LEICAPHOTOGRAPHY

Leica Photography is published by E. Leitz,Ine., Rockleigh, New Jersey for Leica own-ers and Leica Dealers in the United Statesand its possessions. Purchasers of newequipment who send in a registration cardto permanently register the equiprnent, asa protection against 1055 and to obtain aguarantee, will autornaticallv receive a freesubscription. Other Leica owners rnay ob-tain a free subscription by writing LeicaPhotography, E. Leitz, Ine., Rockleigh, ewJersey 07647. Leica Photography has no setschedule regarcling either time or fre-quency of appearance in a given year. Wereserve rhe right to terminate all free sub-scriptions at any time, and publish as fewor as many issues as we choose in anygiven year.

LEICAPHOTOGRAPHYVolume25 Number 1 1972

EDITORIAL BOARDHelen Wright

Eugene C. AndereggWilliam H. Mann

CONTENTS

LEICA M5Geoffrey Crawley FRPS, DGPh . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 4

SAFARI WITH THE LElCAFLEXErnst Haas 13

FOCUSING ONleica Historical SocietyNew BooksArizona leica Club 18

Reprovit 11Color Slide CoursesSlide Duplicator .............•....•................. 19

The lollowing are regisieret! treclemerks:

BINDOMATiIIClNOVID®CLASSIMAT®COLORPlAN®DYGO iIIE. LEITZ, I C.iIIE. lE ITZ, WETZlARiIIElCANiIIElMARElMARITiIIrOCOSlIDE®HEKTOR®lEICA®lEICAFlEXiIIlEICA-METER®

NEW LENS, EW OUTLOOKFrank D. Grande 20lEICA PIIO'IOGRAPHyiII

lEICINA®lEITZ®ORTHOlUX®PANPIIOl®PERrlEKTOt\ \ETERiIIPRADOVIT®REPROVITiIISI,\lPlEX"SU \,\lARO, ~SUM,\-IICRON'"SUMMllUX~TERICA ®TRI OVID®VISOFlEXiII

NEW PRODUCTSSeries VII Polarizing FilterCanvas Carry Allleicina Super RT 1 22

Pradovit TAExtension Tube for Long-Focus lenses60mm Macro-Elmarit-R f/2.8 23

NEW 60111111 MACRO-ELMARIT-R f/2.8David Douglas Duncan 24

The editors are happy to consider original articles on photog-raphy with the Leica and photographs taken with Leica carnerasand lenses. All manuscripts and photographs should be accom-paniecl by stamped, self-addressed return labels.

Copyright 1972 by E. Leitz, Ine. Printed in U.5.A.

The new M5 differs in size, shape, lay-out and, to some extent, operationfrom earlier M models, but the mainnew added feature is a through-the-lens exposure meter.General ConstructionThe M5 is 6.06 inches in length, 3.46inches in height and 1.30 inches inwidth. The weight is 24.7 oz. In com-parison with the M4 these dimensionsrepresent a .63 in. increase in length,a .47 in. increase in height. The M5weighs 3.53 oz. more than the M4, butif the Leicameter is clipped on to theM4 to provide a comparison, then theM5 is .88 oz. heavier than the M4. Infact the actual top plate of the M5 isonly some .16 in. higher than that ofthe earlier Ms' but the accessory shoeand film speed setting device are bothraised above the top plate level.

The height difference will explainthe gap between the Visoflex 111 fittingand the earl ier Ms to puzzled usersand which shows how long the M5basic shape has been established-al-though presumably the built-in meteralways envisaged, eventually becamea through-the-Iens meter. The quarter-deck has virtually disappeared andonly remains vestigially to accom-modate the shutter speed setting dial,which is thus flush with the remainderof the top plate.

The most noticeable difference isreally in the length of the camera andthis is the main reason for the apparentincrease in bulk.

The increase in body length is vir-tually entirely on the lefthand side ofthe camera. Itappears to be mostly dueto the incorporation of a built-in metersystem and the battery compartment.

A fundamental departure with thenew Leica involves the neckstrap at-tachment. From the beginning, 35mmcameras have been held by means ofeyelets on either side of the body. The

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LEICA M5A review byCeoffrey Crawley FRPS, OCPh

Condensed from The British Journal of Pholography

M5, however, has two heavy-duty straplugs both on the left side of the cam-era. The apertures are wide enough totake astrap just less than a '12 inch inwidth.

The first sight of a camera danglingsideways by one end over the shoulderor round the neck provides a negativereaction, but only very brief actual useis required to prove the logic of thenew arrangement. Most importantly,the right end of the camera is left com-pletely free of all impediments to thehand operating it. There is no pos-sibility of the lever-wind becomingentangled with the strap or the strapgetting in the way of any of your fin-gers. Photographers who festoonthemselves with a number of camerasmay find the arrangement less conve-nient, but this is a question of per-sonal preference.

The feet of the camera in the hand isentirely Leica-like and its controls workwith the same fluidity of engineeringexcellence that is the envy of othermanufacturers. The increase in lengthdoes not seem to be disconcerting, al-though earlier M models definitely feelsmaller when handled after the M5.

The M5 will be available in two fin-ishes: in the usual satin chrome and inblack chrome. It will be the first cam-era on the market to be available ina black chrome rather than an ano-dized black finish. Previous Leicamodels available in a black finish havebeen enamelled and after aperiod oftime this has worn off to reveal thebrass beneath. The black chrome onthe M5 is as tough and hard-wearingas the more familiar silver and satinchrome finishes, so the camera shouldretain its color indefinitely.

