Finally got a CL !! - some Pics & some questions

ianstamatic

ianstamatic

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Finally picked up a CL.
Arrived on Friday so I ran 3 rolls through it on the weekend. These are just quick epson scans
Have been waiting a long while and finally got a leitz minolta branded CL with 40mm rokkor lens, for a relatively cheap price
camera is in great condition except the light meter didnt work, so the shots below are all guestimated exposure.
I love the feel of this camera in the hand.
Ergonomically its incredibly well designed.
I hate wearing camera around my neck but the strap length works best like that. The camera weight is fine for that.
I really want to get a 90 and 21mm for it. I think the CV21 but want to compare that to the CZ G21 mm.

I've been enjoying my Oly 35SP and this similar in many more ways than both having non-functional light meters.
You can see some shots too compare the two cameras at this link http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=113247

I think I'm going to love this camera. It feels great to use and the lens is crisp with a some what smooth bokeh that I prefer over the CZ G 45mm. The Oly35SP has great bokeh but i think the CL is a hair sharper wide openl, with an edge crispness that reminds of a CZ G lens. Is this rokkor a summicron ? Do i have a leica or minolta ? Idk it works.

Questions,
1. Light meter. it worked intermttantly for 30secs before totally dying, tried new batts. I think its electrical contacts. Has anyone fixed this. Is there a common point where the contacts fail or can be cleaned re-soldered? what is repair cost for meter repair ?

2. Are the 50mm framelines meant to be displayed with the 40mm lens on ?? On mine they are up lens on or off.

3. 90mm. Is there any reason to get the CL 90mm over the collapsible 90 f4 ?


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biggie smalls mural. brooklyn nyc

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wide open

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stopped down a little

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entering the vortex

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wish i would have found out who the guy speaking was ..

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ok in the vortex now ...

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OWS NYC

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HP5 leaves

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open @ 1/15th is easier inside than when your running about ..

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ok last one ...
 
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Hi,

Nice photo's and good guesstimates re. lighting. Now you see what the CL is all about...

My answers to your queries are:

1, It will pay you to get the thing looked at and repaired. The metering is CW'd and - I think - almost perfect. Also you know where the circle is from the frame-lines.

2, The frame-lines were intended that way. You can block out the 50mm ones (or the 40's) by moving a matchstick across the translucent window and seeing when each line vanishes. Then put a bit of black sticky tape there but make it 1mm or less wide. Repeat for all four lines. I did this years ago then learnt to ignore them but they can be a problem if you are using 50mm and look (instinctively) at the 40mm lines.

3, The best one is the one made for it. Any collapsible one may/will hit the meter cell, which I hope you're going to get repaired. There's another thread somewhere here about the 90mm f/4 and samples.

Sorry this is a bit short and sharp.

Regards, David
 
Although the meter sensor can fail, it can simply be the cables, which fracture because of the flexing required, in which case it's not an expensive repair.

I am a CL fan, too. Lovely photos btw. I like the Zhou half case, as mine tends to get bashed on one end or even slip off my shoulder with the Leica one.
 
Thanks for the replies guys.
I'm really enjoying the CL.
Its definitely a keeper.
I find myself fighting the temptation to get a 28(or 21) and 90 for it.

Havent got the meter fixed yet. Debating with myself if it might actually slow down the process and make me second guess every shots exposure instead of concentrating on the shot.. My Oly SP is also sans meter.
 
Great photos. I think the meter is worth getting fixed... I have the 90 mm f/4 Rokkor. Its a great, light, small lens. Incredibly sharp and just he perfect amount of depth/sharpness wide open. It would match your CL nicely 🙂
 
On your question on collapsible 90 f4...

In general, the only issue I would worry about is if the lens collapses into the path of the sensor arm for the light meter.

The CL is one of my favorite cameras.

Have fun with it.

Gary
 
Just made me that bit more excited about my CL winging it's way over from Japan right now.
Useful info here so thanks all.
 
Thanks for the nice words guys.

At the moment I'm using it alot.

It's a incredibly fun little machine, lightweight, awesome VF and people react well to it, its discreet and cool.
I'm due to develop a bunch of film soon.

I really like the 40mm length for out and about general photography.

Regarding 90's i think it might just be down to which one i can get the best deal on. I'm also tempted by the 2.8 as I like it on the contax G, but i think I'm leaning towards the rokkor 90 4
 
ianstamatic said:
Thanks for the nice words guys.

At the moment I'm using it alot.

It's a incredibly fun little machine, lightweight, awesome VF and people react well to it, its discreet and cool.
I'm due to develop a bunch of film soon.

I really like the 40mm length for out and about general photography.

Regarding 90's i think it might just be down to which one i can get the best deal on. I'm also tempted by the 2.8 as I like it on the contax G, but i think I'm leaning towards the rokkor 90 4
Click to expand...

Hi,

Thanks for the feedback.

As for the Rokkor 90 f/4, I think you'll find it was made by Leica and sold as a Minolta. The only bit of badge engineering they are supposed to have done.

Regards, David
 
ianstamatic said:
3. 90mm. Is there any reason to get the CL 90mm over the collapsible 90 f4 ?
Click to expand...

I personally found the 90mm CL elmar lens very disappointing. It could be my version of the lens, but I thought it lacked contrast, wasn't very sharp and had some purple fringing happening all over the frame. Stopped using it really.

Enjoy your CL! It's a fun take-everywhere little camera.
 
jippiejee said:
I personally found the 90mm CL elmar lens very disappointing. It could be my version of the lens, but I thought it lacked contrast, wasn't very sharp and had some purple fringing happening all over the frame. Stopped using it really.

Enjoy your CL! It's a fun take-everywhere little camera.
Click to expand...

Hi,

I don't know if this will help but my 90mm f/4 unscrews in the middle like a Visoflex one and I've often wondered if people have them loose or cross threaded when I read posts like yours. I've nothing but praise for my one.

Regards, David
 
Since you have the 40mm Rokkar, get the 90mm Rokkar lens as the filters will be the same. The Leica and Rokkars used 2 different sizes. I have the 40mm Summicron and 90mm Rokkar and investing in multiple filter sets is a not inexpensive. Reportedly, the 90mm Rokkar is slightly sharper and contrastier than the Leica. However, I suspect we are splitting hairs between them.

Since getting my CL some decades ago, I've come to love it and thiink it just might be the closest you can get in a universal rangefinder camera that is reliable and comes closer than the M as Barnack's vision of a small camera.
 
Thanks for all the feedback.
I agree that this camera defines the near ideal example of a small light rangefinder.
The build quality feels so nice when i'm shooting.
I feel that for the weight of an M I could be using a light MF system. I dont have the desire or funds to go there.

I'm leaning towards the rokkor 90 but am kind of hoping to find a 2.8 at a decent price.
I'm taking this camera to Australia with me in June and would like to get a 21 for it. probably the CV but i'd like to see if i can save for the CZ 21 but its a long shot.

anyway here are some more pics from CL.
yes i am aware the scanner glass and film is filthy.

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^^ the new World Trade Center going up.

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^^ I know this scan is filthy. most of that is on the glass holding the neg in the tray.

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i use a chrome elmarit 90mm / f2.8. the one stop speed helps alot. and is not much more expensive than the f4 90mm version. only thing is that the weight is unbalanced on the cl.
 
raytoei@gmail.com said:
i use a chrome elmarit 90mm / f2.8. the one stop speed helps alot. and is not much more expensive than the f4 90mm version. only thing is that the weight is unbalanced on the cl.
Click to expand...

I've been wondering, how is that lens on the CL? I was concerned about a lens that bright with the CL's RF base.
 
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