Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1997/04/15
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]The CL Leica is best worked with their designated lenses, the 40mm f/2 Summicron-C and the 90 f/4 Elmar-C. Not all M lenses are suitable. This is due to the smaller effective rangefinder base which severly restricts the use of M lenses of with large apertures or long focal lengths. Robert Yan Hongkong At 04:32 AM 4/15/97 -0400, you wrote: >The CL is a very small, manually metered (ala M5 via semophore arm; center >the needle opeation. Shutter speed viible in finder. Focal length markings >on individual frames) camera that takes most M lenses. It is a great little >camera but doesn't enjoy a good reputation for durability or reliability >(as compared to an M6. It is fairly reliable though not at all durable). >The meter cell is an old Cds cell that is powered by the USA defunct PX625 >mercury battery. If original, the cell is around 20 years old and is at the >end of its useful operational life. A dying cell gives non-linear response >and must be replaced to restore linearity. > >The most noticable differences from a full sized M camera are the smaller >baseline, darker viewfinder and the tiny rangefinder patch. These are >compromise elements tha are inherent to smaller bodies and though they are >disadvantageous, they do not render the camera 'hard' to use. > >Two variations of the body were sold: The Leica CL and the identical but >differently badged Leitz/Minolta CL. The Minolta version can be found for >less money. > >The camera was sold with two companion lenses: the 90/4 Elmar-c/German made >Rokkor (not to be confused with the CLE Rokkor) and the 40/2 >Summicron/Rokkor CL (not to be confused with the CLE Rokkor). both are >excellent; the 90 German Rokkor is a better lens than my 90/2.8 >Tele-Elmarit (on my M6). > >The cameras are very useful and I'd recommend one to my best friends. > >>Please enlightem me. What are the main differences in the CL and M >>serries. No need for major indepth technicl differences, I am mainly >>interested in differences in the usability of the two cameras. I am wanting >>to get a simple rangefinder system with a 35 and a 90 lens. I mostly shoot >>SLR so I just want something to play with more or less, but has the Leica >>glass. >> >>Thanks, >> >>Harrison McClary >>hmphoto@delphi.com >>http://people.delphi.com/hmphoto > > > >