Leica M5 Black Good condition 135 35 mm format film camera Location EU RARE

Description

THIS ITEM IS STILL AVAILABLE!
PLEASE CONTACT ME VIA EMAIL IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN BUYING THIS ITEM – THE POSTAGE CALCULATION IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY!!

Please see all photos for more info/guidance & make your own judgment on condition etc.

All photos shown are of the actual item/s you are buying & what you will receive.

+ + + THE ITEMS ARE LOCATED IN FINLAND (EU) + + +

NO CUSTOMS TAX AND NO VAT TO THE ITEM PRICE IF YOU ARE IN EU + + +

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MANY THANKS FOR LOOKING!

PLEASE CHECK OUT MY OTHER FILMS / CAMERAS / DARKROOM ITEMS FOR SALE,

MUCH MORE TO COME!

 

The year 2004 was quite busy for me indeed. January 30th I got my first Leica, M4P which was love at first sight. Two months later, as I had returned from Japan was going back to France for my art residency, I got my second (second-hand) Leica, a M5.

This Leica has a built-in light meter that runs on an old-type of battery. The model a bit larger then the other typical Leica models, which may be the reason it was only manufactured a short time: 1971 – 1975. I do agree with that Mr. Stephen Gandy that the M5 is a fine model. The bigger size means for me that it fits better to my hand than the M4P. As I had these two Leicas on a shoot / trip, I practically always kept both of the with, shooting with one black-and-white and the other slide, and guess what I used for light metering? ,)

No, you guessed wrong. I used the Gossen digisix, but I never really trusted it, and was always worried about the battery. So yes, I did also use the M5 for light metering. But I also used my Hasselblad X-Pan, and any other camera with a built-in meter I had with me. Complex? Yes, but this is the way I made great shots and spend my days of not writing this book of mine that I was supposed to in my art residency in Hotel Chevillion 2004 and while also not writing this other book of mine, which I did for the most of the time there (where I shouldn’t have been in the first place according to my professor) but was not supposed do according to the one who paid this art grant and had paid much more for my science work earlier years. Yes, I am still tired of that time, as I never slept because I also had to fix the (cheap) bicycles and computers in the residency with fewer tools than money that was almost none. :-/

But somehow I always managed more or less and the shots were ok by exposure. This is because the Leica M5 had such a good light meter (the best ever put in film Leicas), and I trusted mostly it at the end. So you were right after all, right? 🙂

If you think about shooting film nowadays, and you are a tech (= demanding quality) person, Leica is your number one choice. If you are looking for taking photos unnoticeable (hmm.. why would you do that..?), Leica is your choice. I remember, once as I was in the woods on private lands (you know, in Finland you can go everywhere, but in France where I was, they shoot you to kill, and ONLY AFTERWARDS they ask you what is your business?), beavers (the first and still ever first) there would not notice me lying on the ground with my Cambo 4×5″ standing 10 m away and me click click clicking my two Leicas.. so quiet.. If you search for a camera that needs no battery and works everywhere, guess what? Do I need to ask what is the camera mark that collectors value? Have you ever heard this: a true photographer uses real cameras, you know, those kind that eat film (and shit… what?). And.. ah, I rest my case. 🙂

This body / camera is still rather small, but no as such as those Rollei 35s, both of which I also have for sale. The Texas Leicas, which I also stock are then, again, yet another breed. Because here the lenses are removable (and separately sold), you can tune your camera perfectly for your specific needs. Just have enough pockets to keep all your stuff, if you go stealth all the way.

This is a rangefinder camera that means you need to focus manually the image using your eyes, matching the small images into parallel in the view finder. If you have bad vision and you want to use this camera for taking good shots, you should not buy this camera. If you love cameras, have money and are a collector, then perhaps. 😉 If I was a camera collector, I would never sell this camera, but as I am not and have now certifiably bad vision, so here you go, and I cry. 🙁

I’d say this camera is quite in the same condition as it was once I got it. Yes, I have used it, not that plenty but still yes, and always without problems (just the film loading you need to learn, and do carefully). This machine is Wetzlar German made and of excellent build quality. I suppose this was made mid 1975s, and I’d say this thing will work from generations to the next, if they just love it.

It has been a while since I used this, I guess at my father’s funeral, and I can’t remember anything wrong with it. Yes, nobody heard a thing as I was shooting, but of course my mum didn’t like. We do control sorrow differently in our very own ways.

I tested my other Leica M4P on February 2016, and I found no problem with it. I used a single roll of expired Kodak Ektachrome E100GX 135 that run before this camera in two other cameras, and still the film and camera run like a charm. The only problem was with my vision, and that is the only reason I’m selling these fine pieces of equipment.

I am no camera selling professional and am not officially qualified to judge the condition of this camera. I have checked the camera and I haven’t noted anything in malfunction, but haven’t run a film lately. The light meter worked well I used it actively, now the original type of battery has most likely died. I may or probably not have those batteries left. If you desire, and I can send you more / higher resolution photos per email. Cosmetically, it is as you see from the photos. I have marked it good condition, because of its visual appearance, otherwise it would be at least “very good”, although in eBay there might be many to state that already as it is.

This camera body comes with no lenses, which I also have plenty suitable for this body for sale along with my other Leica body. You’ll get the Canon strap attached as a free extra, if you want.

With utmost reluctance I am selling this somewhat rare camera buy it now 1400 euros, shipping only to be done fully insured, local pickup, testing and reasonable offers welcome.

Remember if you buy outside EU and you are in EU, you need to pay customs tax (typically ca. 5 %) and VAT (typically around 20 – 25 %) which are added on top of shipping and insurance costs. To my understanding, these costs are calculated and due regardless of the age and condition of the item! There are calculators on-line for this, like from Pitney Bowes.

Yes, of course, I will combine shipping for reduced shipping costs. I urge you to my buy more from me and will be flexible with it. Please note the somewhat expensive shipping costs from Finland, especially if insurance is needed. If the value of order gets to a higher level, I insist on taken an insurance for the shipping.

If you have more questions, please contact me directly.

Klaus Riederer, PhD, MSc
KAR Oy Ab GmbH Ltd S. A. R. L., CEO www.kar.fi
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