any advice for using the CL?

[juno_lau]

hey!!!

my lens arrived finally!!!
althrough it is just a jupiter-9
but i think i will have to stick to it for a while...


this is the 1st time for me with a rangefinder
is there anything i have to be aware of?

i think the meter of the CL is a "spot" meter, right?
so what should i point at when i want to do the metering?
i have never use a spot meter before (if the pentax ME super is center-weighted)

and can i shoot the sun?
will it burn the shutter?

thanks


OOOOOOh!!!
i definitely have GAS
which 40mm lens should i target?
can i focus the CV 40 / 1.4 on the CL?

 

[Ivax]

Hi juno_lau:

I have no CL at all, but if you are looking for the original CL user manual, you can donwload a copy from http://www3.telus.net/~telyt/CL_pdf.htm

I hope it will be useful for you.

Best regards
Ivax

 

[oscroft]

i think the meter of the CL is a "spot" meter, right?

It's a fairly large spot in the centre of the frame. You can see the size of the meter sensor if you remove the lens when the shutter is cocked - it is on the end of that lever that comes down when you wind on - so that should give you some idea of the coverage.

so what should i point at when i want to do the metering?

Essentially, the bit that you want to be exposed correctly 😉 Traditionally, and probably best for starting off, you'd meter an area that is about mid grey in brightness - but basically the main area of your subject providing it isn't excessively bright or excessively dark with respect to the rest of the frame should be pretty close. What I'd suggest you do is just go out and shoot a few rolls, metering whatever happens to be in the centre, and see what you get.

which 40mm lens should i target?

I asked exactly that question here a little while ago, but I can't find the thread now (and the site is painfully slow for me right now so I can't do any searching) - if I can find it later I'll give you a link.

can i focus the CV 40 / 1.4 on the CL?

Apparently you can, yes (but I suspect it might be a bit tricky close up and wide open)

 

[juno_lau]

It's a fairly large spot in the centre of the frame. You can see the size of the meter sensor if you remove the lens when the shutter is cocked - it is on the end of that lever that comes down when you wind on - so that should give you some idea of the coverage.


Essentially, the bit that you want to be exposed correctly 😉 Traditionally, and probably best for starting off, you'd meter an area that is about mid grey in brightness - but basically the main area of your subject providing it isn't excessively bright or excessively dark with respect to the rest of the frame should be pretty close. What I'd suggest you do is just go out and shoot a few rolls, metering whatever happens to be in the centre, and see what you get.

hmmm...
so i think i can just do what i do normally

I asked exactly that question here a little while ago, but I can't find the thread now (and the site is painfully slow for me right now so I can't do any searching) - if I can find it later I'll give you a link.


Apparently you can, yes (but I suspect it might be a bit tricky close up and wide open)

but if i bought the CV 40 / 1.4...
there is no point to not using it wide open... right?
i donno how to use a flash, so i will most likely to do avaliable light stuff...


and what about the point-to-the-sun thing?
do i have to avoid it??? 😕

thanks

 

[oscroft]

so i think i can just do what i do normally

Yes, I'd say really just meter the way you would with an averaging meter to start with - just bear in mind it's more heavily weighted towards the centre and will be more influenced by highlights or shadows in the centre.

but if i bought the CV 40 / 1.4...
there is no point to not using it wide open... right?

No, not really. I'm sure the 40/1.4 will be fine wide open when you're not focusing close - but I don't have one, so for close up wide open focusing you'll need someone else. There may have been something in that other thread.

and what about the point-to-the-sun thing?
do i have to avoid it?

Yes, I would be very careful pointing it directly at the sun - it only has a single cloth shutter that I expect could be burned quite easily.

 

[JNewell]

The CL has a very short effective rangefinder baselength. At f/1.4, you are likely to have focusing "failures" - depth of field is very shallow.

Point it at the sun and you will need a new shutter or (if the shutter is cocked) possibly a new meter cell.

 

[juno_lau]

😱 it sounds serious!!!

but what is the exact meaning of "point it to the sun"?
does it have to be in the center of the view to cause the damage? immediately?
or even if it is at the coner, so the sun can never go into the field 😕

and another problem is
how could i check the frameline switching mechanism?
as it seems my 50mm frame is always there, i mean there is no lens or when i mount a 50mm adapter on it (of cause), but i dont have a 90mm adapter to check it...

sorry for these stupid questions

 

[oscroft]

I just found the earlier thread about a 40mm lens for a CL. It's here. (And no, I haven't got one yet)

 

[bankcheck]

May be have a bit less coffee before you use it (particularly in low light), I found the vibration is more obvious. Just my 2 cents.

 

[Vincenzo Maielli]

Yes, Juno, the meter of the Leica CL is near to spot (i own a CL). I own also a Jupiter 9 85 mm f/ 2 and i love very mutch this portrait lens.
Ciao.
Vincenzo

 

[juno_lau]

oh

if i want to shoot b/w
and put a yellow filter on it
can i meter with the yellow filter?
or do i have to meter 1st, put the filter on and do the compensation?

 

[Andy Aitken]

The meter will still be accurate with the yellow filter in place.

Speaking of which - are you aware of the battery issues on the CL? An unadjusted CL will give incorrect readings with the modern 1.5v batteries. There are a few ways round the problem but you need to be aware of this.

 

[juno_lau]

it's ok
i think mine is adjusted to 1.5v
but the battery come with it is still the 1.35...
i am going to take it out and replace it with a new one anyway

 

[Vincenzo Maielli]

The Leica CL (and the similar system of the Leica M5) read the light in TTL mode. Therefore, when you employ a filter, the CL meter adjust the light measurement according to the filter factor.
Ciao.
Vincenzo

 

[underbyte]

I use the CL with a Summicron-C, 90mm Elmar-C and a CV 25mm. The meter is closer to a spot than a center weighted but it depends which lens you are using too. Treat it like a spot meter and you should do OK. Expose for the medium grey or shadows.

 

[John Robertson]

Get an MR9 battery adapter, Wein cells ALWAYS fail when there is a half used film in the camera!! Mine gives the correct reading when the check button is pressed.

 

[dacaccia]

the Weincell is ok. Since this battery operates with air, you should take it out of the camera before storing it, and wrap it in a plastic. It then stops exhausting itself.
Another possibility: buying PX625 via eBay. Those batteries - which have to be disposed after use - are said to last a very long time holding their full voltage. Kisselbach in his CL book talks about two years in the camera!

Cheers,
dacaccia

 

[gramario]

Leica CL manual.

Leica CL manual.

Greetings to all CL owenrs and enthusiasts from a newbie.
I note that someone posted that you could get a CL manual at this site:
http://www3.telus.net/~telyt/CL_pdf.htm
Unfortunately, I see that it is no longer working. DOes anyone by chance have another link, or perhaos they could e-mail the one that was at that site.

Many thanks,
Rupert.

 

[gramario]

Oops

Oops

I forget to mention just why I need the manual. I dug out my old 1970's Leica CL; nostalgia initially, but perhaps subsconciously prompted by a longing to get away from my digital and back to something authentic and enjoyable. I hate spending hours at the computer when I could be taking photos.

Cheers,
Rupert.