Leica M5 - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

The Leica M5 is a 35 mm camera by Leica Camera AG, introduced in 1971. It was the first Leica rangefinder camera

Rangefinder camera

A rangefinder camera is a camera fitted with a rangefinder: a range-finding focusing mechanism allowing the photographer to measure the subject distance and take photographs that are in sharp focus...

to feature through-the-lens (TTL

TTL

TTL may refer to:* Taiwan Tobacco and Liquor, a state-owned manufacturer of cigarettes and alcohol in Taiwan* Through-the-lens metering, a feature of cameras capable of measuring light levels in a scene through their lens...

) metering. The M5 is the last M to be built entirely in Wetzlar

Wetzlar

Wetzlar is a city in the state of Hesse, Germany. Located at 8° 30′ E, 50° 34′ N, Wetzlar straddles the river Lahn and is on the German Timber-Framework Road which passes mile upon mile of half-timbered houses. Historically, the city has acted as the hub of the Lahn-Dill-Kreis on the north edge of...

by hand using the traditional "adjust and fit" method.

Design

The M5 departed from the traditional silhouette of the Leica rangefinders, that had little changed since the M3

Leica M3

The Leica M3 is a 35 mm rangefinder camera by Leica AG, introduced in 1954. It was a new starting point for Leitz, which until then had only produced screw-mount Leica cameras that were incremental improvements to its original Leica...

(1954). The height and width of the body were larger (H 84 mm x W 150 mm x D 36 mm), and the body heavier (ca. 100 g more than other M cameras). The folding film rewinding crank hides in the bottom plate. The self-timer arm and the field-of-view preselector (now on the M5 additionally with battery test function) are of the same design as the Leica M4

Leica M4

- Leica M4 :The M4, introduced in 1967, is the direct successor of the M3 and M2, featuring framelines for 35mm, 50mm, 90mm and 135mm lenses in a 0.72 magnification viewfinder...

(1967). The M5 was the last M to feature a mechanical self-timer (duration 5–10 seconds). The M5 incorporates an improved rapid film loading spool design over the M4. The M5 has a rapid transport lever which winds the shutter and advances the film and the frame counter in one single motion, or in a series of shorter motions. A marker for the film plane is engraved on the top of the camera housing. The M5's redesigned horizontal travelling cloth focal plane shutter is reported to be the quietest of the M series. The shutter curtains travel at a relatively low speed which has as a consequence the 1/50 second flash sync speed.

Viewfinder

The M5's optical rangefinder / viewfinder mechanism is based on the M4 (itself based on the Leica M2

Leica M2

The Leica M2 is a 35 mm rangefinder camera by Ernst Leitz GmbH of Wetzlar, Germany, introduced in 1957. Around 82,000 M2s were produced between 1957 and 1968...

(1958). The M5 has 0.72 viewfinder magnification, with a 68.5 mm RF Base Length and 49.32 mm Effective Base Length (79% focus accuracy), but other magnifications are also available. The M5 is sometimes said to have the best viewfinder of the M series (others prefer the original M3, and the current MP is perhaps even better). It is fully adjustable using setting screws, and is not glued as in the later M-series. The M5 viewfinder does not have the blue tint of the earlier M2/M3. Its lens surfaces are multicoated, reducing flare. As with other .72 magnification finders, the M5 can suffer from RF 'white-out' (where the focus patch disappears in some flare-inducing lighting conditions), but this is less pronounced than on all following M-series until the coming of the Leica MP

Leica MP

The Leica MP is a 35 mm film camera manufactured by Leica Camera AG and was introduced in 2003. It is an all-mechanical rangefinder focusing camera that follows in a long line of cameras since the Leica M3 was introduced in 1954. The camera uses the Leica M Bayonet Mount which accepts all Leica...

(2003, in which Leica replaced a plastic viewfinder lens with a coated glass element to rectify the flare problem. More on the viewfinder flare here: http://nemeng.com/leica/020b.shtml. Like the M4, the M5 viewfinder features bright-line frames for 35mm, 50mm, 90mm, and 135mm lenses. The 35 and 135mm frames appear together as a pair. Uniquely, it has bright-line frames for both the metered area and shutter speeds. Leica M4-P framelines may be optionally installed (typically the MP coated glass element will be installed at the same time; reported cost for both modifications ca. 500 USD).

Exposure Meter

The exposure meter uses a circular CdS cell 8.5 mm in diameter (coverage with 50 mm lens = 21°), and having a sensitivity of -0 (some estimates claim -1) - 20 Ev

EV, eV, e. V. may refer to:* Electronvolt, a unit of energy* Eingetragener Verein, a registered voluntary association in Germany* Estonia's official name, Republic of Estonia, in Estonian: Eesti Vabariik*Everett Railroad's reporting mark...

at 100 ASA (0.3-0.4 asb at f/1.4 to 200 000 asb; 0,06 to 32.000 cd/m2). Information from the exposure meter is displayed using a dual match needle system at the bottom of the viewfinder. An additional illuminator window at the top of the viewfinder illuminates the readout bar. The M5 exposure meter can be set from ISO 6/9º to ISO 3200/36º. The ASA/DIN film speed knob is designed to prevent inadvertent change. The meter's circuit is powered up by winding the camera, and shuts down when the shutter is released. The M5 exposure meter required the PX625 1.35 V mercuric oxide coin type cell which was banned because of its mercury content. The M5 continues to run on a number of alternatives including the Weincell^TM MRB625. The battery compartment is located between the strap lugs. It is accessed by using a coin slot type threaded cap and is superior in design to that of the bayonet caps that surfaced as of the M6.

