Minolta CLE - what's a good price?

[FrankS]

...ditto....

 

[ampguy]

Hey Randy

Hey Randy

I apologize for the strong words or the inappropriate emoticon.

In any case, I also, am trying to keep users informed, which has *not* been the case in prior threads until I specifically pointed out that:

a) chopping up your lens base ("modifying") to bring up 35 vs 50 lines on an M4/M6 is irreversible, and *may* not be the preferred lines of everyone.

and

b) that any future CLE user, where very likely your lens originated from, will *never* be able to bring up 40 lines again ever with that lens.

It's like modifying vintage tube amps. Be very sure you want to live with that modification forever, or consider buying an appropriate lens designed to fit without irreversable "modifications".

Hope this clarifies things. Thanks Randy.

Easy there, Ted. I was merely reacting to your "head banging against the brick wall" emoticon which implied that modifying the 40mm lens was an objectively bad thing to do. All Frank and I are saying is that some folks think it very much the right thing to do. You are, of course, free to feel otherwise, as do others. Also, I wanted, via my previous post, to provide a bit more info to others who might read this thread and not have the benefit of the knowledge you already have (note that nowhere did I say you did not already have that knowledge - so no need to remind me how intimately you do). And, just as the seller of my 40mm Rokker did, I would of course reveal the modification if I ever elected to sell that lens. Heck, as I've already said, I consider it a benefit and therefore a selling feature. In sum, we merely have a difference of opinion as to the merits of modifying a 40mm lens, nothing more, nothing less. Peace fellow bay area photographer and RFF member! (smile)

-Randy

 

[vrgard]

Thanks, Ted. We're cool. -Randy

(note that I particularly liked your reference to vintage tube amps since, as you and I have discussed offline, is another shared passion of ours)

 

[ampguy]

Thanks Randy

Thanks Randy

See you at the next get together!!

Ted

Thanks, Ted. We're cool. -Randy

(note that I particularly liked your reference to vintage tube amps since, as you and I have discussed offline, is another shared passion of ours)

 

[Graham Line]

Someone said: As nice as the CLE is, I wouldn't pay over $100. Whatever you pay, you're gambling that the electronics won't fail until you've gotten your money's worth out of the camera.

This comment keeps coming up, but in six or eight years of reading CLE threads here and on Leica-oriented lists, I haven't heard from anyone who said "the circuit board in my CLE died." My camera was bought used close to 10 years ago, gets steady use, and the only problem has been dirty contacts on the shutter speed dial. A local repairman cleaned it up and it's been fine since.
True, it's easier to get parts for my '84 car, and it might not be a smart buy for someone on a tight budget, but to my mind, the merits of the CLE outweigh the fact that it might die before you do.
I use the lenses that match the framelines and have great results. There are a few pictures in my gallery here.

 

[Dougg]

This comment keeps coming up, but in six or eight years of reading CLE threads here and on Leica-oriented lists, I haven't heard from anyone who said "the circuit board in my CLE died." My camera was bought used close to 10 years ago, gets steady use, and the only problem has been dirty contacts on the shutter speed dial. A local repairman cleaned it up and it's been fine since.

Yes, that warning is very speculative and not borne out by the history. I think I have heard of one dead CLE. I've had mine since new in 1982, and indeed I've had the contacts you mention cleaned about every 10 years or so. 😀 Otherwise it continues to work flawlessly and remains my favorite 35mm RF, despite that I still have an M2 I got some 15 years earlier.

I use the lenses that match the framelines and have great results. There are a few pictures in my gallery here.

Me too... I occasionally used the 90 Tele-Elmarit (I'd gotten for the M2) with the CLE but it never felt a really comfortable match. So for most of its life the CLE had the 40 Rokkor on it... until the 25 and then 28mm Skopars came along. I liked the 28 focal length so much I sold the Skopar and got serious with a 28 Summicron. An RFF member sold me a LTM Pentax-L 43mm f/1.9 and more recently I found a used 40 Nokton SC, so I'm now well-equipped with glass for the CLE... and expect it to have a long and productive life ahead!

 

[ampguy]

Hi folks, if you keep a watch on ebay, pnet, keh, etc. you'll see quite a few have dead meters, though I don't know if it's statistically significant, what were there 64,000 cl, cl minoltas, and cles ??

 

[Graham Line]

There are two different cameras involved here.
The Leica CL, Leitz/Minolta CL and Minolta CL bodies are the same camera made for different markets. They have a mechanical shutter and (I think) a Cds-cell meter on a swing-arm that pops out in front of the shutter to meter. The cells on these get old and die but there are still places that can repair them for a price. A lot of people don't bother and just enjoy them as a compact, meterless, M-mount body. People advertise them this way on e-Bay.
The Minolta CLE is a different animal with aperture-priority automation, an electronic shutter, and a different rangefinder. Minolta made about 30,000 of them, according to the article at www.cameraquest.com
I'm not saying a CLE never croaked. I'm just saying that they seem to be pretty well-built and I can't document a history of early failures.

 

[ampguy]

Thanks Joe

Thanks Joe

Great info.

