I own one, bought at a lower-than-market price from a friend who's saving to buy a car, and I've been using it with my LTM glass (specifically the 45mm f2.8 and 50mm f2 Super Rokkors, and the "Japanese Summilux" Canon 50mm f1.4, alongside the Industar-61 L/D 55mm f2.8) fitted with an LTM-M mount adapter. And honestly, this setup has served me well and has taught me the beauty of the M system - without giving in to the fad of the M system. Additionally, the M5 is not a camera that you choose to use, the M5 is a camera that chooses you to use it, and to those it chooses, it blesses them with a unique M shooting experience that's never replicated anymore: easy shutter wheel access, a center-the-needle exposure indicator, well-balanced size (allows for use of heavier lenses without upsetting the camera's center of gravity), and lower-then-usual price due to low demand. Howver should you buy or use one, know that it is the hardest M camera to be maintained: its parts are rare candies and only a few repair facilities accept to repair the body. Nonetheless, being the last camera built using the adjust-and-fit method of construction, the M5 is a sturdy body that demands to be used and loved for years to come.
Very well said. Although I’m not sure I agree about Leica glass being a “fad”. I have a 35mm Summaron from the 1950’s LTM with M adapter that is very inexpensive and is amazing. Agree with the Canon 1.4 statement. Love my Leica 35 Summicron, 50 Summilux and Leica 21 Super Elmar
@@KirkWilliamsonphotographyAhhh, I was referring to the "fad" of just choosing the M3, M2, M4, and M6 as one's Leica M bodies of choice. As with lenses, I'm with you on rather using LTM lenses rather than the M-mount lenses for my M5 (allows flexibility of use, given that I also use a IIIf) and lower price (despite the need for another purchase for a correct LTM-M mount adapter).
@@KirkWilliamsonphotography it’s lovely. I’m looking forward to seeing your content with it. I’m currently developing some rolls of fp4 and hp5 off my iiif from a recent trip to Vienna. It was my only functional camera 🤣
I just picked up a M5 a few weeks ago and love it. I upgraded from a M3 because I wanted the in body light meter. I have a shoe mounted meter but I couldn't stand how it looks on the gorgeous leica bodies.
Yes the M meter does take away from the look of M cameras. That’s why I use the Pocket Lightmeter app for my phone. Serves the same purpose but you can save a log of your settings even a note along with a photo all in the same file.
Kirk, another nice video. I look forward to your vids, i have quit following most of my channels as they have turned into nothing but drone and hiking videos, with a couple minutes of photography. Please stay with it.
I just started at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism, this is a great look into a work flow. I also acquired a M5 earlier last year. I have the same version as you have. I went back to film when I was in junior college a few years back and I really love the whole process, I also have converted several of my peers into film addict's so I guess one could blame me for a few cents of the rise in price of film recently. But I also tend to find and shoot expired film quite a bit. Some frames look great, some look like Pollock used them as a reference. Glad I found your channel.
Glad to here that you have an M5. I actually love the size and the results I get from it. I have so much expired film sitting in the fridge why not use it.
Very nice mate, I totally freaked out thinking my M5 light meter had gone kaput but hand advice from Don at DAG suggested I use a pencil eraser to clean the battery contact, and thank goodness it worked ❤
If you can get past the non-traditional M-series body shape/size, this is the best M-series Leica ever made - features and built quality. Like you mentioned, finding a good repair service can be a problem, and Sherry Golden Touch and Don DAG are the only people I would trust for working on them.
Thanks for your video Kirk! I agree with you that film photography gives that unspoken experience. Would you say that using the M5 gives that extra 'feeling' and satisfaction because of its unique features like large shutter dial and metering? I'm eyeing the m5 too!
The difference with this camera is that it's bigger and easier to hold - along with the larger shutter speed dial. It's a joy to use. Just be careful buying one. If you find it at a camera store see if you can find out the maintenance history. Like a recent CLA.
