has the curved rangefinder patch of the original M5 and apostrophes for the 50mm. 75mm frame lines are not visible. The 28mm lines are paired with the 90mm.

 

[Cyriljay]

My M6 is my Second Leica. It is still there with me . it is 24 years old . Amazing and I am getting old but not my camera.
I also have a M digital and it is already on it's death row!!!!

 

[raydm6]

My M6 is my Second Leica. It is still there with me . it is 24 years old . Amazing and I am getting old but not my camera.
I also have a M digital and it is already on it's death row!!!!

Mine is from 1985. Purchased new. Still have it and going strong. Great cameras.

The original post was from April 2016 (the OP last posted in 2019) so... . An M6 Classic now is hovering over $3,000 USD. 🙂

 

[Retro-Grouch]

Got both the M5 and M6. The M5 viewfinder is gorgeous. It seems more bright and clear to me than the M6 one. Like Erik said, I like its frames better that the other M Leicas I have (M4-P and M3) meter is better. That said, M6 is still my favorite. Ergonomics (for my hands at least) ?; I dont know, it just feel perfect on me. I would say it boils down to personal preference. Safest way to choose one is to handle one M5 and M6 side by side and see which one fits better on you (like a pair of shoes).

Marcelo

Totally in agreement here. Really, two very different cameras that happen to share the same mount. If I had never encountered any other M cameras, I would be enraptured by the M5, but the M6 just feels right, it doesn't use a CDS cell with funky spectral response, and I don't need to carry a 28mm finder (the 28 is my favorite lens on a rangefinder). Of course, the best solution is to own both. No such thing as too many Leicas!