CLE, yet again...

[MP/CLE]

Over the weekend I picked up my cle from the drawer together with a 28 'cron and shot some early morning color in steamy northeast Florida on the way to Starbucks (I pickup the skinny, decaf, grande latte for my wife and I've done the good for the day!). I had the choice of the MP/M7/XpanII, but the first inspiration was the cle. I love my leica lenses... all speed, clean and mean, but my favorite box is looking more and more like the ole cle. My last photo-fishing vacation included only the XpanII with full bag of lenses... I couldn't drag the pan with me under my fishing vest, while the cle has done it many times. The XpanII made some beautiful pans of entire valleys and didn't miss a beat with the family/kid shots during the 4th of July parties, and is a beautiful package over all. The whole time I was thinking of the cle. My leicas outweigh my cles by a pound (so it seems) though the solid feel lends stability and naturally their seamless acceptance of the full boat of incredible lenses makes my day. The cle seems to fit my hand better and has a lightweight, yet substantial solid build of it's own. I can't very well express the draw the cle has for me, but the more I shoot, it seems my first love may be my best love...

 

[back alley]

do you 2 want to be alone...😉

the cle is one of the few things i've sold and regretted.
the cl is similarly a wonderful feeling camera and quite often the camera of choice for a fun outing.

 

[MP/CLE]

I, too, bought and sold one in 1986. I always regretted it. I bought my second and third in '03 and '05. I thought alot about a hexar rf, but apparently not enough to pull the trigger. I think the size is the most compelling aspect about it. It does the M7 stuff in a smaller package, while performing nearly all the same tricks. I really like my M7... I just end up using the CLE way more frequently... so frequently that I sold my MP as it was becoming a drawer queen (navy talk... a "hangar queen" is a plane that has so many 'downing gripes' that it cannot be flown and therefore is a "hangar queen"). Kind of makes my screen name a little passe... One thing that has made the CLE special, though, has been its ability to use the leica lenses... without the CLE's mating well with every leica lens I have I wouldn't have ever bought another CLE. After all, the magic is in the lens, the camera body just gets all the glory.

I haven't used a CL, but a friend of mine swears by his and has stated he will only buy something else when his CL suffers irreparable damage. Although he is envious at my CLE's 28mm framelines, he has yet to breakdown and try any aperture automation.

Just thought I'd share my minor cle proclivity... my wife sure doens't understand.

 

[back alley]

i bought a brand new cle outfit at ken hansen's in nyc when there was still a store and a reputable business there.
the service was fantastic.

then i bought another full outfit locally at a dream price from another hobbyist like myself.

then i got tired of 35mm, i had a hard time with the small negs in the darkroom and also thought i had 'grown' and needed to move into medium format.
i sold all my 35mm gear and wound up with 2 mamiya 6's and 2 lenses.
i loved that kit too but life got me down, hit hard with another divorce i just let things slide.

when i came to i realized i hadn't taken a photo in years and dust was thick in the darkroom too.

i sold all that mf gear and bought a bessa r with 35/75 and started all over in 35. moved in canon p territory and now back to m mount.

i'd love another cle body for the 28 fl too.

anyone want to trade a working cle body for a great hexar af?

joe

 

[Dougg]

I agree; the CLE continues to be my favorite 35mm RF, since it was new in '82, even though I still have cameras bought earlier, several Pentaxes and a Leica M2, and Kievs, Bessas and Contaxes bought since. For years it was virtually a one-lens camera with the 40 Rokkor stuck to it, only rarely given a break by the 90 T-E. It's blossomed even more over the past year now with the 28 'cron I got for it, and more recently the 40 Nokton.

I'm just a little embarrassed that the Leica is not getting more usage, so I just stuck a roll of Pan F in it, with the 50 Skopar and CV 75mm finder in the shoe ready for the Heliar too.

That CLE is a sweetie for sure... 🙂

 

[PhotoGeek]

The CLE I'm shooting with now is my first rangefinder, and I love it!

I have no desire to get anything fancier, maybe someday, but the CLE is a beautiful camera, only complaint is the lack of a faster shutter speed, 1/2000 would be nice.

It was thanks to folks like Doug there that helped lead me towards a great camera.

Thanks guys,
-petre

 

[laptoprob]

welcome home joe!

welcome home joe!

anyone want to trade a working cle body for a great hexar af?

joe

Joe,

I wondered recently about your comment on your camera budget. ;-)
When you got the CL I remembered your earlier reportsabout your fondness of the CLE.
I too share your enthousiasm for the CLE. The camera is easy, versatile, fast and very strong. If only they would have added an exposure lock like on the similar SLR's..
I am still in doubt on the choice over Hexar RF or CLE to take along on my upcoming cycle trip in eastern England. Either will work fine I guess.

 

[Dougg]

The CLE I'm shooting with now is my first rangefinder, and I love it!

Happy to hear you're enjoying your CLE! Surprising there really hasn't been anything really competitive with it made since! The new Zeiss Ikon might be a replacement, but it's larger and not so "innocent" looking. 🙂 And the 28 + 40mm combination is a real winner.