Finally, in connection with the gen-eral appearance, it is interesting tonote that the 50mm f/l.2 octilux,which rather over-powers an earlier

M body, looks just right on the M5.The 50mm f/2 Summicron looks a bitsmall, but the 50mm f/l.4 Summilux isprecisely in scale.Top plate controlsFrame counter. The frame counter hasbeen moved from close to forward onthe radius of the earlier Ms' right sideto the rear-or from 2 oclock to 5oclock. This may have been necessi-ta ted by the increased diameter of theshutter speed setting dial, but it is infact more conveniently placed here forreading. It is now topped by plainglass instead of the former condensorlens and the index pointer is now,more logically, on the operator's sideof the counter dial instead of above it,The counter dial remains indexed foreach frame with engraved numeralsfor the half decades. The frame coun-ter zeros when the baseplate hasbarely been eased up for removal.Lever-wind. Although the shank dif-fers slightly in profile, having a rathernarrower elbow, the lever-wind on theM5 can be regarded as virtually iden-tical to that on the M4. The camera iseasy to use by either left or right-eyedphotographers.Shutter release. This remains set in thehub of the lever-wind and is threadedfor standard taper-fitting cable release.There is little or no change in the feetof the shutter release button when de-pressed. However, there is a notablechange in the function of the shutterrelease which influences this opera-tion. This is because the initial travel ofthe release button swings the through-the-Iens meter-cell arm out of the op-tical path into a recess in the weil ofthe camera dark chamber. The shutterwill only fire after the cell arm hasmoved. For this reason, the shutter re-lease should not be pretensioned tomake an exposure while taking a meterreading.

The meter reading cell is returnedto the reading position as the lever-wind is cycled and this action alsoswitches on the meter.Shutter speed dia/. A major functionalchange on the MS is that the shutter-speed setting wheel is now co-axialwith the lever-wind and the shutterrelease button. With the earlier Ms, itwas located separately to the left nearthe accessory shoe and the clip-on ex-posure meters locked on to it. On theMS, the wheel, which has a finelymilled edge, is large in diameter, 1.06in., and projects over the forward edgeof the camera top-plate. It is only nec-essary to push the forefinger along theforward edge of the camera top-plateto operate the shutter speed settingand this is facilitated by the absenceof aneckstrap fitting on the right sideof the camera. The click stop wheelhas just the right tension and comes toa full stop at either end on the scale.

The numerals, owing to the largerdiameter setting wheel, are very legi-ble but the calibration is unconven-tional. The MS shutter is speeded 1/2 to1/1000 second and this range is cali-brated with click stops. After the 1/2

second, the dial is further calibratedwith a range of 'B' settings from 1 to30 seconds over which the settingwheel moves smoothly without clickstops. These settings act as a calculatorwhen taking a rneter reading on a sub-ject requiring a time exposure. Theshutter speed setting also appears atthe end of the match needle systemilluminated strip below the view-finder, as will be discussed later. Here,these lang exposures-1, 2, 4, 1S, 30seconds-also show, but are precededby the letter 'B'.Accessory shoe. The MS has an acces-sory shoe with a 'hot' or center contactflash fitting. Incidentally, the camera'sserial number appears on the right armof the accessory shoe fitting. An 'X' isengraved just forward of the accessoryshoe to remind the user that the cen-ter contact provides synchronizationfor this type for electronic flash, AG-1,AG-3 and flashcubes. The circuit forthis hot shoe fitting is independent ofthe other X contact-a standard 3 mmtype as on the M4-which lies with theM contact on the back of the camera.

The two contacts on the back of thecamera are now closer together, .39 in.

apart instead of .67 in. A great boonwill be the fact that the two contactcaps are now linked by a thin arm ofplastic, so that when one is removedit rernains attached to the other. Thisshould prevent the hitherto almost in-evitable lass of these small items.Film speed setting. The final feature onthe top-plate is the film speed settingdevice for the exposure meter. This isjust to the left of the accessory shoeand immediately forward of the filmplane index mark which has beenadded to the Leica with the MS. Thesetting is changed merely by turningthis wheel with the finger tip throughclick third stops against fair inertia.The DIN window has equal promin-ence on the left with the ASA windowon the right of the setting wheel andthe calibrations are bold and easilyread. The ASA settings are from 6-3200in click 113 stops indexed on the dou-bling series and the DI range is from9-36 in 113 stops. The setting mecha-nism is to be commended, because it islarge and easy to handle.The ShutterOn the MS shutter speeds are set onthe dial as described above and thespeed set is indicated at the extremeleft end of the illuminated match-needie strip along the bottom end ofthe viewfinder. The speeds availableare 1/2 to 1/1000 second. The omissionof the 1 second has enabled Leitz toimprove the shutter design and pro-vide an important new facility: overits range, settings are continuouslyvariable with exception of a small gapbetween 1/40 and 1/S0 second, thelatter is the X synchronization speedmarked by a dot, before the 1/60setting.

Meter needle and index pointer maybe accurately aligned for exposurepurposes either by moving the lensaperture ring or shutter speed settingdial. The 1 second setting will not begreatly missed and the advantage ofthe continuously variable shuttershould be considered an advantageoutweighing its lass. After the 1/2 sec-ond. the speed dial can be movedover the calibrated range 1-30 secondsin order to align the match-needle sys-tern, should the lighting conditions orthe lens aperture at which it is desiredto work require exposures of thislength. The shutter remains set on 'B'

over th is range. It must be remem-bered that these settings are meterreadings on/y and that reciprocity fai/-ure must be taken into account forexposures over this span. The materialof the shutter is the same rubberizedcloth used in earlier Leicas.BaseplateAs with all M Leicas, the MS remains abase-Ioading camera with removableback flap. The MS baseplate and itsfunctions are, however, quite differ-ent. It differs, naturally, in length andshape, following the body shape. Alsothe opening key is now at the rightend, as the camera is opera ted, andthe location occupied by the base un-locking key on the earlier M cameras,now houses the fold-away film rewindcrank.

Ta retain the same position for thetripod bush, .59 in. in from the rightend, it has been necessary to make thiscoaxial with the base-plate unlockingkey, and it appears to be very soundlyconstructed. The coaxial siting doeshowever remove one useful facility.Since Leicas are moored to a tripodor set-up bya bush at the right end ofthe baseplate, the left end usually pro-jects far enough to allow access to thebase unlocking key. Ta reload thecamera without disturbing its align-ment it has been possible to undo thiskey and ease the camera body off theright end of the baseplate, returning itafter reloading. Since the fold-awayrewind crank now occupies the forrnerlocation of the baseplate key, it is stillpossible to rewind the film with thecamera screwed to a support, but i trnust be removed to load in anotherfi Im.

t.eica \5 with 50ml11 Summilux f/l.4 lens.