Hi Kirk, Vey interesting video and so happy to see you using your dad's camera after it's been fixed correctly after all these years! I'd like to see a comparison photo(s) between the Leica M5 and a Fuji X-T5 or X-T4. As far as I'm concerned, I'm sticking with my Fuji X-T4 with a 16-80F4 zoom lens. I bet your dad is looking down at you with a great big smile!! 😀
Thank you Fairstamp for bearing with me. I wanted to do something different. I know my Dad is looking down saying I’m so glad he is using my gear and not selling it for quick cash. I hope to do some shooting with both cameras. Probably with the 23 f2 on the Fuji and the 35 f2 on the Leica just to try and make things equal kind of. If I can nail down a film recipe for the Fuji that simulates Portra that would be fun.
Great video, thanks for posting. I have been using the Nikon ES2 film digitizing adapter on my D780 for almost two years. I have digitized several thousand Kodachrome slides from the 1980s. I will be working on my film negatives next. I have purchased some film recently and will hopefully be exposing some new images to digitize. I will have my film developed, but I'll digitize the negatives myself with the D780. I feel my negatives are a permanent record. All of my photos of my grandchildren are digital and I worry about the permanence of this. I plan on shooting some film portraits of them soon. My Kodachrome slides are a permanent record of my children growing up between 1984 and 2007. I don't have this for my grandchildren. I know of several instances recently where some families lost 10 years worth of digital family photos due to improper cloud or hard drive storage or other issues. Several museum curators have recently commented that digital photography may cause us to lose 40 years or more of history because of storage issues. I may go back to film for my landscape work as well. I like having those negatives, being able to improve them in lightroom and print them on my Canon pro 300 is a great option. I think in many ways the limitations of film are actually a good thing. Love your channel.
Keith great stuff! A friend of mine is going to start digitizing with a Phase One. When he gets it set up I’m going to run my most important negs and slides through it. BUT I’m also going to print my best digital work onto 8.5x11 archival paper and store them away in light tight archival boxes. They should be good for about 100 years.
@@KirkWilliamsonphotography Great idea for long term storage of digital prints. I just bought some Moab juniper Baryta to make prints from my GFX50R. However I'm still waiting for my moonrise over Hernandez moment. Hopefully I'll get it right.
Only Leica I would ever buy, but prices in the last 2 years got really high…great camera doesn’t deserve the hate it gets….can you hit up your Fuji contacts and ask when the new x100v is coming? 🙏😅
Kirk, many thanks for this helpful video! Just one question on the battery: I likewise cannot fit the 1.5 V Varta battery (typ V625U/LR9) into it. The screw does not close. Which other manufacturer did you eventually find that makes 1.5 V batteries that fit? Greetings from Germany! Tim
My dad couldn't afford Leica back then. So he bought Kodak Retina IIc in 1954., on which I learned photography as a kid. Sadly, that camera isn't working anymore, course I can't find anybody who can fix it properly in my country...
I had a chance to use a Kodak Retina lla which my Dad repaired for a friend. It was a great rangefinder version to use. Those Retina’s were made in Germany to close tolerances.
Sherri fixed my Leica M5 - replaced the mercury battery and a total clean up. She did a fabulous job. Sherri "loves" the M5!!!!
I guess my only issue with Sherri was that I can't get the battery cover on. I need to find shorter batteries.
I own one, bought at a lower-than-market price from a friend who's saving to buy a car, and I've been using it with my LTM glass (specifically the 45mm f2.8 and 50mm f2 Super Rokkors, and the "Japanese Summilux" Canon 50mm f1.4, alongside the Industar-61 L/D 55mm f2.8) fitted with an LTM-M mount adapter. And honestly, this setup has served me well and has taught me the beauty of the M system - without giving in to the fad of the M system.
Additionally, the M5 is not a camera that you choose to use, the M5 is a camera that chooses you to use it, and to those it chooses, it blesses them with a unique M shooting experience that's never replicated anymore: easy shutter wheel access, a center-the-needle exposure indicator, well-balanced size (allows for use of heavier lenses without upsetting the camera's center of gravity), and lower-then-usual price due to low demand.
