Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2010/02/26
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]When I wrote 'much-deplored' (I have to rein in my hyperboles), I meant at the time of the M5's release and active life thereafter, in so far as (I've read) it was not liked or reviewed well, M enthusiasts resisted the new silhouette and extra weight, and Leica almost went under. Their reaction was to kill the popular CL which is a dubious strategic response but we give thanks the company endured and now Audrey Tautou's flashing that M9 in the Chanel ad, not to mention other subsequent M triumphs. And we old CL enthusiasts have Panasonic to comfort us. Thanks for the good cameraquest article. V On Fri, Feb 26, 2010 at 12:42 PM, Mark Rabiner <mark at rabinergroup.com>wrote: > > Hello Vince, > > > > I have a M5 and love the camera. It has been recalibrated to use > > modern batteries and works perfectly. It's a little heavier then the > > other M bodies and a couple lenses can't be used because of > > interference with the swing up meter. But it handles very nicely and > > is one of my favorites. If my memory serves me right I think Richard > > Man had one as well. I'm also sure some of the collector's in the > > group have one. I have never heard it described as much deplored even > > though it was not popular when first released. > > > > Len > > An M9 makes for a great support system for a Noctilux . > A shot a roll of film with a Noctilux on an M5 that was Sat, Oct 7, 2000 at > the LHSA Boston meeting in the evening. Took me 45 minutes. > The m5 had a wider focusing base than any other camera making it the more > accurate focusing camera made by Leica. And balances with the nicely used > extra weight perfectly with a Noctilux on the front of it. The Noctilux of > course benefits from the added accuracy of focusing. > I got the snapshots back the next day. > I shot the roll in a dark restaurant. > I missed my focus about never. Maybe 2 or 3 out of the 36 shots. > Wow as I sold on the camera body and lens both. > I got my lens eleven months later. > But have never gotten an M5 yet. > And probably will never get one as film has little nostalgia for me. > But a Noctilux can be used on an M9 made today. > All 50 milliliters of it. > > F 1 and be there! > Or F .95 and be there! > > Yes the M5 almost did Leica in. > No it is not nothing less then an excellent shooting platform. > Its just not small and light. > Its not a Barnack > But then either is an M6. > > You want small and light Barnacklike get an IIIF. > > [Rabs] > Mark William Rabiner > > > > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >