I just won this three-lug chrome M-5, from the same dealer from whom I bought my M-2. It's going to need a new skin, and a CRIS adapter. What do you guys think?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180254064283&ssPageName=MERC_VI_RCRX_Pr4_PcY_BID_Stores_IT&refitem=150259231358&itemcount=4&refwidgetloc=active_view_item&usedrule1=CrossSell_LogicX&refwidgettype=cross_promot_widget&_trksid=p284.m184&_trkparms=algo%3DCRX%26its%3DS%252BI%252BSS%26itu% 3DISS%252BUCI%252BSI%26otn%3D4

Wonderful camera. well done.

Can't look at it because I'm at my daughter's house and the kid blockage on their internet gate won't let me get to ebay. Would have liked to take a look. Son in law runs the servers for a major hospital, and he gets carried away.

I got my M5 on ebay also, and while it is in wonderful amazing condition cosmetically, I suspect it sat on the shelf for a long, long time. The slow speeds seem right on, but the high speeds are out of balance. It is a good thing to check for this before committing film. It shows up if you view the film plane with the back off, and the lens off, going through the high speeds while holding it up against something like open sky. One side will appear darker if the problem is there, and it gets worse the faster the speed. This is not just a Leica problem; any camera with the old cloth focal plane shutter can develop it and we are seeing lots of issues like this since those cameras are not getting any newer. It would be a very unusual seller who would know to check for this, or maybe who would want to check for it.

Since your camera needs skin and (is CRIS a battery modification? I don't know the term) anyway a CLA will repair this problem, and you may not have it anyway. I just figure that if you get a good deal on a wonderful camera, having to have service done on it is a reasonable thing to expect.

The M5 is a fabulous camera, in many respects possibly the best they ever made, at least for those of us who like mechanical shutters, a really great meter, and a great weapon to hit a mugger with. It was where I started with leica (a loaner) and I've been partial to it ever since, even though I like the others too.

Congratulations!! and enjoy it. I know you will.

My new M5, with my favorite Canon F1.2 Lens:

I've been using my M5 almost exclusively for the past several months. Having been a news photog and fashion shooter years ago I can see why the wizards at Leica designed the M5 the way they did. IMHO the design is far superior to the other M's for professional shooting. At least in those arenas anyway. I can change the shutter speed and f-stops without having to take the camera away from my eye or move my right hand away from it's normal shooting position and the spot meter is deadly accurate. I even like the 2 lug design I have because when I have the camera either around my neck or over my shoulder it doesn"t swing the way a normal lug design does. I realize most M users are hobbyists so speed isn't a major thing for them, but the M5 is a very fast and intuitive camera to use. If I had to go with another M design I suppose it would be the M-4P.

Can't look at it because I'm at my daughter's house and the kid blockage on their internet gate won't let me get to ebay. Would have liked to take a look. Son in law runs the servers for a major hospital, and he gets carried away.

I got my M5 on ebay also, and while it is in wonderful amazing condition cosmetically, I suspect it sat on the shelf for a long, long time. The slow speeds seem right on, but the high speeds are out of balance. It is a good thing to check for this before committing film. It shows up if you view the film plane with the back off, and the lens off, going through the high speeds while holding it up against something like open sky. One side will appear darker if the problem is there, and it gets worse the faster the speed. This is not just a Leica problem; any camera with the old cloth focal plane shutter can develop it and we are seeing lots of issues like this since those cameras are not getting any newer. It would be a very unusual seller who would know to check for this, or maybe who would want to check for it.

Since your camera needs skin and (is CRIS a battery modification? I don't know the term) anyway a CLA will repair this problem, and you may not have it anyway. I just figure that if you get a good deal on a wonderful camera, having to have service done on it is a reasonable thing to expect.

The M5 is a fabulous camera, in many respects possibly the best they ever made, at least for those of us who like mechanical shutters, a really great meter, and a great weapon to hit a mugger with. It was where I started with leica (a loaner) and I've been partial to it ever since, even though I like the others too.

Congratulations!! and enjoy it. I know you will.
A CRIS adapter allows you to use a Silver Oxide battery instead of the M5's original Mercury battery.

A CRIS adapter allows you to use a Silver Oxide battery instead of the M5's original Mercury battery.

I've been happy with the Wein cell. Are there any advantages of the CRIS adapter, other than, possibly, ease in obtaining the batteries?

I use hearing aid batteries. To set the asa I just meter something with my Sekonic. Say it says f16 at 1/250 for 400 asa. I then set the f stop and shutter speed on the camera and then adjust the asa dial until the meter needles line up. Works like a charm. Typically the asa ends up being set to 1/2 of the rated asa. ie 400 asa film is dialed in at 200 asa on the camera. ymmv.

I use hearing aid batteries. To set the asa I just meter something with my Sekonic. Say it says f16 at 1/250 for 400 asa. I then set the f stop and shutter speed on the camera and then adjust the asa dial until the meter needles line up. Works like a charm. Typically the asa ends up being set to 1/2 of the rated asa. ie 400 asa film is dialed in at 200 asa on the camera. ymmv.

Great idea. I don't think I'll do it, although I like things like this. I have a feeling that when I change films, I'd forget sometimes, and underexpose everything. If I only used one film/developer combination, it would be great, but I not only change films, but developers too. So, the fewer other things I need to remember the better.

I only use two b&w films in 35mm, APX 100 and Classic Pan 400. Both souped in D-76. The nice thing is I can develop them together as they take the same development time. Bonus!

I like the long time shutter dial of M5. I don't know why they eliminated it with M6 and on.

re: M5s. I have a funny story. I walk in to Samy's Camera in L.A. It's the biggest camera store in these parts. I go up to the Leica area to get a lens cap for my IIIc. There is a used M5 sitting there. I ask to see it. The salesperson says: "Why? It is a useless camera." I laughed in his face and said "Cameras aren't useless. Only photographers." To his credit, he lightened up and let me see the camera.

Personally, I think the M5 would be a very useful camera for much of what I shoot. I just don't understand why, since they are so "hated", that they cost more than an M2, M3, or M4, which people rave about.

Congrats on your camera. Use it and use it well (so I am not proven wrong by the weirdo salesperson at Samy's!)

Personally, I think the M5 would be a very useful camera for much of what I shoot. I just don't understand why, since they are so "hated", that they cost more than an M2, M3, or M4, which people rave about.

The M5 has been the pariah of the line since it was introduced, and I guess its failure on the market put the company into deep stress. This is really weird, because it is a great camera. It was my entré into the Leica system during the '70's when it was new; a dealer lent me one for a month or so, and I immediately understood what a hungry monster it was. I had to settle for an M4, though, because I got a deal on it, and an M2, both of which I used heavily for editorial work. I'm back to the M5 now, although I use an M2 also.

It has not been my experience that the M5 costs more; seems to me the prices are still lower, quality for quality. My buddy at Glazer's (big camera store in Seattle) confirmed this a couple of months ago when I asked; he's their Leica guy. The prices used to be ridiculously low, but they've come up. I think that more people are beginning to catch on to what a superb camera it is. The objections people have to it seem to center on its weight and shape. True, the other design -- M2, 3, 4, 6, etc. -- is delightful, but I don't mind the more boxy shape. The meter and the superb mechanical shutter system are as good as it gets.

I would suspect that eventually, the M5 WILL cost more, since fewer were made due to its short production life.

If I come into a pile of money, I'll be looking for a second M5 body.