leica ron Posted September 18, 2006 Share Posted September 18, 2006 Hey guys, Does anybody know about any long-term problems with the M5 ? A few months ago I bought a recently CLA'd M5 (the CLA was by Sherry) and so far no issues, except for the odd stiff wind-on. This weekend, I heard about a spool in the M5 which costs over 300 bucks to replace and each wind-on takes you closer to failure ... Any ideas ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vick_ko Posted September 18, 2006 Share Posted September 18, 2006 Stiff wind on? A "Sherry CLA'ed M5" shouldn't exhibit that. Yes, there was a redesign of the shutter spool at 134xxxx and beyond. If the spool fails, it's a pain to replace. You know that the battery is obsolete, and you either have the battery adjusted to the new batteries, or buy illegal batteries. I can't think of other weaknesses. ...Vick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alan_wilder1 Posted September 18, 2006 Share Posted September 18, 2006 Talk to Sherry about the "stiff wind-on". Other than the battery issue, the only potential problem involves meter inacurracy due to aging of the CdS cell, especially if it's the original cell that came with the camera. Sherry has a reputation as being a top M5 tech so she might have replaced parts to bring everything up to date and you've got nothing to fear. I'd call her and ask since she last worked on the camera. Mechanically, the camera should last as long as film is made and then some. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leica ron Posted September 18, 2006 Author Share Posted September 18, 2006 I spoke with Sherry and now have my confidence back in my M5. The problem I had heard about was on initial models (s/n 128xxxx - 129xxxx) and was related to a cracked main-roller. As for the occasionally 'stiff' wind-on, that's more likely to do with me mis-loading the roll of film ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vinay_patel Posted September 18, 2006 Share Posted September 18, 2006 You beat me to the point, I was going to say that Sherry favours the M5 and if she CLAd yours it should purr like a kitten. Her SOP with the M5 is to update with the final version of whatever parts were issued. What you should be aware of though is that unlike the M4 and M6, the M5 spool comes out like the M2/M3 and so has been known to get misplaced, and they are not (I wouldn't imagine) cheap to replace. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter_white2 Posted September 18, 2006 Share Posted September 18, 2006 You don't need to have the camera modified and you don't need to use illegal batteries. Get the C.R.I.S. adapter and use a silver oxide battery in it. Your camera and meter will work perfectly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tito sobrinho Posted September 18, 2006 Share Posted September 18, 2006 I'm glad that my M5 has a body number above 129xxx. Vinay, my M5 take up spool does not come out a la M3, M2, but works like my M4. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cd_k Posted September 18, 2006 Share Posted September 18, 2006 Don: If you compare the winding feel of M5 to classical M, the M5 does not wind as smooth as classical M, partly because the M5 needs to trigger the meter arm during the wind. This is just part of the mechanism of M5 and you shouldn't worry too much. I have been using a M5 with late serial number, CLAed by Sherry, for the past ten years. No problems. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
runkel Posted September 18, 2006 Share Posted September 18, 2006 Tito, there is a "knurled lifter" in the center of the M5 take-up spool that enables you to remove the spool in order to return it to the orientation shown in the loading diagram (sometimes it gets a little off). If you turn the camera upside down with the bottom plate removed, the lifter will drop down to a postion where it is eay to grasp. The only reason you would ever remove the spool is to reorient it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tito sobrinho Posted September 19, 2006 Share Posted September 19, 2006 Matthew thanks! The M5 was a gift from my wife in 1975 and I forgot about this feature as I don't use the camera for the past 10 years. Shame! Shame! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ronald_moravec1 Posted September 19, 2006 Share Posted September 19, 2006 The take up spool does pull out. If have a brand new one on my desk and no M5 for it. Never opened original package. It is for sale. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tony_salce Posted September 19, 2006 Share Posted September 19, 2006 The best M5's are those with the serial number above 134.... Any below that number can be afflicted with the cracked main roller ( an expensive repair ). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ed_schwartzreich Posted September 19, 2006 Share Posted September 19, 2006 I have used the removable take-up spool in my M5 many times, when I was shooting a short sequence for publication, and idn't want to sacrifice a whole roll of film. It is easy to remove the film in the darkroom with both spools attached, and then cut it off. Ed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vincenzo_maielli Posted September 19, 2006 Share Posted September 19, 2006 Hi, Ron. The Leica M5 it's a real masterpiece, with wonderful and reliable exposure meter system. The last year i acquired one model with three lug straps (form 1974) in very near mint condition: work very fine and perfectly. For the battery replacement, i use an MR-9 adapter. Ciao. Vincenzo Maielli Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leica ron Posted September 20, 2006 Author Share Posted September 20, 2006 Luckily, Sherry converted the M5 to accept 'legal' batteries :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lol1 Posted September 21, 2006 Share Posted September 21, 2006 >You know that the battery is obsolete, and you either have the battery >adjusted to the new batteries, or buy illegal batteries Or you can buy the equivalent Wein cell at B&H, which is a direct replacement for the original mercury cell (v1.35). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john_newell2 Posted September 21, 2006 Share Posted September 21, 2006 The M5 will probably outlast the greater of (1) our natural lives and (2) the availability of film. It was the last generation of M built by the skilled elves in Wetzlar who spent 25 years or so honing their skills. (I am not being facetious.) I use Wein cells very happily in my M5 and get very good life out of them. I gather they do less well in dry climates, but here in Massachusetts they seem to have a very reasonable service life. In many ways, the M5 might be the best user M, or at least one of the best, but there is that funny thing - it _feels_ different than the other classic Ms, which (maybe from decades of use) still feel more natural to me than anything else. Oh well - it is a fabulous camera. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tony_salce Posted September 22, 2006 Share Posted September 22, 2006 Agree emphatically with John Newell. It is the best user M. I have two M5's, one black, one chrome.I would not consider parting with either. The best batteries to use are clearly the 1.35volt mercury batteries. I would hesitate to the meter recalibrated to accept legal batteries because of the MR 9 adapter and the wein cells. The meter works best when calibrated to the original 1.35 volt. Best, Tony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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