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Leica R5 Film Camera

The Leica R5 is a full-frame film camera — known for its Leica R Lens Mount and Full-Frame 35mm Format. Check GearFocus for current availability, with buyer protection on every purchase.

Leica R5 Film Camera

Leica R5 Film Camera

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Camera Overview — Leica R5

The Leica R5 is a 35mm film SLR camera built around the Leica R lens mount, offering a full-frame 35mm shooting experience with a robust metal body. Weighing 625g and measuring 138.5 x 89.1 x 62.2 mm, the R5 has a solid, purposeful feel in hand that reflects its metal construction. It accepts Leica R mount lenses and operates entirely with manual focus, placing full creative control in the photographer's hands.

The camera covers an ISO range from 12 to 3200, accommodating a wide variety of film stocks from slow, fine-grained emulsions to fast films suited for low-light work. An optical pentaprism viewfinder provides a direct, clear view for composing and focusing. The R5 supports a burst mode with a maximum frame rate of 2 frames per second, useful for capturing sequences when paired with a compatible motor drive.

Flash integration is handled via TTL flash metering through a standard ISO hot shoe, compatible with Leica R system flashes. Power comes from two LR44 or equivalent 1.5V button cells, with an estimated battery life of approximately 150 rolls of 36 exposures with motor drive at 20°C. There is no image stabilization, no weather sealing, and no wireless connectivity — this is a purely mechanical and optical shooting experience.

Key Features — Leica R5

Leica R Lens Mount: Accepts the full range of Leica R mount lenses, giving access to a wide selection of high-quality Leica optics.

Full-Frame 35mm Format: Uses standard 35mm film, fully utilizing the image circle of Leica R lenses for accurate focal length representation.

ISO 12–3200 Range: Covers a wide range of film stocks, from ultra-fine-grained slow emulsions to fast films suited for low-light shooting.

Metal Body Construction: 625g all-metal body provides a solid, durable build quality consistent with Leica's professional standards.

Optical Pentaprism Viewfinder: Delivers a bright, direct optical view of the scene to assist with precise manual focusing and composition.

Manual Focus Only: No autofocus system — the photographer retains full control over focus, suited to deliberate, considered shooting.

Camera Specifications — Leica R5

Leica R5 full specifications
SpecDetail
Use CasesDocumentary, Travel
TypeFilm
SensorFull Frame (35mm)
ISO Range12 – 3200
AF SystemManual Focus Only
AF PointsManual focus only
Burst Rate2 fps
Image StabilizationNone
ViewfinderOptical Pentaprism
Storage MediaOther
Battery2x LR44 (or equivalent 1.5V button cells)
Battery LifeApprox. 150 rolls of 36 exposures with motor drive at 20°C

Description — Leica R5

The Leica R5 is a full-frame 35mm film SLR built around the Leica R lens mount, offering a direct connection to a wide range of Leica R system optics. The body is constructed from metal, measuring 138.5 x 89.1 x 62.2 mm and weighing 625g — compact yet substantial. Through the optical pentaprism viewfinder, photographers compose and focus manually, as the R5 operates with manual focus only.

Film speed settings span ISO 12 to 3200, making the camera adaptable to a wide range of emulsions. Flash shooting is supported via a standard ISO hot shoe with TTL flash metering for compatible Leica R system flashes. When a motor drive is attached, the R5 can shoot burst sequences at up to 2 fps.

Power is supplied by two LR44 or equivalent 1.5V button cells, with an estimated life of approximately 150 rolls of 36 exposures with motor drive at 20°C. There is no weather sealing, no image stabilization, and no wireless connectivity of any kind.

Pros — Leica R5

  • ✓Full-frame 35mm sensor format (sensor.type: Full Frame 35mm) ensures full utilization of Leica R mount lens image circles
  • ✓Wide ISO range of 12–3200 (iso.min: 12, iso.max: 3200) supports a broad selection of film stocks
  • ✓Optical pentaprism viewfinder (viewfinder.type) provides a bright, direct optical view for manual focusing

Cons — Leica R5

  • ✗Manual focus only (autofocus.system: Manual Focus Only) — no autofocus assistance for fast-moving subjects
  • ✗No weather sealing (bodyDesign.weatherSealing: None) limits use in rain or dusty environments
  • ✗Maximum burst rate of 2 fps (photoSpecs.maxBurstFrameRate: 2) is modest for action photography

Videos — Leica R5

Leica R4 SLR (and Lenses) - Retro Camera Review - Ep. 16 — Danny Pops

Resources & Downloads — Leica R5

Manuals & Guides

Frequently Asked Questions — Leica R5

What lenses are compatible with the Leica R5?+
The Leica R5 uses the Leica R lens mount (mount.lens: Leica R). Any lens designed for the Leica R system will be mechanically compatible with this camera body.
What film speeds (ISO) can the Leica R5 handle?+
The R5 supports an ISO range from 12 to 3200 (iso.min: 12, iso.max: 3200). This covers slow, fine-grained films at the low end through fast films suited for low-light shooting at the high end.
What batteries does the Leica R5 require, and how long do they last?+
The camera runs on two LR44 or equivalent 1.5V button cells (battery.type). Battery life is rated at approximately 150 rolls of 36 exposures when used with a motor drive at 20°C (battery.batteryLife).
Does the Leica R5 have a built-in flash or weather sealing?+
The R5 has no weather sealing (bodyDesign.weatherSealing: None). It does feature a standard ISO hot shoe (mount.hotShoe) with TTL flash metering for use with compatible Leica R system flashes, but no built-in flash is listed in the specifications.
How large and heavy is the Leica R5 body?+
The body measures 138.5 x 89.1 x 62.2 mm (bodyDesign.dimensions) and weighs 625g (bodyDesign.weight). It is constructed from metal (bodyDesign.material), giving it a solid and substantial feel.
Can the Leica R5 shoot in burst mode?+
Yes, the R5 supports burst mode (photoSpecs.burstMode: true) at a maximum rate of 2 frames per second (photoSpecs.maxBurstFrameRate: 2). This capability is most relevant when used with a compatible motor drive.

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