Flash Advice for Minolta CLE

[matteo29103]

Hello guys!
I’m Matteo and I’m new on this forum, I hope you can help me a bit with a little problem I’m having recently. Are two months from now on rhat I own a Minolta CLE with a nokton 40 mm and I was thinking to use flash for street photography. I tried just to see if my Contax TLA140 works on it and I saw that if I align the center Pin it just fire from the 1/30 shutter speed till the Bulb mode, but it never fire at the syncro shutter speed (1/60). I decided then to not use it for this problem but also because I was worried that it could ruin the contacts of the camera. So I devided to buy the Reflx Lab Flash and guess what? same problem. I went to a camera shop here in Switzerland amd a person told me that i need to use a flash with an attach of three pins, I searched on internet and I’ve found out that I can use old Minolta’s flash of the x series as is written on the manual for the CLE. In the meantime I tried with another flash with three pins this time, it is a Canon Metz 24 and it give always the same problem as i wrote before. Do you think I is a matter of using the electronics of the same brand? (Minolta) Or I should give my camera on repair?

Thank you for the attention!

 

[Sonnar Brian]

No first hand experience with the CLE:

BUT

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Minolta made a dedicated flash for it. The extra pins that connect the meter of the camera to the flash: no industry standard. Often dedicated to a camera/flash combination.
I can't say if the camera needs repair or not: but I do believe the dedicated flash is required to allow the camera's meter to operate with the Flash electronics.

 

[aw614]

Something must be wrong on your CLE. I have the Reflx lab flash and a Minolta electro flash 3 with the standard one pin flash for the hot shoe and both work at 1/60 on my CLE.

I do have a later flash, the Maxxum 1800 AF, but I have not film tested it, that one I read was supposed to work with TTL metering, but I just havent had a chance to use it on film.

 

[matteo29103]

Do you think is just a matter of cleaning the contacts inside or completely change the contacts?

 

[WoodallP]

I don’t know the CLE, but out of interest does it fire at higher speeds? Obviously it won’t synch but most cameras I have had will fire a flash at any speed.

 

[matteo29103]

No it doesn’t

 

[aw614]

I just tried out the Reflx lab flash again and the Minolta AF 1800 Flash on the CLE and it seems past 1/60 the flash does not fire if the speeds are not manually set. At 1/60 and below the flash fires.

 

[matteo29103]

Do you think that at 1/30 of a second i still have the possibility to freeze the movement at F/8 for street photography?

 

[hap]

I suggest that you give a call to Digital and film Camera Repair serving the Central Valley. He is a master with the CLE. Trained and technician for Minolta when it was at Signal Hill, CA. I trusted him with my CLE.

 

[matteo29103]

How much did you pay for the reparation? I’m an italian from Switzerland so I also need to send the camera.

 

[CMur12]

Does the CLE offer the same system for TTL (through the lens) flash metering as for the X-700 and X-570/500?

If so, you need to use a Minolta PX series flash. Other brands offered dedicated flash for different brands of camera, as well. I have a Vivitar 3700 flash, bought in 1984, with an attachable flash module dedicated to Minolta PX. On the Vivitar flash module, it says DM/M-TTL.

I don't think Minolta made the only 3-contact flash, so if you get a 3-contact flash dedicated to another brand, it might damage your camera. You need to make sure that the 3-contact flash is dedicated to Minolta.

- Murray

 

[matteo29103]

I recently bought the Minolta 280PX to try. So how to you explain the fact that to otger person it works at 1/60 with the Reflex lab flash?

 

[AveryWagg]

I use a Minolta Auto 280PX with my CLE. Works just fine under 'A' for Auto. However, double check to ensure your subject is within flash range before you start taking pictures. Here's a few pics of both the flash unit and the camera and flash. I have the manuals for both the flash unit and the camera, so feel free to ask any questions. BTW, I just love that Voigtlander Heliar 40mm lens. It's just insanely sharp..

..Avery

 

[matteo29103]

Thank you so much! but i was interested on using it in Manual mode. and if it works i will buy the minolta autoelectroflash CLE.

 

[AveryWagg]

Ok, here's that page from the manual..

..Avery

 

[matteo29103]

Thank you so much!
The Flash is really big for the camera?

 

[AveryWagg]

Thank you so much!
The Flash is really big for the camera?

Minolta had a much smaller version specifically made for the CLE (called the Auto CLE, with a guide number of 14), but this Auto 280 PX was actually made for the Minolta 700. Any of the PX series flash units would work with the CLE though. When I went looking for a compatible flash unit a couple of years ago for the CLE, the Auto CLE flash unit wasn't available anywhere..

..Avery

 

[matteo29103]

ueah I know this…I just asked how much big it is the flash in proportion with the camera because from the pictures it seems quite big

 

[hap]

I use a Minolta Auto 280PX with my CLE. Works just fine under 'A' for Auto. However, double check to ensure your subject is within flash range before you start taking pictures. Here's a few pics of both the flash unit and the camera and flash. I have the manuals for both the flash unit and the camera, so feel free to ask any questions. BTW, I just love that Voigtlander Heliar 40mm lens. It's just insanely sharp..

..Avery
View attachment 4850899View attachment 4850900

You are correct. Minolta auto 280px should be fine. If you wish, I suggest you call Scott Nielsen and ask him. I bought a Minolta flash for mine...but i've never used it. Really nice guy and knowledgeable CLE

 

[matteo29103]

i’ve sent him an email! thank you to everyone for your help. I will let you know how it will go!