So why is the M5 unpopular?

[Tuolumne]

There is an article about the M5 in the most recent issue of the LHSA Viewfinder. It discuesses the M5 extensively - Leica's answer to the see-all viewfinders of the SLRs of that era.

/T

 

[ChipNovaMac]

M5's are like opera or hockey: you either love it or ignore it. To me, they are clunky in my hands and not that appealing to use. And once you hold an M6, after using other similar-shape M models with that classic M feel, forget it.

I think I agree with where you are coming from. Love the feel of my M6TTL. As much as I love my M8, the feel is not quite the same as it is with the M6TTL. Maybe the Thumbs Up would make it feel more "classic".

 

[Joe]

Does the M6 have a spot meter? Forgive my ignorance, but I've been so happy with my M5 it's never occured to me to try one.

 

[Joe]

The M5's real flaw, in my opinion:

Film loading. The three prongs on the quick loader spool come loose and can not be repaired easily if at all. Replacement spools are very expensive. I have come to the brink of throwing the camera across the room I was so exasperated by trying to load it. I think this is a serious design flaw.

As far as size goes, it has the same thickness as a IIIf and M2. It's the size of the lens that is problematic (giggety).

I wish the meter had notches to indicate stops. It shows half stop over/under very well, but you have to guesstimate full stops.

I wish the one second shutter speed was not triggered by the self timer.

 

[czamagni]

The M5's real flaw, in my opinion:

Film loading. The three prongs on the quick loader spool come loose and can not be repaired easily if at all. Replacement spools are very expensive. I have come to the brink of throwing the camera across the room I was so exasperated by trying to load it. I think this is a serious design flaw.

...not a good experience your, I guess, but you can take off the spool (simply pull it) and have it ajdusted very easily.
In any case, even if I've had the same problem, I never have been exasperated by it, and I always have been able to load the camera. Finally, I've ended to buy a NOS loading spoool for 15 Euros. I really dont find it expensive.

I wish the meter had notches to indicate stops. It shows half stop over/under very well, but you have to guesstimate full stops.

If I unrestand correctly, what you ask is impossible, because the notch basic position changes as long as you set a different ASA.

I wish the one second shutter speed was not triggered by the self timer.

Again, this was necessary to have continuously shutter speed in low speed (you dont have it on any other Leica M... Can love or hate this solution, but you can't have both 1 sec speed and continuous speed working in low speeds on an M camera.

Regards