Shutter Dial

The M5 has the largest M shutter speed dial. It is coaxial with the shutter button and overhangs the top plate, making for very comfortable and quick manipulation, adjustable without taking the camera from your eye. This ergonomic feature is often cited as one of the M5's paradigmatic advantages, and a non-coaxial variant was later reintroduced as of the M6 TTL (1998). The M5 is the only full-size M with shutter speeds visible in the finder. It allows reliable, linear intermediate speeds between full click stops from the 1/1000 through to the 1/2 second setting. The speed dial is additionally engraved with "B" (Bulb) speeds from 1 to 30 seconds. These settings are coupled with the light meter, but the exposure time must be manually implemented using a cable release. The camera's internal exposure timing mechanism disengages below the 1/2 second setting. The shutter release button is threaded for a standard cable release. The M5 is capable of making double exposures.

Vertical Strap Lugs

Leica originally placed the strap lugs in order to hang the camera vertically. This was met by resistance by users prompting the addition of a third lug (1973, as of serial number 1355001 for chrome and 1357001 for black chrome). The installation of the third lug is available for earlier cameras. As some users have pointed out, the vertical positioning of the camera is effective when the camera strap is across the chest, allowing the M5 to be brought to eye level quickly while remaining otherwise partially hidden and protected under the arm. This necessitates the use of the proprietary Leica flat shoulder strap.

Reception

Leica M5 sales were very disappointing, and production was halted in 1975 after 33,900 units (from 1287001 to last serial number 1384000; 10750 chrome and 23150 black chrome bodies). Cost on issue for the M5 body in today's currency (Consumer Price Index Integer) is ca. 4200 USD.

Rangefinder camera sales were seriously undermined during this period by the predominance of mass produced SLR
SLR
The initialism SLR can refer to:* Satellite laser ranging* Scalable Linear Recording Tape Drive Backup* Self-Loading Rifle, see semi-automatic rifle.** The UK version of the Belgian FN FAL select fire battle rifle, the L1A1 SLR.* Semi-linear resolution...

s, primarily from Japan. In addition, Leica unofficially continued selling the M4, and the Leica CL
Leica CL
The Leica CL is a 35 mm compact rangefinder camera made by Leica with interchangeable lenses in the Leica M mount. It was developed in collaboration with Minolta and appeared in April 1973. It was released in the Japanese market in November 1973 as the Leitz Minolta CL...

was fully represented in the market by 1973.
Often cited as also contributing to the poor sales are the larger size and weight, the departure from the classical M design, the impossibility of attaching a motor winder, as well as the incompatibility with certain deep-seated wide angle lenses and collapsible lenses (i.e. 28 mm Elmarit below serial number 2 314 920; further details contained in Older interchangeable lenses on the Leica M5, Leica Pub. 120-47 (1971)).
The larger body dimensions also prevent the use of many M series accessories, such as external hand grips, quick release plates for tripod heads, or the Leica Lens Carrier M.

Leica reverted to the M4 and its iterations, until the coming of the Leica M6

Leica M6

The Leica M6 is a rangefinder camera manufactured by Leica from 1984 to 1998.The M6 combines the silhouette of the Leica M3 with a modern, off-the-shutter light meter with no moving parts and LED arrows in the viewfinder. Informally referred to as the M6 "Classic" to distinguish it from the "M6...

which offered the features of the M5, albeit through the use of more electronic circuitry, while retaining the classic M design. The M5 is now a relatively uncommon type, and their price on the second-hand market is comparable to that of the M6. M5's were discovered by Japanese collecters in the late '90s and their price experienced a sharp rise at that time.

Known Issues

Any precision mechanical camera like the M5 needs expert calibration and maintenance. The servicing of an M5 to factory specifications will cost typically from 200-400 USD. This is also the case for cameras that have seen little or no use. It is not advisable to use an M5 before a qualified CLA, as the lubricants may have hardened and damage can result. It is no longer the custom of even reputed Leica retailers to have their equipment thoroughly checked by a technician before sales, even if assertions to the contrary are made. A critical overview of CLA issues can be found here: http://www.zeisscamera.com/services_cla.shtml
Serial numbers above 134xxxx are usually considered more reliable as earlier problems in the production line were resolved by then (i.e. shutter speed dial clutch which was made more robust, preventing unwanted slipping of the setting).
The CdS cell is only accurate when the camera is held horizontally; although the difference is reported to be inconsequential.
The meter generally has been observed to have up to a 1/2 stop deviation varying over the spectrum of its performance specification (both in terms of luminosity and chromatic response).
The exposure meter's mechanical arm is activated by depressing the shutter release button. As a result, the exposure meter will not produce a usable reading if the shutter release button is under any pressure.
Issues surrounding the fragility of the CdS cell affect many extant M5s; it is still available as a replacement part.
In Leica M series cameras that have seen little use (i.e. those in pristine condition), the spring securing the lensmount bayonet lock may be weak or have its motion impaired. This can create the risk of a lens disengaging and dropping from the camera body while focusing.
The M5 is covered in vulcanite
Vulcanite
Vulcanite is a rare copper telluride mineral. The mineral has a metallic luster, and is a green or bronze-yellow shade. It has a hardness between 1 and 2 on the Moh's scale . Its crystal structure is orthorhombic....

, which can become brittle with age, and is subject to peeling and cracking. The M5 can be recovered with a variety of comparable materials such as Griptac^TM.
The 0.72 viewfinder magnification has the consequence that the 35mm framelines are not easily visible for users wearing eyeglasses; an optional eyepiece diopter (available from -3 to +3, or without lens for fitting of a custom lens) may be screwed into the viewfinder to remedy this. The astigmatic custom eyepiece diopter is no longer offered by Leica.
The cloth shutter susceptible to getting pinholes burned in it by an uncapped lens in bright sunlight.
The camera should always be stored uncocked. The tensions on the horizontal cloth shutter may otherwise damage it.