best lenses for a leica CL

Sounds like good advice to me, William. My only push back would be that I find the 40 to work very well as a nice in-between lens rather than having to carry both a 35 and a 50. Not to challenge your experience but just to express that others, including me, find the 40 to be a nice focal length.

And I would love to see a shot of that Canon 135/3.5 on your CL. Talk about the tail wagging the dog! (smile)

-Randy
 
maybe I reasoned in the wrong way. And, Biggles, I didn't consider the dimensions of the framelines...


but I would like to use this camera as I would use a reflex, having the possibility to change lenses as I want. so maybe the cl is not the right camera for me, because if i should have to use it as a single lens camera, than it would be better to buy a canonet or a 7s.


(really bad english, isn't it?)
 
Good lenses to use on a CL? My favourites are CV21mm f4, CV 25mm f4, Kobalux 28mm f3.5 (especially that one as it is sooooo small it makes the combo so pocketable) 40mm Summicron C and 90mm Elmar C. I think the CV40mm f1.4 would be interesting too and the Jupiter 8 is a nice light 50mm.

I do have a CL and 40mm Summicron for sale but they are in new condition boxed papers etc and I'm looking for the right price for them and I'll only ship them where I can insure them (not the US for some reason). Let me know if you are interested.
 
True the g2 can be expensive, but the g1 with 45 planar can be had for less than the cl body alone, and the g models are only af when the focus wheel is in the af position.
It takes its own lenses, but Zeiss optics are thought by many to be quite good.

I mean if you're starting from zero anyway, it's something to compare to the cl with three lenses-- I do like the CL finder better, and the body is a little smaller..

Look- a contax G1 kit with lens!
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost-classifieds/showproduct.php?product=3653
 
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I have a CL and use it essentially a dedicated wide-angle camera. I've rarely used it for anything longer than the 40mm.

It's the only camera I own with a meter and that's a nice change of pace at times - the match needle metering is easy and after a proper CLA, it's very accurate (spot). Someone above implies that it does not meter with the CV 21/4 - that has not been my experience. My camera meters just fine with it.

As for the 40/35 debate - I am very fond of the Rokkor 40, but tend to use the Canon 35/2 more often. The 40mm lenses designed for this camera are some of the great rangefinder bargains given cost vs performance, but I am more inclined to the 35mm focal length. Personal choice.

My recommendations - Any smallish 50mm lens. The current Summicron is about as heavy a lens as I would ever want to use with the CL. Rokkor/Summicron 40/2, any of the Canon 35 screw mounts, CV 35/2.5, any of the CV wide-angles with viewfinder.

A very small 90 might be okay, but I'm not a fan of squinting into that tiny little frame line.
 
I have a CL and 40 rokkor that I bought Sherry Krauter. Reall a great combo. I have used my 50 lux and even a 90 cron but that needs to be stopped down to f4 to get correct focus. I would say get the 28 with the 40 (or 50). 90 Rokkor if you REALLy need ther reach.
 
I have the Summicron-C 40, a Hexanon 50, and the Elmar 90. The 90 takes a bit of getting used to with the small frame lines, so I usually stick to the 40 or the 50.

I'll have to try a 28 or 35 at some point. Got to get ready for that new Bessa R4.
 
I love my CL and think it's great choice for an affordable RF system. The 3 lens combo I like is the summicron 40, the elmar 90, and the CV 21. The CV 25 is nice as well, but I like the wider 21. With those 3 you're pretty set for any situation.

I was thinking about getting myself a 28, though...

BTW- I paid $700 US for working (including the meter) CL body with the 40mm and the 90mm lenses.

Good luck, and enjoy whatever you get.
 
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