The Heavenly Leica M5…

[Ororaro]

The heavenly M5 is such a Heavenly camera. A true Street photography monster workhorse.
It only lacks a winder/motor capability, but for the rest, it’s a champ.

People are uneducated regarding the M5, prefering to parrot what they read instead of simply trying it.
And yes, it is best used with small, tiny lenses. A 35 summicron V4 or V1 on that camera is perfection. My hands are all over that sexy combo.

That bottom left corner is totally made for left hand holding, and a tabbed lens such as a Summicron or summilux 35mm is ideal: the left hand holding the camera with index and thumb while position-focusing (pushing/pulling the tab) with the index or middle finger.

The right hand’s index is for pushing the shutter and to change the shutter speeds while NEVER looking away from the viewfinder.
The right hand’s middle or 4th finger can be used for pushing the focus tab towards close focusing.

An absolute shooter’s delight. The M5’s size is perfect for who is into street shooting. My hands are perfectly positioned. The camera’s shape is such.

Once I understood just how deeply the M5 was engineered, and modeled towards handling… I regreted having spent time with other Leicas so much. The M5 definitely is a Heavenly piece of engineering. Absolutely the equal, and many times better, than any M234…

 

[Ororaro]

And that shutter button feel with juuuust enoug tension. So satisfying.

And advancing the film, again, with heavenly smooth tension, with the perfect left hand camera-holding position.

Wow.

Just wow.

Just one camera on the planet gives you this.

 

[Richard G]

I used mine for a year as my daily camera. Loved it with the C Sonnar Zeiss 50. See what you mean about a small lens too, the version 4 Summicron 35 indeed. That is a combination I first experienced as a teenager. I have a chrome M5. I like the lines in that livery. It is brutalist in design, ergonomic, uncompromising. My 2 lug camera hangs at the side without swinging, and gives firm acreage to the right hand, unrestricted by strap lug or strap. I support the camera with left, index/middle or both on the lens tab. As to the size, next to a Nikon D3 it is still tiny.

 

[Erik van Straten]

gelatin silver print (summilux 35mm f1.4 steel rim) leica m5

Amsterdam, 2016

 

[splitimageview]

People complain about the M5 size, but an M4 with the coupled Leica Meter is essentially the same.

But the M5 is ergonomically superior to any M with the overhanging shutter dial and speeds in the viewfinder. 🙂

 

[chuckroast]

I bought a 50 Jahre "Jubliee" black M5 from someone here and had DAG give it a full workover. Apart from a tiny vulcanite chip by one of the strap lugs and some slight use marks on the baseplate, the thing looks (and acts) like new.

It's a phenomenal camera that I shoot mostly with a 35mm ASPH Summicron or a 50mm V3 Summicron.

That said, I still love shooting with my M2 and IIIf bodies. Each has it's own distinct character.

 

[Deleted member 65559]

People complain about the M5 size, but an M4 with the coupled Leica Meter is essentially the same.

But the M5 is ergonomically superior to any M with the overhanging shutter dial and speeds in the viewfinder. 🙂

Well not exactly. We each choose/or find something that's the perfect fit for us. We (people) aren't complaining. I bought an M5 in the early 70s, and despite the meter & the overhanging shutter dial.... i sold it and went back to the M4 & M2. To your point, I have an MR4 meter, and only it occasionally, and it does change the weight/balance....but it's a cool accessory from the era & black paint 😉. The photographic market spoke....not complained.... and didn't buy in to the M5 & who knows what the Leica line would look like today if they had?

 

[splitimageview]

I made no mention of what people chose, I just mentioned why the M5 is ergonomically superior. 😃

 

[Deleted member 65559]

I made no mention of what people chose, I just mentioned why the M5 is ergonomically superior. 😃

SubIiminally I might have been reacting to Oraro's sentence:
"People are uneducated regarding the M5, prefering to parrot what they read instead of simply trying it."
I suggest that what is "ergonomically superior" for one isn't necessarily so for all. Factually though, if the handling suits you, the M5 continues to be one of Leica M's greatest bargains.

