The Leica M5 - A Thorough Look at My Elusive Grail Camera

[@koreanphish2939]

I got a silver chrome one and it is really a joy to use! It's about 1400 USD to get a functional M5 with working meter and no gunk in the finder. I think it is worth it if you really like using one and plan to use it often! Good luck with your search!

[@GaryIrving-x5o]

Good defense of a fine camera 👍☕📷

[@krolldavid]

Thanks. I enjoyed the video and hearing about your journey

[@Ethanlyle_photo]

Great video. I got my M5 last June after thinking about it for a long time, and its been fantastic. The shooting experience really is unlike any other Leica I've tried. It's cool to see the M5 getting more love lately. It's a seriously underrated camera.

[@oh_aces]

100% And that meter is one of its best features.

[@RegFos]

Thanks for the review! There are still M5's out there in excellent condition. I was lucky enough to fine one a couple of years ago in great working condition - Excellent body( no dings or dents), minimal brassing, & a clean viewfinder/patch. So, I used an MR9 adapter for the battery and shot it as purchased for a while before sending it in for a CLA and reskin. It has been one of my favorite M cameras to use. You're right; it's very ergonomic and quick in use. Although it may be marginally larger than other M's, the size difference isn't something I've noticed in use. It really is a fantastic M camera. Glad you're enjoying using yours.

[@oh_aces]

Those are good thoughts. While doing the video I went back and forth between the two bodies, and I think that is why I noted that it is big in direct comparison. I do think that if it is your main body, then it becomes a negligible difference.

[@ezekielkok1848]

So sad to hear your story bout the m5 from Japan. Japan was like the gold standard for buying from eBay. I bought one locally and it’s beautiful. Thank you for sharing. Agree that the thumb dial is huge and awesome in position. Hope you get a good one soon

[@oh_aces]

Also the articulation in the advance is just to cool, and adds to the speed. I'm not truly giving up on owning one some day.

[@damo42315fg]

I got an M5 a few years ago and got it CLA'd by Sherry Krauter at Golden Touch. It is so smooth, fast to adjust and firm in the hand that it is more used than my M6 or MP. I love the metering match needles in the viewfinder that allow me to gauge the level or over or under exposure and that I can see the shutter speed as well. If I had only one camera going forward it would be this one!

[@oh_aces]

Agreed 100%. And if you're in to using the zone system, you can move super fast and expose the scene exactly as you envision it. It's just so great.

[@sputumtube]

I understand your concern with buying from Japan. I bought a Nikon F2AS with a 55mm f1.2 lens for a total of around £500 (UK sterling). Despite the seller's assurances that the camera and lens were both flawless, I paid for a professional CLA upon it's arrival at a further cost of £114. The seals were useless and the shutter was sticking. All sorted now of course. The camera service facility advised me to claim the price of the CLA back from the seller but I didn't want the hassle. The prices for the same deal regarding a Leica M5 would be much more so I can understand your hesitancy. I hope you can agree a deal with Simone Moriana.

[@oh_aces]

Money only gets tighter. It took me over a year to save up and I sold two lenses to help fund it. I'm giving up for a while but I still plan to try for one again in the future. I think all that's left in Japanese Ebay is duds, due in a large part to resellers that just buy up the best stuff there and mark it up. Then that also drives up the prices for dud cameras. Im sure there are still minty M5s to be had in Japan, just not via the 'Bay.

[@CalumetVideo]

I have had some great cameras from Japan, but had to return some Mamiya RB Lenses, had to return a couple. A couple months ago one of the lenses jammed on the body and the repair guy said it was oil on the shutter. The lens cost me 250.00 and was not feasible to repair. I couldn’t return it as I had the lens for 6 months. My advice, get out and shoot the cameras and lenses and put them through their paces as soon as you get it.

[@Kref3]

Over the last decade I bought and sold several Leicas. My first was an M3, then I bought an M6, then I sold the M3 and bought an M2, then I sold both, now I own an M5. The M5 is by far my favorite from a user‘s perspective. I do agree with others that it does not look as nice as the other ones, but I do not care at all, because I do not place it on a shelf to look at but I take it out to shoot. Its ergonomics is better than any other M I used so far. The shutter dial on the front, the speed indication in the viewfinder and the tight measuring area that is clearly indicated in the viewfinder is simply great, the M6 cannot compete with this as a shooter‘s camera in my opinion. With the M6 I always had to set the shutter to a reasonable value using Sunny 16 as a startpoint, then adjust it hopefully a single click but to do so I had to take the right hand off the shutter, because the shutter knob is so far back that you cannot use it. I really disliked that with the M6. The older ones without a meter were ok, there I had to set up everything before lifting it to the eye anyhow, but the M6 annoyed me. And by the way: I bought my M5 only a few weeks ago (August 2023) from a shop in Germany. Freshly maintained, adjusted to 1.55 V LR44 batteries, everything working, clean viewfinder. It shows signs of use, it actually would optically rate it comparable to yours, but it is in great technical condition. I paid only 999 EUR for the machine. Fantastic camera!

