Looking for a flat 35'er for my CL

R

RML

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Woohoo! I finally got the adapters to attach my LTM lenses on my new Minolta CL! I'm busy shooting a roll to see how it all works out but the experience already seems nice. The CL is small, the ffflap of the shutter is less loud than the Bessa R's ccclap, and the CL feels rather good in my hand.
Of course I just had to have a tiny accident on its first outing; I let it slip from my hand when I was attaching a neck strap to it. Fortunately, it only dropped from a foot or so but still the bottom got some sratches and rock bites. It now has a neck strap so it won't fall so easily anymore though I'm a little worried about it swinging this way and that way.

I attached my trusty 50/2 Jupiter-8 to the CL but I'm actually looking for a 35'er. And now that I've seen and felt how small the CL is, I want the flattest 35 I can afford.
Seeing that the CV 35/2.5 pancake (1) is actually bigger than the CV 35/2.5 Classic, I don'tthink I'll get that one. The CV 35/2.5 Classic is the same size as the CV 25/4.5, and I found it a little big. It is affordable though, so the Classic is a contender.
Now, the new CV 35/2.5 Pancake 2 seems smaller than the Classic but is it? It's not too expensive, so it could be a contender as well.
Does any of you have more suggestions on flat 35'ers in either LTM thread or M bayonet, which don't cost me an arm and a leg, and that yet are f2.5 or faster?
 
I don't think you'll get anything much flatter than the VC pancake II at 35mm & at f/2.5. But if you really want flat, the Kobalux 28mm f/3.5 is about as flat as you can get in a "normal" wide angle & it is made in Leica M-mount.

The 28mm lens made by Kobalux ceased production 2 years ago. You can get information on it at Dante Stella's website. There is no back stock at B&H or Adorama, so you'd have to post a WTB (want to buy) on the various rangefinder sites or scour ebay & other used equipment sites. Good luck.

You can get a description of the lens at www.kobalux.com/k28-2.html
 
Congratulations on your "new" CL! Nifty little camera... Looking for a lens with excellent optics and small size, you can hardly do better than a 40mm Summicron-C. Or perhaps even better, the later Minolta Rokkor 40mm from the CLE which is multicoated. AND the CL has viewfinder framelines for 40mm... :)
 
Huck, Doug, thanks for your replies.

I don't know why I didn't decide on the Summi-C in the first place. I'm out buying one now, on the internet of course. :)

Just today I also got a very nice Voigtlander set of lens hood, UV filter and sky filter (all 40.5mm screw). And just last week I found a B&W yellow filter (also 40.5mm screw) while my dad was cleaning out some rubbish. They fit my Jupiter-8 but that one is for my Bessa R. So I dug up an Industar 61 L/D to sit on the CL for now.
I stuck the yellow filter and the hood on the 61 L/D, and stuck it all on the CL. I loaded some Efke KB100 in it and tomorrow morning I'll go for a walk through quiet early morning Amsterdam to shoot some BW withe CL.

I don't shoot BW very often so when I've shot the roll I can indulge myself in some BW processing again. Maybe I should bring a few more rolls of Efke KB100 instead of my regular Hema 400 colour film....
 
Sounds like some fun shopping... As you bring up the filter issue, 40.5mm will fit the Jupiter and the CLE Rokkor (I have both), but I think the CL lenses used a different filter thread for Series 5.5 filter adaptor. Just what I hear...

Good that you got a couple mount adaptors so can use your existing lenses while trying that new body! I have a few rolls of B&W waiting for me to mix up some chemicals and clear a work area; I haven't developed film for quite a few years....
 
Doug, I think you heard right about the differing filter threads. I'll see what that Dutch seller on eBay can do for me.

I just had to get adapters! I have a few very nice lenses in LTM and I'm a bit weary of spending more money on similar lenses in M-mount.

The last roll I developed must have been about a year ago now. I still have a roll or six of Efke KB100, and I think they end up in the CL. I went out today and shot a whole roll just to get used to the camera. One of these days I'll brew up some soup and develop it.
 
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