Which Leica M?

Richard Jepsen · Jan 6, 2024

One last thought. Congrats on your M2.

The M2R would be my second choice. The M2s are very pretty.

Pieter12 · Jan 6, 2024

The only downside to the M5 is it cannot use collapsable lenses and others that would interfere with the meter arm inside the body. But there are plenty of lenses that do work with it, so it is not really that much of a limiting factor.

btaylor · Jan 6, 2024

Richard Jepsen said:
Looks like I’m too late to advocate for the M5. For reference I would advise a buyer to purchase a M5 that has been serviced. I bought mine 3 years ago and it needed a new bat compartment installed by DAG. He bought out the Canadian M5 Leica parts supply a few years ago.

I love the over-hanging shutter. The size fits my hands. The finder as crisp as a MP I once owned. The frame lines more accurate than post M4 bodies. it comes with a quick load. Silver retains its finish best and has low production numbers. The M5 body size visually works with the newer/wider aperture lenses. I locate M5s in better visual condition at a lower price point than other M bodies. That said there is risk the meter will some day fail. So what, then you have a non metered M like the 3/2/4/.

Complete agreement on everything said here with a minor niggle about the finish. I love the black chrome matte finish on mine.
Good to know DAG has a parts supply, thanks for that info.
And concerning collapsing lenses, of course you can use them on the M5- just use them extended! That’s what I’ve done.

Richard Jepsen · Jan 6, 2024

I use a 1956 Summicron 50/2 collapsible on the M5. Its a fantastic lens due to its handling, size, and classic rendering. The key is to find a clean one and its just as good as the rigid between f/2.8-f/4 progressing through the smaller apertures.

radialMelt · Jan 6, 2024

Richard Jepsen said:
The finder as crisp as a MP I once owned.

I have to disagree with that! The modern day viewfinders are far superior to the old ones. It was the first thing I compared when I had both an M5 and a 2021 MP at the same time. That isn't to say the M5 viewfinder is bad or anything - its a lot better than many other cameras of that vintage.

chuckroast · Jan 6, 2024

Richard Jepsen said:
Looks like I’m too late to advocate for the M5. For reference I would advise a buyer to purchase a M5 that has been serviced. I bought mine 3 years ago and it needed a new bat compartment installed by DAG. He bought the Canadian M5 Leica parts supply a few years ago.

I love the over-hanging shutter. The size fits my hands. The finder as crisp as a MP I once owned. The frame lines more accurate than post M4 bodies. It comes with a quick load. Silver retains its finish best and has low production numbers. The M5 body size visually works with the newer/wider aperture lenses. I locate M5s in better visual condition at a lower price point than other M bodies. The M5 viewfinders are not assembled with Canadian balsam. That said there is risk the meter will some day fail. So what, then you have a non metered M like the 3/2/4/.

I may buy one of those because someone here told me you're supposed to own multiple M bodies

Dali · Jan 6, 2024

Every Leica M is OK as long as it can be repaired.

Richard Jepsen · Jan 6, 2024

RadialMelt

When I got my DAG overhauled M5 back with a cleaned viewfinder I compared to my 2001 purchased new MP. The M5 was a hint less bright but also seemed to have a hint more contrast. Basically one would not see any meaningful difference. I’m very sensitive to finders.

Pieter12 · Jan 6, 2024

btaylor said:
Complete agreement on everything said here with a minor niggle about the finish. I love the black chrome matte finish on mine.
Good to know DAG has a parts supply, thanks for that info.
And concerning collapsing lenses, of course you can use them on the M5- just use them extended! That’s what I’ve done.

Some non-collapsable lenses cannot be used, either:

btaylor · Jan 6, 2024

Pieter12 said:
Some non-collapsable lenses cannot be used, either:
View attachment 358912

Good warnings. Since I own none of the lenses referenced I forgot about these specific restrictions.

Richard Jepsen · Jan 6, 2024

You can’t meter in camera using those optics with the M3/2/4 series.

Its good general information for people thinking about which M to buy.

GregY · Jan 6, 2024

Richard Jepsen said:
You can’t meter in camera using those optics with the M3/2/4 series.

Its good general information for people thinking about which M to buy.

Well the issue with the 21 and the listed 28mm & any collapsible lens that is mounted fully collapsed is that the back of the lens will break off the meter stalk.....

250swb · Jan 7, 2024

chuckroast said:
I may buy one of those because someone here told me you're supposed to own multiple M bodies

This is true, but often because people buy the wrong one in the first place. There is some strange fascination people have for the M3 and then they find they'd really like to try a larger variety of lenses, and maybe they feel a meter would be good, so along comes another Leica. This way they can pull their braces out and claim on the forum's that the M3 is the best camera ever, while being glad of having an M6 as 'backup'.

