Minolta CLE - what's a good price?

[Squonk]

Today I saw a apparently nice looking Minolta CLE with its 28mm and 40mm Rokkor lenses (and manual) in a second hand photo shop, the whole package for €599 (about $756). Is this a reasonable price for this kit?

Also, if I let myself be tempted and go in the shop to try it out, what are the specific things I have to look out for (frequent defects and problems)?

Thanks for your input...

 

[FrankS]

No, that's no good. Now tell me where that shop is!

I think it's a good price. The body may be worth $500 and the 40mm lens $250. You'd be getting the 28mm lens free.

You have to look out for white spots on the lens coating (or elelments?) of the 28mm lens. That's acommon problem. The CLE body is electronic. Do not buy unless tested with a battery to make sure it functions properly. An electronic body can be more difficult to get fixed than a mechanical one. Older, quality mechanical cameras are designed to be repairable. Many of the newer electronic gadgets nowadays seem to be disposable.

 

[MP/CLE]

Wow! If it works I'd buy it in a second at that price. I have paid that much for a body alone. Run, don't walk to the store and buy now!

 

[Squonk]

I just saw one going for €1014,- on eBay... To be fair, it also included the 90mm lens and some accessories. But even so, it would seem that €599,- is quite a good price.

Aditional queston: I suppose I'll be able to use both 28mm and 40mm lenses on my Bessa R2A without any compatibility problems (even though I don't have the corresponding viewfinders or frames)?

 

[Flyfisher Tom]

That is a great price 🙂

 

[Dougg]

Aditional queston: I suppose I'll be able to use both 28mm and 40mm lenses on my Bessa R2A without any compatibility problems (even though I don't have the corresponding viewfinders or frames)?

Hi Squonk -- I don't know about pricing, but the CLE has been my favorite 35mm RF for a long time. Those two lenses should fit and work fine on your Bessa R2A, though of course there's the viewfinder frame issue.

The CLE has automatic framelines as on Leica M bodies, but no manual preview selector lever. Lenses that trigger either the 35, 50, or 90mm frames on an M2, for instance, bring up 28, 40, or 90mm on the CLE and vice versa. The CLE, though, leaves its widest frameline visible all the time.

 

[hth]

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

 

[Pherdinand]

Hundred bucks would be a good price. Maybe even a very good price. Especially with a lens included.

 

[ampguy]

Check this

Check this

Check if the lens were ever modded for different framelines for another M model, basically chopping off parts of the lens :bang:

then when you know that status, check with Stephen at Cameraquest and he will know how they will work on a Bessa.

Keep in mind, if the lens were chopped up, their value is less, as their behavior is variable with other M models from that point on.

I just saw one going for €1014,- on eBay... To be fair, it also included the 90mm lens and some accessories. But even so, it would seem that €599,- is quite a good price.

Aditional queston: I suppose I'll be able to use both 28mm and 40mm lenses on my Bessa R2A without any compatibility problems (even though I don't have the corresponding viewfinders or frames)?

 

[vrgard]

Check if the lens were ever modded for different framelines for another M model, basically chopping off parts of the lens :bang:

then when you know that status, check with Stephen at Cameraquest and he will know how they will work on a Bessa.

Keep in mind, if the lens were chopped up, their value is less, as their behavior is variable with other M models from that point on.

Sorry, Ted/Ampguy, but I gotta disagree with you here. The 40mm lens won't trigger the correct framelines on a Leica M regardless of whether it has been modified or not. Unmodified, it will typically trigger the 50mm framelines on a Leica M. Modified, it will typically trigger the 35mm framelines on a Leica M. Many feel strongly that the 35mm framelines are a closer match to the 40mm lens than the 50mm framelines. I purchased a modified 40mm lens for this very reason. So, yes, some may discount priced due to the modification but others may not as in my case.

-Randy

 

[Dougg]

Hi Ampguy -- The Bessa Rxx models all have manual frameline selection, so a mutilated 40 Rokkor will behave on one just like an unmodified lens. But on the CLE the lens modification would mean no 40 frames appear... 🙁

 

[FrankS]

Ted, it appears as though you have been influenced by someone with a strong anti-modification bias. Most folks see the reasonableness of it.

 

[MarkB]

Hi Marc,
The CLE is a great little camera! That's a good price for the body and lenses. Definitely testfire the shutter in both manual and A (aperture preferred) mode, the electronic parts are difficult to replace if they go bad. Enjoy the CLE!

 

[laptoprob]

The CLE is a great and very strong camera. Framelines are not really an issue, I tend to get adapters mixed up all the time when I use the lenses on the CLE and the IIf side-by-side. Frameline selection on the CLE, like any M camera can be triggered by turning the lens a little further than they are supposed to go.
Only do this with the unlock button pushed in!

 

[richard_l]

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.

 

[ampguy]

Hi Randy

Hi Randy

Feel free to disagree with me. However, if you sell your lens to someone else, please be sure to disclose the modification you made or procured on the 40mm lens.

I understand very intimately how the 40mm behaves on all systems. Thank you.

Sorry, Ted/Ampguy, but I gotta disagree with you here. The 40mm lens won't trigger the correct framelines on a Leica M regardless of whether it has been modified or not. Unmodified, it will typically trigger the 50mm framelines on a Leica M. Modified, it will typically trigger the 35mm framelines on a Leica M. Many feel strongly that the 35mm framelines are a closer match to the 40mm lens than the 50mm framelines. I purchased a modified 40mm lens for this very reason. So, yes, some may discount priced due to the modification but others may not as in my case.

-Randy

 

[ampguy]

You are correct

You are correct

Thanks Dougg,

I think this issue has been beaten to death over here:

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=24729&page=2&highlight=cle+framelines

Hi Ampguy -- The Bessa Rxx models all have manual frameline selection, so a mutilated 40 Rokkor will behave on one just like an unmodified lens. But on the CLE the lens modification would mean no 40 frames appear... 🙁

 

[ampguy]

Hi Frank

Hi Frank

Sorry you feel this way. I like to modify things myself. On a stock 40mm Rokkor CLE lens, the user can use as is and get 50mm frame lines on an M4/M6. On a chopped up lens, they are stuck with 35mm framelines.

Please don't assume what is best for you is best for me. OK? Thanks Frank.

Ted, it appears as though you have been influenced by someone with a strong anti-modification bias. Most folks see the reasonableness of it.

 

[ampguy]

They're worth about $200

They're worth about $200

for working beater bodies.

Less if they've been hacked up by some internet crazed readers.

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.

 

[vrgard]

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