sterno Posted January 31, 2013 Share #1 Posted January 31, 2013 Advertisement (gone after registration) ALL: All: I have decided to buy a Leica and this would be my first Leica. Have not seriously played with a film camera since art school. After getting a fuji x100 about a year ago I have been really enjojing making images- i am a painter. Been reading about the various M's, and decided on a M5 for the built in meter and can not afford a M6. So I think found a M5 How does this sound to you: M5 $899 from a leica dealer, 30 day return, 90 day parts and labor. condition they describe is a 8. some scuffs/etc but meter/range finder works.... your thoughts? thanks for the insight- I am way out of my league here...What is your opinion of the M5 and the price? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted January 31, 2013 Posted January 31, 2013 Hi sterno, Take a look here advice on M5. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
madNbad Posted February 1, 2013 Share #2 Posted February 1, 2013 What about an M4-P? They are both about the same age and you can pick up any number of hand held meters fairly cheap. Give it some thought and keep looking. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted February 1, 2013 Share #3 Posted February 1, 2013 Consider any Leica M and a handheld meter. The M2 is usually the lowest cost option and has the classic 35/50/90 frame lines. A new handheld meter will be more accurate and offer a greater range than the old meter cell in an M5, and you could get a meter that takes incident readings (and flash readings if you wish). The M5 is larger than the other M bodies, although everyone who owns one seems to love it. Even if you do buy it I would still suggest buying a handheld meter as well. If you really must have a built in meter, you could also consider the Leica CL, but the meters are prone to failure. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
k_g_wolf ✝ Posted February 1, 2013 Share #4 Posted February 1, 2013 Sounds pretty good! The M5 is a splendid camera and if your hands are of normal to proper size you will appreciate the slightly bigger shape. Those who complain most about the M5 might not even have touched one ... Best GEORG ________ PS: Welcome to the forum! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
iedei Posted February 1, 2013 Share #5 Posted February 1, 2013 ALL: All: I have decided to buy a Leica and this would be my first Leica. Have not seriously played with a film camera since art school. After getting a fuji x100 about a year ago I have been really enjojing making images- i am a painter. Been reading about the various M's, and decided on a M5 for the built in meter and can not afford a M6. So I think found a M5 How does this sound to you: M5 $899 from a leica dealer, 30 day return, 90 day parts and labor. condition they describe is a 8. some scuffs/etc but meter/range finder works.... your thoughts? thanks for the insight- I am way out of my league here...What is your opinion of the M5 and the price? M5 = the best Leica M ever made and just like K_G wolf said above me....don't listen to those who try to talk you out of it. the M5 is the real deal. just find out the serial number as the later production numbers (after 134xxxx) seem to be improved in terms of reliability Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomB_tx Posted February 1, 2013 Share #6 Posted February 1, 2013 Agreed - go for the M5. I passed on the M5 when it first came out, then finally got one a couple years ago. Now one of my favorites! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ksmart Posted February 1, 2013 Share #7 Posted February 1, 2013 Advertisement (gone after registration) Had a bunch of Ms, kept M6 ---- and M5. M6 is more 'reasonable', M5 is more 'sophisticated'. Of course: risk of light meter failing some day (no longer repairable, as far as I know), hand held meter may be necessary one day. As k_g_wolf says: If your hands are not very small, the size of the M5 helps. M5 has a great finder and the best time-wheel at all. L. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AB007 Posted February 2, 2013 Share #8 Posted February 2, 2013 Great choice. Go for the M5....very user friendly and great quality. People who have not use the M5 complains about it. I have two besides my other favorites Ms....M3s and MPs. As iedei suggested, go for later serial numbers after 134xxxxx You don't need big hands to hold it Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkP Posted February 2, 2013 Share #9 Posted February 2, 2013 If you decide to buy an unmetered Leica M but want a good camera-mounted light meter you may want to look at this: Voigtlander VC II Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AB007 Posted February 2, 2013 Share #10 Posted February 2, 2013 If you decide to buy an unmetered Leica M but want a good camera-mounted light meter you may want to look at this: Voigtlander VC II +1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Theodor Heinrichsohn Posted February 2, 2013 Share #11 Posted February 2, 2013 Personally, I like the M5. I have several of them, one unused. The other M suggestions mentioned are all reasonable. I have the M2, M3, M4, M6, M7,M8 upgraded and the M9. My favorite film M's are the M3 and the M5. Why? Because the M3 has (in my view) the best finder and