Mod'ing my M5!?!?!

A

andredossantos

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I have some Q's Im hoping some of the knowledgeable folks here could answer about my M5 :)

So, the backstory: A while back I got this awesome M5. I was told the meter did not work which is no biggie, I much prefer the older back to basics M's.

After I had the camera in hand, a friend of mine let me use his mercury battery to see if the meter responded. To my surprise, it did! Not only that, but it was accurate. I went out and got some Wien cells because I figured, what the hell, if it's there I would come in handy when I didn't feel like estimating.

I soon discovered however that the meter for all intents and purposes is "broken". It's flakey: It'll work, then it won't. It go dead then pop back to life. It'll be accurate then be non-accurate. It's not worth the hassle IMO and at this point Ive taken the battery out and forgotten it's there.

So: I understand it's very expensive to replace the meter and considering I don't even prefer metered Leicas anyway Im not willing to shell out the cash to fix it.

Considering that A) I am not ever going to sell this camera and B) I would LOVE to be able to mount a Super Angulon as well as use collapsible lenses would it be possible to remove the little metered arm from the inside thus allowing me to use those particular lenses? If the metered arm were to be removed would it even be possible to mount those lenses?

Is it blasphemous to turn my beautiful M5 into a "FrankenLeica"!?!?

Any thought and comments appreciated!!
 
You could also try to find an M5 modified SA, though I'm not sure how often those show up. This way you could leave the meter arm as it is and still use a SA.

Regarding collapsible lenses, if the removal of the arm really allows them to be collapsed i'd give it a go.
 
I don't think it would be bad if you wanted to remove the meter arm in this case, but it sounds like your meter might have a loose connection somewhere, which could probably be repaired without having to replace the meter—just going by the description.

Even though I don't mind using cameras without a built-in meter, the meter on the M5 is awesome (if working properly). If mine needed repair I would probably do it if possible. If not possible, I would be happy to use the M5 without its meter, because I love the handling.

I would love to know how you work this out. Good luck with your M5!
 
Thanks for the responses so far!

Jmcd: If I were to go through with it Id for sure send it to Sherry Krauter who I've been informed is the go-to M5 person. If she determined it was a loose connection Id definitely leave the meter intact. And I'll update the thread, for sure :)
 
The m5 meter is a treasure. You should def. Fix it. For me the meter, shutter dial, framelines, and bottom rewind (in that order) make the m5.
 
Andre, give Carl back that battery and insist that he substitute the Brass Monkey M2 in its place. You end with your meterless black-bodied M and since Carl doesn't like shooting film any more, he relieves himself of the burden of that worn-out camera. Let me know how Carl responds to this.:D
 
If the meter is erratic as in dead sometimes I'd get the thing repaired by a specialist as it could just be a dodgy contact or even the battery contacts. Dirt and mechanical problems often hit electronic stuff of that age and aren't hard to fix;- if you know what you are doing and have the right tools.

Regards, David
 
In that case, get Cal to cough up his Linhof! Cal shoots a lot of film, but according to Damaso, no one has ever seen an image from him. So, the Linhof and the M6 would both be better in your hands. Cal, are you reading this???:D

andredossantos said:
Rob: LMAO.

One problem, the battery belonged to Cal and Im not sure he'd trade his pimped to the max Wetzlar M6 for my M5 :)
Click to expand...
 
f16sunshine said:
The m5 meter is a treasure. You should def. Fix it. For me the meter, shutter dial, framelines, and bottom rewind (in that order) make the m5.
Click to expand...

I would add flare free viewfinder & bullet proof construction in no particular order. It's all good! The M5 that is.

Fix the meter. Shoot transparency material while you still can. That is where the M5 meter is head & shoulders above all other meters. Either in the camera or in your hand.

That is my story & I'm sticking to it.

ps: That ain't Interweb chatter either. :eek: :) ;)
 
robklurfield said:
In that case, get Cal to cough up his Linhof! Cal shoots a lot of film, but according to Damaso, no one has ever seen an image from him. So, the Linhof and the M6 would both be better in your hands. Cal, are you reading this???:D
Click to expand...

LOL.

Although I have a fetish for Linhof's, I do not own one. Cristian is the other wack job in our group with the Linhof. As far as cameras with shifts and movement my camera of choice is a Plaubel 69W with the VF'er that peroscopes. How come I get associated with all the wierd cameras, and you need to attend all the meet-ups to keep track of all the gear. I only own 11 cameras, I think.

