HU Leica CL

Nice. I wonder if the meter works? They do have good feedback but do not expressly mention that. Just says "Mint".
 
That's not a bad price for a body and lens. I'm not sure I would have set $499 as BIN, but if I didn't have a CL already I'd give this a shot.
 
oscroft said:
$500 with a 40/2 included - that sounds like a good price to me
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It is. If the meter is working. If not, it's a bit much.
 
You know, even if the meter is not working this is still a good price. The lens alone is worth at least half that. And to have the hood, cap, strap & a couple of filters all with a clean CL for that price? I think that's a very good deal. Enjoy it biglou/JC!

-Randy
 
vrgard said:
You know, even if the meter is not working this is still a good price. The lens alone is worth at least half that. And to have the hood, cap, strap & a couple of filters all with a clean CL for that price? I think that's a very good deal. Enjoy it biglou/JC!

-Randy
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I've seen the lens alone sell for closer to $300 from time to time. Even if it needs a CLA, it's still a deal. Too bad I don't have the cash to have bought it and re-listed it here...
 
vrgard said:
You know, even if the meter is not working this is still a good price. The lens alone is worth at least half that. And to have the hood, cap, strap & a couple of filters all with a clean CL for that price? I think that's a very good deal. Enjoy it biglou/JC!

-Randy
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I don't agree. Meterless CL's typically seem to go for about $100-150. Reason being once the meter is gone, it's usually gone unless you can find a donor camera.
 
rich815 said:
I don't agree. Meterless CL's typically seem to go for about $100-150. Reason being once the meter is gone, it's usually gone unless you can find a donor camera.
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If anyone sees a meterless CL going for 100 to 150, please let me know; I'd like one and I'm not bothered if it has a meter or not. In fact, I might go and have a look now.

Cheers,
rich.
 
I recently got a meterless CL with 40 summicron-C at around USD460...in Hong Kong. Fair or not...I don't know...but I am used to taking picture with my handheld light-meter. I'm happy with my new toy!

Cheerz-bm
 
itf said:
If anyone sees a meterless CL going for 100 to 150, please let me know; I'd like one and I'm not bothered if it has a meter or not. In fact, I might go and have a look now.

Cheers,
rich.
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Yeah! Where do we find these cheap meterless CL's??? :D
 
Somehow a myth has been formed that a dead CL meter is dead forever. Indeed, I myself was a victim in the early 90's when my trusty CL's meter died and I was induced to sell the whole kit (CL, Rokkor 28, 40 Sumicron and 90) for a laughably low price. Had I known about these good people: http://www.angelfire.com/biz/Leica/ I would have held on to it. The subsequent entry of the commercial world to the Internet has however brought me a reasonable and working CL (from KEH). It has also informed me that CL meters can indeed be repaired in Luton, England simply with a new metering cell which the usual way a CL meter dies. Their prices look good too.
- Børre Ludvigsen
 
I'm with rich on this one

I'm with rich on this one

Bought a busted meter CL once, had Sherry Krauter do her best at reviving it and a CLA, ended up selling it later for a net $500 loss.

I guess a meterless CL could be useful for someone who doesn't need metering, but if you were to add say a pocket meter like the VCII, then you lose the benefits of the portability, and you still have a camera that will have challenges focusing close up with fast lenses and the robustness of the regular sized Ms, IMHO.

rich815 said:
I don't agree. Meterless CL's typically seem to go for about $100-150. Reason being once the meter is gone, it's usually gone unless you can find a donor camera.
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borrel said:
Somehow a myth has been formed that a dead CL meter is dead forever. Indeed, I myself was a victim in the early 90's when my trusty CL's meter died and I was induced to sell the whole kit (CL, Rokkor 28, 40 Sumicron and 90) for a laughably low price. Had I known about these good people: http://www.angelfire.com/biz/Leica/ I would have held on to it. The subsequent entry of the commercial world to the Internet has however brought me a reasonable and working CL (from KEH). It has also informed me that CL meters can indeed be repaired in Luton, England simply with a new metering cell which the usual way a CL meter dies. Their prices look good too.
- Børre Ludvigsen
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I'm with you, Borre. Here in the US, Sherry Krauter can fix and/or replace a broken CL meter. That's what she did to mine earlier this year and it works like a charm now. So in my view there's no reason not to buy a CL with a broken meter if you can get it for a reasonable price.