the M5 is very good in actual use because I can see more information in the finder than in any other film M. The light meter with the "two lines cross system" also allows me to judge over and underexposure quite easily with some practice. Disadvantages: Modern battery for the light meter needs an adapter, or else you can use a special battery which provides the right voltage. I do not know whether the light meter can be repaired. Some very wide angle lenses, f.i. 21mm 3.4 can not be used unless modified. All collapsible lenses must be secured against collapsing too far into the body and damaging the light meter. Before deciding I suggest informing yourself of the repairability problem. Teddy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sksaito Posted February 2, 2013 Share #12 Posted February 2, 2013 I also have many M film cameras and the M5 is one of my if not my favorite. I have the two lug and three lug versions and both are great. DAG in Wisconsin made battery conversions for me so I can use modern batteries with accurate metering. The M5 is the perfect size in my opinion. There are some lenses that will not fit. There are numerous threads on this on the forum. The best features of this camera are the meter scale and the large shutter dial. I find myself focusing and shooting faster with the M5 than my other M film cameras (except maybe the M7 which I don't have). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jos58 Posted February 2, 2013 Share #13 Posted February 2, 2013 Being an M5 user I fully recommend it. It is slightly larger, but is a great camera. I also use a handheld meter besides the one in the M5, although the meter in the camera is pretty accurate. About the price: $899 is not very cheap, but with the included benefits it is probably a good deal. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AB007 Posted February 2, 2013 Share #14 Posted February 2, 2013 I use Weincells batteries for Leica M5 and Leicaflex SL and SL2. I buy it from ebay. Please look for MRB625 Wein Cell 1.35v mercury-free-battery. If you are in the USA, DAG and Sherry Krauter does M5 repairs. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
iedei Posted February 2, 2013 Share #15 Posted February 2, 2013 About the price: $899 is not very cheap, but with the included benefits it is probably a good deal. prices of the M5 have gone up consistently in the past few years. i agree that it's not cheap, but $899 is a good price for sure....especially for one in good condition. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
philipus Posted February 2, 2013 Share #16 Posted February 2, 2013 Welcome to the forum, sterno! I used an M5 last week for the first time and coming from a background of non-M5 Ms I was pleasantly surprised. Sure, the body is bigger - my hands felt the extra width and height, not the depth - but it has a very reassuring heft. The meter is more intuitive than the M6TTL's imho (which still has a wonderfully simple metering indicator). The only thing I can foresee as a little problem is that it is difficult to see the needle against a dark background, esp if the subject is quite bright and is placed in the middle of the frame. But the needle is quite long so this should not be overstated as a problem, perhaps. I used the camera in a dark bar and could make out the needle in most situations but not all. A pre-M5 with a separate meter will likely cost pretty much the same. Whichever you go for - M5 or pre-M5 with external meter - will depend on what feels the best in your hands. Luckily you are likely to be able to sell the M5 if you(r hands) didn't take to it. So, you can let the camera find you in a way. You say you are a painter. Perhaps this doesn't apply, but it may be interesting to consider how you "see" the world when you paint. This could be of importance for the lenses you will get and for that you'll want to have the corresponding framelines in the camera. Edit: In case the M5 doesn't come with the instruction manual, you'll find a link to the pdf'd manual on the Wiki's M5 page. cheers Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sterno Posted February 2, 2013 Author Share #17 Posted February 2, 2013 M5 = the best Leica M ever made and just like K_G wolf said above me....don't listen to those who try to talk you out of it. the M5 is the real deal. just find out the serial number as the later production numbers (after 134xxxx) seem to be improved in terms of reliability Great choice. Go for the M5....very user friendly and great quality. People who have not use the M5 complains about it. I have two besides my other favorites Ms....M3s and MPs. As iedei suggested, go for later serial numbers after 134xxxxx You don't need big hands to hold it I have a call to the store/seller regarding the ser# and thats very good insight. Thank you!... also based on the info in this thread I will confirm the battery situation with the camera.... as I may of mentioned the body has scratched on bottom plate and a minor ding on top corner plate- am waiting for a photo but being its a dealer and they have a 30 day return policy if its not working as promised Ill return it.... cosmetically- i don't like perfect anything. tools are made to be used and develop a sou- IMO- I am not a photographer but as a artist i am a fanatic about hard work and tools that show it!... all