matteo29103
Member
Hello guys!
I’m Matteo and I’m new on this forum, I hope you can help me a bit with a little problem I’m having recently. Are two months from now on rhat I own a Minolta CLE with a nokton 40 mm and I was thinking to use flash for street photography. I tried just to see if my Contax TLA140 works on it and I saw that if I align the center Pin it just fire from the 1/30 shutter speed till the Bulb mode, but it never fire at the syncro shutter speed (1/60). I decided then to not use it for this problem but also because I was worried that it could ruin the contacts of the camera. So I devided to buy the Reflx Lab Flash and guess what? same problem. I went to a camera shop here in Switzerland amd a person told me that i need to use a flash with an attach of three pins, I searched on internet and I’ve found out that I can use old Minolta’s flash of the x series as is written on the manual for the CLE. In the meantime I tried with another flash with three pins this time, it is a Canon Metz 24 and it give always the same problem as i wrote before. Do you think I is a matter of using the electronics of the same brand? (Minolta) Or I should give my camera on repair?
Thank you for the attention!
I’m Matteo and I’m new on this forum, I hope you can help me a bit with a little problem I’m having recently. Are two months from now on rhat I own a Minolta CLE with a nokton 40 mm and I was thinking to use flash for street photography. I tried just to see if my Contax TLA140 works on it and I saw that if I align the center Pin it just fire from the 1/30 shutter speed till the Bulb mode, but it never fire at the syncro shutter speed (1/60). I decided then to not use it for this problem but also because I was worried that it could ruin the contacts of the camera. So I devided to buy the Reflx Lab Flash and guess what? same problem. I went to a camera shop here in Switzerland amd a person told me that i need to use a flash with an attach of three pins, I searched on internet and I’ve found out that I can use old Minolta’s flash of the x series as is written on the manual for the CLE. In the meantime I tried with another flash with three pins this time, it is a Canon Metz 24 and it give always the same problem as i wrote before. Do you think I is a matter of using the electronics of the same brand? (Minolta) Or I should give my camera on repair?
Thank you for the attention!
No first hand experience with the CLE:
BUT
Minolta made a dedicated flash for it. The extra pins that connect the meter of the camera to the flash: no industry standard. Often dedicated to a camera/flash combination.
I can't say if the camera needs repair or not: but I do believe the dedicated flash is required to allow the camera's meter to operate with the Flash electronics.
BUT

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Minolta made a dedicated flash for it. The extra pins that connect the meter of the camera to the flash: no industry standard. Often dedicated to a camera/flash combination.
I can't say if the camera needs repair or not: but I do believe the dedicated flash is required to allow the camera's meter to operate with the Flash electronics.
aw614
Established
Something must be wrong on your CLE. I have the Reflx lab flash and a Minolta electro flash 3 with the standard one pin flash for the hot shoe and both work at 1/60 on my CLE.
I do have a later flash, the Maxxum 1800 AF, but I have not film tested it, that one I read was supposed to work with TTL metering, but I just havent had a chance to use it on film.
I do have a later flash, the Maxxum 1800 AF, but I have not film tested it, that one I read was supposed to work with TTL metering, but I just havent had a chance to use it on film.
matteo29103
Member
Do you think is just a matter of cleaning the contacts inside or completely change the contacts?
WoodallP
Pragmatist Barnack lover
I don’t know the CLE, but out of interest does it fire at higher speeds? Obviously it won’t synch but most cameras I have had will fire a flash at any speed.
matteo29103
Member
No it doesn’t
aw614
Established
I just tried out the Reflx lab flash again and the Minolta AF 1800 Flash on the CLE and it seems past 1/60 the flash does not fire if the speeds are not manually set. At 1/60 and below the flash fires.
matteo29103
Member
Do you think that at 1/30 of a second i still have the possibility to freeze the movement at F/8 for street photography?
hap
Well-known
I suggest that you give a call to Digital and film Camera Repair serving the Central Valley. He is a master with the CLE. Trained and technician for Minolta when it was at Signal Hill, CA. I trusted him with my CLE.
matteo29103
Member
How much did you pay for the reparation? I’m an italian from Switzerland so I also need to send the camera.
CMur12
Veteran
Does the CLE offer the same system for TTL (through the lens) flash metering as for the X-700 and X-570/500?
If so, you need to use a Minolta PX series flash. Other brands offered dedicated flash for different brands of camera, as well. I have a Vivitar 3700 flash, bought in 1984, with an attachable flash module dedicated to Minolta PX. On the Vivitar flash module, it says DM/M-TTL.
I don't think Minolta made the only 3-contact flash, so if you get a 3-contact flash dedicated to another brand, it might damage your camera. You need to make sure that the 3-contact flash is dedicated to Minolta.
- Murray
If so, you need to use a Minolta PX series flash. Other brands offered dedicated flash for different brands of camera, as well. I have a Vivitar 3700 flash, bought in 1984, with an attachable flash module dedicated to Minolta PX. On the Vivitar flash module, it says DM/M-TTL.
I don't think Minolta made the only 3-contact flash, so if you get a 3-contact flash dedicated to another brand, it might damage your camera. You need to make sure that the 3-contact flash is dedicated to Minolta.
- Murray
matteo29103
Member
I recently bought the Minolta 280PX to try. So how to you explain the fact that to otger person it works at 1/60 with the Reflex lab flash?
AveryWagg
Established
I use a Minolta Auto 280PX with my CLE. Works just fine under 'A' for Auto. However, double check to ensure your subject is within flash range before you start taking pictures. Here's a few pics of both the flash unit and the camera and flash. I have the manuals for both the flash unit and the camera, so feel free to ask any questions. BTW, I just love that Voigtlander Heliar 40mm lens. It's just insanely sharp..
..Avery


..Avery


matteo29103
Member
Thank you so much! but i was interested on using it in Manual mode. and if it works i will buy the minolta autoelectroflash CLE.
AveryWagg
Established
matteo29103
Member
Thank you so much!
The Flash is really big for the camera?
The Flash is really big for the camera?
AveryWagg
Established
Minolta had a much smaller version specifically made for the CLE (called the Auto CLE, with a guide number of 14), but this Auto 280 PX was actually made for the Minolta 700. Any of the PX series flash units would work with the CLE though. When I went looking for a compatible flash unit a couple of years ago for the CLE, the Auto CLE flash unit wasn't available anywhere..Thank you so much!
The Flash is really big for the camera?
..Avery
matteo29103
Member
ueah I know this…I just asked how much big it is the flash in proportion with the camera because from the pictures it seems quite big
hap
Well-known
You are correct. Minolta auto 280px should be fine. If you wish, I suggest you call Scott Nielsen and ask him. I bought a Minolta flash for mine...but i've never used it. Really nice guy and knowledgeable CLEI use a Minolta Auto 280PX with my CLE. Works just fine under 'A' for Auto. However, double check to ensure your subject is within flash range before you start taking pictures. Here's a few pics of both the flash unit and the camera and flash. I have the manuals for both the flash unit and the camera, so feel free to ask any questions. BTW, I just love that Voigtlander Heliar 40mm lens. It's just insanely sharp..
..Avery
View attachment 4850899View attachment 4850900
matteo29103
Member
i’ve sent him an email! thank you to everyone for your help. I will let you know how it will go!
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