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M5 shutter release travel


baci

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I recently acquired a lovely M5 in excellent condition. The body shows little in the way of signs of use and all the controls and film transport are pleasingly firm and smooth. One exception though is the shutter release. When I depress the button there's a lot of travel before the shutter fires. The release is right at the end of the travel. After a bit of practice it doesn't impede shots, it's just a little at odds with the precision of the rest of the camera. Is this typical of M5 shutter releases? Can it perhaps be adjusted to activate the shutter earlier?

 

Thanks!

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Hi and congrats, the M5 is a superb camera.

I was thinking not a long time ago that the M5 may be the only camera where you can see the shutter travel in the viewfinder: the meter needle moves to the left while the meter arm is moved out of light's way. Perhaps the shutter travel is a slight bit longer/or feels at least a little different compared to my M3, but if needed I can either release fast or dose carefully (and see what I'm doing). I use a softrelease button most of the time.

I do no know to what extent the shutter travel can be adjusted.

Alexander

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The M5 button moves the meter cell arm gradually out of the frame as it is pressed, which requires the longer travel. This was done both to avoid vibration of a sudden snap of the metering arm, and for durability of the arm and meter cell. They could have released a latch to allow the arm to snap down and allow a shorter button action, but chose not to on this model. The Leica CL has a beefier meter cell arm, and it does snap down at the instant of shutter release, so some engineers at Leitz had different ideas.

The M5 is the only M model where I use a small "soft release" button so I don't have to press the button so deeply. That works for me.

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Ahh, of course. That makes sense. Thanks all. I have to say the thing that surprises me about this camera every time it happens into view is how attractive it is. Mine's black and it's more beautiful than I was anticipating. After handling the M5 my M9 feels a little clunky in comparison!!

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