Jump to content

Leica CL


Guest Metroman

Recommended Posts

Guest Metroman

Advertisement (gone after registration)

I have been offered a CL with 40mm f2 by a neighbour whose husband died a few months ago and knowing my interest in photography she has given me first refusal and a price of £150!

 

I have a basic history of the camera and have got some decent info from Cameraquest and quite by accident found a chap a few miles away who services them Leica Repair & Restoration. I have even found a way to get around the problem of a replacement for the PX625 battery.

 

I just know I am going to find it hard to pass this opportunity up as everything is in the original box and the camera does look hardly used. He used mainly Canon bodies and they all look well used.

 

Any CL users know of anything else I should be wary of?

Link to post
Share on other sites

Hi Andy, I'd expect that any problems would be with the electronics. Make sure the meter works and all the shutter speeds are ok.

 

After saying that, Ffordes are selling the same combination of camera/lens for £450, so if it's working I'd say go for it.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Guest menze_as

The CL is a nice little camera, I like taking it with me as 2nd camera. And the 40mm is a very good lens. If you get a 90mm (both Leica and Minolta lenses are made by Leitz!) you have a sufficient little system easily to carry with you. You might use almost the full M program with the CL!

Electronics should be ok, of course. I solved the battery problem with the Weincell substitution, and to be safe take an exposure meter with me. If the camera really is almost new, I would suggest to buy it.

 

Greetings, Astrid

Link to post
Share on other sites

Definitely buy it if the meter is OK. That is the main thing that goes wrong with the CLs. I had one for years until it was stolen and loved it. I replaced it with a CLE and actually think I like the CL better. The CLE has some Auto on it but I liked the match needle better than the diodes. It was a great little travel camera. It also works with the Minolta 28 quite well, even if there are not lines for it. Just use the full frame of the viewfiner and you are very close. The lenses are some of the best I have used. Go for it at 150 and if you do not want it then let me know how I can by it! :-)

 

John

Link to post
Share on other sites

I once had the opportunity to buy a very good looking CL. However I could hardly focus.

I phoned Leica and explained the problem and they said it was an expensive repair because the mirror in the viewfinder was bad and they had to replace the complete viewfinder.

So if electronics and viewfinder are OK and the camera is goodlooking Go for it.

 

Luc

Link to post
Share on other sites

It's an excellent little camera. I used to have one but sold it to fund an M6. Don't listen to those who deride it as not a proper leica. It is. It's compact and light and has a pretty good viewfinder. I would say go for it. I had mine serviced by the chap near you (CRR Luton) and he gave excellent service - highly recommended. He is however constantly busy so you may have to wait until he is redady to recieve it from you.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Advertisement (gone after registration)

You've probably made your move by now, but I'll say that I bought one from a reputable dealer, at the end of a show, that was mint and had just been CLAd, (and meter recalibrated) and it wound and fired like butter, for $400 (2005).

 

First roll however, proved that with film tension, the winding mechanism was screwed up (jamming upon stroking lever). I sent it back, under warranty, to the repair man. He got it fixed after getting parts from Leica, but only after the seller offered me a CLE in exchange. I said "no" since in the interim, I had picked up a nice pair of period 40 and 90s with caps and a new strap and box, cheap and wanted the original.

 

They begrudgingly fixed it (I suspect for more than he had in it) and returned it to me. It's a great little piece, as a 3rd "M" body.

 

But, things do go bump in the night, and their repair may be iffy. But at that price, you can afford to invest in service.

Link to post
Share on other sites

it's a great little camera.

things to look for are the meter and re. the meter, the advance lever also. it needs to be pull away from the body to activate the meter (also film wound) and some times you have to 'play' with the lever a bit to get the meter going.

 

btw, minolta lenses were not made by leitz...the were made by minolta, in japan, and had newer/better coatings than the german made glass.

Link to post
Share on other sites

You've probably made your move by now, but I'll say that I bought one from a reputable dealer, at the end of a show, that was mint and had just been CLAd, (and meter recalibrated) and it wound and fired like butter, for $400 (2005).

