Leica M5 Questions (and a M3 for someone to love on)

[Pieter12]

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3 hours ago, Don Flynn said:

The only thing with the M5 is it doesn't have the framelines for a 28

I just use the whole viewfinder to frame 28mm shots. Seems to work OK for me.

[Don Flynn]

Well, I won't be getting any lenses for a couple of months. KEH had a M6 in "excellent plus" condition for $3300 with tax. I jumped on it, I figure I'll have DAG service it also so it'll take a couple of months, I can get a 35mm and 28mm as funds allow   

[OR120]

Congratulations on your 3-lug M5! I had many Leica rangefinders starting with the IIIF (then m2, m3, m4) then  the M5. M5 was the best - for me. Had several, they were my daily shooters. Kept a 35 f/1.4 summilux on one body and 21mm w/finder - on the other. My other bodies were Nikon's for the longer lenses. Loved my M5's. Now using SL2-S bodies as my eyes are much older. If I were shooting street and club shots - it would be a 35 lux and 21 lux on those bodies all day long. Enjoy your new cameras!

[Don Flynn]

2 hours ago, OR120 said:

Congratulations on your 3-lug M5! I had many Leica rangefinders starting with the IIIF (then m2, m3, m4) then  the M5. M5 was the best - for me. Had several, they were my daily shooters. Kept a 35 f/1.4 summilux on one body and 21mm w/finder - on the other. My other bodies were Nikon's for the longer lenses. Loved my M5's. Now using SL2-S bodies as my eyes are much older. If I were shooting street and club shots - it would be a 35 lux and 21 lux on those bodies all day long. Enjoy your new cameras!

Thanks. I was wanting the M6 1st then get a M5 since I wanted 1 when I was younger. I'm guessing I lucked out getting both at the prices I paid for them. Odd's are I good get away without getting the M6 checked by DAG but better safe than sorry. I've bought a couple film Nikon's rated similar condition the past year and they were in excellent shape. 

 

 

[StephenH]

On 3/9/2025 at 2:50 PM, Pieter12 said:

I love my M5, maybe even more than my M6. Although it is marginally larger, it has better ergonomics and the viewfinder meter display is better and shows the shutter speed, quite convenient. I have the 35mm f2.8 ZM lens and it is a stellar performer, on a par with anything Leica offers. The 50mm f2 ZM is no slouch either.

The only downside I have experienced with the M5 was a light leak that would occur when bright light hit the rangefinder window. It was repaired by Zack's Camera in Providence, RI, following a 1975 technical note from Leica.

I, too, believe that the M5 was designed to actually take pictures rather than be fondled.  I have the tiny 35mm 2.5 Voigtlander Skopar "pancake" lens for it along with the Zeiss 50mm f 2.0 which is the only lens I ever had to come close to the sharpness of my Contax G 45mm f2 which I hated to sell along with the G2 which started to have electronic problems.  Unfortunately, my M5 has the "signature" sporadic light leak from the rangefinder.  I've convinced myself to think of it as a watermark to identify negatives produced by the camera.  

Edited March 14 by StephenH
typo

[Don Flynn]

1 hour ago, StephenH said:

I, too, believe that the M5 was designed to actually take pictures rather than be fondled.  I have the tiny 35mm 2.5 Voigtlander Skopar "pancake" lens for it along with the Zeiss 50mm f 2.0 which is the only lens I ever had to come close to the sharpness of my Contax G 45mm f2 which I hated to sell along with the G2 which started to have electronic problems.  Unfortunately, my M5 has the "signature" sporadic light leak from the rangefinder.  I've convinced myself to think of it as a watermark to identify negatives produced by the camera.  

I'm actually thinking of getting both the Zeiss 35mm I mentioned plus the 35mm 2.5 Voigtlander pancake and running 1 on the M5 and the other on the M6. I'm not sure I would run a 28mm on a Leica after I get the M6, I like the Nikkor 28mm I use on my F2/F3/Fm's.

 

I'll see what KEH has when I get the "new" Leica's back from service. DAG has the M5 now and I'm waiting to see if he'll CLA the M6. 

[pedaes]

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On 3/9/2025 at 5:26 PM, Don Flynn said:

2,8 model?

I have the Zeiss 35mm f2.8 and it is an exceptionally sharp lens (according to Sean Reid sharper than f2 and in Summilux territory..https://www.reidreviews.com/articleindextable.html

[Don Flynn]

1 minute ago, pedaes said:

I have the Zeiss 35mm f2.8 and it is an exceptionally sharp lens (according to Sean Reid sharper than f2 and in Summilux territory..https://www.reidreviews.com/articleindextable.html

I'm not sure which I really need. The Leica's will be "street shooters" and I doubt I'll shoot much at nite.

I'll just have to wait and see what KEH has when I get the funds. No sense in buying now if both the M5 and "new" M6 will be getting serviced the next couple months

 

[Don Flynn]

Ok, my new Leica addiction has another subject

 

 

My "new" 1995 M6, with a 50mm Zeiss Planar on it. I'm going to send it to DAG or YYe for a CLA. I contacted DAG first since he did my M3 and has the M5 now 

Edited March 15 by Don Flynn
Link not working

[Don Flynn]

Ok, update on my M5. Just got it back from DAG, looks in tip top shape, battery converted to modern specs and meter matches up to other cameras and my Mk I eyeballing 😁 

 

It is missing the plastic insert for the self-timer. I forgot to mention that when I sent it in. "Lucky" for me DAG has the M6 "Classic" I recently purchased so I sent him an email and he'll send me a set of replacements when he ships that out.

I'm starting to think instead of getting a 2nd M6 (I'm leaning toward getting 1 with the ,85 viewfinder instead of the .72 since I wear glasses and can't see the 28mm framelines anyway) getting another M5 if I can find another clean one like this. I like the weight myself, but then I "grew up" shooting a Nikon F-2 😁 

 

 

 

 

[TomB_tx]

Looks very nice! The one I bought is the "50 JAHRE" version, which seldom raises the price, but I have other models so marked so wanted this one. Still want the CL 50 Jahre version.

When DAG serviced it I had the meter left as original, since I have several old cameras that just use the MR9 voltage adapter.

I quit wearing glasses after 62 years of using them full-time when I had my cataracts replaced with varifocal lenses, but my old eyes can still be finicky, so I got a .85 M6 to see if I could focus easier. But my ,72 had been upgraded by DAG with the flare fix and multicoated windows, so it still seems better to me. 

[Don Flynn]

1 hour ago, TomB_tx said:

Looks very nice! The one I bought is the "50 JAHRE" version, which seldom raises the price, but I have other models so marked so wanted this one. Still want the CL 50 Jahre version.

When DAG serviced it I had the meter left as original, since I have several old cameras that just use the MR9 voltage adapter.

I quit wearing glasses after 62 years of using them full-time when I had my cataracts replaced with varifocal lenses, but my old eyes can still be finicky, so I got a .85 M6 to see if I could focus easier. But my ,72 had been upgraded by DAG with the flare fix and multicoated windows, so it still seems better to me. 

I was tempted to have DAG upgrade my M6 while he has it but figured since it is my 1st leave it as "issued" to try it 1st.

I really want to win the Powerball so I can afford this

 

 https://www.ebay.com/itm/356444517101

 

I can't see paying $5K for something I'd be afraid to use, that kind of dough I'll get a 2022 M6 or MP