There are two different cameras involved here.
The Leica CL, Leitz/Minolta CL and Minolta CL bodies are the same camera made for different markets. They have a mechanical shutter and (I think) a Cds-cell meter on a swing-arm that pops out in front of the shutter to meter. The cells on these get old and die but there are still places that can repair them for a price. A lot of people don't bother and just enjoy them as a compact, meterless, M-mount body. People advertise them this way on e-Bay.
The Minolta CLE is a different animal with aperture-priority automation, an electronic shutter, and a different rangefinder. Minolta made about 30,000 of them, according to the article at www.cameraquest.com
I'm not saying a CLE never croaked. I'm just saying that they seem to be pretty well-built and I can't document a history of early failures.

 

[Squonk]

Now I'm really tempted

Now I'm really tempted

Thanks for the information. It makes this camera a quite tempting proposition...

I forgot to mention in my original post that the deal also includes the flash that goes with the CLE (see attached picture). All in all, I think I'll pay this shop another visit soon (and hope that the kit has not been sold yet).

Just one more question related to the infamous white spots on the 28mm lens. I read in another thread that in some form (around the rim?) they don't present a problem for the picture quality. If I see them on the lens, as from when do I have to become careful?

 

[MarkB]

Joe B & Dougg, I wish I could say a good cleaning would fix my CLE, but this time it's the speed control board which died. I spoke to DAG about repairing, but this is a very difficult part to find! I've been watching ebay for used bodies, but not seeing anything in the $100-$200 range you guys mention.

I haven't tested my 28mm with the white spots in quite awhile, but I think there are some threads in the archives here. It will be interesting to hear what other current users say.

 

[Dougg]

Sorry to hear of your circuit board failure, Mark! 🙁 It's worth noting again that the electronics in the CLE is of a generation where individual components on the board can be replaced. I think that means no custom chips or IC's. If you find a tech with good electronics diagnostic skill he might well be able to identify and replace the failed component on the board with an off-the-shelf item. Especially if he has a good working CLE at hand to compare it to.

 

[ampguy]

Same with Hexar AF

Same with Hexar AF

Uses off the shelf micro electronics made by Honeywell and others. Still need a service manual and parts availability, in addition to a skilled micro-electornics camera tech.

Sorry to hear of your circuit board failure, Mark! 🙁 It's worth noting again that the electronics in the CLE is of a generation where individual components on the board can be replaced. I think that means no custom chips or IC's. If you find a tech with good electronics diagnostic skill he might well be able to identify and replace the failed component on the board with an off-the-shelf item. Especially if he has a good working CLE at hand to compare it to.

 

[rxmd]

Is there a way to get metered manual with a CLE?

Is there a source for the service manual?

Philipp

 

[Dougg]

Is there a way to get metered manual with a CLE?

Hi Philipp -- Yes, you can achieve "metered manual" by metering on Auto then switching to your desired manual shutter speed. See? And some folks claim the CLE doesn't have metered manual! 😀

 

[rxmd]

Hi Doug,

well, that's an option, of course 😉

how does the CLE display shutter speeds? Is there a "christmas tree" or some kind of analog instrument?

Philipp

 

[Dougg]

Hi Philipp -- There's a column of red diodes along the left side of the viewfinder display, with one for each shutter speed, high at the top. So the resolution is one stop increments. You can fiddle the lens aperture to get "centered" on one diode, for instance, for a closer reading. Frankly, I just leave it on Auto most of the time, set the film speed a bit lower than the box speed, and it does very well. I often carry a hand-held meter for incident readings, which I prefer over reflective readings. In my twisted opinion the only good use for a camera's built-in meter is for auto exposure. 🙂

 

[Squonk]

I think it is a good price.

I once almost bought a nice looking CLE with a 40mm in a local shop for Euro 400. I fondled it, passed, went back a couple of weeks later to get it, but it had sold previously that same day. I have not seen a better deal than that (250 for body and 150 for 40mm), and I would say your deal seems similar.

I do not regret it that much, I have enough bodies as it is, but I still think it was a good deal.

/Håkan

Well I faced the same fate. I finally got back to the shop yesterday, only to see that the CLE was gone. Oh well, I have enough cameras anyway 🙁

 

[MP/CLE]

I just picked up a CLE with case, 40, strap and flash for the same price you saw that one. Another *bay ad had the body alone for that price. Hate to say it, but if you snooze you lose. I've never had any problem from a repair standpoint with these cameras (this one being number 4), but I am not hard on my equipment. I also use the leica m 28 cron, the 40 f1.8 (?) nocton, and a leica m 90 elmarit on these bodies with wonderful results.

 

[back alley]

I just picked up a CLE with case, 40, strap and flash for the same price you saw that one. Another *bay ad had the body alone for that price. Hate to say it, but if you snooze you lose. I've never had any problem from a repair standpoint with these cameras (this one being number 4), but I am not hard on my equipment. I also use the leica m 28 cron, the 40 f1.8 (?) nocton, and a leica m 90 elmarit on these bodies with wonderful results.

from ebay?