As a long term Leica user I've bought every model M often more than once except for the M5 where I've had none. The only M I wouldn't buy again, after buying and selling three, is the M3, too limited for my use (and the M2 is better), and the best bang for buck is the M4-P.

GregY · Jan 8, 2024

Since we're on the topic of Leica M, there's a nice looking '75 Anniversary M5 for sale over at RFF. $1695 shipped

https://www.rangefinderforum.com/gallerysoft/ad/767

BorHa · Jan 21, 2024

chuckroast said:
I am a long time monochrome shooter in all formats from 35mm to 4x5.

I already own a just-CLAed Leica IIIf with both an uncoated 50mm f/3.5 collapsible Elmar and a 50mm f/2 collapsible Summicron.

I am contemplating the purchase of an M body. They are all stupidly expensive and I doubt I really can justify a modern M6 or similar camera.

My heart has always been with the M5 (I know, I'm weird, you're not the first to notice) but I am told that the M5s are maintenance nightmares, that the rollers go bad and no replacements are available, that the meters fail, etc.

So .... Leicanistas - what are the tradeoffs in your hive mind between the M2, M3, M4, M4-2, and M4-P? I plan to use my existing LTM lenses via an adapter ring.

Feel free to make the case that I really don't need an M body at all

Leica m4 is the best in my opinion. The slanted rewind lever and no removable film spool a pretty big deal in terms of time savings. If you plan on ever shooting 28mm, the m4-p is a great option. Anyone who has an m5 loves it. I thought they seemed big but I love the shutter speed dial. Good luck on your M journey!

Richard Jepsen · Feb 26, 2024

I love the over-hanging shutter. The size fits my hands. The finder as crisp as a MP I once owned.

I need to make a correction. The MP finder is brighter and easier to focus in dim light. In outdoors light I did not see any meaningful difference in finder contrast /brightness between the MP and M5.

cliveh · Feb 26, 2024

chuckroast · Feb 26, 2024

cliveh said:
M2

So, since the time I first posted the question, I managed to squirrel away the money to buy both a just-CLAed M2 and an really nice 50 Jahre M5 (now with DAG for overhaul). I'm using the M2 a bunch right now and I love the thing. Because there were only 1750 of that particular M5 made, I told myself I could justify my M5 jones because it's collectable, you know ...

cliveh · Feb 26, 2024

chuckroast said:
So, since the time I first posted the question, I managed to squirrel away the money to buy both a just-CLAed M2 and an really nice 50 Jahre M5 (now with DAG for overhaul). I'm using the M2 a bunch right now and I love the thing. Because there were only 1750 of that particular M5 made, I told myself I could justify my M5 jones because it's collectable, you know ...

What lens are you using on the M2?

chuckroast · Feb 26, 2024

cliveh said:
What lens are you using on the M2?

I have an older collapsible 50mm f/2 Summicron, a 35mm f/2 Summicron M, and a 90mm f/2 Elmarit M

cliveh · Feb 26, 2024

chuckroast said:
I have an older collapsible 50mm f/2 Summicron, a 35mm f/2 Summicron M, and a 90mm f/2 Elmarit M

The 50mm f/2 Summicron is a beautiful lens. I have only used a 90mm on my M2 for a few shots, but also a great lens.

chuckroast · Feb 26, 2024

cliveh said:
The 50mm f/2 Summicron is a beautiful lens. I have only used a 90mm on my M2 for a few shots, but also a great lens.

It's a great lens I just had mine CLAed to improve how it handles specular highlights, but this 1955 version of the lens does interesting things when you point it at a bright light source:

The CLA calmed some of that down, but in very bright direct light like this, there is still some evidence of reflection off the aperture blades. I would imagine a modern Summicron M would probably do better because of superior internal coating. But, of course, that's not the usual shooting situation so I don't much worry about it.

I just did this with it (scan of silver print):

I also love that I can use that lens on both my IIIf and M2 (and soon, M5).

dave olson · Apr 28, 2024

Reference DAG working on M5's, you best check with him. Seems I read a year or two ago that he has stopped working on the M5. The problem is parts availability. There are some other service people but again parts. I would suggest either an M4-P or an M6 (not the reissue)The M6 meters through the lens. On the M4-P you can use a VC meter or similar attached in the shot shoe.

chuckroast · Apr 28, 2024

dave olson said:
Reference DAG working on M5's, you best check with him. Seems I read a year or two ago that he has stopped working on the M5. The problem is parts availability. There are some other service people but again parts. I would suggest either an M4-P or an M6 (not the reissue)The M6 meters through the lens. On the M4-P you can use a VC meter or similar attached in the shot shoe.

DAG just overhauled my M5 50 Jahre including recalibration of the meter for 1.5v batteries. So, yes, he's still working in them.

Which Leica M?

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