And Rob I am very aware that I annoy many/a lot of people, that's why many people think a good artist is a dead artist. This is my stratagy to get widely known, be remembered and eventually get famous.

BTW Polaroid is not my thing, nor is digital. The few friends that I have use to make fun of me because I didn't own a cell phone, now they are angry with me because I don't carry it and just use it as a message machine.

BTW I'm a very selfish guy, and perhaps the only person I try to make happy is me... and perhaps maybe sometimes my girlfriend.

Well anyway: Sorry for the rant.

Cal
 
Nokton48 said:
Best ultimate Wetzlar M ever made in my opinion. The meter is amazing.
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My Wetzlar M6 has a Ti top plate with the Wetzlar engravings that predates the later Ti M6 by 5 years otherwise it would be just a regular Wetzlar Chrome M6 except that it has a Ti plated brass top plate.

I bought it off EBAY with a broken frame counter, but when the rangefinder needed adjustment I sent it to Sherry for a complete overhaul and added a MP finder upgrade. It came back as the smoothest M I have ever handled.

Its all pimped out with a TA Rapidgrip, TA Rapidwinder, and a TA softie that adds to the solid feel. A very pretty camera.

Cal
 
Cal, I love you. No need to rant here. Plaubel Tilt & Shift. My mistake. Anyway, you're great fun to hang out with so I have no qualms about whether you have a backlog of 8,000 negatives to print. You're okay by me. I was just teasing.:) You for sure do have a very cool collection and I'm glad to know that you use most of your gear pretty regularly. You know from how I am that the weirder the better, so I'm cool with that, too. Now, on the topic that battery, you gotta show poor Andre some love and may offer him your Rolleiflex White Face as compensation for his poor forlorn M5 meter.;)
Calzone said:
LOL.

Although I have a fetish for Linhof's, I do not own one. Cristian is the other wack job in our group with the Linhof. As far as cameras with shifts and movement my camera of choice is a Plaubel 69W with the VF'er that peroscopes. How come I get associated with all the wierd cameras, and you need to attend all the meet-ups to keep track of all the gear. I only own 11 cameras, I think.

And Rob I am very aware that I annoy many/a lot of people, that's why many people think a good artist is a dead artist. This is my stratagy to get widely known, be remembered and eventually get famous.

BTW Polaroid is not my thing, nor is digital. The few friends that I have use to make fun of me because I didn't own a cell phone, now they are angry with me because I don't carry it and just use it as a message machine.

BTW I'm a very selfish guy, and perhaps the only person I try to make happy is me... and perhaps maybe sometimes my girlfriend.

Well anyway: Sorry for the rant.

Cal
Click to expand...
 
venchka said:
Heck, you could hand carry the camera to Sherry. What are you waiting for?
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I just paid for a full overhaul/CLA and dont have the funds to now send it to Sherry to deal with the meter.

Additionally, if the meter isnt acting whacky because of a loose or dirty connection and it needs to be replaced im leaning towards having the arm taken out. I know the meter is awesome but honestly I dont use in camera meters really ever.

Thanks for all the input, guys!
 
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Calzone said:
LOL.

Although I have a fetish for Linhof's, I do not own one. Cristian is the other wack job in our group with the Linhof.
Cal
Click to expand...

I'm ok with being called a wack job, but I do need to point out that I have two Linhofs. I may bring the other one out on Sunday, just to silence the rumors.
 
robklurfield said:
Cal, I love you. No need to rant here. Plaubel Tilt & Shift. My mistake. Anyway, you're great fun to hang out with so I have no qualms about whether you have a backlog of 8,000 negatives to print. You're okay by me. I was just teasing.:) You for sure do have a very cool collection and I'm glad to know that you use most of your gear pretty regularly. You know from how I am that the weirder the better, so I'm cool with that, too. Now, on the topic that battery, you gotta show poor Andre some love and may offer him your Rolleiflex White Face as compensation for his poor forlorn M5 meter.;)
Click to expand...

Rob,

Over the years I gotten to know you as both a witty and a funny guy. I hope you understand that I was just making fun of myself as usual because I know I often get silly and will do almost anything for a laugh. None of what I wrote is serious. Read it again and take in mind that I was going over the top. In my past I was a performance artist, and performed off-off Broadway and at the Joseph Papp Public Theater. In other words: in my past I was a real drama queen. LOL. Read it again for the laugh.

BTW out of those 8,000 negatives only a few are truely great shots. In other words: I'm a wack job who still shoots film.

Have you considered coming out this Sunday to shoot?

Cal
 
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