jc_braconi Posted November 28, 2010 Share #1 Posted November 28, 2010 (edited) Advertisement (gone after registration) Just a reminder about the title : originaly called "A little bit of Leica Camera Historica #" The Leica M5 The camera was introduced in 1971 at serial number 1287001 with 50 issues for evaluation. called “null series”. Cameras were both finished in satin chrome 10750 ex. and black chrome 23150 ex. Production stopped in 1975. It has a completely different designing to the M series cameras predecessors. The body is 150mm length and 87mm height gives a very smooth styling. The cameras features through the lens metering powered by a CdS cell. The meter swings out of the light path before the exposure is done. Exposure is evaluated by matching the shutter speed to the meter needle, both visible in the viewfinder. Shutter speeds are from ½ to 1/1000 also marked are 2, 4, 8, 15, 30 sec but they have to be manually operated with the shutter set on B. The shutter speeds dial slightly overlaps the front of the camera body for ease of use. Self resetting exposure counter. Film reminder set by knurled wheel. Frame selector preview lever for 35, 50, 90, 135mm bright-line frames. Viewfinder also has area coinciding with metering area. There is a three-prong rapid loading system and a hot shoe provided. Early models had two camera strap lugs situated top and bottom at the viewfinder end of the camera body. Later versions had a third lug added at the other end of the body to enable the choice of camera position. For illustration here an early model in black chrome with two strap lugs topped by a black Summilux 1.4/50 with respective hood 12586 and 13206 UVa filter and cap. Sided by a silver chrome model with three strap lugs topped with a silver chrome Summilux 1.4/50 second model with respective hood XOOIM/12521 and silver chrome E43 UVa filter and cap. In the foreground : one original M5 camera carton box, 2 instructions for use leaflets in French and German edition and a trapezoidal leather, not napa, ever ready case 14541. Edited December 16, 2010 by jc_braconi 6 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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luigi bertolotti Posted November 30, 2010 Share #2 Posted November 30, 2010 Good idea to have chosen a chrome with also a chrome lens... for unknown reasons, most of the pictures / items of M5 I have seen always have black lenses (probably, they were considered much more fashionable at M5 times). So said, I frankly admit that I have never appreciated M5 aesthetics... for me, the only "ugly Leica", and, probably, the only M body I surely will never buy... Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jc_braconi Posted November 30, 2010 Author Share #3 Posted November 30, 2010 the only "ugly Leica", and, probably, the only M body I surely will never buy... see my post about the M4-P... They try to put a lot of technologies in board in 1971. Must waited for the M6 (13 year after) to get such an evolution. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Geschlecht Posted December 1, 2010 Share #4 Posted December 1, 2010 (edited) Hello Everybody, JC - For 1971 they didn't do such a bad job. Best Regards, Michael Edited December 1, 2010 by Michael Geschlecht Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luigi bertolotti Posted December 1, 2010 Share #5 Posted December 1, 2010 Hello Everybody, JC - For 1971 they didn't do such a bad job. Best Regards, Michael Technically, was surely an achievement; as for styling... it's at FED levels Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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