Leica M5 - the only flaws to the greatest film kamera ever..

[Huss]

The viewfinder port is slightly too far to the right compared to other Leica Ms.
The meter stays on when the shutter is cocked.

That is all. (Happy that I got it back from DAG!)

 

[btaylor]

And it’s kinda large compared to earlier M’s. Looks funny with a collapsible lens extended. Original ever ready case is enormous.
Very easy to use spotmeter and shutter adjustment.
Love the black finish on mine, and I love using it.

 

[DonW]

I love my M5! It's a shooters camera not a posers camera.

 

[mrosenlof]

The only flaws that I really feel about mine are:

Uses a mercury battery (mine has been modified for alternates)
The meter cell is CdS

And really, for 1970, that was the best of what was available. I'm very happy with mine. The M6 TTL might fit the bill as a modernized M5, maybe.

 

[guangong]

My wife loved her M5. Bought one of the earliest ones on market and has been trouble free ever since. Several years ago DAG did a CLA. Daughter now has camera. So I had to buy my own replacement. For just walking around the soft case is ok, but for real travel I prefer the hard everready case. I use either MR9 adapter or Wien cells. Nice to have on board meter. But I must confess that over all, I do tend to grab my M4 first. It just feels better in the hand. Unfortunately, the failure of the M5 at the market place contributed to the end of the Leitz legacy.

 

[Deleted member 88956]

Greatest film camera ever ???? I beg to differ, there is no such thing. Or at best, it is one that gives a photographer what he needs, if that means Agfa Clack, then it is.

 

[mann61]

You're right there's no such thing as the best camera ever! However I love the m5 and prefer it over my m3.
It came at a time when Leica threw bags of money at it as they did for the Leicaflex Sl2.
Unfortunately it was way ahead of the very conservative Leica users. I love being able to use filters because it is TTL metering, I love the neckstrap and being able to read the shutter speed and aperture setting in the viewfinder. This is similar to my beautiful R8. Also the soft carrying case is cool too,although it's impossible to use longer than a 50mm within the case.

 

[dourbalistar]

The viewfinder port is slightly too far to the right compared to other Leica Ms.
The meter stays on when the shutter is cocked.

That is all. (Happy that I got it back from DAG!)

Glad you got your kamera back, thanks for the report, Huss. Was DAG able to fix the strange triangular light leak that you had? I need to send mine in, but still haven't yet. Can't quite bear the prospect of having my M5 in the shop for months...

 

[Huss]

Glad you got your kamera back, thanks for the report, Huss. Was DAG able to fix the strange triangular light leak that you had? I need to send mine in, but still haven't yet. Can't quite bear the prospect of having my M5 in the shop for months...

I will soon see! He said he film tested it and could not find any leaks. He replaced a bunch of seals.
Fingers crossed..

Oh yeah, he also recalibrated the meter to use regular 1.5v cells. The previous famous M5 expert who I paid to do it, apparently didn't. I've had other issues with that tech so only send the M5 to DAG.

 

[Huss]

Greatest film camera ever ???? I beg to differ, there is no such thing. Or at best, it is one that gives a photographer what he needs, if that means Agfa Clack, then it is.

Begging is unseemly.
And yes it is the greatest film kamera ever. Most definitely. 100% absotootly. Yesseree Juergen.

 

[dourbalistar]

I will soon see! He said he film tested it and could not find any leaks. He replaced a bunch of seals.
Fingers crossed..

Oh yeah, he also recalibrated the meter to use regular 1.5v cells. The previous famous M5 expert who I paid to do it, apparently didn't. I've had other issues with that tech so only send the M5 to DAG.

I think I will need to just bite the bullet and send mine in. I also have the intermittent triangular leak, and also some shutter bounce at the higher shutter speeds (a strip on the right side of the frame gets more exposure). Used to only happen at 1/1000, but now I'm seeing it sometimes at 1/500, too. My M5 is supposedly calibrated to 1.5v. I don't know who did the conversion, but I've had no issues with incorrect exposures in the six years that I've owned the camera. If I'm calculating correctly based on your previous posts, the total shop time was about 3 months or so?

