MINOLTA CLE Flash on a LEICA CL or alternative???

F

FOWL

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Does anyone use the Minolta CLE Flash on other Leica's and find it works for them?
I am looking for a small pocketable flash for my CL and possibly my M6 and wondered if that would do the job or if I should look for an alternative?

cheers
 
No the CLE Autoflash cant be used with a CL. Its TTL only with no manual or Auto modes. There are many tiny manual flashes that are dirt cheap even smaller than that of the CLE one. If you move up in size you find them with Auto modes so you can set your aperture and let the sensor in the flash adjust the exposure for you. Even Metz made some smallish ones like that.
 
And the auto ones are dirt cheap, no one seems to want them.

Regards, David

PS That's auto exposure, BTW. The Minolta version might be designed for the CLE but the CL is a pure mechanical camera and flash will have to work via the 1/60 (or slower) and via the hot shoe.
 
OK, thanks, can someone please send me some (ebay?)links to possible alt. that could work with the CL, I just want something small , cheap and reliable.
thank you
 
Hi,

If it will help; the flash I bought and used new with my CL was the Vivitar 2500. Fairly versatile, even by today's standards, and easy to find in good condition on ebay and so on.

Obviously, you'll have to switch the CL shutter speed to 1/60th by hand (automatic in the CLE with its dedicated flash) and set the aperture of choice on a dial or slider on the flash by hand. Also the CLE etc has a little light in the view-finder to say it's ready and the Vivitar has the light on the back of the gun. Little else to say except that the Vivitar will cover a wide range of lenses' FoV and can be used for direct or bounce flash.

I could say more but a day or two ago I packed the CL up to send off for a repair to the RF so can't get them both out and play with them before typing this.

Another point in the Vivitar's favour, it uses AA's. And once you've set it up is automatic in use. Older manual ones involve a minor calculation and careful setting of the camera and distance and so on. It's not a small flash, more medium sized but the difference is worth it.

Regards, David

PS But beware of using the Vivitar on a digital as I've no idea if the flash's circuitry can fry the digital camera's innards or not.
 
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