 

First roll however, proved that with film tension, the winding mechanism was screwed up (jamming upon stroking lever). I sent it back, under warranty, to the repair man. He got it fixed after getting parts from Leica, but only after the seller offered me a CLE in exchange. I said "no" since in the interim, I had picked up a nice pair of period 40 and 90s with caps and a new strap and box, cheap and wanted the original.

 

They begrudgingly fixed it (I suspect for more than he had in it) and returned it to me. It's a great little piece, as a 3rd "M" body.

 

But, things do go bump in the night, and their repair may be iffy. But at that price, you can afford to invest in service.

 

Hi Ray!

 

I've nothing to say about CL's, as I know very little about them having come up through the Mini-Zoom ranks to M-dom; but it is great to see you here in the new surrounds!!!

 

:)

 

Thanks.

 

Allan

 

PS--sorry about hijacking your thread Andy, but I had to say hello to my friend!

 

Thnx.

 

AB

Link to post
Share on other sites

Guest Metroman

Thanks everyone for your comments.

 

Steve I checked out several dealers online to see the going rate also the camera does seem to be functioning OK.

 

Astrid I had already admired your photos with the CL and I will keep an eye out for the 90mm.

 

John S, John B, Luc, Ray and Joe many thanks for your input.

 

Well I guess in my heart of hearts I knew I would buy at that price and even if I get the chap at CRR to give it the works it still comes in at a reasonable price. It will give me a nice carry everywhere and I can pass my Olympus XA on to my 8 yr old to use and learn with.

 

Now.......... can I ressurrect the darkroom without the wife noticing!!!

Link to post
Share on other sites

Joe

 

You're part right about the lenses, but in fact the Minolta CL 90mm was made by Leica in Wetlar, as reported by Erwin Puts in his compendium. Great lenses and the CL is a very usable camera, that I use with either the 12mm CV lens or a pre aspheric 35mm summilux.

I just wish they had a similar offering today.

 

Bruno

Link to post
Share on other sites

Joe

 

A lot of the time 'made in . . ' just means that the final assemly took place there. Is your lens one originally for the Lietz/Minolta CL, or for the CLE which 'is' a Minolta lens [ design etc]

 

Bruno

Link to post
Share on other sites

Hi Ray!

 

I've nothing to say about CL's, as I know very little about them having come up through the Mini-Zoom ranks to M-dom; but it is great to see you here in the new surrounds!!!

 

:)

 

Thanks.

 

Allan

 

PS--sorry about hijacking your thread Andy, but I had to say hello to my friend!

 

Thnx.

 

AB

 

HI Allan,

I see you are still taking vibrantly colored street pictures. Glad you migrated, but it is a changed scene. See my highlights from an intensive (17-hour days) week at PPSNY here (ALL digital).

 

Photos by OCULUS NEW YORK

 

Thoughts?

 

Cheers,

Ray

Link to post
Share on other sites

At least the 4/90 lens for the Leitz Minolta CL was made in Wetzlar (I am not sure about the 2/40 though). Later lenses for the Minolta CLE are multicoated and were made in Japan. However, to the best of my knowledge the optical formula did not change in any significant way. I have tested my Minolta M-Rokkor 4/90 against other 90mm Leitz/Leica lenses, and it performs every bit as good as a Leica lens (which is no surprise, as it started life as a Leica lens). Consequently, I use my Minolta M-Rokkor 4/90 a lot whenever I need a lightweight lens with this focal length. BTW, I find the Minolta M-Rokkor 4/90 to be visibly better than the Minolta M-Rokkor 2/40. The latter one, albeit very sharp, seems to lack contrast in comparison.

 

Cheers,

 

Andy

Link to post
Share on other sites

I would say: get it at that price, even you send it in to Leica for checking/maintenance later on. A great little camera that I myself love to work with.

Body is made by Minolta in Japan, but the two C lenses are made by Leitz in Germany.

There is some information on my web site under "highlights".

Link to post
Share on other sites

Andy, one other thing: personally I believe that the Summicron-C 40/2.0 delivers "better" performance than the Elmar-C 90/4.0. I have been able to obtain outstanding results with the former one, less so with the latter, especially in terms of sharpness. Of course, focusing with a small telelens is more demanding than with a standard lens.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...