Lynx 14E, CLE or Hexar for Available Light

[azinov]

Please give me Your opinion about the best Rangefinder for primary Available Light photography. I consider a Lynx 14E, Minolta CLE or Konica Hexar with Voightlaender Nokton 40 1.4

Yashica Lynx 14 E
- hard to find one in a good condition
- needs service
- operates with no battery
- no changeable lenses
- shutter spped limited to 1/500, so you have to stop down in bright sunlight

Minolta CLE
- comact and light
- aperture priority
- Is the VF big enough to focus that fast lens?
- can be used with other lenses
- needs service too

Hexar RF
- no 40mm brightlines
- film transport
- newer technology
- bigger viewfinder, but I am still not shure if it is possible to focus reliably the nokton
- faster shutter speed, so you can shot nearly wide open at sunlight
- it should be possible to get a camera in better condition
- is it compatible to leica lenses?

So which one would You get?

 

[feenej]

Hexar RF if I could afford it.

 

[kully]

The Hexar will comfortably focus the 40 Nokton at f/1.4 - this is from personal experience.

The R{2,3}{m,a} will also be fine, although I find focussing harder.

Hexar: http://www.cameraquest.com/konicam.htm

 

[NickTrop]

If money is a consideration - I vote for the Lynx. Even with servicing, it will cost less than the other two. It has the fastest lens, is fully manual, and has a very quite leaf shutter. Serviced, it will last you the rest of your days due to its mechanical simplicity - or I should say "elegance". The CLE by the way (don't own) is a great camera but I have read a lot of posts that it is "delicate" and prone to requiring repairs. The top 500 shutter of the Lynx is no issue for me at all. If it is, use another camera in bright light or use an ND filter and slower speed film.

If money is "no object" I vote for the Hexar. It's the best camera of the lot but - let's face it, it's not in the same class as the Lynx. That said, the Lynx is the best "low light" camera I own.

 

[sleepyhead]

The CLE is a lot quieter than the Hexar RF, if that's a factor for you to consider. The Hexar is a bigger and heavier than the CLE.

In my experience, both are about the same for focusing the 40 Nokton wide open, the CLE having the advantage of having the correct framelines.

IF you are definitely set on the 40mm Nokton, then I would get a CLE for it - SMALL, QUIET, and well balanced package for unobtrusive low light work. Plus, the AE on a well-functioning CLE CANNOT BE BEAT, not even by the Hexar AE.

(I've used both, sold the Hexar and now have two CLEs, one for colour, one for b&w.)

In summary, I think these are two quite different cameras, each with their strengths and weaknesses.

 

[laptoprob]

CLE. No doubt. small, quiet and very, very strong build. I used the 50/1,2 as well on the CLE. Not the greatest balance, but a perfect combo.

 

[NickTrop]

The CLE is a lot quieter than the Hexar RF, if that's a factor for you to consider.

Really? I thought the Hexar RF was renowned for its quietness.

 

[kully]

That's the AF, the RF has a shutter (noise level) the same as a Bessa but it's the motor winder that adds extra noise.

 

[Steve Bellayr]

Oddly, enough I was shooting with the Lynx 14E a few weeks ago...indoors with natural light coming through the window. I rarely got to the last f/stop. I did find the focus patch difficult to see (I wear glasses) and was forced to zone focus. It is a heavy camera. A shade is difficult to find for the camera. The other two I don't know much about with the exception that repairs (parts for the CLE) could be hard to find. I am not certain if a 1.4 is that much more preferable to a 1.7 considering the heft of the camera.

 

[gavinlg]

Not if Mr. Motor Drive has something to whirr about it!

 

[ferider]

Just thinking out of the box here: how about a user M3 ? Perfect with the Nokton.

Otherwise the CLE. Framelines and noise win.

Roland.

 

[mackigator]

Noise

Noise

Hmmm .. CLE and Hexar RF are pretty close for noise. Both quiet, but you don't have to advance the CLE right away and the Hexar RF winds on. I like both but the Hexar RF is a nicer camera and meters better than my CLE for consistent results in aperture priority mode. The Hexar RF will work easily with a broader range of lenses, but if you only want a fast 40, perhaps go CLE (Right now the Hexar RF is my first stop for worry-free rangefinder shooting).

I did a noise test awhile back that is still up, I believe: www.clarkmackey.com

 

[azinov]

I was not sure about the focus of fast lenses on cle/hexar. It seems to be ok - thank you kully, laptoprob and sleepyhead.

low noise is not important for my photography.

So the small package of the CLE is a nice feature. The havier Hexar or Lynx at home does not take any pictures. Considered, that the CLE has 40mm framelines it seems to be the better choice for me than the hexar.

I would combine the GX with a Lynx to take the GX always with me and use the Lynx for the Magic Hour and other Available Light Photos.

On the other side I could buy a CLE with Nokton 40/1.4 and always have the fast lens with me. Does some one know how the Yashica GX and the Minolta CLE compare in size and weight? Combined with a nice 28mm the CLE gives a nice travell set too. The Lynx seems to big for a travell camera.

The price difference does not influence the decision between this options.

So if I find a nice CLE, it would be perhaps the better option?

 

[wgerrard]

I don't have personal experience with any of that trio, but I'd want to know who was going to CLA and service my purchase before I made it. Parts for both the CLE and the Hexar are reportedly disappearing.

 

[BigSteveG]

Lynx is sweet....the Yashinon lens produces great images...I need to use mine more. The VF is a bit dark That's the only real issue I have with it. I suppose that could be addressed w/ a good cleaning. For $35.00 I cant's complain too much. I just don't use it enough to put money into a CLA. Mark Hama aka "Yashica Guy" is the acknowledged master of service for these monstrous looking cameras.

 

[niimo]

Have you considered the Hexar AF?

Bit more pricey $300-$400 I think, but it has that awesome silent mode that is just amazing! It is very comact, and very sharp! I don't own one, but got to use my friends' it was a pleasure! He swears by it, saying that he rarely gets bad shots with it.

 

[RayPA]

without a doubt, the CLE with the Nokton 40/1.4. I have both the CLE and the Hexar RF (and the AF). Get the CLE, and get a Luigi case and a wrist strap. The CLE is hands-down one of the best RF cameras around.


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