Minolta CLE with Voigtlander Lenses? (15mm and 25mm)

[adriankeith]

Hi all,

New to rangefinders and managed to snag a CLE online for a nice price. My question now is, will my Voigtlander lenses mount up to the CLE OK?

I have the two --

Super Wide Heliar 15mm f/4.5 ASPH II Leica M Mount
Color-Skopar 25mm f4 P Leica M Mount Lens

Will I be able to use these two on the CLE?

Thanks!

 

[Hogarth Ferguson]

Should work just fine, according to pictures I have seen online.

 

[Huss]

I don't have the 15mm, but I have used the 25mm with no issues on my CLE. Even though I have a separate 25mm finder, I find that using the entire frame in the VF (outside the 28mm lines) works well.

 

[adriankeith]

Should work just fine, according to pictures I have seen online.

Great!

I don't have the 15mm, but I have used the 25mm with no issues on my CLE. Even though I have a separate 25mm finder, I find that using the entire frame in the VF (outside the 28mm lines) works well.

I was wondering how the framelines would work. I have external VFs for both so I'm OK in that regard, but nailing focus was a concern for me. I suppose I really need to learn how to zone focus if that's a better way to approach these lenses/the CLE.

 

[Scrambler]

The CLE will "nail" the focus fine. You would need something like a 25mm F0.5 for the lens to be too precise for the focus. I used to focus the 21mm/f4 on the CLE but it's a habit as the depth of field is so great you can just set for hyperfocal.

 

[taomei]

The CLE worked perfectly fine with a Voigtlander SWH 15/4.5 III and Zeiss ZM Biogon 25/2.8 back when I had the CLE. There's no swing arm or anything that would interfere with the metering.

 

[adriankeith]

The CLE will "nail" the focus fine. You would need something like a 25mm F0.5 for the lens to be too precise for the focus. I used to focus the 21mm/f4 on the CLE but it's a habit as the depth of field is so great you can just set for hyperfocal.

Ah, gotcha. Thanks!

The CLE worked perfectly fine with a Voigtlander SWH 15/4.5 III and Zeiss ZM Biogon 25/2.8 back when I had the CLE. There's no swing arm or anything that would interfere with the metering.

Hello Zeiss ZM Biogon lol, wow. Very nice lens. Sounds good! Excited to shoot with the 15mm.

 

[adamr1699]

Did you buy my CLE

Did you buy my CLE

Hi Adrian,
welcome,
I just sold my CLE on eBay to someone named Adrian, was that you?
Adam R.

 

[adriankeith]

Hi Adrian,
welcome,
I just sold my CLE on eBay to someone named Adrian, was that you?
Adam R.

LOL, well, I mean I guess we shouldn't be surprised at how small of a world it is 🙂 Indeed it is. I am anxiously awaiting its arrival. I think I've checked tracking at least 10 times today, haha.

Are you still shooting with a RF now that you've gotten rid of the CLE?

 

[adamr1699]

LOL, well, I mean I guess we shouldn't be surprised at how small of a world it is 🙂 Indeed it is. I am anxiously awaiting its arrival. I think I've checked tracking at least 10 times today, haha.

Are you still shooting with a RF now that you've gotten rid of the CLE?

Of course I am 😛 . Im using my M2, the CLE was the backup camera, but I'm moving soon and have to thin the pack so to speak. I think you'll really love the CLE, it's a great camera. Message me on here if you have any questions about it, and i'd love to see some of the images you make with it.
Adam R.

 

[adriankeith]

Of course I am 😛 . Im using my M2, the CLE was the backup camera, but I'm moving soon and have to thin the pack so to speak. I think you'll really love the CLE, it's a great camera. Message me on here if you have any questions about it, and i'd love to see some of the images you make with it.
Adam R.

Will do! I'm getting back into film after a pretty long hiatus so I don't have any familiarity with developing after getting into digital years back. What's your process like for getting these online? Do you just have a shop develop and scan them for you or do you do the scans yourself?

 

[Scrambler]

The shop approach is the quickest by far. And while you didn't ask of the question of me, I can say that overall you would have to be doing a lot of film to make a dedicated film scanner worthwhile, and then its still a lot of time. The upside of self-scanning - assuming you have a suitable scanner - is that you can make a number of choices yourself. But generally - pay the extra, get the shop scan. if it really floats your boat after a bit, get a suitable scanner (another huge question is "which one?")

 

[adriankeith]

The shop approach is the quickest by far. And while you didn't ask of the question of me, I can say that overall you would have to be doing a lot of film to make a dedicated film scanner worthwhile, and then its still a lot of time. The upside of self-scanning - assuming you have a suitable scanner - is that you can make a number of choices yourself. But generally - pay the extra, get the shop scan. if it really floats your boat after a bit, get a suitable scanner (another huge question is "which one?")

I appreciate your input! I figure the shop will be my route for now. I would like to eventually develop my own film. I've done some cursory reading on scanners (Epson V500/V600 come up a lot) but have also seen brief mention of "scanning" with a DSLR.

 

[Scrambler]

Scanning - camera can be good (need equipment though), flatbeds (like the Rpsons) give a very different result (and lower actual definition) to glassless 35mm scanners. The plus of the lab is it's a glassless scanner, the minus is you don't control what its doing.

I've had an old opticfilm scanner - I would go with a new or near-new one with Vuescan (over the bundled Silverfast) software. My current scanner is an old Canon one - but these devices are getting long in the tooth and rare.

 

[adamr1699]

I appreciate your input! I figure the shop will be my route for now. I would like to eventually develop my own film. I've done some cursory reading on scanners (Epson V500/V600 come up a lot) but have also seen brief mention of "scanning" with a DSLR.

I agree with scrambler. I personally used an epson flatbed for a while and just recently switched to DSLR scanning. I'm still getting the hang of it but it is a lot faster than flatbed and I think gives better results.

 

[adriankeith]

I agree with scrambler. I personally used an epson flatbed for a while and just recently switched to DSLR scanning. I'm still getting the hang of it but it is a lot faster than flatbed and I think gives better results.

Mind posting what your set up looks like?

 

[BillBingham2]

Yes please and thank you.

B2 (;->

 

[adamr1699]

Mind posting what your set up looks like?

I'll be sure to post a pic on friday when I get home, I'm currently on a two day trip in Chicago!

 

[Palaeoboy]

Great!



I was wondering how the framelines would work. I have external VFs for both so I'm OK in that regard, but nailing focus was a concern for me. I suppose I really need to learn how to zone focus if that's a better way to approach these lenses/the CLE.

While the ability to zone focus will come in time especially on the 15mm when you realise just how much depth of field this lens has at any aperture. That said the versions of the lens you have specified are fully cammed and compatible with the CLE (unlike some earlier versions) so rangefinder focus will be available to you and permit precise focusing especially at the really close ranges when needed. Focus first and meter as required and once those things have been done then lastly move to the external viewfinder for accurate framing.

 

[maigo]

Dude, you're everywhere. I just saw your comment on BHT's YouTube post about the CLE.

I'm in a similar situation.
I have the CV 15 and CV 25 a Bessa-L body and a Canon P.
Need something lighter than the P and smoother than the L for walk-about and travel.
Will follow this thread with interest.




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