The holders for the strap of theLcica MS are on onc siele.

The rewind crank is an extremely neatdevice, strongly built with a rotatingfinger grip on the crank and a 1:1 op-eration. A ratchet restricts the move-ment of the crank to the rewind direc-tion as soon as the crank handle isfolded out ready for use. When foldedaway, the assembly will revolve ineither direction so that correct filmtransport can be observed by watch-ing it turn. Were the camera to beused with an ordinary type ever-readycase, it would mean that the rewindcould not be cranked without removalof the camera from the case, nor couldturning of the rewind crank be ob-served as a check on film loading andtransport. As has been noted, thesefactors have been taken into accountby the drop-down design of the case.

There is one restriction encounteredwith the rewind crank mechanism onthe M5, however. 35mm camera usersare wont to check whether a film isloaded in by turning the rewind knobor crank anti-clockwise. This is lessconveniently done on the M5, becausethe rewind assembly has to be movedby the finger tips with the crank foldedaway, since it will only move clock-wise once the crank arm is unfolded.An arrow on the crank arm indicatesthe direction of turn Ior rewind.

Since the rewind crank shaft doesnot pull out-and such baseplate re-wind systems have an unpleasantknack of loosening their retainingsprings and hanging pathetically down

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after hard use-the key located in thecassette core to engage for rewind isspring loaded, so that it can slip intoplace if the cassette is offered in anincorrect attitude. Only cassettes witha key in the long end of the core-suchas have been standard for a few yearsnow-may be used.Film loading and transport

As already described, the M5, like itspredecessors, is a base-Ioading cam-era. The quick-threading feature onthe take-up spool is a compromise be-tween the M4 fixed fitting and the re-movable quick-thread spool madeavai lable for M3 and M2 cameras afterthe M4 appeared. This means that theM cameras have three different load-ing diagrams, in addition to the con-ventional one with the unconvertedM2 and M3s. With the quick-threadconversion on an M2 or M3, it is nec-essary to pull the conversion take-upspool out in order to zero the framecounter. On the M4, the counter zerosas the baseplate is removed; the M5has this feature, although the take-upspool is removable. It will, unlike theM4 type, take untongued leader,whichwill assist those who roll their ownfrom bulk. Obviously, the rearrange-ment of base key and rewind assemblymake the use of the Leica cassetteimpossible in the M5, as it already isin the Leicaflex. The removable take-up spool means that the user, shouldhe wish, can load the film in the con-ventional Leica way, inserting the filmleader in the take-up spool, stretchingit along the camera base, then drop-ping the take-up spool and feed-cassette into place.

The film register and tracking railsremain of the slim design favored byLeitz, the only significant differencebeing the omission of the upper track-ing rail above the picture gate area,although there is a small stud centeredin the gap.The two large studs at ei therend of the upper tracking rail foundon earlier Ms remain.

In general, take-up spool apart, theLeica user will find no difference inthe handling of the M5 as regards filmtransport. The lever which releases thetransport sprocket to enable the filmto be rewound is sited in the sameposition on the front right of the cam-era as on earlier M models, and is ofthe rectangular M4 design. Transport-

ing the film on the M5 retains theghost-like smoothness of that on ear-lier M cameras. This fact, combinedwith the retention of the shutter re-lease button travel smoothness-de-spite the use of its initial travel torecess the rneter cell arm in the cam-era dark chamber-gives the M5 pre-cisely the same feel as its M predeces-sors.Camera BackThere are three features on the M5carnera back, as on earlier models.Central on the inspection flap is a newfilm type reminder dial and-ratherremarkably-an exposure calculator.Since the assurnption is rnade that thebuilt-in rneter will have been set forthe speed of the film in use, it is nolonger necessary to incorporate a filmspeed reminder facility, and the cen-tral wheel in the calculator merely hassymbols for black and white, colornegative, daylight and artificial lightreversal color material types. The sur-rounding exposure calculator serves torernind the Leica user that, if the indi-cated exposure is 1/125 at f/8, he willalso gain correct exposure by usingthe settings 1/250 at f/5.6, or indeed,1/60 at 1/111 The airn is presumablypurely decorative and the only inter-esting point to note is that the scale iscalibrated for f/1.

The second feature on the carneraback is the two flash contacts alreadydescribed, now marked 'X' and 'M'.The old lightning flash and flash-bulbsyrnbols have been discontinued, sinceAG and flash-cubes require X synchro-nization, originally reserved for elec-tronic flash units.

The third feature on the back is theviewfinder ocular which is threadedto take the sarne eyesight correctionpieces as the earlier M models.ViewfinderThe M5 viewfinder is basically of theM4 type, giving a magnification ofO.7X and showing bright-line framesfor the 35mm, 50mm, 90mm and135mm lenses when they are insertedin the camera-the 35mm and 135mmfrarne are both visible simultaneously.The bright-line frames on all M modelsdefine very accurately the field of viewof the various lenses with automatteparallax compensation. They do not,however, take into account the changein image magnification as the lens is

The Leica M5 weighs less than an ounce more than the M4.

racked out to focus at subject distancestoward the nearer end of its focusingrange, an advantage of an SLR, pre-suming its viewfinder is accurate.

With the M3, the 13Smm bright-lineframe is of just sufficient apparent sizeto be a practical proposition, whileon the M4 and MS it truly is gettingtoo small to be of great value. Withthese cameras the 13Smm f/2.8 Elmarit,with the magnifying viewfinder attach-ment which makes the 90mm bright-line frame show the field of the 13Smmlens, is really desirable. The limits ofthe various bright-line frames are de-fined in the identical manner to thosein the M4, with the exception that, onthe MS with the 3Smm focal-Iengthbright-line frame, the line at the bot-tom of the finder has been omittedexcept for two short bars at either end.This has presumably been done to pre-vent confusion with the match-needlesystem that appears immediately be-lowit.

