CLE: Auto+SelfTimer for long exposures

[fer_fdi]

Hi all,

The other night I tried a long exposure using the self-timer, since I didn't have a release cable at hand.
So, camera in AE mode, self-timer, fire.

Around 10 seconds were needed for correct exposure, so I was hoping the CLE to expose at least for it's longer possible shutter speed (around 5 secs) but the camera made exposures of around 1 second.

Is this normal?

What is your experience?

 

[YouAreHere]

I just checked mine. Frankly I've never used the self-timer ( on any camera). Whereas in manual activation the shutter fired long, when I used the self-timer to trip the shutter, it fired short. This may be normal operation. Ordinarily I would tell you to use B instead but then the self-timer won't work at all (at least per the manual).

 

[YouAreHere]

Well I found the way to 'trick' it - just set EV to +2. Then tripping the shutter via the self-timer gave the long fire.

 

[fer_fdi]

I just checked mine. Frankly I've never used the self-timer ( on any camera). Whereas in manual activation the shutter fired long, when I used the self-timer to trip the shutter, it fired short. This may be normal operation. Ordinarily I would tell you to use B instead but then the self-timer won't work at all (at least per the manual).

I would have used B, but without a cable release I wished Auto to work whit the self-timer.
Looks like it doesn't...
Thanks a lot for your help

 

[fer_fdi]

Well I found the way to 'trick' it - just set EV to +2. Then tripping the shutter via the self-timer gave the long fire.

Did that also the other night (but just +1) and still fired short...

 

[YouAreHere]

Try +2. Also:

1. Check your battery strength and type. I use exclusively silver oxide type, never alkaline.

2. ASA should be 1000 or less. My testing was done at ASA100.

 

[Huss]

This chart may be handy
http://www.kenrockwell.com/leica/cle.htm#range

Neither one of my CLEs shoots longer than 5 seconds.

 

[fer_fdi]

Batteries are fresh, but not sure about type.
CLE manual says Silver-Oxyde or alkaline are fine, but for "heavy sustained cold weather operation (approx. -10 C)" use silver-oxyde. It was not cold at all and battery check LED lit very bright.
I'm shooting Portra 160, it should fire up to aprox 5 secs in auto... but in low light and using seft-timer it didn't...

Huss:
Thank you.
Yes, I know that chart; what I found strange and I'm asking about, is that it didn't fired longer than 1 second
instead of maximum possible (around 5), when "correct" exposure was around 10 seconds.

 

[fer_fdi]

I can't make my camera shoot longer than 2 seconds in AE, no matter the settings.
Even at ASA 25 and +2 compensation and not using the self-timer.
No silver-oxide batteries tested yet.

I read around this is normal: some shoot down to 5 seconds at 25 ASA but most shoot down to 2 seconds.
I'd like confirmation though.

In fact the manual specs a slowest speed of 1/2 second in AE...

 

[Palaeoboy]

I can't make my camera shoot longer than 2 seconds in AE, no matter the settings.
Even at ASA 25 and +2 compensation and not using the self-timer.
No silver-oxide batteries tested yet.

I read around this is normal: some shoot down to 5 seconds at 25 ASA but most shoot down to 2 seconds.
I'd like confirmation though.

In fact the manual specs a slowest speed of 1/2 second in AE...

This is correct most shoot only down to 2 seconds while a batch are able to be induced to shoot down to 5 seconds. There is no explanation why. It is neither a later or early modification either. Out of my 3 CLE's. 2 only go to 2 seconds and 1 goes to 5 seconds. But its serial number is in between both of the 2 second ones. So its pot luck what you get!

 

[fer_fdi]

thanks a lot Palaeoboy, I was going to investigate serial numbers but I see I don't need to.

How great this community is, thank you all

 

[fer_fdi]

time have passed and shot 23 rolls with my beloved CLE. Mainly Potra 160, Lomo 100 and TMax 100

I didn't found this (2'' vs 5'' max AE time) to be a problem at all; in situations of very low light were I still used AE, the camera choose a faster than 2 seconds speed, and for longer exposures I always use it on B with a release cable (and use my iPhone and/or my intuition to measure)
Also, for long exposures between 2 and 5 seconds, the AE on the CLE would not apply a reciprocity failure factor to the exposure, so...

I'm delighted at how well my CLE measures light. Of course it could be great to have AE Lock sometimes, but I'm extremely pleased anyhow and never miss anything (ok, maybe a small rubber grip area) And not missing anything is happiness 😛

I used alkaline batteries all this time but recently switched to EPX76 silver-oxide because of their steady discharge plateau.