And Ted, sorry about your "net loss" and my recollection is that your personal experience in that deal was not a positive one which may influence your overall impression of the CL camera itself. But as I said above, Sherry fixed mine. Yeah, it cost about what the body itself is worth with a working meter. So I would be at a loss if I had paid what it was worth with a working meter. But I paid less knowing the meter was iffy and for a good period of time enjoyed the camera sans meter. And yeah, I would still be at a loss if I tried to sell it now since I paid as much as it's worth to have it fixed (so I would be out what I paid for the camera originally, although I did have the enjoyment/use of the camera even before I had the meter fixed). And Sherry was kind enough to check with me before doing the repair. She even pointed out that the repair cost is about what the camera would be worth with a functional meter. My response to her was that I wanted everything operational and planned on using the camera rather than selling it. Her response was "good for you!"

I guess my overall point is that the CL is a fine camera. And, as Borre has already pointed out, a busted meter is no reason not to get one. You can use it sans meter or have the meter repaired/replaced. The only issue is, as with any used camera purchase, whether you're paying a reasonable price for the condition of the camera. And, in my own opinion, $100-150 is a steal for a properly functioning CL with a busted meter. In the case of the original poster of this thread, the meter may be perfectly functional in which case he got the camera and lens (plus other goodies) for a total price that looks well below the going rate for each.

-Randy
 
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Hi Randy

Hi Randy

These are all good points. The thing to keep in mind is that the CDS meter cell is a constantly degrading thing. The cell may last 15 or 20 years, but is constantly degrading over time. In 10 years, it will not be as sensitive as when it was new. An adjusted meter for current type battery and centered over the EV range is an interim fix, but in another ten years, it's sensitivity will be further decreased and until a new cell is needed.

Also, the swing arm inertia will not keep the cell in a constant position over time it will gradually need an adjustment that other M's will never need (except maybe the M5), and that adjustment may or may not coincide with when you need a new cell or cell adjustment or other work.



vrgard said:
I'm with you, Borre. Here in the US, Sherry Krauter can fix and/or replace a broken CL meter. That's what she did to mine earlier this year and it works like a charm now. So in my view there's no reason not to buy a CL with a broken meter if you can get it for a reasonable price.

And Ted, sorry about your "net loss" and my recollection is that your personal experience in that deal was not a positive one which may influence your overall impression of the CL camera itself. But as I said above, Sherry fixed mine. Yeah, it cost about what the body itself is worth with a working meter. So I would be at a loss if I had paid what it was worth with a working meter. But I paid less knowing the meter was iffy and for a good period of time enjoyed the camera sans meter. And yeah, I would still be at a loss if I tried to sell it now since I paid as much as it's worth to have it fixed (so I would be out what I paid for the camera originally, although I did have the enjoyment/use of the camera even before I had the meter fixed). And Sherry was kind enough to check with me before doing the repair. She even pointed out that the repair cost is about what the camera would be worth with a functional meter. My response to her was that I wanted everything operational and planned on using the camera rather than selling it. Her response was "good for you!"

I guess my overall point is that the CL is a fine camera. And, as Borre has already pointed out, a busted meter is no reason not to get one. You can use it sans meter or have the meter repaired/replaced. The only issue is, as with any used camera purchase, whether you're paying a reasonable price for the condition of the camera. And, in my own opinion, $100-150 is a steal for a properly functioning CL with a busted meter. In the case of the original poster of this thread, the meter may be perfectly functional in which case he got the camera and lens (plus other goodies) for a total price that looks well below the going rate for each.

-Randy
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Perhaps, Ted. But c'mon, 10 years? I guess I'm just not too concerned about having to have the meter adjusted and/or repaired again in 10 years. Heck, I should probably do a CLA again then anyway. So it's not as robust as other M cameras. That's nothing new. It's still the smallest M mount camera going. And besides, the very cute waitress in that great little beachside restaurant in Lahaina Maui even commented on it when she spied it sitting on the table by saying, "Wow, cool camera!" Isn't that alone worth something? ;)

-Randy
 
A CL, even without a functioning meter is still a great camera. Think of it as an updated IIIf with a much much better viewfinder. Size-wise they are similar. (CL is taller but IIIf is longer)
 
Edit: I over-reacted with my post here and wish to retract it. Ted's issue turned out only to be about shipping to/from Canada. My apologies, Ted.
 
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