In addition to the M4 bright-line in-dications there are four white arcs sur-rounding the rangefinder patch thatindicate the field being mete red whenthe SOmm lens is on the camera. (Seeaccompanying illustration.) Theseshort arcs are very thin and do notinterfere with viewing; they indicatethe measuring field of the built-inthrough-the-Iens meter when theSOmm lens is attached to the cam-era. The super-imposed rangefinderspot is of the same color as in otherM models, but different in shape inthat the sides are now curved. If thesecurves are imagined to extend to com-plete a circ1e, this defined the through-the-Iens meter reading area with a90mm lens attached to the camera.This aspect of the MS, together with

the match-needle system visible alongthe bottom edge of the viewfinder,will be discussed in greater detailwhen dealing with the through-the-lens exposure meter.

Although the eyepiece on the MSviewfinder is identical in dimensionswith that in the M4, the mask is slightlylarger. This increase over the M4 is nodoubt incorporated to permit easierscanning of the match-needle expo-sure meter indication. Those who wearglasses will probably find it better, oreven for some individuals, necessary,to use the eyesight correction piecesrather than thei r glasses.

The MS range-viewfinder has beenconstructed like those on earlier Mmodels to make it unnecessary to cen-ter the eye in the exit pupil of the ocu-lar before the bright-line frames andthe rangefinder spot become fully vis-ible. This advantage has not, however,been extended to the visibility of thematch-needle and shutter speed indi-cating system along the lower edge ofthe viewfinder. This requires the eyeto be more or less central in the exitpupil of the ocular before reachingmaximum visibility.

The meter needle, the index mark,and the shutter speed indicator arein fact located at different distancesfrom the viewfinder ocular and an in-genious system of small prisms andoptical components has been neces-sary to bring them simultaneously insharp focus in the viewfinder. AI-though certainly simultaneously in fo-cus, their actual location in threeplanes introduces a parallax error,which can amount to ::::'12 stop or sobetween the meter needle and the in-dex pointer as the eye is moved ac rossthe viewfinder ocular. For this reason,

as weil as for visibility, it is best toalways center the eye when taking areading with the meter.

The RangefinderThe MS has an M2/M4 type range-finder. The base length of the M2/4/Srangefinders is 68.Smm although, sincetheir viewfinder magnification is 0.72X,the optically effective rangefinderbase length is just over 1.93 in. Withwide angle lenses, even with the muchimproved focusing screens which arenow available, the 3Smm single-Iens-reflex can only make a good guess ataccurate focus and rely on depth offield to cover up; whereas the coupledrangefinder camera maintains its ac-curacy and rapidity with such lnses.In addition, the design of wide anglelenses is complicated by the long back-focus required for the SLR. However,a through-the-Iens meter cell in thedarkchamber of the MS, as will be de-scribed later, restricts the amount ofrecess possible with very wide anglelenses which will now need to bemore retro-focus.The DarkehamberThe darkchamber in the MS is of iden-tical layout and overall dimensions tothe earlier M models. The rangefinderactuating cam at the top has the in-creased travel of that on the M4 sothat. for example, the new six elementSOmm f/2 Summicron, which canfocus down to 28 in, is rangefinder-coupled down to that distance. On theM3 it couples only down to 36 in,O.9m; although the stop arm on theM3 rangefinder cam can be modifiedto extend its coupling range.

The difference with the MS interioris that the arm carrying the meter ele-ment rises from a recess at the backwith a movement parallel to the focalplane shutter blind, coming to restcentered along the optical axis of thecamera against light-spring loading.The arm swings up into position as thecamera is wound on, and, at the sametime, the exposure meter battery isswitched on; the initial pressure on theshutter release button lowers the armand, as soon as it is recessed, continu-ing pressure releases the shutter. If alens is removed after the film has beenadvanced, the arm automatically re-cesses, to rise again into position asanother lens is inserted.

To effect this, a pin projects at 6

7

o'clock in the front of the camera weil,so that the lower bayonet tab of anyLeica lens will automatically actuateit as it is inserted into the camera. Thepin projects through a notch in thelower retaining spring on the cameralens flange.

The presence of the meter arm ele-ment 4mm in front of the shutter blindrestricts the depth to which lenses maybe recessed into the camera. The re-sulting limitation on compatibility ofcertain Leica lenses will be discussedlater. In fact, with very few exceptions,Leica screw and bayonet lenses can befitted.M5 Through-the-lens MeterThe light-sensitive CdS element rises,when the film is advanced and a lensis in position on the camera, aligningitself along the optical axis of thecamera at a distance of 8mm from thefilm plane. The meter element consistsof two intertwined CdS elements witha window diameter of about 8mm.This dual element is also used in theLeicaflex and results in the variation inthe resistance of the combined ele-ment remaining linear to the light in-tensity falling upon it, across its wholerange. The element is fronted by alight baffle consisting of a coiled watchhair-spring, the cxact purpose of whichwill be described later.

Meter read-out is displayed alongthe lower edge of the viewfinder. Anindex cursor moves at an angle alonga bright-line strip having a centralblack bar, to a position determined bythe speed of the film in use as set onthe device on the camera top-plateand influenced by the shutter speedset. The meter needle deflects alongthis bright bar and is normally broughtto intersect the cursor by adjusting thelens aperture. Alternatively, if theoperator wishes to work at adefiniteaperture, as often occurs, then this isset. and the cursor brought to inter-sect the meter needle by adjusting theshutter speed.

The M5 through-the-Iens meter thusoperates on what is usually termed the'stopped-down' system. Readings aretaken, that is, with the lens at the aper-ture which will be used when takingthe photograph. To incorporate asystem in which the reading is usuallytaken at full aperture would require anew range of lenses with automatic dia-phragms and a feeler system to tell the

8

meter in the camera body what aper-ture has been preset. This would entailall the extra size, weight, complexityand consequent increase in lens costfound with an SLR. The practical ob-jection to stopped-down reading withSLR cameras-the darkening of thefocusing screen when the reading istaken-naturally does not apply withthe direct vision viewfinder of acoupled rangefinder camera.