 

[PhotoGeek]

The 28 and 40 are definitely two great lenses, I'm not up to a 15 voigt, 28 voigt, 40 leitz, and a 90 leitz.

I have noticed that it does somewhat disappear. People are so used to the idea of the photographer with a large bulky 35 digital attached to a huge lens now that it's pleasant to fade away.

You still, however, do get curious looks periodically. haha.

I wouldn't mind getting my hands on a new black Ikon one bit though, beautiful camera, I really want to hold one and hear it before I decide to break down and buy one, not in the near future though. More than content with where I am.
-peter

 

[MP/CLE]

Happy to hear you're enjoying your CLE! Surprising there really hasn't been anything really competitive with it made since! The new Zeiss Ikon might be a replacement, but it's larger and not so "innocent" looking. 🙂 And the 28 + 40mm combination is a real winner.

Right, Dougg, the 28 and 40 combo is outstanding. I use the 28 'cron and the rokkor and nokton 40s. I have dragged the 90 elmarit-m around but have not used it in over a year...I seem to be able to do what I want to do with the 28 and 40s. I have really enjoyed the nokton... the step up from f2 to f1.4 opens up some opportunities.

I have not used one but isn't the Konica Hexar RF in the same category as the ZI as a CLE replacement? Bigger and more imposing, or 'not as innocent'? Not that either of my CLEs need replacing...

 

[Dougg]

I have not used one but isn't the Konica Hexar RF in the same category as the ZI as a CLE replacement? Bigger and more imposing, or 'not as innocent'? Not that either of my CLEs need replacing...

I haven't had the opportunity to personally see either a Hexar RF or a ZI, but I do have an M2... I think a lot of the CLE look of "innocence" has to do with the styling resembling a compact leaf-shutter RF on first impression. Now that compact leaf-shutter RFs aren't so common, we may get curious looks because it's obviously not a digi-p&s. 🙂 But it still doesn't convey any imposing or serious impression. Just a little old manual-focus camera; don't mind me...

I don't have a burning need to replace my lone CLE, but since it's a favorite rig I do worry a little that if it broke fatally I'd be really unhappy. I have considered getting a second body as insurance. But, oddly, the Bronica RF645 gives some of the same unimposing impression despite its larger size. And it's become a favorite too.

 

[HansDerHase]

Ok CL-Guys. Here is a question from one who considers hunting down one of those...

As I have never look through a CL viewfinder. And as my second biggest concern in a camera next to the lens is the viewfinder, I'd like to ask what the viewfinder is like. Bright and contrasty as an M viewfinder?

 

[back alley]

i think my cl is a bit more clear than the m3 but neither is even close to the zi.

when i look through a new external finder, like the one that came with the 21mm lens, that is more like the zi, extremely bright and clear.

but the cl is easy on the eyes and easy to focus.

 

[KoNickon]

Hans, I was out shooting with my CL last night and I can tell you the viewfinder is very nice indeed -- fully as good as any other M camera, and nice eye relief for eyeglass wearers like me. The rangefinder patch is a little smaller than a Leica M, though, it's more like the Bessas'.

 

[MP/CLE]

Guys, I do not know what the difference is between the CLE and the CL viewfinders... the CLE's is quite bright and very effective for the 28 and 40s that I use. I have used the 21 asph with the auxillary viewfinder to good effect. The 90 elmarit-m was not as easy as it is with the M7, but I do not use it much anyway. I find I use my ae cameras more than the manuals like the CL.

 

[sleepyhead]

The shape and design of the CLE is beautiful and unique as well. Particularly the top plate. Its front corners are pointed, but the back ones are rounded. Also, the profile of the top plate is flat when viewed from the front.

The CLE is a classic IMO, both from an asthetic and functional point of view.

 

[MP/CLE]

The shape and design of the CLE is beautiful and unique as well. Particularly the top plate. Its front corners are pointed, but the back ones are rounded. Also, the profile of the top plate is flat when viewed from the front.

The CLE is a classic IMO, both from an asthetic and functional point of view.

I agree... a true classic, wonderfully designed and shaped and a tremendous performer. I did note that the ZI top plate has the same shape... pointed at the front and rounded to the rear. Still not the small, convenient size of the CLE. A bit of true flattery to minolta by the ZI guys in the design of their flagship?

 

[MP/CLE]

Now my 13 year-old daughter has pulled out a CLE and asked about how to use it, what lenses do, how they differ and the basics of photography. Apparently, she remembers me taking pictures of her with the camera and she equates the memories she sees in print with the camera that took them. What better inspiration for me to set her up with her own system! Uh-oh, now I'll have to buy another one...

 

[Dougg]

Uh-oh! 😀 Another young-un ready to learn & grow with the RF!

 

[MP/CLE]

Now my daughter has her own CLE... she was almost as excited about it as I was! Actually she is very business-like in her attempts at composing and shooting pictures, and appears to take it more seriously than anything but horseriding. We'll see how long she stays with it, but she certainly takes good care of her equipment. Almost brought tears to my eyes! Also her interest was a valid opportunity to indulge in a little GAS when I saw the perfect buying opportunity. Its hard to let a good deal on great equipment pass!