50mm lenses on the Leica CL

Sonnar Brian

Sonnar Brian

Product of the Fifties
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Most people keep the 40mm Summicron on their Leica CL. I prefer the 50mm lens on it. The camera and lens is no bigger than a Canonet Ql17 GIII and gives me the 50mm FOV that I prefer.


Nikkor 5cm F2 wide-open on the Leica CL:

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Anyone else use a 50mm lens with their CL?
 
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I've tried my 50 'cron on my CL just because there was some film in it and the subject said "Fifty mm!". I don't like the CL's 50 frame line.
 
Brian, as much as I agree with you about loving the 50, the whole idea of the CL is a reduced size M camera. Putting a 50 on the CL kinda defeats that purpose. I mean, if I'm going use a larger 50 then I might as well use a regular sized M camera. So, bottom line for me is that despite my love for 50's, I use the 40 on my CL. Just my $.02 worth, mind you.

-Randy

P.S. Of course, I do make an exception for that beautiful "Sweeney-fied" J-3 which is so small and light that it complements the CL very well.
 
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I've found the Canon 50mm F1.5, Nikkor 5cm F2, and J-3 will go onto the CL and fit into its pouch case. They are not that much bigger than the 40/2 Summicron. Those are the only 50's that I really use on it. I try to keep the combination compact.
 
I like the 50mm on my CL although I don't have a 40mm for direct comparison. The 50 is still a nice little package with some reach. Size/weight proportions are still a great combination on a CL.

I also agree with Randy's thoughts because I think the last roll through my CL was shot for the most part with my CV 35/1.4mc. Just can't beat the compactness but it requires a little guessing on the other side of the 40 frame lines.

I don't really track which lenses I use but photo sharing sure would be easier in cases like this.
 
I have recently decided to get a 50mm lense on my wife's CL, because of its framelines... after some times using the 40mm, she finally admitted that it was not always easy for her to clearly visualize the 40mm framelines (especially the right-end) and that she was naturally tempted to frame considering the 50mm as the most obvious within the CL viewfinder... so, after a while looking around for a compact 50mm, that could render quite close to summicron c-40, I have finally brought home a really affordable Color Skopar 50/2.5... Size is almost identical to summicron 40 (including its lenses shade)... it fits just perfectly... nice combo !
:)
 
Ghiom said:
I have recently decided to get a 50mm lense on my wife's CL, because of its framelines... after some times using the 40mm, she finally admitted that it was not always easy for her to clearly visualize the 40mm framelines (especially the right-end) and that she was naturally tempted to frame considering the 50mm as the most obvious within the CL viewfinder... so, after a while looking around for a compact 50mm, that could render quite close to summicron c-40, I have finally brought home a really affordable Color Skopar 50/2.5... Size is almost identical to summicron 40 (including its lenses shade)... it fits just perfectly... nice combo !
:)
Click to expand...

Sounds interesting, Ghiom. Please share a picture of this combination when you can.

Thanks,
Randy
 
Here are 2 pics, but I prefer to post just here as these are not "glamour", just as this CL isn't neither !



(by the way, any infos about someone who could fix up meter cells in Europe???)
 

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Indeed the combo is nice, although we did not finish its first roll... but this CL needs a lot... (dead cell, top and lower plates to be repainted or something... the viewfinder is fine, but maybe it could be better...) still a good user anyway, cannot complain !
 
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That does look good. The proportionality looks right and the finish on the colar skopar looks to be a nice match to the CL. Thanks for posting those pics Ghiom.

As for repair work on a CL, I highly recommend Sherry Krauter although I realize that she is not in Europe.
 
Thanks for the tip ! As for the skopar on the CL, indeed, size and finish is matching just fine... and the ergonomics of this lense makes it very pleasant to use. ;)
 
I've been using the Nikkor 50/1.4 on my CL recently. It looks great--chrome on the gray repaint. It's nice to change up from the 40 'cron once in a while.
 
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