 

[splitimageview]

I’m struggling with adjusting the shutter speed dial on the M6, having to use two fingers in an awkward position and not knowing what speed I’m choosing nor how many stops I’ll need to turn it.

😂

 

[Deleted member 65559]

I’m struggling with adjusting the shutter speed dial on the M6, having to use two fingers in an awkward position and not knowing what speed I’m choosing nor how many stops I’ll need to turn it.

😂

I feel for you Spliti, I gave up on the MP trying to see what was in the image with those multiple viewfinder lines.... they could have left well enough alone with the M2 🤔

 

[Richard G]

The M2 viewfinder remains one of the wonders of the M system. The M5 is not far off. I looked through an MA viewfinder at the weekend. So nice to see such clean frame lines with no interruption of the lower 50mm frame line, the thing I dislike most about the digital Ms. I am less troubled by the M6 viewfinder frame lines. The other thing about the MA is the clarity of the glass. That is a finder to rival and dare I say surpass the M2. Even the little photo corner second frames, 75, 90 and 135, seem less obtrusive than earlier versions.

 

[splitimageview]

All tongue-in-cheek, in good fun. 🙂 I think it's a tough argument to state than the M5 doesn't have superior ergo, but certainly the people have spoken for 5 decades. Even today a perfect M5 is $1000-$1500 less than a perfect M6.

 

[CameraQuest]

😉. The photographic market spoke....not complained.... and didn't buy in to the M5 & who knows what the Leica line would look like today if they had?
View attachment 4837508

not exactly, not if you look at the full story.

The M5's marketplace failure was primarily due to competing against the much more popular CL.

That popularity was fueled by the NEED of finally having a smaller than M3 M mount camera available.

Mindless pundits write about the M5 being replaced by the M4-2,

overlooking the film CL also ceased production due to its success.

There was more profit making larger more expensive M cameras than losing those sales to less expensive smaller M camera (CL).

LOL, add to that Leica saw the R system as its future and discontinued ALL M cameras.

Leica was saved by Walter Kluck the President of Leica Midland who personally got the orders to produce the M4-2.

You will find story here Leica M4-P 70th Anniversary and here Walter Kluck, the Man who Saved the Leica M System

You will find plenty of monuments at the new Wetzlar factory, but I don't think there is mention
or a statue of Walter Kluck, the man who saved Leica.

 

[James Evidon]

The heavenly M5 is such a Heavenly camera. A true Street photography monster workhorse.
It only lacks a winder/motor capability, but for the rest, it’s a champ.

People are uneducated regarding the M5, prefering to parrot what they read instead of simply trying it.
And yes, it is best used with small, tiny lenses. A 35 summicron V4 or V1 on that camera is perfection. My hands are all over that sexy combo.

That bottom left corner is totally made for left hand holding, and a tabbed lens such as a Summicron or summilux 35mm is ideal: the left hand holding the camera with index and thumb while position-focusing (pushing/pulling the tab) with the index or middle finger.

The right hand’s index is for pushing the shutter and to change the shutter speeds while NEVER looking away from the viewfinder.
The right hand’s middle or 4th finger can be used for pushing the focus tab towards close focusing.

An absolute shooter’s delight. The M5’s size is perfect for who is into street shooting. My hands are perfectly positioned. The camera’s shape is such.

Once I understood just how deeply the M5 was engineered, and modeled towards handling… I regreted having spent time with other Leicas so much. The M5 definitely is a Heavenly piece of engineering. Absolutely the equal, and many times better, than any M23While I won't rhapsodize pe

The heavenly M5 is such a Heavenly camera. A true Street photography monster workhorse.
It only lacks a winder/motor capability, but for the rest, it’s a champ.

People are uneducated regarding the M5, prefering to parrot what they read instead of simply trying it.
And yes, it is best used with small, tiny lenses. A 35 summicron V4 or V1 on that camera is perfection. My hands are all over that sexy combo.

That bottom left corner is totally made for left hand holding, and a tabbed lens such as a Summicron or summilux 35mm is ideal: the left hand holding the camera with index and thumb while position-focusing (pushing/pulling the tab) with the index or middle finger.

