Leica M5 3 Lug 35mm Rangefinder Camera Body, Black Review

The Leica M5 3 Lug is a used 35mm rangefinder body from Leica's storied M series, offered here in black with excellent condition grading. Originally produced in the early 1970s, the M5 was Leica's first attempt at adding integrated light metering to the rangefinder line, and it remains a distinctive if polarizing chapter in the M system's history. Its larger body and unconventional meter design set it apart from the more compact M3, M4, and later M6 models.

This particular unit ships from KEH in used condition, priced at 2,167 dollars. For collectors or film shooters already invested in Leica M-mount glass, the M5 offers a mechanical, all-manual shooting experience with the added convenience of through-the-lens metering. The 3-lug bayonet mount ensures compatibility with most M-mount lenses. Because it's a used vintage body, expect normal signs of wear consistent with its age, but the excellent grading suggests solid cosmetic and functional integrity. It's a workable option for those who appreciate the M5's unique place in Leica's lineage and don't mind the heft and design quirks that once made it less popular.