Leica M5 - not easy to fix?

cuthbert · Jun 7, 2016

hap said:
I'm not authoritative....but I discussed directly with Don Goldberg and Sherry regarding the camera as well as Gus Lazzari. The Rangefinder is different. It is absolutely different than an M2 or M4. I have an M4 and an M3. There are no replacements....except a new M6. Totally different frame set. You cannot see 28mm frame lens as obstructed by the meter. Sherry has parts so fine...then Sherry. Minimum 550. The meter arm and mechanism is complex. I have a CL and it's nothing like that even though same cell. It's not bad at all to have an M5. It's tricky. Oh..and yeah...you cannot use the MR9 adapter to use 1.5v silver oxide as the battery door will not screw down correctly. Wein cells work or mercury if you have access. 60-100 to adjust voltage from DAG.....probably a worthwhile adjustment. Plus, if you send to an expert it should get a complete once over and that's another ???$$$

Respectfully speaking the 0.71 magnification viewfinder doesn't have the 28mm frame and even if I don't have the M2 I'm pretty sure that one doesn't either.

The arm and lightmeter mechanism is indeed different from every camera that ever existed in my experience but regarding the battery this story of the voltage is BS, I use the 1.5 V battery and I don't have problems with that, Castelli checked the lightmeter with that voltage and it's OK, but it appears there's a big myth on internet on the matter.

And I shoot colour film with that camera, never missed an exposure....these are few examples with Ektar 100, but I also used E-6:

People should chill down and enjoy their M5!

hap · Jun 7, 2016

I'm not really engaging you in a dispute here so please no offense.
I am just relaying my experience, which includes using the camera, having issues....and attempting to solve through personal and direct telephone discussions with Don and Sherry. they understood exactly what I was talking about.

I never said the M5 had 28 mm frames lines...it has 35, 50, 90, 135. the 50 also has a spotmeter indicator outlines. A very useful feature in my opinion. However, when the viewfinder degenerates and many do, the replacement is an M6 finder which has 28mm frames lines which you cannot see. It loses the spotmeter lines. Those with an M5 and this problem should decided for themselves how they wish to proceed.

Meters and cells of this age respond differently. If yours works with a 1.5v silver oxide battery. Great. Most will not. the adaptors, one of which I use in my CL....and my Canon QL 17III is fantastic....but no go in the M5. Repairmen will adjust voltage if owner wishes.

I like your photos....thanks

cuthbert · Jun 7, 2016

hap said:
I like your photos....thanks

Ok thanks not be argumentative or to pick up a fight this is my experience. I agree the 50mm frame is different from the M6, M4 and M3 as it has the spotmeter sign and if it wears out you are in big trouble as you can't meter with precision anymore.

Regarding the voltage, I brought the camera by my tech because it had an ISO stuck when it arrived on ebay, so he gave a check adjusting the shutter speeds and the lightmeter (he always does), he just asked me if I was going to use that cell and I said yes and he adjusted the lightmeter with a lamp...I don't think he touched the voltage.

On the other side my Praktica VLC3 requires a special 4.5 V battery, I haven't got it and I put a long stack of 1.5 batteries...today I had the results from the test film and it appears it's just fine, my opinion is that a lot of owners overthink the battery voltage issue.

That's it, peace man!

Roger Pellegrini · Jul 7, 2016

hap said:
Hmmmm......I would see if you could convince the dealer to somehow give you the option of sending it out for repair, either to DAG or Sherry. At least for evaluation, at their cost....or partly. Sherry, as somewhat cantankerous as she might be, is expert at M5 repair. And will very likely have the parts. Her personal camera is an M5.

But it could be finicky anyway....another reason to have Sherry or Don look into it.

Just my .02 c.

John Koehrer · Jul 7, 2016

cuthbert said:
Regarding the voltage, I brought the camera by my tech because it had an ISO stuck when it arrived on ebay, so he gave a check adjusting the shutter speeds and the lightmeter (he always does), he just asked me if I was going to use that cell and I said yes and he adjusted the lightmeter with a lamp...I don't think he touched the voltage.

Actually adjusting the lightmeter in that way, IS adjusting the cell to use the slightly higher voltage. It's the way it works.
An alternative is to insert a diode in series with the battery. The voltage drop introduced by the diode drops the V to 1.35.

cuthbert · Jul 7, 2016

John Koehrer said:
Actually adjusting the lightmeter in that way, IS adjusting the cell to use the slightly higher voltage. It's the way it works.
An alternative is to insert a diode in series with the battery. The voltage drop introduced by the diode drops the V to 1.35.

Mmm....not really.

If you have a bridge circuit voltage is not relevant. Trust me...

That's the current battery configuraion on my VLC3...15 Volt in total.

The lightmeter is rated for 4.5 Volts but it works just fine. None of my cameras had battery problems but the lightmeter of the M5 had a spiral that was uncoiled so it needed a check.

darkroommike · Jul 8, 2016

The M5 is "special" and uses a lot of unique parts that are not share with the rest of the M-series, this translates into no repair parts available and I know a lot of repairmen stipulate that they will fix any Leica excepting the M5 and the CL. It also translates into a lot of unique repair issues and the guys that used to make those repairs are almost all either retired, overwhelmed with work, or have passed on.

Luis-F-S · Jul 8, 2016

darkosaric said:
Get an M6. The price of M6 are not that high, and they are usually not so worn out......

+1, I figured this out years ago....................

chip j · Jul 8, 2016

I think the M5 was the last "hand-assembled" Leica.

guangong · Jul 9, 2016

The fact that the OPs shutter roller drum broke is a good sign. It means that the camera was not used very much and had never been sent in for repair. The first batch of m5 cameras had a faulty shutter drum and this part was usually replaced by Leitz at no charge when it broke. It was always replaced whenever an m5 was sent for repair what ever the reason. Since this part just broke it means that the camera is in mint condition and not used very much. After 40 some years it needs a cla from just sitting. My wife's m5, bought on the day it appeared on the market from Willoughbys mid town store on 48th street in nyc is now on its way for a cla. A Leica needs a cla every 35-40 years!

cuthbert · Jul 9, 2016

chip j said:
I think the M5 was the last "hand-assembled" Leica.

More important I think the M5 was the last attempt from Leica to compete with professional SLRs like the Canon F1 and the Nikon F/F2, after that model they stopped innovating and they offered the same camera over and over again to wealthy amateurs.

chip j · Jul 10, 2016

Sounds good to me.

Leica M5 - not easy to fix?

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