Love my CLE

[digbyhp]

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The recipient of a used Minolta CLE (well, there are no new CLEs). Some Pros & Cons, and a very personal list because its compared to my adored M7 and owned lenses.

 

Why I love my CLE

1) So much lighter - . 400g without lens vs 630g.

2) So much smaller – much narrower and a little lower.

3) Easy film loading. None of that ‘take the plate of the bottom and swing out the film cover’ palaver.

4) Cheap enough to have stolen – (except with a Leica lens attached :-)).

5) Self-timer – Yippee! One of those features I don’t use often, but like to have.

6) Overall, I think it has a more appropriate level of engineering that a Leica M. No, it won’t last through to the next ice-age, but its 20+yrs old and still working. I like the engineering quality to be in the lens – that’s what’s really important. This is the entry-level M that Leica, or someone, should be making.

Why I don't love my CLE

1) Is out of production and unsupported – if it goes bung, repairs may be difficult or impossible.

2) Frame lines only support 28/40/90 , so while it is compatible with my 35 & 75 lens, I don’t get frame lines for them.

3) No AE lock. So cannot lock exposure and re-compose.

4) If battery dies, so does camera. But no big deal. The batteries are D-76 small - can carry spares!

I hope it lasts me.

 

 

 

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[antistatic]

Digby, a good summary of this overlooked gem of a camera.

 

My CLE kit introduced me to the world of rangefinders. It now sits on my shelf most of the time but I can't bring myself to sell it.

 

The CLE and 40mm rokkor is a great lightweight walkaround kit. Might have to get it out this weekend.

[andym911]

I have the CL not the CLE but appreciate this camera greatly.

 

I like to use the old screwthread 35mm and 50mm on it and that makes a really compact package.

some of my best shots have been made with this jewel of a camera.

Was in a local photo shop yesterday here in baden baden and there are two up for sale at 150 euro and 250 euro respectively...sat there on the window display with hundreds of people passing by probably thinking 'whats that old film contraption' and don't give them a second look.

 

pity really

 

enjoy

andy

[underground]

I have the CL

and it has outshot my 7 by a long shot.

 

Outstanding camera. (period)

[Jay66]

A wonderful little, unobtrusive compact camera. I took my CLE, 28, 40 & 90 Leitz lenses to Montréal and Québec City over about 15 years ago. It was all I needed. I also took a 135/4 Tele-Elmar with a SHOOC brightline finder. As long as you are always focussed at infinity, don't worry about the RF baseline. It was in October-November and having a light kit was a real pleasure. I went all over Montréal on the Metro and Québec City on foot, the latter being my favourite city in eastern Canada, there's a photographic opportunity around every corner.

[kanzlr]

great, thought about getting a CLE lately.

I have just snapped an M-Rokkor 40/2 on eBay to try on my M8. Can't wait to see the results, as I am a Minolta lover it makes me proud to grace a Leica body with a Minolta lens.

[gilpen123]

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I missed mine. A perfect travel companion but I have 2 M6 0.72 and 0.85 to fill my needs. My CLE is with the Leitz 40 2.0 and takes great pictures. The lack of AE lock though is the issue I didn't like/ Here's a sample of a difficult exposure which it has handled very well.

 

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[gyoung]

The Voigtlander bodies are a great alternative, and much newer, even available still new. I have an R2 and it serves well as a 3rd body or knock about camera, same advantages of light weight/low value, pretty much the same cons as well, not built like an M6 let alone an M3, rangefinder base etc,

If you want the aperture priority there is the R2a but I haven't tried that,

 

Gerry

[digbyhp]

The Voigtlander bodies are a great alternative, and much newer, even available still new. I have an R2 and it serves well as a 3rd body or knock about camera, same advantages of light weight/low value, pretty much the same cons as well, not built like an M6 let alone an M3, rangefinder base etc,

If you want the aperture priority there is the R2a but I haven't tried that,

 

Gerry

 

Gerry,

Thanks for this tip, I had heard of the R2, but hadn't researched it before the CLE purchase. The R2a looks, on balance, a better alternative, especially because it is current, so maybe as a third body for me too. Not quite the compactness of the CLE, but on every other score, terrific.It raises the question of whether Leica should stick to their strengths of doing superlative M-mount lenses, and perhaps leave the production of M-camera bodies to elsewhere - a mischievous suggestion. Cheers.

