Well the CL killed the M5, nothing else. But the M5 really offered nothing fundamentally different, so was just one model in a string of the same basic technology.
I believe you may be mistaken about the M5 \"offering nothing fundamentally different\". In fact, it was so radically different with regard to design and functionality at the time (at least to M users) that it was not accepted very well at all. It was the first M to offer TTL metering. It was also larger and heavier than previous M\'s as well as incompatible with some M accessories and even lenses. It, just like the Leica M8 and M9, suffered growing pains as well as reliability issues (some due to technological changes over previous M\'s). Thus, a parallel can be drawn as Leica was attempting to move into new territory and compete against the rapid rise of the more sophisticated japanese SLR\'s of the time. The CL came a few years later I believe but what really killed the M5 was this radical departure from previous M\'s. In fact, Leica even reverted to the M4 after it discontinued the M5 after less than 34,000 were sold. It is now somewhat of a collectors item.
Jan 07, 2015 at 01:37 PM
Previous versions of Tariq Gibran's message #12785288 « Leica M9 Class Sensor Issue »
Well the CL killed the M5, nothing else. But the M5 really offered nothing fundamentally different, so was just one model in a string of the same basic technology.