 

[Deleted member 88956]

Begging is unseemly.
And yes it is the greatest film kamera ever. Most definitely. 100% absotootly. Yesseree Juergen.

No need tryjng to defend a difensless statement. I could counter M5 with many models, but I see no point. For you it might be the one, but "best ever" discussion is no different than arguing who is the best looking or best in whatever. All of it is relative and always subjective.

 

[RalphLambrecht]

The viewfinder port is slightly too far to the right compared to other Leica Ms.
The meter stays on when the shutter is cocked.

That is all. (Happy that I got it back from DAG!)

I would argue that the Leica M6 is the greatest film camera ever.

 

[Huss]

I would argue that the Leica M6 is the greatest film camera ever.

I thought we were friends.

 

[etn]

I would argue that the Leica M6 is the greatest film camera ever.

Agree! (if we restrict ourselves to 35mm...) Although the F3 is not far behind.

 

[darkosaric]

I like M3 most (over M6, M4, If, Minilux and CM Zoom). But we are splitting hair here .

 

[Huss]

I finished the roll in my M5 and have taken it to be developed. I am now shooting my Fuji GW690III which I have now decided is the greatest film camera ever. Just like a Leica except physically much more impressive to the ladies.
The only flaw to this kamera is that when I change the lens there is the sound of breaking plastic and metal parts. And it is then very difficult to put the lens back on.

 

[Deleted member 88956]

So with all the M5 love (or other Ms), how are any of these better than say a Leidolf Lordomat (just happened to own one) ? Outside of unexciting social status, it is a fantastic piece with, I'd dare to claim, better film advance and loading arrangement than any Leica, for some it might be even better looking, but yes, it is a lot cheaper and has only 3 lenses (I believe) and of course none of Leitz (e)quality.

Evaluating gear with a nose stuck in the sand isn't exactly objective, but more like an old car salesman in a checkered jacket chasing a lost human spotted at the perimeter of the car lot.

 

[dourbalistar]

Seems Huss struck a sensitive Leicaphile nerve...

 

[Deleted member 88956]

Seems Huss struck a sensitive Leicaphile nerve...

Just another stupid derogatory comment from one who can't agree to disagree. And for what? Because I wholeheartedly disagree with the astronomically subjective "best ever ..." term?

Have at least the balls to quote me.

 

[Sirius Glass]

The Leica M series has a special feel and they do use Zeiss lenses, but we all know that the Hasselblad is better.

 

[dourbalistar]

Just another stupid derogatory comment from one who can't agree to disagree. And for what? Because I wholeheartedly disagree with the astronomically subjective "best ever ..." term?

Have at least the balls to quote me.

@Witold I didn't call any of your comments stupid, so apologies if you took any offence. No need to get so worked up and flame other people's comments as derogatory. I completely agree with you that there is no "best". All I meant is that some people are taking the OP's "best" claim a little too seriously. I mean, the title of the post has "flaws" in it, so obviously any flawed camera (and they're all flawed to some degree) can't simultaneously be the "best" can it?

I have a M5 which I like very much. Is it the "greatest film kamera ever"? No, because as I posted upthread, mine is in need of some repairs! The greatest film kamera ever would work always perfectly without ever needing any repairs, right?

 

[NB23]

It’s been a long time since I’ve discovered the M5’s true problem. What prevented it to become the most beautiful Camera.

Trim off an inch off its lenght (half an inch on each side) and it suddenly becomes such a great looking square camera. Everybody would be all over it if it had that slightly smaller/squarer size.

 

[md_photo]

Witold, Huss made his pronouncement as a tongue in cheek statement.

Too many cameras and too many subjective opinions about each.

That said, I think the Nikon F5 and F4E are the greatest cameras. Give the Texas Leicas a run for their money.

 

[Huss]

The Leica M series has a special feel and they do use Zeiss lenses, but we all know that the Hasselblad is better.

I would find the setting to ignore all your future comments, but I am too lazy. And I like your Harry Potter-esque name.