CL UPDATE: Yesterday I got my CL delivered. This time Fed-Ex didn't screw up my day off. A while back I was expecting my 50 Lux-SL to be delivered, but the driver left a post-it note saying I was not home when in fact I had specifically taken off from work and waited all day. Basically all the driver had to do was deliver the package, but that did not happen that day.
So then I have to go to a remote part of the Bronx in freezing cold on a Saturday to retrieve the package that should of been delivered. Pretty much if you live in poor neighborhoods expect Third-World service. This is true for USPS and UPS also.
So a miracle happened and somehow I got a package delivered as scheduled. I got the CL around lunchtime and by the time I went to bed I had to recharge the battery a second time. Understand that the battery has not been conditioned yet, but I found I depleted it pretty fast with all my test shots and chimping.
The CL is a great camera for someone who has a handful of cherry picked Leica glass. For me there is a big advantage of having access to Leica lens profiles for corrections. Pretty much Leica in and Leica out seemed the best with my lens testing that included the 58/1.2 Noct-Nikkor (using M-Profile for the F1.2 Noctilux); the 35/1.8 Nikkor in LTM (yellow tint from nuclear hardening); and black Canon 28/3.5 LTM (not ASPH sharp like my 28 Cron).
The Leica glass seemed to be best: 28 Cron; and 50 Lux-SL.
The CL is rather elegant in that it is really a basic camera with three buttons on the back; two knobs on the top plate; and a joystick. After using my SL and Monochrom the camera is mucho intuitive.
So I really embraced using "A" mode with spot metering and single point AF. The upper right knob is a two-step, 3X, 6X zoom, the upper left knob is for exposure offset (exposure offset). The camera even with the 28 Cron, which features a handy focus tab, quick focus was easy without using focus peaking.
I have a cool scalloped hood that was a limited edition that now sells on EBAY for $1K. The 28 Cron is about 3/8 inch shorter than a 35 Lux ASPH Pre-FLE, and the lens does not seem overtly large and for an every day compact carry I think this is a cool rig with a 42mm FOV. This lens is wonderful at F2. Very smooth.
I like the 28 Cron over the 35 Lux ASPH Pre-FLE. I owned both at the same time and the 28 Cron, although ASPH is not overly contrasty like the 35 Lux's signature and especially the 50 Lux ASPH.
The Noct-Nikkor 58/1.2 effectively is an 87mm F1.2. The Noct-Nikkor is known for its bokeh and smooth OOF that looks kinda like the rendering of large format. This is a very crazy lens on the CL, especially shot wide open. There is mucho focus snap, and when combined with the 3X and 6X magnification nailing the focus is mighty easy. This is a useful lens on the CL. Pretty much an ultimate portrait rig.
The 50 Lux-SL is an awkward package. The 50-Lux is big even on a SL body, but as stupid as it looks I found myself holding the lens as a grip. LOL. I use spot focus combined with single point AF. On the SL this single point is movable using the joystick with my right thumb. On the CL the single point focus and spot metering are always centered in the frame, so there is a rangefinder like focus and then compose where in "A" mode the exposure goes along for the ride. In its own way the CL is a fast shooter, but my SL because of the movable focus point of course does not introduce errors.
I will be returning the Match Technical Thumbs Up. I foung the probing and poking into my side annoying. I also remember John's report of how the combination of using a strap with a Thumbs Up wore holes through clothing.
I do like the Leica grip for the CL. The grip has to be removed to replace the battery or to remove the SD card. My 32 GB card holds 683 DNG files. The turn on is about 3-4 seconds, so the "John Factor" of turning on the camera to take a shot is viable, not like on my slow Monochrom, to save battery power.
I found using the electronic shutter for silent mode disturbing. For me it was comparable to an out of body experience, and was very odd. I have it in extended mode, where it is mechanical to 1/8000, then above 1/8000 till 1/25,000 it is a silent electronic shutter.
The strap is one length with no adjustment. The split rings are tiny and appropriately sized. Easy to remove. This is kinda cool for wrist strap conversion to go into stealth mode.
So the 28 Cron loves the CL. at 42mm FOV I see no need for a 23mm- TL lens. Using MF is fast enough, and the 28 Cron has ideal rendering and is compact enough for an EDC (Every Day Carry).
The 35 Lux-TL is required as the F1.4, for the 52mm FOV, and most of all the AF.
The 50 Lux-SL is effectively a AF 75 Lux. Enough said, except big and heavy. Better than buying a 75 Cron-SL though. I have a 50 Lux-R "E60" which also creates a 75 LUX, but only MF. The 50 Lux "E60" renders very much like a Noctilux, except that it is only F1.4 and does not have the light fall off in the corners.
The Noct-Nikkor is just insane. F1.2 at 87mm on top of low coma glass. For night shooting definately a very creative tool. Know that I paid $300.00 to have this lens cleaned and serviced. Even without the 28 Cron and 35 Lux-TL the CL is worth the price to have the 87mm F1.2 capability. Again focus using 3X and 6X without focus peaking is easy.
Cal