Leica M5 Users

[kajabbi]

Just curious whether there is anyone else here who uses M5s only.

 

[kren2000]

Are you kidding? Don't you know that the M5 was the worst camera Leica ever made? You should be embarassed to have one around your neck. How could you ever imagine taking photographs with one? The body is too big, totally un-M-like, it has the wrong number and wrong strap placement, it's ugly, and the meter stinks.

Did I mention it was ugly?

Karen

 

[hektor]

Dear Ebenezer,

I use an M5 but not exclusively.

Karen,

Other than the appearance, which is a personal opinion, why do you say the M5 was the worst camera Leica ever made? Like you I prefer the size and shape of the other M cameras, but having owned my M5 for thirty years are unable to fault it. I certainly prefer the precise metering to the diodes of the M6 and MP.

regards,

Justin

 

[zekkar]

Dear ebenezer
Sorry for my english !
I use exclusively a M5. I go directly from M3 to M5 in 1974.(Mine jumped 10 times from an paratrooper airplane I lose it, it was stolen in 2003)
Leitz manufacture just 3 real great leica :
IIIx, M3 and M5 and perhaps CL.
After just design "avatars".
M5 is the only leica design for summicron lens :
I fix aperture never more 5.6 and i adjust speed easy.
Exposure spot meter is whith a needle and not by a stupid japanese diode.
M6 and M7 go back for speed change to a M3 old crazy switch.
In France in 1974 all pros cry for 3 lugs and we had, Leitz is not stupid and change.
Ok Ok I am a M5 aholic but I have a good psy
regards
jacques

 

[jlow]

Dear Jacques

I have used my M5 for nearly 20 years and just had it CLAd by DAG.

It was the first RF Leica to offer TTL metering and in that sense it is a pioneering model - that still works.

Sincerely

Joseph Low

 

[leica_cl_m]

Dear friends,

i look for a chromium one... In the discussion one should not forget: M5 is the only M with a selective metering of light! (Like in the small CL.) That is something which is i.m.o. really better than the M6 and later or CLE.

Giselher

 

[kajabbi]

I gather from the above that M5 users are male sexists. From some,however,one really, it's the worst M camera ever made. The fact that the rewind is larger and faster, the shutter-speed control can be changed with the eye still in the viewfinder, the meter more accurate than the M6 and equally sensitive, its slightly (very slightly) extra size makes it friendly for those who have larger or arthritic hands, makes it the"worst" M camera ever made. Yea Right!!
Oh, by the way, it takes outstanding images at relatively slow shutter speeds. now it's time for Jay to tune in.

 

[dirk]

Hi Justin,

Karen put smilies into the text. So it was meant ironically

 

[kren2000]

Dirk -

Thank you! I was beginning to think humor had died.

I don't own a M5 but I do own its little sister, the CL and I love it. It has all of the flaws of the CL and all of its benefits (great selective meter, actual meter needle instead of diode, easy shutter adjustment). etc.

Karen

 

[oskar_b]

Karen

There is no humour in the M5, these are serious cameras.

Ugly old men (well I'm ugly) need ugly old cameras. They compliment us perfectly.

Craig