Howver should you buy or use one, know that it is the hardest M camera to be maintained: its parts are rare candies and only a few repair facilities accept to repair the body. Nonetheless, being the last camera built using the adjust-and-fit method of construction, the M5 is a sturdy body that demands to be used and loved for years to come.
Very well said. Although I’m not sure I agree about Leica glass being a “fad”. I have a 35mm Summaron from the 1950’s LTM with M adapter that is very inexpensive and is amazing. Agree with the Canon 1.4 statement. Love my Leica 35 Summicron, 50 Summilux and Leica 21 Super Elmar
@@KirkWilliamsonphotographyAhhh, I was referring to the "fad" of just choosing the M3, M2, M4, and M6 as one's Leica M bodies of choice. As with lenses, I'm with you on rather using LTM lenses rather than the M-mount lenses for my M5 (allows flexibility of use, given that I also use a IIIf) and lower price (despite the need for another purchase for a correct LTM-M mount adapter).
Kirk I love these m5 videos. How special that you got that from your father. That is wonderful. Glad you got it all serviced up. I loved this. Cheers
Thanks Colin. I used this camera every day for about 4 years. It’s in great shape now. Can’t wait to shoot some more film with it.
@@KirkWilliamsonphotography it’s lovely. I’m looking forward to seeing your content with it. I’m currently developing some rolls of fp4 and hp5 off my iiif from a recent trip to Vienna. It was my only functional camera 🤣
I just picked up a M5 a few weeks ago and love it. I upgraded from a M3 because I wanted the in body light meter. I have a shoe mounted meter but I couldn't stand how it looks on the gorgeous leica bodies.
Yes the M meter does take away from the look of M cameras. That’s why I use the Pocket Lightmeter app for my phone. Serves the same purpose but you can save a log of your settings even a note along with a photo all in the same file.
Such a good story here, i own an M6 but ALWAYS loved the M5, You sent it to the right person Sherry is THE BEST! Thank you for this video.
Thanks she did an awesome job on the M5
Kirk, another nice video. I look forward to your vids, i have quit following most of my channels as they have turned into nothing but drone and hiking videos, with a couple minutes of photography. Please stay with it.
Many thanks Scott. I’ll do my best. I’ll be doing some film shooting along with the digital mixing in the Leica along with Fuji.
Great video!! I love my M5, I also had it CLA’d by Sherry about a year ago, she did an excellent job!
Thanks Ariel. She tracked down the problem the other guy created!
I just started at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism, this is a great look into a work flow. I also acquired a M5 earlier last year. I have the same version as you have. I went back to film when I was in junior college a few years back and I really love the whole process, I also have converted several of my peers into film addict's so I guess one could blame me for a few cents of the rise in price of film recently. But I also tend to find and shoot expired film quite a bit. Some frames look great, some look like Pollock used them as a reference. Glad I found your channel.
Glad to here that you have an M5. I actually love the size and the results I get from it. I have so much expired film sitting in the fridge why not use it.
Very nice mate, I totally freaked out thinking my M5 light meter had gone kaput but hand advice from Don at DAG suggested I use a pencil eraser to clean the battery contact, and thank goodness it worked ❤
I’m glad the battery compartment is still working
Interesting video as always Kirk. Look forward to seeing those new Fuji film simulations 👍
I can’t wait to see how they come out and if it’s a real exercise in futility. Should be fun non the less.
If you can get past the non-traditional M-series body shape/size, this is the best M-series Leica ever made - features and built quality. Like you mentioned, finding a good repair service can be a problem, and Sherry Golden Touch and Don DAG are the only people I would trust for working on them.
Absolutely Don. I loved working with this camera every day. Now it’s a pleasure to get out and use.
Wish I got one of these when they were still mildly affordable, really like the design of the M5
I’m glad my Dad left it to me. It’s a great camera and it’s not like what everyone else has. Ie M6
Thanks for your video Kirk! I agree with you that film photography gives that unspoken experience. Would you say that using the M5 gives that extra 'feeling' and satisfaction because of its unique features like large shutter dial and metering? I'm eyeing the m5 too!