Another point is that the danger ofusing a CRF camera without removingthe lens cap does not apply with theM5, since, if it is not removed, themeter will not read.

In addition to the match-needlesystem described, circular symbols ateither end of the match-needle bar in-dicate whether the lens apertureshould be opened or closed, and theshutter speed set is displayed at theextreme left. Toward the right of thebright line is an index point to wh ichthe meter needle should deflect whenthe battery condition is checked.Meter SensitivityOn the M5, as the maximum apertureof the lens attached increases, so theamount of light available to the meterincreases, and the effective poor lightreading capability is raised in its turn.Thus with an f/2 lens inserted, the M5threshold point is 0.8 asb; with anf/1.4 lens inserted, the meter has athreshold point of 0.4 asb and, withthe f/l.2 octil ux, around 0.3 asb.

Taking the figure for an f/l.4 aper-ture, the M5 meter is about two stopsless sensitive than the majority of off-camera CdS meters; about four stopsless sensitive than the Gossen Lunasix;about two stops more sensitive thanthe clip-on Leicameter MR for M mod-els; three stops more sensitive than theLeicaflex SL. The criterion of f/l.4 has

Two CDS etements of different sensitivitygive more accurate response.

been used in the above comparisons,because it seems increasingly the prac-tice with SLR cameras with through-the-Iens metering for the manufactur-ers to regard an f/1.4 as the normallyfitted standard lens.

In practice, in ISO sensitivity terms,it means that the M5 with an f/l.4 lenscan read an exposure of 1 minute atf/8 on ASA100 film. This sensitivity, interms of ASA400 film gives a figure of15 seconds (that amount of light re-quiring one quarter the exposure onthe material of that speed) and withthe lens at f/l.4 the same th resholdlight level would require an exposureof '/2 second on ASA400 material. Thusthe poor light sensitivity of the M5meter with a lens at f/l.4 is reachedwith an exposure time of '/2 secendon ASA400 material. The thresholdsensitivity of the meter is fixed andthis is then expressecl in terms of dif-ferent shutter speeds, apertures andfilm speeds.

At the opposite end of the scale, inextreme bright light, another interest-ing point arises about which there maybe some confusion. For example, withthe M5, the maximum light level thatcan be read is around 100,000 asb-thelevel generally accepted as the maxi-rnurn possible reflected light value tob e encountered on earth. With astoppecl-down reading through-the-lens meter, the brightest light levelin which it will read is determined bythe smallest stop. In other words, un-der lighting conditions when, employ-ing the commonly used ASA100 filmspeed criterion, the M5 meter peakedwith a reading of 1/1000 at f/16, thenif the lens were capable of beingstopped to f/22, and the shutter re-mained at its fastest 1/1000 speed, themeter would be able to read 200,000asb and at f/32, 400,000 asb. Thisbrightness is two light values beyonclthe theoretical limit of reflected lightreadings on this earth, but could pre-sumably be reached in taking directreadings, say, of rocket exhausts, steelfurnaces and incandescent sourcesgenerally. This point naturally appliesto all through-the-Iens meters capableof stopped-down readings, referred ofcourse to their own particular meas-uring range peak and cross-couplingsystem.

The quoting of the measuring rangeof a through-the-Iens meter using the

stopped-down method in terms of therange of mechanical linkage betweenshutter speed and meter plus the aper-ture range of the lens in use has thefollowing practical importance: It isthe range of time/intensity reciprocalrelationships referred to film speedwhich determine the extent to whichthe sensitivity of a through-the-Iensmeter or clip-on external meter crosscoupled in this way can be exploitedat a given film speed setting. For ex-ample, using material rated at ASA400,the briefest exposure which can beread with a lens capable of beingstopped-down to f/16 will be twostops or light values below the peakbright-light sensitivity of the M5 meteror 25,000 asb. shutter set to 1/1000.This should be good enough for mostnormal purposes, but a lens capableof being stopped-down to f/32 wouldbe required in order to be able to readfrom the peak sensitivity value of10Q,000 asb. With material rated atASA800, the brightest conditions read-able at f/16 would be 12,500 asb, threestops below peak sensitivity, and f/45would be required to fully exploit themeter's sensitivity at that film speedsetting. Toward the other end of thescale, ASA25 material provides a peaksensitivity reading at 1/1000 at f/11with a threshold sensitivity at 4 sec-onds at f/2. As regards the M5, theimportant point is that any combi-nation of shutter speed lo which thecamera can be set and aperture towh ich the lens in use may be set can,under the appropriate lighting condi-tions, be read on the meter.

Reviews of cameras using exposuremeters reading through the lens in theJournal have often emphasized thefact that only measurements made inthe film plane or its geometrical equiv-alent are entirely problem free. Itwill already have been noted that themeter element in the M5 is located8mm in front of the film plane and,were other steps not taken, this factwould introduce meter reading incon-sistencies, especially with wide anglelenses. With a wide angle lens, theernerging light beam is more diver-gent as the focal length decreases inrelation to the format to be covered.Consequently a meter reading ele-rnent placed perhaps half way betweenfilm and lens, or nearer the lens eventhan that, is going to 'see' much rnore

of the oblique rays than it will withlonger focal-Iength lenses and theirincreasingly less divergent ernergingrays. With the really longer focal-length lenses on the 35mm forrnar, thewhole picture area is covered by raysapproaching the parallel.

