45mm lens with CLE 40mm framelines?

[everyXnewXday]

Just wondering if anyone who owns a CLE can give me an idea of how conservative the 40mm framelines are. I'm adapting a Contax G Planar 45mm to M mount and am wondering if the 40mm lines on the CLE might be close enough, at least when shooting relatively close subjects? The 50mm framelines on my M2 are definitely more like 55mm for subjects within a couple meters (where most of my subjects are) so I thought that maybe the 40mm lines on the CLE would work well for 45mm.

Thanks!!

 

[Doug]

According to Contax literature specs, their 45mm Planar is actually 47mm focal length.

The Minolta CLE is a favorite of mine, and I have two. I have not made a formal comparison of the framing accuracy, but of course it changes with focus distance since the framelines are fixed in size. At the “usual” distances, say 2 yards to 10 yards, my sense is that the frames are usefully close to accurate with the 40mm Rokkor.

I also have used the Voigtlander 1.4/40mm Nokton on the CLE and note that the framelines are a bit generous for it. Seems the Nokton has a slightly longer focal length / smaller field of view than the Rokkor. I have tended to use the inside edges of the frames with that lens. Similarly, I’ve also used the Pentax 1.9/43mm SMCP on the camera with similar conservative use of framelines.

I would expect the Planar’s 47mm focal length to have a field coverage well within the CLE framelines maybe even at infinity. I have that lens too, and it's a gem. But the Rokkor is also a gem - so is the Pentax Special - and IMO either is a more attractive and convenient option than converting the Planar.

 

[everyXnewXday]

45mm lens with CLE 40mm framelines?

According to Contax literature specs, their 45mm Planar is actually 47mm focal length.

The Minolta CLE is a favorite of mine, and I have two. I have not made a formal comparison of the framing accuracy, but of course it changes with focus distance since the framelines are fixed in size. At the "usual" distances, say 2 yards to 10 yards, my sense is that the frames are usefully close to accurate with the 40mm Rokkor.

I also have used the Voigtlander 1.4/40mm Nokton on the CLE and note that the framelines are a bit generous for it. Seems the Nokton has a slightly longer focal length / smaller field of view than the Rokkor. I have tended to use the inside edges of the frames with that lens. Similarly, I've also used the Pentax 1.9/43mm SMCP on the camera with similar conservative use of framelines.

I would expect the Planar's 47mm focal length to have a field coverage well within the CLE framelines maybe even at infinity. I have that lens too, and it's a gem. But the Rokkor is also a gem - so is the Pentax Special - and IMO either is a more attractive and convenient option than converting the Planar.

Thanks so much for the detailed help! Yeah, I knew the 45mm is more like a 47, so I figured it would probably be too tight for the CLE framelines but seeing as the 50mm lines seem so tight on my M2 I thought I would ask. I own the M-Rokkor 40mm too and would definitely use that if I pick up a CLE, but I am adapting the 45mm because it performs much better on my Sony digital cameras than the M-Rokkor, which suffers from quite a bit of extra astigmatism and field curvature on the digital sensor. Never really heard much about the Pentax 43mm. I will have to look into that. Thanks again.

 

[Godfrey]

I have no idea about the framing accuracy that you asked about, just responding about the Pentax-L 43mm f/1.9 Special. It is a superb lens in every respect: Light weight, fast focusing, beautiful focusing action, and very very nice imaging qualities. I've tested it extensively on both the Leica M-D and Leica CL (digital) bodies, as well as the Leica M4-2, and it is one superb lens.

I suspected it would be because the Pentax-FA 43mm f/1.9 Limited that it shares optics with was without a doubt my absolute favorite Pentax lens out of all of them I owned when I was working primarily with Pentax digital equipment. It was such a good lens that I considered keeping a Pentax body around simply to be able to keep and use that lens. 😀

Its performance on the digital sensor cameras is far better than the Summicron-C 40mm, or either of the M-Rokkor 40mm variants.

G

 

[everyXnewXday]

45mm lens with CLE 40mm framelines?

I have no idea about the framing accuracy that you asked about, just responding about the Pentax-L 43mm f/1.9 Special. It is a superb lens in every respect: Light weight, fast focusing, beautiful focusing action, and very very nice imaging qualities. I've tested it extensively on both the Leica M-D and Leica CL (digital) bodies, as well as the Leica M4-2, and it is one superb lens.

I suspected it would be because the Pentax-FA 43mm f/1.9 Limited that it shares optics with was without a doubt my absolute favorite Pentax lens out of all of them I owned when I was working primarily with Pentax digital equipment. It was such a good lens that I considered keeping a Pentax body around simply to be able to keep and use that lens. 😀

Its performance on the digital sensor cameras is far better than the Summicron-C 40mm, or either of the M-Rokkor 40mm variants.

G

Thanks. You both have me intrigued now : ) Have to admit though, it would take quite a lens to win me over in comparison to the Contax G 45mm. There is just something about the color and texture of the images that I love with the Zeiss. I will definitely take a look at the Pentax though!

 

[Doug]

Favorite Mannikin
Year after year in this window on Main Street, dressed various ways, keeping her chin up, perhaps hoping for a better future. She was eventually taken down and dismembered in a corner, then given away to a furniture store. Should ask...

Minolta CLE, Pentax-L 43mm f/1.9 Special

 

[Doug]

I've Got Rhythm
At a childrens' activity center

Minolta CLE, Pentax-L 43mm f/1.9 Special

 

[Doug]

Flu Shot at the county health department

Leica M9, Pentax-L 43mm f/1.9 Special; 1/125 f/4, focus on that needle!

 

[Doug]

The Graduate
Central Washington University

Leica M9, Pentax-L 43mm f/1.9 Special; 1/250 f/6.7

 

[sepiareverb]

I’m also a big fan of that G45. I had one adapted to M but the job was not done as well as I’d hoped, the lens was never the same gem it was before the conversion. Had trouble with the aperture ring when it came back and that was fixed, but the focus was never very smooth. Unfortunately cannot remember for sure who did the conversion, tho I believe it was done through Japan Exposures when they were still doing them.

The Pentax 43/1.9 LTM is a magnificent lens. I’ve had three of them come through over the years. Never shot one on digital iirc, but loved it with HP5+ especially.

 

[splitimageview]

Japan Exposures used to offer MS Optical conversions, which look like this: