Mint Condition! with Original matching-number box.
Produced in 1975 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the first Leica series camera introduced in 1925, the Leica M5 “50 Jahre” is a special edition of the last generation M5 cameras manufactured in Wetzlar.
The camera is distinguished by its special “50 Jahre” anniversary engraving with oak leaves on the top plate, marking half a century of Leica camera production. Only a relatively small number of these commemorative cameras were produced, making them among the most desirable late M5 variants for collectors.
Technically, the model retains all features that made the Leica M5 one of the most advanced mechanical Leica rangefinder cameras of its time. It was the first Leica M camera equipped with through-the-lens (TTL) exposure metering, using a swinging light-meter arm positioned in front of the shutter curtains. The camera operates fully mechanically with electronically assisted exposure measurement and offers the precise engineering and reliability typical of Leica cameras manufactured in Wetzlar.
The M5 “50 Jahre” represents the final production period of the Leica M5 (1971–1975) and therefore stands as an important historical milestone in Leica history, bridging the transition between the classic mechanical M cameras and later electronically assisted models.
Today the Leica M5 “50 Jahre” is regarded as a collectible commemorative edition, appreciated both for its historical significance and for its distinctive anniversary engraving.
