Leica M5

Leica M5

Leica M5 with 50 mm f/2 Summicron
Overview
Type	35 mm rangefinder camera
Lens
Lens	Interchangeable lens, Leica M-mount
Sensor/Medium
Film format	35 mm
Film size	36 mm x 24 mm
Film advance	Manual
Film rewind	Manual
Focusing
Focus modes	Split and superposed-image rangefinder
Exposure/Metering
Exposure modes	Manual (M), and Bulb (B)
Exposure metering	8 mm circular CDS cell
Metering modes	Spotmeter (TTL Metering)
Flash
Flash	X synchro hot-shoe with X synchro electronic flash and M synchro contacts
Flash synchronization	1/50s
Shutter
Shutter	Mechanically timed horizontal running cloth shutter
Shutter speed range	1/2 - 1/1000 seconds
Viewfinder
Viewfinder	Brightline frame viewfinder with automatic parallax-compensation
Viewfinder magnification	0.72x
General
Battery	625 mercury cell
Dimensions	155 mm × 84 mm × 36 mm (6.1 in × 3.3 in × 1.4 in)
Made in	Germany

The Leica M5 is a 35 mm camera by Leica Camera AG, introduced in 1971. It was the first Leica rangefinder camera to feature through-the-lens (TTL) metering and the last to be made entirely in Wetzlar by hand using the traditional "adjust and fit" method.

The M5 departed from the traditional silhouette of the Leica rangefinders, that had few changes since the M3 (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 (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.

Black Chrome 2-Lug M5 Griptac Cover

Black Chrome 2-Lug M5 Rear View with optional Astigmatic Diopter

The M5's optical rangefinder / viewfinder mechanism is based on the M4 (itself based on the Leica M2 (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),. No other magnifications are offered with this model. 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 (2003, in which Leica replaced a plastic viewfinder lens with a coated glass element to rectify the flare problem. Like the M4, the M5 viewfinder features bright-line frames for 35 mm, 50 mm, 90 mm, and 135 mm lenses. The 35 mm and 135 mm frames appear together as a pair. Uniquely, its viewfinder displays both 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).