In the Leicaflex this difficulty is over-come by using a secondary rni r ro rlooking through the reflex mirror andreflecting the image into a rneter-read-ing element in the bottom of the carn-era darkchamber, 50 located as to bein the geometrical equivalent of thefilm plane. In the M5, designers pre-sumably decided not to introduce anSLR condition by making use of a mir-or in this way. Instead they havechosen to compensate for this variancein illuminating beam divergence by aningenious device and one wh ich hadall the simplicity of true invention. Awatch-type hair-spring is coiled infront of the meter element. This hasthe effect of preventing some obliquerays from reaching the light-sensitiveelement, while allowing the rnore par-allel to pass. The rnore divergent therays the more they are hut off. Thisdoes not, however, present a corn-plete answer. for example, to the prob-lem of exit pupil variation at a givenaperture with lenses of different de-grees of telephoto and retrofocusconstruction. It is, however, a simplepractical solution at least as good asany of the o the r. sometimes mo recomplex, compensating methodswhich have been used with through-the-lens meters in single-Iens reflexcameras.

A mornent's thought will show thatthe nature of the M5 reading will varywith the focal length of the lens inuse. The Ion ger the focal length thernore closely defined wi 11 the area ofthe subject read become, and in factit will eventually approach a true spotreading. This is because, with the moreparallel emerging light beams fromsuch lenses and the greater depth offocus at the film plane, the meter win-dow will then actually be seeing a se-lected area of the subject, and thespring baffle will have little or no ef-fect. As focal length decreases, thebearn becomes more defocused whenit meets the meter element windowand the tendency for oblique rays,even in the presence of the coiled baf-fle, to have an i nfl uence on the meter

reading will increase. Under these con-ditions. as iocal length decreases, 50

the reaeling becomes more of whatwe have corne to know as a center-weighted reading. In other words, thecentral area of the subject will havethe major effect on the reaeling whilethe reflectance of the surroundingareas will modify this to sorne extent.

The M5 meter tends to provide thephotographer with the type of readingof rnost practical use with the focallength lens he has on the carnera. Withlonger focal-Iength lenses, the greatadvantage of the through-the-Iensmeter in being able to make a readingvirtually as a telescope is preserved.As the focal-Iength gets shorter 50 thewhole subject area tends to be inte-grated, but with the central area givenrnost significance. Importantly forthose who use the Leica in appliedphotography, it is a system whichworks very efficiently in photomacrog-raphy, for which the high sensitivityof the rneter anel the long ti me expo-sure calculating facility on the shutterspeed elial are also helpful. The WestGerman precision camera inelustry is50 often cri ticizeel for adhering to op-tical and engineering principles 50

rigorously as to impeele the workman-like aspects of their products, that weshould applaud the applicability of theM5 meter as a functional tool in prac-tical work.On TestThe use of a spiral stop to compensatefor the 8mm elifference between meterelernent window anel film plane madetests of its efficiency of especial inter-

9

est. The short answer is that it doeswork, and remarkably weil. In testing,ten Leica lenses were used from 28mm-the minimum focal length at presentavailable for the M5-to 135mm, of dif-fering maximum aperture at the samefocal lengths and of different con-struction, including the three standardlenses of 50mm f/1.2, f/1.4 and f/2maximum apertures. Readings werecross-checked at all apertures with thisrange of lenses at four different levelsof constant illumination. The resultwas an almost precise correspondenceof reading at a given aperture withfocal lengths from 50mm to 135mm.

Turning to the 35mm and 28mmwide-angle lenses, slight discrepancieswere noticed, but the maximum devi-ation at the apertures mostly used, thatis down to f/11, was -'12 stop.

The results of this testing were veryimpressive and, in consistency of read-ing, the M5 meter compared most fa-vorably with any other on the marketin the writer's experience.CalibrationHaving found that the M5 meter gives,within the limits described above, thesame reading, irrespective of lens fo-cal length or apertu re, from a givensurface brightness, the most importantpractical point is the nature of the cali-bration.

Tests indicate that the best methodto adopt with the MS meter is to re-gard it as giving what might be termedan inlegrated mid-tones reading. Thiscorresponds with the manufacturer'srccommendation to rcad off an areaof the subject containing neither deepshaelows or extreme highlights. Theysuggest that, in the majority of photo-graphs, the suitable area for reaelingwill be that useel to focus on, and thisworks weil on a surprisingly largenumber of occasions. Those accus-torned to taking shaelow reaelings forblack and white film will finel nega-tives somewhat over-exposeel if theyuse the M5 meter in this way. It is notwise to regarel this meter as giving aselecteel area reading in the sarne senseas the Leicaflex SL. Since the light-sen-sitive element is not in the film planeor its geometrical equivalent, despitethe compensation provided by the cut-ting off of oblique rays by the coileelspring baffle elescribeel, the light willbe defocuseel to varying elegrees acrossthe range of focal lengths with which

10

the meter is used. With the longer fo-cus lenses, beginning possibly with the13Smm lens at medium apertures andmore especially with the Telyts, theimage is sufficiently localized at themeter element winelow for a definableselecteel area to be read. As focallength shortens, however, so integra-tion of a larger area of subject suriacebrightness occurs and the user can beless sure of the exact limits of the read-ing. As indicated earlier, in actual prac-tical work, the M5 rneter readings veryrnuch match the normal requirementwith a given focal length of lens. Sothe solution it provides, although notan entirely scientific one, is certainly avery practical one. It provieles a varia-tion between selecteel area reaelingswith long focal-Iength lenses down tocenter-weighteel reaelings with wide-angle lenses. Over th is whole range oflenses, anel certainly until experiencehas been gained, a miel-tone areashou Id be used as the basis for reael-ing, or the range of readings over agiven subject observed and the meanthen set on the camera. There is noreason to regard the film speed towh ich the rneter is set as sacrosanctand, if the user wishes to take high-light or shadow readings consistently,he should adjust the film speed settingin accordance with his experience. Ingeneral terms it can be applied like anarrow angle-off-camera CdS meter.One of the pleasant aspects of the ad-dition of through-the-Iens metering10 the Leica is the ability to take areading of a brightly illuminated sub-ject from weil back in the shadow, orthrough a winelow, ete.Measuring fieldsWith the film plane equivalent mea-suring system in the Leicaflex SL, it ispossible to be specific as to the mea-suring field of the meter with everyIocal length of lens. It is indeed pos-sible to calculate the part of the angu-lar field of different focal length lenseson the 24x36mm frame occupied bythe rneter element window on the M5,but, due to the out-of-focus effect de-scribed above, this is not so meaning-ful. For practical purposes the meterfield with different focal-Iength lensesis referred to bright-line and other fea-tures in the viewfinder.

