CLE Auto Exposure Questions

[m.sids]

Hey Folks,

So a few weeks ago I scored a CLE for $280 on eBay with a best-offer auction. It seems to be in fine condition except for a few things.

One of the biggest reasons I got the camera is for the long auto exposure range on aperture priority according to Ken Rockwell. His review stated that on his model that he could get as much as 5.5s at ASA 100 (less as the ASA was set higher). Mine seems to only expose for exactly 1s at its slowest on Aperture Priority mode. Does anyone know if there were different generations with different maximum auto exposure ratings? My serial # on the shoe is 1045732 so that puts it higher than most others I've seen. I do have new 357/303 batteries in it.

I also have an issue with uneven exposures on some shutter speeds. Based on my reading this seems to be something that a thorough CLA can fix if the shutter tracks are dirty or possibly a curtain adjustment. I'm looking at either sending it to Dave Easterwood or driving it up to Andy with Classic Camera in Maine for the work it needs although I know Dave has lots of experience with CLEs.

What is the experience of others with the auto meter range?

 

[olifaunt]

Do you mean uneven over one frame, or between frames? If the latter, the metering isn't perfect, just does a kind of average, so for contrasty scenes you may have to compensate.

 

[m.sids]

By uneven exposures I mean it's a shutter issue like the lead curtain is slowing down or the trailing curtain is catching up. Here are a few examples. One was a fluke that I only saw once but the girl laying on the wall was what most of the images were.

I'm really not too concerned about it since I know it can be fixed almost for certain. The real issue that I am concerned about is the aperture priority auto meter range.

 

[m.sids]

Bump

Can anyone give some feedback about what I should expect from my auto meter range? Could there be a fix or was there a S/N cutoff where they changed components maybe?

 

[Michiel Fokkema]

Be aware that the meter is only accurate when a film is loaded.

 

[m.sids]

Yes I did read that at under 1/60 that the meter reads off of the film so that makes sense. My meter testing was done with a cap over the lens mount but no film in the camera. I will test it once more with some film in just to make sure it won't go slower than 1s although I would be surprised if it did. Thanks.

 

[Palaeoboy]

Hey Folks,

So a few weeks ago I scored a CLE for $280 on eBay with a best-offer auction. It seems to be in fine condition except for a few things.

One of the biggest reasons I got the camera is for the long auto exposure range on aperture priority according to Ken Rockwell. His review stated that on his model that he could get as much as 5.5s at ASA 100 (less as the ASA was set higher). Mine seems to only expose for exactly 1s at its slowest on Aperture Priority mode. Does anyone know if there were different generations with different maximum auto exposure ratings? My serial # on the shoe is 1045732 so that puts it higher than most others I've seen. I do have new 357/303 batteries in it.

I also have an issue with uneven exposures on some shutter speeds. Based on my reading this seems to be something that a thorough CLA can fix if the shutter tracks are dirty or possibly a curtain adjustment. I'm looking at either sending it to Dave Easterwood or driving it up to Andy with Classic Camera in Maine for the work it needs although I know Dave has lots of experience with CLEs.

What is the experience of others with the auto meter range?

Yes there are batches of long and short maximum auto exposures of CLE's just as you have described. It seems that the later serial numbered ones are the short exposure versions. One of my three CLE's is #1045795 pretty much made in the same batch as yours and it is a short Auto version. My other two CLE's in the 102xxx range both have the longer Auto. So there is nothing wrong with that side of things with your camera.

Small particles of the light seal sponge and small pieces of film tear from the sprockets and often block the shutter rails. Check the rails with the back open on B to be sure they are clear. This same light seal sponge goes tacky with age and often blocks the film counter reset button as well. It goes like putty after a while. A good clean out and new seals is always a worthwhile investment.

 

[m.sids]

Thanks Joel. What a coincidence that we both have one made within 63 units of each other! I'm trying to decide if its something I can live with or if I should sell this one. As much as I wanted the 5.5s auto meter range I am kinda leaning towards keeping it and just keeping a cable handy more often. I'll also certainly have my eye out for another CLE in that 102XXXX range though. I have an X-700 that I think does 4s on auto meter aperture priority. Too bad I cant just swing the electronics over to the CLE 🙂

 

[olifaunt]

Yes there are batches of long and short maximum auto exposures of CLE's just as you have described. It seems that the later serial numbered ones are the short exposure versions. One of my three CLE's is #1045795 pretty much made in the same batch as yours and it is a short Auto version. My other two CLE's in the 102xxx range both have the longer Auto.

Mmmm, mine is #103xxx and now you got me slightly curious, but I don't want to waste a frame on testing it.

 

[m.sids]

It would be interesting to find out. Let us know if you're able to test it at some point.