The right hand’s index is for pushing the shutter and to change the shutter speeds while NEVER looking away from the viewfinder.
The right hand’s middle or 4th finger can be used for pushing the focus tab towards close focusing.

An absolute shooter’s delight. The M5’s size is perfect for who is into street shooting. My hands are perfectly positioned. The camera’s shape is such.

Once I understood just how deeply the M5 was engineered, and modeled towards handling… I regreted having spent time with other Leicas so much. The M5 definitely is a Heavenly piece of engineering. Absolutely the equal, and many times better, than any M234…

While i won't rapsodize poetically on the merits of the M5 as you did, I agree with all your comments. It is a bit chunkier than the other M's and perhaps not as svelte looking, but it is one of the best designed 35mm RF cameras for film ever created. There are a lot of theories about why it has a reputation as a Leica killer, but if you consider what the rest of the market offered from Japan at the time, it is small wonder how Leica ever survived while Zeiss went down the tubes.

I was so impressed with the control layout of my M5, that eventually I bought for a song a near new R7 which copied the same control layout and recently I sprung for an even less expensive R8, which to me is the most sublimely designed SLR ever put on the market, even though, should it ever fail, it will be a doorstop because no parts are now available. But since this is a Rangefinder forum, I'll just say that the M5 is the most under rated Leica RF ever made, not to mention the least expensive at the moment. While the CL may be cheaper, it is not a Leica. It is a Leica licensed Minolta and while a good camera it should not be considered as good as or as versitile as the full sized Leica RF.

 

[hap]

OK....what about the meter voltage of 1.3v. I haven't found and adapter that accepts a 1.5v and allows for the battery well cover to screw in flush. I am concerned that it only has minimal purchase.

Is it worth having it modified for 1.5v and calibrated? Is there a 1.5v battery worthy of fitting the battery form factor necessary?

Hap

 

[shawn]

OK....what about the meter voltage of 1.3v. I haven't found and adapter that accepts a 1.5v and allows for the battery well cover to screw in flush. I am concerned that it only has minimal purchase.

Is it worth having it modified for 1.5v and calibrated? Is there a 1.5v battery worthy of fitting the battery form factor necessary?

Hap

Get one of the cheap adapters and file/sand it down a bit and it will fit with the cover closing fine. I had to do the same thing for one of my Leicaflexs.

 

[maddoc]

The heavenly M5 is such a Heavenly camera. A true Street photography monster workhorse.
It only lacks a winder/motor capability, but for the rest, it’s a champ.

People are uneducated regarding the M5, prefering to parrot what they read instead of simply trying it.
And yes, it is best used with small, tiny lenses. A 35 summicron V4 or V1 on that camera is perfection. My hands are all over that sexy combo.

That bottom left corner is totally made for left hand holding, and a tabbed lens such as a Summicron or summilux 35mm is ideal: the left hand holding the camera with index and thumb while position-focusing (pushing/pulling the tab) with the index or middle finger.

The right hand’s index is for pushing the shutter and to change the shutter speeds while NEVER looking away from the viewfinder.
The right hand’s middle or 4th finger can be used for pushing the focus tab towards close focusing.

An absolute shooter’s delight. The M5’s size is perfect for who is into street shooting. My hands are perfectly positioned. The camera’s shape is such.

Once I understood just how deeply the M5 was engineered, and modeled towards handling… I regreted having spent time with other Leicas so much. The M5 definitely is a Heavenly piece of engineering. Absolutely the equal, and many times better, than any M234…

Glad to hear that you still enjoy the M5. Is it the one that I sold you, maybe about 14 yrs ago?

 

[Ororaro]

I also feel the need to poetically rhapsodize about the M4-P, which feels the most rugged and solid in hand, maybe thanks to its heavy metal vibe with its steel gears. Also has an exceptional viewfinder/framelines, shared with the M5.

About M5 battery, it requires no conversion but a calibration.
I ude my M5 meterless. I somehow feel liberated by going full bohemian.

 

[Ororaro]

Glad to hear that you still enjoy the M5. Is it the one that I sold you, maybe about 14 yrs ago?

I’ve added 2 on top of that one ✌🏻