With a single lens reflex camera, itis only necessary to provide one indi-cation of the measuring area of the

th rough-the-Iens rneter on the focus-ing screen, for this will remain a con-stant, irrespective of what lens is fittedto the camera. The magnification givenby any lens becomes apparent on thefocusing screen. With the direct visionviewfinder on a coupled-rangefindercamera, however, this is not possible,since the angle of view corresponds tothe field of the widest angle lens ithas been designed to work with-onthe M5 the 35mm lens field-and theLeids for longer focal-Iength lenses areshown by bright-line frames decreas-ing in contained area as focal-Iengthincreases. Consequently the field ofthe MS through-the-Iens rneter seen inthe viewfinder also elecreases as thebright-line frames contain a smallerarea in the viewfinder.

The guide-lines suggested by Leitzfor the measuring field with differentlenses are as foliows: With a 28mmlens, the measuring fielel can be re-gardeel as contained approximately bythe 90mm lens bright-line frame-thisframe is automatically switcheel inwhen a 28mm lens is inserted in anM2, M4 or M5. A supplementary fineleris requireel to show the field of a 28mmlens with the Leica, although with theM2, 4 anel now 5, it is possible withexperience to angle the eye rounel theviewfineler eyepiece to bring in theIield outsiele the 3Smm frame anel gaina fair idea of what the 28mm lens willsee.

With a 3Smm lens, the suggesteelguiele is the 13Smm lens bright-lineframe which also is automaticallyswitched in when a 3Smm lens is at-tacheel to an M2, 4 or 5.

The four bright-line arcs surround-ing the rangefinder spot are joineelinto a circle to show the measuringfielel of the meter with a SOmm lens.

On an MS with a 90mm lens themeasuring field is defineel by thecurveel sides of the rangefineler spot.

With a 13Smm lens, the measuringfield indication is taken as the range-finder yellow spot itself.

This way of applying the M5 rneter-remembering to observe a fielelwithin a field eliffering with each focal-length lens-does rather complicatematters at first and detract from rapiduse of the camera; but, after a reason-ably short time, use becomes instinc-tive and the user is not worried by thefact that, with the exception of the

Total picture control center in viewfinder.

50mm and 90mm lenses, circularmeter fields are indicated by rectan-gles. It is the degree of deflection ofthe meter needle as areas of the sub-ject are brought to the center of theframe that is observed and intuitivelyacted upon.

The 28mm f/2.8 lens referred to inthese tests is the new retro-focus ver-sion of this lens, wh ich has now beenon the market for a year or so in anti-cipation of the M5, in which the pres-ence of the meter element arm re-stricts the degree of recess possible.Fuller details of lens compatibility willbe given later in this review. A retro-focus 21mm, presumably related tothat for the Leicaflex, is in preparationfor the M5, but it will naturally utilizea supplementary viewfinder to beplaced in the accessory shoe of thecamera.Optical CompatibilityThe Telyt long lenses cannot be usedon the Leica other than with the Viso-flex. In addition a 65mm f/3.5 Hrnaris available to bring the range of ap-plication with the Visoflex close tothat of the standard 50mm focal-Iengthlens. Users rnight have expected theM5 through-the-Iens rneter to haveleaped into its own with the Visoflexhousings, but alas, this cannot be so.A rnornent's thought indicates that,when the Visoflex rnirror is down and

the subject can be seen, then the mir-ror rnasks the light frorn the rneter ele-rnent. When the rnirror is raised out ofthe way, a reading can be taken butthere is no means-at least with a hand-held camera-of seeing what one isreading frorn. With the M5 fixed to atripod, readings becorne possible sincethe subject can be framed and the cen-ter circle on the Visoflex screen will,SLR fashion, show the rneter measur-ing field irrespective of focal-Iength oflens fitted. The area frorn which it isdesired to rnake the reading is cen-tered over this part of the screen andthe user then raises the rnirror, black-ing-out the Visoflex finder, and looksthrough the normal range-viewfindereyepiece on the carnera body to take ameter reading. The presence of theVisoflex will black out both the range-finder spot and the direct vision view-finder, but sufficient light will enterthe rne ter readout window, lappedinto the top plate on the carnera front,to enable the rneter reading to be takenand shutter speed or aperture adjustedto rnatch the needle. This sequence ofoperations is obviously quite irnprac-tical with the carnera hand-held, but atleast the meter rernains applicable inmany applied techniques which usea support.

Bayonet fitting Visoflex land Vi 50-flex 111 units can be used without fit-

ting difficulties on the M5, the rnodel111 having been constructed with pos-sible M5 dimensions in mind. TheVisoflex 11, however, is not recorn-rnended for the MS by Leitz. In fact,the 4X magnifier can be mounted. Themagnifier version of the Visoflex 111(16499) and the vertical magnifier(16461) are suitable. The Visoflex shut-ter release lever cannot be used as therelease button is in a different loca-tion on the M5.Copying EquipmentThe Leica M5 cannot be attached tothe various focusing slides and cannotbe used on the Reprovit. For use withthe copying gauges for quarto, octavoand postcard size in the screw threadand first bayonet versions this equip-rnent rnust be modified by Leitz be-fore the MS can be attached.Lenses Requiring AdaptationTo prevent the rne ter element armfrorn swinging up and interfering withthe rear section of wide-angle lenses,a recess has to be rnilled into the bayo-net with the following lenses. They canthen be used but. naturally, rneterreadings cannot be taken.o 21 rnrn f/4 Super-Angulon with

screw thread: only the bayonetadapter (Cat. o. 14097) has to bemodified.

o 21mm f/4 Super-Angulon with bay-onet rnount.

o 21 rnrn f/3.4 Super-Angulon withbayonet rnount.

o 28mm f/2.8 Elmarit with bayonetrnount, after Serial 0.2314920.

