cl chat

Just for the record...
1. i never use lens caps or filters
2. i never use meters or viewfinders
3. an M3 is my only film camera
4. im shocked to find myself with 4 lenses,1 must go soon
15vc...noway 40 cron...maybe 90/c cron...maybe 90 2.8...noway

maybe trade 40/90 for 35 2.8 without eyes?[m2]
 
back alley said:
so brian, are you in agreement with the captain that a 28 won't work with the full frame on the cl?
and that it's more like full frame = 35 fov?


I would feel comfortable using the 35 on the Cl with the full frame. The only 28 RF lens that I own is for the Retina IIIS. It has 35mm lines; and the full frame almost covers (~85%) the 28.
 
StuartR, yes it definately still cops a fair amount of flack in that whenever i see someone asking why they should buy one on photonet they always get stuck into it and recomend a bessa instead. But they are missing the point of the CL of which only the CLE can be considered a valid replacement. But you are right in that its not as bad as it once was with the Voigtander range being the new whipping boy!

Strangely it was CL's and CLE's and their 40mm lenses that got me back into using rangefinders most of the time. I had plenty of Nikon Rangefinders in my collection but dont really use them much more just collectables. Also have an M3 that just sat the for ages while I generally used Nikon SLR's. But the compact nature of the CL's and CLE's really worked for me. I can pack 2 bodies and several lenses in a pelican box the size of a lunchbox. Its been really convenient to take on field trips were space and weight have been a concern and they have been taken to extreme parts of the world. The only failure in the field was a CLE that I dropped down a cliff while I was on the end of a rope. Cant hold that against it though! So those who say that you only use a CL as a stepping stone to real M's I say humbug, I find they work better for me than M's. (No bottom loading yay!)

As far as forming a club for CL's your a bit late, there has been a small one going here in Sydney for a few years now for CL/CLE users. Nothing serious just a bit of fun.
 
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As long as we have a few CL owners gathered.... I am curious about the serial numbers of these cameras. The one I just got has a serial number that does not agree with the range I always see quoted in the usual sources like CameraQuest. These sources seem to be relying on information put out by Leica, so you'd think it's reliable.

The starting number I see quoted is 1,300,000, but my camera (plus one I've seen listed for sale currently at one of the on-line dealers) is 1, 03X,XXX. Both are the Leitz/Minolta version, so does that make a difference? Are all the serial number data referring only to the Leica CL? I find this hard to believe, since I understood the Leica CL and Leitz/Minolta CL (and by extension, the Minolta CL) to be made more or less contemporaneously.
 
Mine is 1395xxx. Just developed ala Costco some concert and low light stuff
using the 40 Rokkor and Canon 50/1.4. Kodak UC400. Meter is spot on!
Very cool little camera!
 
Do you guys with the 13 serial numbers all have Leica CLs? I'm beginning to think maybe the Leitz/Minolta and Minolta CLs used a different serial number range. I'd like to hear from more of the CLub/CLique/conCLave.
 
Joe, that's my working theory, which I hope gets borne out. I do find it interesting that the serial number range for the Minolta-badged versions of the camera don't seem to be reported anywhere; makes me wonder how many Leitz-Minolta and Minolta Cls were made. We can do some original research here!
 
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