[digbyhp]

I missed mine. A perfect travel companion but I have 2 M6 0.72 and 0.85 to fill my needs. My CLE is with the Leitz 40 2.0 and takes great pictures. The lack of AE lock though is the issue I didn't like/ Here's a sample of a difficult exposure which it has handled very well.

 

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Gil, Thanks for the encouragement by way of an excellent night-shot post. The lack of AE is perhaps the greatest downside to me, but will work around that I guess.

[gyoung]

Gerry,

Thanks for this tip, I had heard of the R2, but hadn't researched it before the CLE purchase. The R2a looks, on balance, a better alternative, especially because it is current, so maybe as a third body for me too. Not quite the compactness of the CLE, but on every other score, terrific.It raises the question of whether Leica should stick to their strengths of doing superlative M-mount lenses, and perhaps leave the production of M-camera bodies to elsewhere - a mischievous suggestion. Cheers.

 

I began to think that too, until I used the R2 alongside my M3..........

 

The Voigtlanders are great, but they aint an M!

 

Gerry

[antistatic]

 

The Voigtlanders are great, but they aint an M!

 

Gerry

 

Neither is the CLE

[dicko101]

Neither is the CLE

 

Before the D-Lux, before the Digilux, before the C11, before the Leica Mini II, there was the CL...

[andym911]

Neither is the CLE

 

the CL is a true M....just that many don't like to hear it;)

enjoy

 

andy

[antistatic]

The CL yes, but the CLE was always Minolta.

 

Don't get me wrong, I think the CLE is a great camera and perhaps it is the camera that Leica should have made but didn't.

[andym911]

David

 

pretty much agree with that.......roll of TriX and away you go:)

best

andy

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[armanius]

To all CL and CLE owners-

 

It's my understanding that focusing fast lens (below f2) is difficult on the CL and CLE.

 

But I also read on Cameraquest.com that there are many M lenses that are not compatible with the CL and CLE, including the 35 Cron. I think it said that you can damage the CL or CLE with a lens like the 35 Cron. Is that true?

 

I really like the form of the CL and CLE and want to get one. But it would totally bite if I can't use a lot of the M lenses.

 

Thanks for your help.

[digbyhp]

To all CL and CLE owners-

 

It's my understanding that focusing fast lens (below f2) is difficult on the CL and CLE.

 

But I also read on Cameraquest.com that there are many M lenses that are not compatible with the CL and CLE, including the 35 Cron. I think it said that you can damage the CL or CLE with a lens like the 35 Cron. Is that true?

 

I really like the form of the CL and CLE and want to get one. But it would totally bite if I can't use a lot of the M lenses.

 

Thanks for your help.

 

I know the 35 cron Asph is compatible (thats what I have on my CLE atm) so some versions are ok and some aren't - maybe other members know at what point they became Ok.

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[dicko101]

To all CL and CLE owners-

 

It's my understanding that focusing fast lens (below f2) is difficult on the CL and CLE.

 

But I also read on Cameraquest.com that there are many M lenses that are not compatible with the CL and CLE, including the 35 Cron. I think it said that you can damage the CL or CLE with a lens like the 35 Cron. Is that true?

 

I really like the form of the CL and CLE and want to get one. But it would totally bite if I can't use a lot of the M lenses.

 

Thanks for your help.

 

The CL has a shorter effective rangefinder base which can make critical focussing more difficult. But its compact form and cheaper price makes it worth it in my opinion. A great little camera!

[armanius]

I know the 35 cron Asph is compatible (thats what I have on my CLE atm) so some versions are ok and some aren't - maybe other members know at what point they became Ok.

 

I read somewhere that the 35 Cron (non-Asph) is not compatible with the CLE. And that's the one I have!