Recent production of the 28mm f/2.8Hmarit has been of a retro-focus de-sign so that after the serial numberquo te d above no adaptation is re-quirecJ and the lens will read with therneter.

Owing to the increased height ofthe MS, two lenses-the 35mm f/3.SSurnrnaron with detachable viewfinderfront attachment and the 50mm f/2close-focusing Sumrnicron - rnust bernodified to prevent mechanical inter-ference with the top of the carnera,The 35mm f/3.5 Summaren with de-tachable optical viewfinder, designedfor use with the M3 arid which has no35mm bright-line frame, will afterrnodification have the sarne effect inthe M5 viewfinder as in the M2 and4 viewfinders, with consequent lowmagnification, although the rneter willread.

11

Top plate 01 the Leica M5.

It should be noted that body capsmade for earlier M cameras may dam-age the meter element arm release pinif used on the MS. These can, how-ever, be modified by rounding off thetabs so that they push the pin gentlyas they are inserted and turned.

Collapsible LensesIf a collapsible Leica lens is used onthe MS and recessed, it will probablyseverely damage the meter and thecamera. If these lenses are to be usedwith the MS it is probably safest tocement them permanently in theextended position for safety's sake.

Other Lenses. Apart from the excep-tions listed above, all Leica lenseswhich can be used on M cameras-with a screw/bayonet adapter wherenecessary-can also be used on the MSwith full benefit of through-the-Iensexposure reading.With early uncoatedlenses there wi 11be the advan tage ofan actual transmission value readinghaving been taken, although suchlenses, excellent in their own time,cannot approach the performance ofthe latest designs.Lens FittingAs will have been appreciated, the lensflange o n the MS is dimensionallyidentical with that on the earlier Mcameras, although independentsources state that the construction has

12

been strengthened. A small differencein appearance is that the red dot,against which the red bead on the lensmount is aligned before insertion, isnow central in the bayonet releasebutton. This is a more logical site thanon the flange itself.M5-General ConclusionsWith this camera Leitz has put an ex-posure meter reading through-the-lens into a coupled-rangefinder cam-era. They have done so in a mannerwhich enables most Leica lenses madein the last 40 years, with four wide-angle exceptions, to use the meter.The difficulty of using this with theVisoflex housings is disappointing, butcould not have been avoided what-ever th rough-the-Iens system had beenused, since the mirror in the housingsis inevitably in the way. Nevertheless,with a new Visoflex, these difficultiescou Id be overcome and the Leica userpresented with a remarkable new fa-cility with lang focal-Iength lenses,narrowing the advantages of thesingle-Iens-reflex camera.

Without this facility with lang focal-length lenses and, taking into accountthe apparent rather than actual prob-lems of meter measuring field deline-ation, the MS may be taken by sameto have proved the case for the over-all practicality of the single-Iens-reflex. In fact the MS occupies a rather

curious crossroads position. Imaginingthat the Leicaflex had not al ready ap-peared, then many photographers,after using the MS, would regard thenext logical step by Leitz to be the in-troduction of an actual single-Iens-reflex camera with through-the-Iensmetering. However, the Leicaflex hasalready been with us for six years andthe problem is where the coupled-rangefinder camera can move next.The question whether it is possible tocombine reflex viewing and coupled-rangefinder in one camera must be leftopen. There may indeed be other al-ternatives. For example, man is a two-eyed animal who, when using a cam-era, becomes one-eyed. By making useof new viewing and focusing systemsemploying both eyes, a considerablenew range of possibilities can be im-agined, although this might mean de-signing cameras in which the viewing/focusing (bi-) oculars were along thebase of the camera, with the cameraback pressed against the forehead toprevent one's nase getting in the way.Barnack himself envisaged a cameraheld in this way to gain the rigid sup-port of the forehead along the cameraback. These speculations are some-what removed from the subject inhand, but with the MS Leitz seems tohave broken out of the goldfish bowlin which the M design had remainedfor a number of years-however satis-factory an end concept the M4 hasbeen-and this naturally leads to theo-rizing as to future possibilities.

Fundamentally then, the MS is atrue Leica camera and will be imme-diately recognized as such by everyLeica habitue. Professionally speaking,the Leica is mainly used with the rangeof lenses which the MS meter doesaccept, and in applied work the accu-racy and greatly increased facility forexposure reading will outweigh anyslowness in its use. It is a pity that thesize has increased towards that of anSLR camera, but the actual operationalease of the Leica has been consider-ably enhanced by the much irnprovedlayout of operational controls. Withthis camera Leitz has set coupled-rangefinder design and manufactureon a higher rung.

True, many of them are pros whocan't afford a less expensive cam-era. To them, a camera meansprecision, dependability, versatilityand the ability to give the kind ofday-in, day-out performance thatwould make any other shuttershudder.

This kind of camera can only bebuilt slowly, carefully. Before assembly, everyminute part must be tested and retested. The slight-est optical or mechanical imperfection meansimmediate rejection.

The most sophisticated eguipment, including lasertechniques, are used to measure tolerances-toler-ances far beyond those set by the industry.

To build this kind of camera takes time, takes specialskills, takes special people ... Leitz people who forgenerations have been designing and buildingmicroscopes that have helped scientists revolution-ize medicine.

,AME ICANS

will buy this"twice-as-expensive"

camera

"this little nick will never be noticed."Yes, we could do that and perhapsstill have a fine camera at a pricecompetitive with others, but thenit wouldn't be a Leica and we wouldlose 12,000 demanding customerswho believe and depend on theLeitz® tradition of non-compromis-ing excellence, and we're not about

to do that. 50 let your Franchised Leica Dealershow you the Ms and describe its features. He willshow why this is a pros camera that his nine-year-old daughter can operate. He will also show you whythe Leica is a bargain even at twice the price of other"expensive" 3Smm cameras.

Who knows, you may even walk out as number12,001.

Yes, we could cut a corner here and there, a minorconcession on "this" part and on "that" feature, and

1~® E. Leitz, Inc., Rockleigh, N.}. 07647 "'071

~~®