Which M started to have internal light meter?

[mingmac]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Im looking for the used one but not sure which M already had an internal light meter. THanks from a newbie.

[zeitz]

M5

[Walt Calahan]

M5 started it, but there are better bodies with meters since.

[mingmac]

Thank you guys.

[jhild]

it started with the M5 but there is some trouble if you want to use it today. Batteries are hard to get as

they are of a different type of the common ones used today.Plus the fact that the light reading cell sits

on an arm that moves in and out of the shutter area every time you take a shot. That´s all a lot of mechanic

and might not work properly anymore after so many years. I know there are some saying the M5 is the

best user M but I believe this is true for the M6 TTL. No moving parts in the lightmeter, three LED´s

showing clearly what´s going on. Plus the fact the M6 TTL is the most modern or youngest M-type made

before the MP/M7 came out so in general isn´t that old and worn out. I use three M6 TTL and am very

happy with them and the lightmeters. To me they are definitely better as those in the M6.

 

Have fun,

 

Jo

[Finnkare]

There are people, who really like it. Like me. But I like the classic types too. My favorites are the M5 and the M3.

 

Here are two positive articles worth reading:

Leica M5

The Leica M5: Leitz's big ugly failure, or not... - photo.net

[rleffingwell]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Hello Mingmac,

 

I second Jo's assessments. I also use 3 M6TTL bodies and last week in Pennsylvania, I shot 42 rolls. I always carry a Sekonic hand meter that I finally just stuffed into the bag because the internal meters matched it every time, even in constantly changing light. Film looked great. Batteries are relatively easy to find and last well if you remember to turn them off (a position on the shutter speed dial.) Do carry spares, however. Also, M6TTLs were availalble in three viewfinder magnifications, making focusing and framing easier for eye-glass wearers using wide lenses.

[StS]

If the focus is on a M with meter for taking photos rather than collecting, my recommendation would be the M6. In my view the M5 doesn't have any advantages over the M6 but will be more expensive in the same condition due to the collector's value - Leitz made much more M6s than M5s.

 

Stefan

[E.M]

I also use M6TTLs and I am very happy with them. Most of the time I also carry a Minolta IV because I like incident lightmetering. But next year I 'd like to have a viewfinder-upgrade having done, if I can afford the trip to Solms, not really that far from where I live.

 

Etienne Michiels

[Finnkare]

In my opinion, M5 does have advantages over the M6:

- bigger, easy-to-turn shutter speed dial

- ability to use intermediate shutter speeds

- exposure metering up to 30 sec

- smaller exposure metering area

- exposure metering area visible in the viewfinder

- shutter speed visible in the viewfinder

- no viewfinder flare problem

- less battery-consuming

- more universal kind of strap lugs (not a biggie)

- belongs to the mysterious good old "hand assembly", not "trial and error" manufacturing generation (debatable)

- the ability to carry the camera vertically (subjective)

- lack of the disturbing 28 and 75mm framelines (subjective)

- a bit bigger, more robust to handle (very subjective)

 

and for me the most important:

 

- mechanical exposure metering display, with two pointers in the viewfinder - IMHO the most visually informative, descriptive and logical type of display, which has been sadly left in the seventies.

 

Then again, M6 has advantages over M5:

- light meter not connected to winding

- no swinging mechanism in the light meter

- smaller, more compact

- winder capability

- exposure leds easier to see in the dark without additional light

- younger = better condition in general

- easier to find

- 1 second available in the shutter without self timer

- available with different viewfinders (M6TTL)

- some kind of TTL flash (M6TTL)

 

I don't think the M5 is so appreciated that the prices are very high. A good condition M6 is over 1k anyway.

 

I find the complaints about the batteries a bit strange, because I have had many many cameras adapted for modern batteries with a diode without any additional cost to a CLA. Easy operation, after which the meter is even more accurate than it was when it left the factory.

[innerimager]

I have a mint black M5, 3 lug I plan to sell. Let me know if interested. thanks...Peter