iedei Posted December 1, 2012 Author Share #21 Posted December 1, 2012 Advertisement (gone after registration) Congrats on your new baby! I have a similar configuration myself; after owning an M8 for 2,5 years I decided I want to combine film shooting and Leicas, so I found an M5 for a decent amount of money from a nearby hobbyist. He threw a lithium battery into the camera, which has the same voltage as the original but is a bit smaller. We then fashioned an adaptor out of the tin wrapper of a cigarette box if I recall this correctly. Later I had to put some WD-40 into the rewind crank which was absolutely stuck, but it's been fine since. One thing that interests me is how differently the lenses behave on M8 and M5. I love my 35/2 Biogon on the M8, on the M5 it's a bit lukewarm. The 50/2 Planar doesn't really cut it on the M8, it's spot on on the M5. The 21 Elmarit I have is too wide all the time, but at least on the M5 I can use the external viewfinder to frame. My only complaint about the M5 is that the meter stays on forever if left cocked, and I usually shoot film by cocking the camera right after the shot, so that was a habit I had to reverse with the M5. Oh and the hotshoe is a bit close to the rewind lever if you use Leica's 21mm viewfinder. It's fantastic. interesting points! yes it is very different to see how lenses behave on the M5 vs. the M8. Although I primarily shoot in B&W, so the contrast and tones are more interesting to see unfold. Due to the M8's crop finder, everything looks more widescreen on the M5. My first roll of film was developed poorly by a mainstream photo shop (i should have known better!). Tons of scratches, marks, dust, etc......but the photos do look very very cool. I will post some later. I am getting VERY attached to the M5....i absolutely love using it. I am also very much into the M5 story and its failure at the time. I think it is an absolutely fascinating story. If i had more time, i'd write a book about it! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted December 1, 2012 Posted December 1, 2012 Hi iedei, Take a look here just ordered an M5.. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
AB007 Posted December 2, 2012 Share #22 Posted December 2, 2012 My only complaint about the M5 is that the meter stays on forever if left cocked, and I usually shoot film by cocking the camera right after the shot, so that was a habit I had to reverse with the M5. Yes, that's easy to do. On the other hand, the Leicaflex SL-MOT cameras do not have an on-off meter switch so the meter would always be on. Not sure why Leica designed it like that Leicaflexes are also my favorites. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Messsucherkamera Posted December 2, 2012 Share #23 Posted December 2, 2012 It's good to see that film M cameras are still being purchased and used. All my friends are digital freaks and I was starting to feel like the Lone Ranger. But, hey - the Lone Ranger is cool - just like film M cameras. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Geschlecht Posted December 2, 2012 Share #24 Posted December 2, 2012 Hello Everybody, It might be that the lack of a shutoff for the M5 meter was intentional to help people. The M5 has the first limited area BTL meter built into an interchangable lens range/viewfinder camera. Leitz literally invented it. The photographer's depressing the shutter release mechanically moved the metering arm from its metering position in front of the film plane to its resting place outside of the film gate just prior to expoure. Any pressure on the shutter release, no matter how slight, could begin to move the meter arm out of the metering area. This could lead to inaccurate meter readings. The meter was safely in its resting position outside of the film gate by the time the shutter travel began. It MIGHT have been the thought of the engineers that by leaving the meter on continuously once the shutter was cocked that, that would be a reminder to the photographer not to partially depress the shutter release & begin the meter arm's downward travel. Solution to the problem: Don't cock the shutter & take a reading until you are ready to take a picture. Or: Cock the shutter & meter as you want to but leave your finger off the shutter release until after you are done making meter readings. Best Regards, Michael Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jos58 Posted December 17, 2012 Share #25 Posted December 17, 2012 Congratulations with your M5. I bought a black 3-lug version on ebay a few months ago, and it turned out to be a used but excellent camera. What you hear a lot about the M5 is, you love it or you hate it. Well I love it, great design and handling. I have put on a small soft shutter release button which makes it a very sensitive shutter release. As mentioned, do not cock the shutter until you are going to take a picture. Will place some pictures of my camera soon. Regards, Jos. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
xalo Posted December 17, 2012 Share #26 Posted December 17, 2012 Congrats and thanks to all, your thread did its part in convincing me to buy and try an M5... Probably I will not see the piece (black user three lug) before the new year, but the occasion seemed to good to let it pass. I will have time to study the beast in theory. Cheers, Alexander Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
