Ken Rockwell's Review of the CLE

[Palaeoboy]

I just noticed Ken has a review of the CLE on his website.

http://www.kenrockwell.com/leica/cle.htm

He seems to like the CLE but can you spot all the factual errors though? LOL

Please just enjoy reading the review and promote any discussions about the camera and some of the points that are in error, but please dont let the thread go off into Ken bashing thread. I enjoyed reading it all the same in his enthusiasm for the great little CLE.

 

[RayPA]

I just noticed Ken has a review of the CLE on his website.

http://www.kenrockwell.com/leica/cle.htm

He seems to like the CLE but can you spot all the factual errors though? LOL

Please just enjoy reading the review and promote any discussions about the camera and some of the points that are in error, but please dont let the thread go off into Ken bashing thread. I enjoyed reading it all the same in his enthusiasm for the great little CLE.

Nothing "new" there really. It can all be gleaned from RFF and CQ (probably was!). Still it's nice to see. The CLE is a great camera. I'm pretty sure that someone here debunked the idea that the CLE is compatible with the Minolta XD series SLR cameras.

/

 

[DougFord]

I agree, the CLE is a great little RF. Just wish that there was a new, updated version, like a ¾ size Zeiss Ikon ZI; for me that would be the perfect film RF camera.
Like Ken, I used to use the 28mm 2.8 asph on my CLE, but opted for a clean rokkor 28mm lens to use along with the summicron-c. The biggest issue is no 50mm frame lines, SOB. Oh well. All in all, I figure if I can’t get it done with this rig, it’s time for a new hobby. Long live (hopefully) the CLE. 🙂

 

[Palaeoboy]

Like Ken, I used to use the 28mm 2.8 asph on my CLE, but opted for a clean rokkor 28mm lens to use along with the summicron-c.

Doug, what did you think of the 28 ASPH in comparison to the Rokkor 28? DId you switch to the Rokkor because the character of the Rokkor was closer to the Summicron-C?

 

[DougFord]

Doug, what did you think of the 28 ASPH in comparison to the Rokkor 28? DId you switch to the Rokkor because the character of the Rokkor was closer to the Summicron-C?

The 28mm 2.8 asph fits like a glove on the CLE. My Rokkor 28mm had just started to develop spots on the inside edge of the black paint behind the front element so I sent it off to Focal Point. John Van Stelten emailed me and said he was having a bear of a time cracking the thing open, he wasn’t sure if he would be able to. While he kept at it, I decided to buy the Leica. Persistence paid off and John finally managed to take it apart. John did an excellent job, it’s like a new lens, very clean and smooth. The two lenses are completely different animals in their rendering. I decided on the Rokkor and sold the Leica, pocketing a grand in the exchange.

 

[back alley]

i love the cle and it was a hard choice to sell it in order to fund the rd1 pair.

if minolta ever made a digital cle i would be first in line to buy one.

joe

 

[Palaeoboy]

Joe, I didnt know you sold your CLE off? Thats a shame.

The most obvious of Ken's errors is that the CLE was NOT a joint project between Leitz and Minolta it was a solely Minolta affair. There is also a real possibiity, based on press releases I have that the "L" in CL and CLE may not stand for Leica, something that has been stated for decades now. That should promote a bit of discussion LOL

 

[ZeissFan]

Could be a while before Minolta makes a digital CLE. In fact, it could be never, as they no longer make cameras.

I also like the idea of a smaller Zeiss Ikon -- something roughly the same size as the Contax IIa.

 

[dng88]

I think it is a joint project in the sense that Leica authorised it and also I recalled at least one lens is labeled as minolta but actually leica.

KRR is not prefect but for popular web columnist he is one of the few advocate of film, film camera and even rangefinder.

 

[Bill58]

A camera repair guy here can actually FIX/ replace the electronics of a CLE! That's comforting for me since I now got one and I luv it.

ALSO--if you haven't already, put some Loctite on the threads of the decorative ring that surrounds the rewind crank on the bottom of your CLE before you lose it!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Palaeoboy]

I think it is a joint project in the sense that Leica authorised it and also I recalled at least one lens is labeled as minolta but actually leica.

Sorry but your thinking of the CL. The CLE was a sole project of Minolta and all 3 lenses were made in Japan.