Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how do you like the M5?

[crawdiddy]

OK, I know it's oversized. The shutter speed dial goes the wrong way. It doesn't have the curved contours of the other M's. It's the ugly duckling of an otherwise proud line. It isn't as desirable or collectible.

But other than that, how useful is an M5? Is the light sensor mechanism prone to failure, what with the moving parts and all? How do they hold up, compared to other M's? Let's say M6's, since they also have fully mechanical shutters, and also light meters. Anything to watch out for? How accurate is the meter anyway? Just curious.

I apologize in advance for thread redundancy. I know this has probably been covered before, ad nauseum. But I couldn't find the specific information. And since you guys are the foremost experts in the field, I thought I would ask.

Please discuss.

 

[Keith]

I had an M5 which is now in the hands of FrankS. It was the smoothest quietest camera I had and although it was nice to use it always felt very square and slab like in the hands. My other criticism would be that the match needle meter is bloody near impossible to see in poor light ... well my eyes couldn't make it out! 😛

Very high build quality and a really nice viewfinder ... ideal platform for the bigger lenses ... 90mm Summicron etc! 🙂

 

[crawdiddy]

...the smoothest quietest camera I had... My other criticism would be that the match needle meter is bloody near impossible to see in poor light ...

Yeah, I think I've heard the shutter is exceptionally quiet.

I suffer from a bit of the presbyopia myself, so the low-light issue is interesting. Thanks for the input.

 

[Flinor]

There are a couple of threads in the archives on the M5 so I won't go into a lot of detail, but will just say that my M5 has outlasted my M3, M4-2 and M6. A better user than all of them and second only to my CLE in my heart and only because the CLE has AE.

 

[crawdiddy]

The M5 is actually the most sought after M in France, whether this is just for collectors I couldn't say.

Well, the French also revere Jerry Lewis as a comic genius.😉

 

[sepiareverb]

Best meter hands down. Readout can be a bit hard to see at times, I'll give you that, but so are framelines in any M. Size isn't really that big a deal, it is a little bigger. Worst thing is some lens incompatability, but in paractice I've not had a lens I couldn't mount on my M5. Only because I have a mind like a sieve do I not mount anything collapsable on it- I know I'd forget and collapse it.

Last M with a self timer too, should you like to get in the picture, and I've actually used this on occasion. I'd say you can't go wrong with an M5, get one, and if it doesn't agree with you you've got a another great excuse for a trip to France (besides the Jerry Lewis Film Festival).

 

[ERV]

Here is a link to a recent post about the m5.
I have 3 (why? why not!) M5's and they are great cameras.

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=52592

 

[FrankS]

Everyone should have an M5. 🙂

I actually enjoy the feel of using different cameras. For me, it is not all about just the image, I appreciate the process, in acquiring the image on film, and in printing the image in the darkroom. This is my hobby. If find it as satisfying as viewing and sharing the final image. Double the enjoyment compared to those for whom the image is all that matters. For me then, the M5 is enjoyable to use because of its differences compared to the standard M cameras which I feel are a wonderful, almost perfect design.

If I could have just one 35mm camera, it would be one of the classic M's (2,3,4,6). If I could have 2 35mm cameras, the M5 would be the second one. If all I had was an M5, I could also be perfectly happy.

 

[crawdiddy]

Lots of love for the M5. Interesting praise for the meter, sepiareverb. And I suppose it uses a contemporary battery. I also enjoy the process of photographing. If the image was all I cared about, I might give it up, because I'm not so satisfied with most of mine. The process keeps me coming back. And I do appreciate build quality.

I was tempted by the M5 from KEH a couple of weeks ago. Hope you enjoy it.

 

[awilder]

The M5 is mechanically the last bench built M, so no cost savings corners were cut as in all subsequent M's that followed. That being said, I did find my current MP had a smoother film advance and and was a tad quieter than a recently serviced M5 by expert Sherry Krauter. This is more likely due the extra complexity of actuating the meter arm mechanism. Also one must consider the age of the cds cell and the effect on meter accuracy. Comparing my MP meter to the M5, I did find the MP to be more accurate under various lighting situations by as much as at least 1/2 stop compared to known accurate meters. One thing to keep in mind about overall mechanics (except possibly meter accuracy): a properly serviced M5 will be more reliable in 20 years than an MP or M7. But in 20 years will film be still readily available?

 

[BillBingham2]

Well, the French also revere Jerry Lewis as a comic genius.😉

You mean he is not?😱

B2 (;->

 

[raid]

Everyone should have an M5. 🙂

I actually enjoy the feel of using different cameras. For me, it is not all about just the image, I appreciate the process, in acquiring the image on film, and in printing the image in the darkroom. This is my hobby. If find it as satisfying as viewing and sharing the final image. Double the enjoyment compared to those for whom the image is all that matters. For me then, the M5 is enjoyable to use because of its differences compared to the standard M cameras which I feel are a wonderful, almost perfect design.

If I could have just one 35mm camera, it would be one of the classic M's (2,3,4,6). If I could have 2 35mm cameras, the M5 would be the second one. If all I had was an M5, I could also be perfectly happy.

I used to have a mint one, but I traded it off many years ago. Now, I like to have a meter in a Leica, so an M5 may be a camera that I one day will get. I recall buying the M5 with a Summicron 90/2 in the box for $1100.

 

[FrankS]

That was a good deal, Raid.

 

[sepiareverb]

Meter can be calibrated for the modern battery (625), which gives (in my camera) a much longer life than the expensive Wein Cell did.

Metering accuracy depends on knowledge of just what is getting metered- the M5 is essentially a spot meter- kinda wide spot meter, but much more spot-like than the M6/7/P. Those used to a regular SLR type meter might not get the same results if trying to meter in the same way.

 

[raid]

That was a good deal, Raid.

Frank,

I was not a RF fan or Leica user then, and it frightened me to suddenly have three Leica M bodies within three months. I got a M4-MOT and the M-5, plus a whole Leica outfit with the mint M3. All were locally bought in Pensacola. The rare M4-MOT was brassy and without the motor drive. I was not aware of the market values then. I sold the M4-MOT within one hour on the phone with KEH or similar store. There was no internet at the time. The M5 was traded for things that are now worth far less. SLR stuff is now cheap.

 

[FrankS]

I empathize with you, Raid. Many years ago while I was still naive in the ways of Leica, I traded a mint M4-2 with 50 Summicron for a new Nikon 801s/8008s and Nikkor 35mmf2 lens. Anyone want to trade back? 🙂

 

[raid]

I may have gotten a Canon FD 28mm/2 and a Rokkor 28mm/2.8 for the M5. I have kept the Summicron, so the loss is less. At the time, the M5 was highly unpopular, and people wanted the 3-lug model. Mine was the 2-lug model.