Different beasts CL or Canon P

[lxmike]

The meter cell is on a mechanical arm that is linked to shutter operation. Even if the meter is not functional (and it can be disabled), the arm must work correctly for the shutter to function correctly. It's a minor point, but good to know about.

Yes, Don Goldberg and Sherry Krauter are both US based Leica specialists.

G

are there any recommended Leica repair specialists in the UK

 

[Tompas]

Haven't had a Leica CL, but a have a Minolta CLE, which is similar.

I like my Canon P way better. With its Canon 50mm lens it's a dream combination, and with a Voigtländer 21mm or a Ricoh 28mm I use it with auxiliary viewfinders and zone focussing. Feels and works great.

There is one potential catch, though. You can use screw mount lenses on m-mount cameras (with adaptors) but not the other way round.

Probably you should also consider the Bessa R2, R3 or R4. They should not be more expensive than a good CL.

 

[lxmike]

Haven't had a Leica CL, but a have a Minolta CLE, which is similar.

I like my Canon P way better. With its Canon 50mm lens it's a dream combination, and with a Voigtländer 21mm or a Ricoh 28mm I use it with auxiliary viewfinders and zone focussing. Feels and works great.

There is one potential catch, though. You can use screw mount lenses on m-mount cameras (with adaptors) but not the other way round.

Probably you should also consider the Bessa R2, R3 or R4. They should not be more expensive than a good CL.

thanks for your reply, l have a lot to think about🙂

 

[FrankS]

The most significant difference between the CL and P is their lens mount. The M mount allows the use of both M mount and ltm (with adaptor) lenses. The P's ltm can simply not accommodate an M mount lens. You may find that limiting.

 

[lxmike]

The most significant difference between the CL and P is their lens mount. The M mount allows the use of both M mount and ltm (with adaptor) lenses. The P's ltm can simply not accommodate an M mount lens. You may find that limiting.

Thanks Frank have decided to hang on to my money until l can bag another M2, to quote Tom, 'One M2 is not enough', and he should know hes has around 14 M2 I think😎

 

[mike rosenlof]

I have both of these.

If your primary lens is 50mm, go for the P. It has 50mm framelines, the CL does not.

 

[css9450]

I have both of these.

If your primary lens is 50mm, go for the P. It has 50mm framelines, the CL does not.

Mount a 50 on the CL, and the 50mm framelines come up. Its framelines are 40/50 or 40/90, depending on which lens is attached.

 

[mike rosenlof]

css is correct. haven't used the CL in a while

 

[css9450]

Of course the fun part is with LTM lenses.... I have a couple different LTM-to-M adapters, and one brings up the 50 framelines, and the other doesn't. Sure enough, I've found myself with the wrong one on there, trying to compose a photo anyway! I'll learn that lesson eventually...

 

[rogue_designer]

Sell the M2, get two P's.

 

[rfaspen]

I think I saw "save and get another M2". I know that's not an easy thing to do, but you'll be happier in the long run. Would be great if you could find one here on RFF, from someone who knows its true working condition and so on.

In the future, I can almost guarantee you'll come across opportunity to pick up a Canon P or a CL, or some other beauty (I like Barnacks) if you wanted. Get the reliable kit in house first so you can get on with making photos, and you'll find that those fun toys somehow show up and get added to your "collection" over time.

 

[David Hughes]

Hi,

I have had my Leica CL for decades; one of the lenses went back to Leitz for them to sort out a problem, free of charge and whilst I waited and scrounged brochures. It had an accident in Scotland and the repair would have been expensive but it was insured. Since then it's been serviced once (RF drifted off target).

I also had a CLE but took it back and got my CL off the shelf; lucky it was still there.

Newton Ellis in Liverpool repair CL's and a lot of other cameras.

FWIW, I've a lot of Leicas and lenses. The ones I use most are the CL and mini 3. Then a little way behind the M2 and some way behind the Barnacks (II and IIIc mostly). The digitals; Digilux 2 gets a lot of use, still; the Digilux 3 was sold and the M9 gets some serious use.

If you've the M2 then I'd get another as back up; mostly because using a metered camera (especially the CL) after the M2 causes worries...

Regards, David

PS Or you could get an Oympus XA or Konica C35 both are good quality RF's.

 

[besk]

The Elmar can't be collapsed completely into the CL but in the past folks (including me I think) put embossing tape around the barrel to keep it from collapsing fully.

The 50/2.5 Color Skopar is the perfect lens for the CL imo. It matches the focusing accuracy of the rangefinder. And is compact.

 

[David Hughes]

An elastic band works just as well and can be easily removed afterwards.

Regards, David

 

[newspaperguy]

Still waiting. :bang:

WHAT did you buy?

(Like Raid, I sold my Leicas and kept my P.)