[Leica] M3/CL first comparisons

[charlie at droolassicpark.com (Charlie Meyer)]

Well, my new (ok, to me!) Leica CL arrived in the mail today.  For  
$225 off RFF, it looked as nice or nicer than those selling for more  
on that 'big other auction site'.  I really wanted a user M2 or M3 as  
a second body, but the market has gone loony on M2/3 prices.  With  
40mm framelines, it mates up well with my VC 1,4/40 Nokton.  The  
small focusing patch is going to take a bit to get used to after  
being spoiled with the M3 finder.  It's half the age of my M3, and  
there's @#$%&! PLASTIC (ok, just a bit) inside), but there's still a  
nice heft to it.  At less than half what 50 year old M2/3s are  
fetching on that 'other big auction site', I can live with an  
internal meter that's off and still know I will be financing part of  
Sherry's retirement account.  My Leicas make my LunaPro F look as  
unobtrusive as a boom box at a wake, but it is accurate. It'll be a  
cold day in hell when 9v batteries are obsolete and unobtainable.

I guess it really isn't fair to compare the cl with the Ms.  I'm  
starting a roll in the morning to see if I can adjust to a less  
sensitive and precise rangefinder.  For the money, I certainly cannot  
bitch.

Rounding out the lens department of the bag is a 135 Hektor that I  
picked up from the post office this morning.  Hell, they're cheap  
enough ($83 shipped), but the damn 12575 hood was a bear to find at a  
price less than the damn lens.  The Hektor is stiffer focusing, but a  
CLA should rectify that.  I bought a nice 12575 hood for the Elmar  
and Hektor last night for less than $30.  Everything now fits comfy  
in a Domke F-803 bag. Big enough to carry the kit...small enough to  
keep the G.A.S. in check (yeah, right).

Anyone have pointers about using a CL? I figure sticking to shorter  
lenses and stopping down should be a first step.

I'm still hoping just to luck out at some estate sale for another  
M2/3.  I was lucky the first time.


Charlie