[@oh_aces]

Well said. As much as I love my remaining film rangefinder, (M3) it is annoying after a while when shooting color or slide film since I like to still use the zone system mindset with all film. I have to monitor the shutter setting and external meter too often for my liking. With the M5 you can just keep it glued to your eye and get perfect exposures with minimal effort. I would love to know the name of the shop you used for your M5. And to elaborate on exposure, I know on a day with consistent lighting I can just meter the highlights and shadows a couple of times and make adjustments from there. But with color film being north of $15-20 these days, every frame feels like an investment.

[@Kref3]

@@oh_acesHi. I bought the camera at Foto Fina. Maintenance and 1.55 V conversion was done at DIMAS Fototechnik, both in Germany, both selling gear over ebay stores.

[@Caballeroshot]

I’ve bought numerous cameras from Japan without issue and eBay has always, or at least in the last 5 years or so, had an eBay guarantee regardless of return policies from the seller. Click the return button, return label is generated and off it goes. I’m on the hunt for an M5 and your video makes me wonder if the Japanese leicas just aren’t very well kept.

[@absolute1020]

M5 is my second M body and no. 2 on my list, my no. 1 is M2

[@soshiucheong]

But the film is getting so expensive these days

[@KevinBjorke]

Glad you found a good M5! My favorite film Leica too, along with the CL. Match-needle FTW. Keep your eyes out for light leaks etc - Sherry Krauter is the True Master for M5 issues if you have any.

[@oh_aces]

Well, it went back. It seems like there aren't any usable bodies out there that are realistically priced. 🙁

[@KevinBjorke]

@@oh_aces Dang. Instead of buying online "wild," buy one from Leica or a regular dealer? Good luck!

[@oh_aces]

@@KevinBjorke oh I tried that as well. I even went to German Leica dealers. Everything at the time had issues or the prices were crazy. It's my grail, but it still has to be reasonably priced and be capable of standing up to serious use like my M3 does. And right now I don't really have the budget for it anyway... But I will always be looking.

[@andrewshieldsphoto]

I had an M5 for a short time and I was shocked by just how much I liked the ergonomics. Idk if you plan to give it another shot but I wanted to mention that the Weincell batteries sometimes need a little bit of foil in the compartment of the M5 to make proper contact. That meter may not have been dead but it sounds like the shutter was a mess anyway. Sorry you've had such bad luck sourcing one.

[@oh_aces]

I did read that on an old M5 thread on some forum, and did give it a shot but body #2 was just busted in every way. Still felt great to hold and a speed demon in real use, just sucks that it simply did not work. Im not giving up, but current prices are also getting crazy.

[@legionchef]

Wow, you have had a lot of bad luck. I managed to get one for around £900 last year, and it all works just fine. I was thinking of selling it as I am trying to cut down on my 35mm cameras but you may have just convinced me to hold on to it. Are you sticking with your M3?

[@oh_aces]

I want to talk you in to selling it to me, but honestly there's never gonna be a replacement with a meter that good or useful. But if you don't shoot it anymore send it off to a good home.

[@oh_aces]

Oh and M3 is still here. Got a lime meter on it now and it's getting regular use. I need to find time to edit my stuff and upload. Probably gonna keep it for life.

[@simonemoriana6007]

If you want I’m selling my M5, mechanically perfect conditions! It passed through a shop for CLA and everything it needed. Esthetically has a few issues with the leather but not that a problem. Let me know if you’re interested ✌🏻

[@oh_aces]

What the what? Does the meter work? My email is in my profile. Let's talk for sure.

[@simonemoriana6007]

@@oh_aces I wrote you ✌🏻

[@Hackzyyz]

literally picked up amint one for 800 last week so idk maybe its just ebay i never buy expensive cameras online for that reason

[@oh_aces]

What? Teach me!

[@aleksusnemo4284]

счас на мобильник можно снять лучше чем на лейку )))

[@chumleyk]

This is just a video complaining about sellers on ebay. Ive never known someone with so much bad luck unless you were going for the cheapest you could find.

[@oh_aces]

Oh for sure, I love to complain. I've also got terrible luck. My back hurts. I cant find a good spot meter. And just last week I took my Rolleiflex apart and found that the taking lens is de-laminating...