iedei Posted December 18, 2012 Author Share #27 Posted December 18, 2012 Advertisement (gone after registration) Congratulations with your M5.I bought a black 3-lug version on ebay a few months ago, and it turned out to be a used but excellent camera. What you hear a lot about the M5 is, you love it or you hate it. Well I love it, great design and handling. I have put on a small soft shutter release button which makes it a very sensitive shutter release. As mentioned, do not cock the shutter until you are going to take a picture. Will place some pictures of my camera soon. Regards, Jos. Congrats and thanks to all, your thread did its part in convincing me to buy and try an M5...Probably I will not see the piece (black user three lug) before the new year, but the occasion seemed to good to let it pass. I will have time to study the beast in theory. Cheers, Alexander congratulations fellas!! the M5 is just a beautiful machine to use! Look forward to seeing your photos so post them! Unfortunately i've been riddled with bad photo development thus far full of specs, dust, etc....and still have yet to submit my latest roll to a more reliable processing location. When i do, i will surely post some photos of my M5 adventures. I have also been aggregating original 1970s brochures and literature about the M5, as i think it may have one of THE most interesting stories of any Leica..... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pangur Ban Posted December 21, 2012 Share #28 Posted December 21, 2012 I recently acquired a beautiful black M5. Really interesting to see and handle the camera in real life as opposed to just reading about it. I've realised that its better looking in person than in photographs - it's not very photogenic but it is actually beautiful in your hands. I've only taken one roll through it so far and haven't got it developed, wandering around Skansen in Stockholm with it on a cold but bright winters day it felt great and very good to use. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jos58 Posted December 22, 2012 Share #29 Posted December 22, 2012 Feeling the camera in your hands tells you if its right for you. For me also the M5 feels rock solid, a masterpiece. My intention is to have it cla'd January or so, because I believe it hasn't been looked after for some time. But it functions really nice. When I bought it it had a 1.5 V alkaline battery in it, I don't know if the lightmeter has been adjusted to the new higher Voltage. The shop I bought it from did not know anything about the camera. There is a very good classic camera repair guy not far from where I live, called 'van Maanen' in Zoetermeer, I think he will be able to give my baby a full treatment. Merry X-mas and a good (Leica) New Year. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
xalo Posted January 9, 2013 Share #30 Posted January 9, 2013 Hello everyone, in France it's not too late: best wishes for 2013! One of mine already came true, the M5 bought "as-is" arrived as promised and - ta-daa - the light meter and all the rest works. The wait for the Weincell to breath was a bit nerve wrecking, because a meter repair would have blown the perceived good deal. This way it's great stuff: black 3-lug, well used indeed. It has beautiful patina (to my taste), with a tiny bit of true brassing and the real vulcanite feeling - except in the upper left corner of the rear door, where a patch is gone. One ding above the right hand lug, as advertised. But almost all speeds sound great - only 1/4 and 1/2 seem like running about twice their time. Not too bad and with that caveat fully usable. Might let the repair shop adjust it when I will get the slightly foggy finder cleaned. For some this may sound like a wreck, I feel this is going to be a trusty companion that doesn't need overprotection. My first take on the M5 as such: I'm very pleasantly impressed. It is quite different from my M3 or MP and yet so similar. Like an alternative Leica. Really great: the uncluttered frameline set, the speed dial (big and turns in the right direction!), the heft and balance with my a bit bigger lenses (46mm thread) and not-so-small hands, the silky film advance, the direct yet smooth shutter release (close to M3), self-timer. Am curious to use the rewind crank. Coming from M6 and MP, I will need to get used to the meter read-out - it's kind of SLRish. Interesting, the M5 feels a bit like Leicaflex SL meeting M. Also, since I often frame vertically, I anticipate a learning curve to meter first and turn the camera later (especially with slides). So far I have two real question marks. First, when I have a light source in the finder, like a desk lamp, there is a distinct and precise ghost image visible of the lamp's shade - it has nothing to do with the flare from the slight fog and is totally absent from the MP-finder. Looks more like a slightly off-set internal reflection. Is this typical? Second, the frame line lever doubling as battery tester. When I wedge the lever in the 35mm position to use my 40mm M-Rokkor, I can not use the lightmeter... Has anyone (who didn't fall asleep reading all this) found a workaround? Cheers, Alexander Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulus Posted January 10, 2013 Share #31 Posted January 10, 2013 Hello everyone, in France it's not too late: best wishes for 2013! One of mine already came true, the M5 bought "as-is" arrived as promised and - ta-daa - the light meter and all the rest works. The wait for the Weincell to breath was a bit nerve wrecking, because a meter repair would have blown the perceived good deal. This way it's great stuff: black 3-lug, well used indeed. It has beautiful patina (to my taste), with a tiny bit of true brassing and the real vulcanite feeling - except in the upper left corner of the rear door, where a patch is gone. One ding above the right hand lug, as advertised. But almost all speeds sound great - only 1/4 and 1/2 seem like running about twice their time. Not too bad and with that caveat fully usable. Might let the repair shop adjust it when I will get the slightly foggy finder cleaned. For some this may sound like a wreck, I feel this is going to be a trusty companion that doesn't need overprotection. My first take on the M5 as such: I'm very pleasantly impressed. It is quite different from my M3 or MP and yet so similar. Like an alternative Leica. Really great: the uncluttered frameline set, the speed dial (big and turns in the right direction!), the heft and balance with my a bit bigger lenses (46mm thread) and not-so-small hands, the silky film advance, the direct yet smooth shutter release (close to M3), self-timer. Am curious to use the rewind crank. Coming from M6 and MP, I will need to get used to the meter read-out - it's kind of SLRish. Interesting, the M5 feels a bit like Leicaflex SL meeting M. Also, since I often frame vertically, I anticipate a learning curve to meter first and turn the camera later (especially with slides). So far I have two real question marks. First, when I have a light source in the finder, like a desk lamp, there is a distinct and precise ghost image visible of the lamp's shade - it has nothing to do with the flare from the slight fog and is totally absent from the MP-finder. Looks more like a slightly off-set internal reflection. Is this typical? Second, the frame line lever doubling as battery tester. When I wedge the lever in the 35mm position to use my 40mm M-Rokkor, I can not use the lightmeter... Has anyone (who didn't fall asleep reading all this) found a workaround? Cheers, Alexander I can remember from using the M5 years ago, that a ghost image sometimes appeared.As is was my first Leica experience I didn't think anything of it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
apoon204 Posted January 14, 2013 Share #32 Posted January 14, 2013 Form follow function --- this is what comes into my mind when I saw the M5. Glad to see M5 users and lovers here Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/192018-just-ordered-an-m5/?do=findComment&comment=2214288'>More sharing options...
xalo Posted January 18, 2013 Share #33 Posted January 18, 2013 Cont'd exploration. Nice detail: the little patch of vulcanite in the centre of the iso dial... I note it here, since I just found that the patch is gone now, probably rubbed off... Well, the rest is still there and that's all the better since I fear my MP will need repair - it fell (in half case on planks & carpet), no trace, no desalignement - and no more meter. Not my week. Meanwhile I noticed to prefer using the left eye (I usually alternate) with the M5 because the distance from the edge to the eyepiece is longer and less adapted to my traits. So carrying the M5 vertically on a quite short strap over the left shoulder works well. Tomorrow/later today I'll get the first M5 roll back and hope for some comfort... Alexander Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
xalo Posted January 19, 2013 Share #34 Posted January 19, 2013 Oui, it works ;-) Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/192018-just-ordered-an-m5/?do=findComment&comment=2218670'>More sharing options...
ynp Posted January 19, 2013 Share #35 Posted January 19, 2013 Congratulation on the new camera! Regretfully, my M5 was stolen in December and I am missing it even more that the lenses, stolen with the camera. Mine was battered, meterless and ...loved. Now I am seriously looking for a better one. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
xalo Posted January 20, 2013 Share #36 Posted January 20, 2013 Sorry to hear about the theft of your gear. That's tough, especially when it concerns things that really grew on you -- even insurance is of little use then. I didn't see many M5 in shops here, but some retailers that also sell online have quite nice ones in stock (I think of Meister in Hamburg). I fished mine from the infamous and so often useful bay. Am still in the 'binding' phase... Cheers, Alexander Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tommyleicaR4M5 Posted October 1, 2013 Share #37 Posted October 1, 2013 I just made the leap into Leica RF and bought an M5 with a 35mm f/2 Summicron. Very very clean camera and clean superb lens. What a feeling to finally be holding one of these masterpieces in my own hands as my own camera!! I've been shooting film and digital SLRs (Leica and Nikon) for over 10 years now but having and shooting a camera like the M5 has blown my circuits and I haven't even finished the first roll of B&W yet. I've held the M6 and M9 at the Leica store in NYC but the M5 feels awesome to me, perfect. I also love the M5 meter and the big shutter dial. I just got to keep remembering to take the cap off before shooting!!! I think I might leave the lens cap at home and only advance the film when I'm ready to shoot the next frame. Thanks and I'll be looking to participate in this forum on a regular basis. It's good to have a Leica community......there is nothing like Leica in 35mm format. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AB007 Posted October 1, 2013 Share #38 Posted October 1, 2013 I just made the leap into Leica RF and bought an M5 with a 35mm f/2 Summicron. Very very clean camera and clean superb lens. What a feeling to finally be holding one of these masterpieces in my own hands as....... Congrats! Enjoy M5 is one of my favorites....very user friendly. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Landberg Posted October 3, 2013 Share #39 Posted October 3, 2013 Amazing camera! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.