Leica M5 any opinions?

clayne · Nov 28, 2009

Guys, the M5 is not twice the camera of the other Ms. ANY M is perfectly capable for those really "get it."

More and more often the memorable and solid work I see from both friends and other photographers hasn't a damn thing to do with which specific model camera they used. The one thing they did do was STICK with something and continually use it.

It's almost tragic comedy at this point. The most significant part of achieving solid photography costs absolutely nothing at all, and people continually look right past it. The comedy part of it is that while people are out there fondling their gear and screwing around with adjustments the rest of us can get our shots and go.

Embrace limitations.

Vincenzo Maielli · Nov 28, 2009

Hi Wayne, we meet again!
I use my Bigfoot with Summicron 90 TS (1969), Summicron 35/2 goggled (1958), Summicron 50 DR (1962), VC 15/4.5 M. Also, occasionally, i mount on Bigfoot a Nikkor LTM 135/3.5 or Nikkor LTM 85/2 (both 1950), a VC Apo Lanthar 90/3.5, a Summaron 35/2.8 (1962) and Jupiter 9 85 (1977). The Bigfoot always work at the best. To replace the PX625 battery, i use a Kanto MR9 adapter, with 386 silver oxide battery.
Ciao.
Vincenzo

Larry Bullis · Nov 28, 2009

clayne said:
It's almost tragic comedy at this point. The most significant part of achieving solid photography costs absolutely nothing at all, and people continually look right past it. The comedy part of it is that while people are out there fondling their gear and screwing around with adjustments the rest of us can get our shots and go.

There is a lot of truth here. I can, and have, built cameras out of cardboard, tin cans, among other things. I have also built special purpose cameras to satisfy particular, and sometimes peculiar needs.

However, there is nothing at all wrong with using the tools you prefer. A good woodworker can do wonders with a $99 direct drive table saw, but would probably be much happier with something that is more dependable, more accurate, and just plain more pleasant to use.

Venchka · Nov 28, 2009

What he said. ^^^^

And another thing...while it may be true that the M5 is the most cussed and discussed Leica body ever built, M5 owners don't bash all of the other Leica bodies the way non-owners bash the M5. Just an observation.

Yes, we should all be out wasting film. With the hardware we have.

df cardwell · Nov 28, 2009

Let's get a grip here before somebody at another forum sees us making nice about the 5,
and drive the price up.

AWFUL ! TERRIBLE ! UNRELIABLE !

Back in a few, kids, I'm going shopping....

.

John R. · Nov 28, 2009

Seems to me a good Leica is any Leica. I'd be happy to have an M5 and several thousands of dollars in glass. Seriously, the Leica M6 has been the most recommended body to me. I like some of the comments I have read on the M5 and am going to learn more about it. Anybody in Florida want to loan me one for trials?

Venchka · Nov 28, 2009

Mr. Cardwell,

You are totally correct. Terrible, horrible, no good, very bad camera.

John R.,

You don't need thousands of dollars in lenses. Would it be nice? Sure. Needed? No.

Enjoy!

John R. · Nov 29, 2009

Venchka said:
Mr. Cardwell,

You are totally correct. Terrible, horrible, no good, very bad camera.

John R.,

You don't need thousands of dollars in lenses. Would it be nice? Sure. Needed? No.

Enjoy!

Obviously, am well aware of that. I use a G with 3 lenses. My point was not a serious one, just an indicator of what could easily become the case.

Venchka · Nov 30, 2009

Very good. Just making sure that everyone understood that.

HiNDri · Nov 30, 2009

So can anyone give me an idea of what a M5 should go for? I don't need any of the fancy ones and cosmetics are secondary to function. I was bidding on one and went it went past $650 USD, I bailed. Perhaps I was too hasty. Were is a good source of pricing information? Also, is there any place to buy other than ebay?

Robert

Larry Bullis · Nov 30, 2009

HiNDri said:
So can anyone give me an idea of what a M5 should go for? I don't need any of the fancy ones and cosmetics are secondary to function. I was bidding on one and went it went past $650 USD, I bailed. Perhaps I was too hasty. Were is a good source of pricing information? Also, is there any place to buy other than ebay?

Robert

Do a search for completed auctions of M5's on ebay. You would be limited to something like one month's information, but if you follow it for awhile you can get a pretty good idea what they are going for.

Venchka · Nov 30, 2009

M5s come along at the Rangefinder Forum and of course KEH. KEH bargain grade (BGN) combined with their return policy (15 days as I recall) is an affordable way to get a user grade M5. That said, I can't recall seeing an M5 for less than $750 at the Rangefinder Forum, but I haven't seen every one for sale since buying Bigfoot & Bubba in 2006. I no longer look at ebay.

Venchka · Dec 1, 2009

Ask and ye shall recieve!

Listed moments ago. I hope this doesn't violate some secret code.

No, it's not one of mine. I am only the messenger. Bigfoot & Bubba are safe where they belong.

SOLD!Dead Link Removed

Larry Bullis · Dec 1, 2009

Looks very good.

It's insurance to ask for a roll of film before dropping that much money on a used camera, regardless of what it is. My shutter curtains came to me operating at different speeds (one end of each negative lighter than the other).

It just occurred to me how to test for this. Ask for pairs of the same scene, each pair at different shutter speeds (above 1/60; below that, both curtains are open). One of each pair made right side up, the other upside down. if the same end of each scene is consistently lighter or darker, there's not likely to be a problem. If the same end of the scene viewed right side up (or wrong side up) is not the same, it indicates a problem. Also, as the speeds increase (that is, incrementally less time) the problem gets worse.

I've had this problem before with a couple of other cameras and have seen it many times in my career as a photo instructor. I think it probably comes from a camera sitting unused more than anything, and great cosmetic condition is probably a good indicator of probability. Getting Don Goldberg to lube and readjust an M5 runs something a bit more than $200. Since I would be spending that kind of money anyway, I went for the complete overhaul at about $100 more. Might as well have a new camera. I'd planned on having it serviced anyway, but if you don't want to add a few hundred to the price you pay, it's a good test.

df cardwell · Dec 1, 2009

This M5 with a trip to DAG will set one up with a great camera.

Larry Bullis · Dec 1, 2009

That one on RFF is already gone. Lasted less than four hours.

Venchka · Dec 1, 2009

Interesting. Good to know.

Spicy · Aug 13, 2013

time for some more M5 love...

Just got back from dropping the new body off for a CLA at one of the more gourmet-camera-geared shops around here (usually seems like they service Leica, Nikon, 'Blad and some other MF stuff).

With any luck it should be done in the next few days -- hopefully it'll be as smooth as the M4-P I tandem CLA'd with Youxin (read: he did it while I watched and we chatted) a few years back. The guy also said he could do the meter-rework to adjust it to modern 1.5v batteries, so hopefully that works as well. I'll keep you all posted.

Leica M5 any opinions?

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