of you have been very kind with your insight and advice....dan'l Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ksmart Posted February 3, 2013 Share #18 Posted February 3, 2013 Some additions (please excuse my bad english): - my black M5 looks really worn (even 'black chrome' becomes 'shiny', my silver-chrome version looks much better), but has had a complete overhaul at the factory (very expensive, payed by pre-owner, but I have the bill). Mostly really used Leicas work better than "collector's item" - they are tools. - scratches or so wouldn't bother me at all. Dents are another thing, because they mean, that the camera had some 'impact' and you don't know, if this 'made' something inside the camera. I would try to find a friendly person (via LUF) with some experience for a neutral check during the 30 day return. - something 'historical': The M5 (and the SL2) were the last Leicas, that have been produced 'old style' at the factory.Old style means some kind of pre-industrial manufacturing, where every (!) part was checked to match with it's counterpart before assembly, incredible from today's view. Same for M2/4/4. At least this way of production brought Leitz-company very near to ruin in 1975 or so. M4-2 and all following Ms have been made in a more industrial and economical way. And you can feel the difference in your fingertips. - working with external meter is quite easy (if the internal meter dies some day). The VC has been recommended already. When using a screwmount-Leica, I use the Sekonic Twinmate L-208, small, lightweight, very easy to handle, cheap. - I have better experiences with WeinCell-batteries than with adapted modern batteries. Okay, they don't last very long, but.... costs will not kill you! Because the battery-compartment is outside the camera (left side) you can change battery without opening the camera. Like the former mercury-cells the WeinCells keep their voltage absolutely constant (that's the important thing) and die a sudden death. - don't look for cheapest offer, but for best camera. I don't remember, if it has been Mr. Rolls or Mr. Royce, who said: "The price is forgotten, while the quality remains." Good luck! L., Cologne/Germany Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rsh Posted February 3, 2013 Share #19 Posted February 3, 2013 Sherry Krauter can adjust the meter for 1.5 v cells. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sterno Posted February 3, 2013 Author Share #20 Posted February 3, 2013 Some additions (please excuse my bad english): - my black M5 looks really worn (even 'black chrome' becomes 'shiny', my silver-chrome version looks much better), but has had a complete overhaul at the factory (very expensive, payed by pre-owner, but I have the bill). Mostly really used Leicas work better than "collector's item" - they are tools. - scratches or so wouldn't bother me at all. Dents are another thing, because they mean, that the camera had some 'impact' and you don't know, if this 'made' something inside the camera. I would try to find a friendly person (via LUF) with some experience for a neutral check during the 30 day return. - something 'historical': The M5 (and the SL2) were the last Leicas, that have been produced 'old style' at the factory.Old style means some kind of pre-industrial manufacturing, where every (!) part was checked to match with it's counterpart before assembly, incredible from today's view. Same for M2/4/4. At least this way of production brought Leitz-company very near to ruin in 1975 or so. M4-2 and all following Ms have been made in a more industrial and economical way. And you can feel the difference in your fingertips. - working with external meter is quite easy (if the internal meter dies some day). The VC has been recommended already. When using a screwmount-Leica, I use the Sekonic Twinmate L-208, small, lightweight, very easy to handle, cheap. - I have better experiences with WeinCell-batteries than with adapted modern batteries. Okay, they don't last very long, but.... costs will not kill you! Because the battery-compartment is outside the camera (left side) you can change battery without opening the camera. Like the former mercury-cells the WeinCells keep their voltage absolutely constant (that's the important thing) and die a sudden death. - don't look for cheapest offer, but for best camera. I don't remember, if it has been Mr. Rolls or Mr. Royce, who said: "The price is forgotten, while the quality remains." Good luck! L., Cologne/Germany ksmart/all: the serial number starts with 135xxx thus is a later made M5- which is good, its a reputable (IMO-i think??) leica dealer, they say everything checks out and is a good as a pristine m5 that would sell for much more- BUT to your point its a working camera which is what i want- as a artist who has a passion for working tools- i dont want shelf ware.... little nervous- just sold a painting so this is funding the body and then a lens... as you all remember your first leica is a little nerve wracking and going back to film for first time since art school.... i have a good friend/leica shooter telling me to go for a M8. which is a whole nothing route.... if any of you have a m8 and have an opinion of first Leica- what do you think? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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