The difference with this camera is that it's bigger and easier to hold - along with the larger shutter speed dial. It's a joy to use. Just be careful buying one. If you find it at a camera store see if you can find out the maintenance history. Like a recent CLA.
Looking forward to seeing how you get on Kirk.
Neville it will be fun working with the camera and the X-T5 trying to figure out some recipes.
Hi Kirk, Vey interesting video and so happy to see you using your dad's camera after it's been fixed correctly after all these years! I'd like to see a comparison photo(s) between the Leica M5 and a Fuji X-T5 or X-T4. As far as I'm concerned, I'm sticking with my Fuji X-T4 with a 16-80F4 zoom lens. I bet your dad is looking down at you with a great big smile!! 😀
Thank you Fairstamp for bearing with me. I wanted to do something different. I know my Dad is looking down saying I’m so glad he is using my gear and not selling it for quick cash. I hope to do some shooting with both cameras. Probably with the 23 f2 on the Fuji and the 35 f2 on the Leica just to try and make things equal kind of. If I can nail down a film recipe for the Fuji that simulates Portra that would be fun.
Great video, thanks for posting. I have been using the Nikon ES2 film digitizing adapter on my D780 for almost two years. I have digitized several thousand Kodachrome slides from the 1980s. I will be working on my film negatives next. I have purchased some film recently and will hopefully be exposing some new images to digitize. I will have my film developed, but I'll digitize the negatives myself with the D780. I feel my negatives are a permanent record. All of my photos of my grandchildren are digital and I worry about the permanence of this. I plan on shooting some film portraits of them soon. My Kodachrome slides are a permanent record of my children growing up between 1984 and 2007. I don't have this for my grandchildren. I know of several instances recently where some families lost 10 years worth of digital family photos due to improper cloud or hard drive storage or other issues. Several museum curators have recently commented that digital photography may cause us to lose 40 years or more of history because of storage issues. I may go back to film for my landscape work as well. I like having those negatives, being able to improve them in lightroom and print them on my Canon pro 300 is a great option. I think in many ways the limitations of film are actually a good thing. Love your channel.
Keith great stuff! A friend of mine is going to start digitizing with a Phase One. When he gets it set up I’m going to run my most important negs and slides through it. BUT I’m also going to print my best digital work onto 8.5x11 archival paper and store them away in light tight archival boxes. They should be good for about 100 years.
@@KirkWilliamsonphotography Great idea for long term storage of digital prints. I just bought some Moab juniper Baryta to make prints from my GFX50R. However I'm still waiting for my moonrise over Hernandez moment. Hopefully I'll get it right.
Only Leica I would ever buy, but prices in the last 2 years got really high…great camera doesn’t deserve the hate it gets….can you hit up your Fuji contacts and ask when the new x100v is coming? 🙏😅
My Fuji contacts never open their mouths about new gear. Yes the M5 does not deserve the hate it gets. It fits in my hand better than the M3 does.
Kirk, many thanks for this helpful video! Just one question on the battery: I likewise cannot fit the 1.5 V Varta battery (typ V625U/LR9) into it. The screw does not close. Which other manufacturer did you eventually find that makes 1.5 V batteries that fit? Greetings from Germany! Tim
Tim I used a px625 I just got one to fit but the battery was dead. So I have to get more. Weird I was just playing with it just now.
M5 better than M6 and M7 to me provide the meter is working . Sold all my M film cameras but not the M5 and still working 100%
Love the M5! I need to shoot with it more.
Good foto!
Many thanks!
My dad couldn't afford Leica back then. So he bought Kodak Retina IIc in 1954., on which I learned photography as a kid. Sadly, that camera isn't working anymore, course I can't find anybody who can fix it properly in my country...
I had a chance to use a Kodak Retina lla which my Dad repaired for a friend. It was a great rangefinder version to use. Those Retina’s were made in Germany to close tolerances.
I agree that Sherry is great for fixing Leica's. However, she is extremely difficult to get a hold of.
I had no trouble getting ahold of her by email and then by phone.
you can get fixed all leicas in the company leica... :-)
Thanks for that information!