Current slide {CURRENT_SLIDE} of {TOTAL_SLIDES}- Best-selling in Film Cameras
Current slide {CURRENT_SLIDE} of {TOTAL_SLIDES}- Save on Film Cameras
The Leica M5 was a major break from the all the past Leica "M"s up to now. It had many "NEW" innovations that Leica was hoping would perk up their sales and clients. It was the 1st "M" with TTL metering,(The Leica CL was the 2nd and Smallest M also, to this day 2010). The list of "new" stuff were: A TTL meter, a squared off body, a rewind crank in the base plate, A shutter speed dial that had a slight over hang over the front of the body, Shutter Speed and meter read out "in the View Finder", The shutter that can be set between marked speeds - except 1/30 and 1/60 -. The shutter dial had markings to 30 seconds-the meter could read to 30s, but,you had use the "bulb" setting and count it off. The CDS cell was and still is one of most sensitive CDS cells around. It was the last "M" that was made in Waltzer, Germany..That Is: Put together by hand. It had a hot shoe. The black version camera was made with a black chromium finish (Black Paint was the other way. The Camera is as smooth as any Leica M, and handles quite fast. The Shutter is quite and the winding is silky smooth. It is now a "Cult Classic" and the value is going up. The VF can be upgraded to have 28/90, 35/135, 50/75 frame lines. The Original has 35/135, 50/90. And with a MR-9 battery adapter, you can use 1.35v Silver386 batteries. I own an M5 with an updated VF frame lines and the MR-9 adapter... Perfect!@!!! Serial numbers above 135xxxx have a internal upgrade to the shutter mechanics. but, if get an earlier number, a Cleaning, Lubrication and Adjustment will a part of the service in most cases. Cost between $250.00 and $350.00, so buy with this cost in mind... a 34-37 year old Leica M5 will need a service, If it hasn't one in the last 10 years or so. Even though it may work just fine. My Rating: 5/Star all the way.Read full review
I've owned and used the M5 for many years, and just recently added another one (my third) to my collection, though is soon to be sold to a friend. I also have a mint-condition M2, which is a far more traditional Leica that most people tend to think is a better camera, only it isn't. The M5 is simply Leica's highest evolution of the film rangefinder. Just like the M3 in 1954 took all of the input the company had received from photographers for the past few decades and incorporated into the very best camera they could make with the technology available to them, so too was the M5 for its time. Hold the M5 up to your eye and the differences are immediately noticeable, and all geared toward making the camera easier and faster to use. A bigger rangefinder patch shaped to show the spot metering field with longer lenses, shutter speed scale at the bottom with the match needle meter next to it, and of course since the meter is a true spot meter with metering area "frame lines" inside the 50mm set, while 90mm (outside diameter) and 135mm Lenses (inside diameter) make double duty of the rangefinder patch to show the metering pattern (135mm frame line is the metering spot for 35mm lenses). Then there is the shutter speed dial that overhands the front of the camera for easy manipulation with the camera at eye-level and a wonder ergonomic layout that is bigger than M3-type cameras, but not enough to intrude. The M5, in addition to its evolutionary features, was also the last Leica camera to be made by hand selected and fitted brass internal components, if that matters to you. Finally the M5 was the camera that introduced the world to black chrome. The 40+ year old black chrome finish on my M5 cameras look jut as good as the similar finish on my 3-year-old M Monochrom. The M5 has a poor reputation, but that is mostly because it looks different and was released at time when SLRs were dominant and the market wasn't able to handle the cost of a top-of-the-line metered M body. These days, however, a good M5 will cost little more than a good M3, but it is, in my opinion, a MUCH better camera.Read full review
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
The camera is in Excellent condition and works flawlessly. I just processed the first roll of film run through the camera. The light meter worked perfectly as did the shutter and film advance. The quality of the pictures taken is what I edxpect from a Leica. The through the lens metering makes using the M5 stress free. I have a number of Leicas from the early D through the iiif and iiig and M3. The M5 is now my first choice when I want to take pictures using film and this is true whether it is for black and white images or for color.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
The camera arrived quickly, in the condition in which it was advertised. I was able to get a battery that works with a 45 year old camera, attached a Leica lens and was taking photographs. It works well and the old style light meter is a retro joy.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
the Leica M5 was really the WTF as far as Leica M cameras were concerned. I was lucky in that after purchasing a battery for it and installing that battery the camera's built in light meter went to work. The meter is a match needle affair that is controlled through adjustment of the lens's aperture ring. The camera seems to be about 1.5 times as large as my Leica M3. Other than size, The M5 is a standard Leica M camera. The camera works very well.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned