Minolta CLE

FrankS

FrankS

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So, I have a CLE body coming to me in the mail. I've resisted this camera for many years due to its electronics and unrepairability should it croak. A gear trade deal presented itself and I decided, what the heck! You only live once, and the CLE is a sweet camera.

Also part of the trade are a Pentax digital spot meter and a chrome Canon/Serenar 28f3.5 lens with viewfinder and case. These are the 2 items I was most interested in, while the CLE was necessary to match the value of my side of the trade. (Distagon 40C T* lens, and Bessa L body) I've owned this lens before and loved its sharpness and compactness. The meter is simply a classic that everyone should experience.

The CLE with the Serenar 28 lens will surely make a great combo. The meter will help with my many cameras without built in meters.

I'll report back after receiving and using this new gear.
 
Nice! I'll probably have to pick one up eventually if a nice one crosses my path. I already have its older brother the CL which has become one of my favorite cameras.

Be sure to show us some pics from it!
 
I'd love to hear your feedback after a few rolls; I'm debating on whether or not to buy one in the next few months to use as a light weight, easy to use and carry M mount body.

I've heard it doesn't meter in manual, which is surprising; is that true?
 
FrankS said:
The CLE with the Serenar 28 lens will surely make a great combo.
Click to expand...

No.
It will make a fantastic combo! The CLE's 28mm frame lines are better than in any Leica that I have. Absolutely perfect.
Prepare to be amazed at the insanely smooth film advance, and the delightfully crisp shutter release.
And if you need light seals, contact John Goodman. He sent me a couple of sets about a month ago.

jon_goodman@yahoo.com
 
FrankS said:
and no exposure lock in AE.
Click to expand...

This is the killer for me, as I find exposure automation without AEL (auto-exposure lock) useless.

Years ago, I had a Minolta XG-9, which had the same exposure setup as the CLE. I metered in aperture priority auto mode and transferred the reading - with or without exposure compensation - to a manual shutter speed. This wasn't as inconvenient as it sounds, as the auto mode was a setting on the shutter speed dial and it was easy to turn the shutter speed dial to the desired manual setting.

- Murray
 
I have way too many cameras including a CL and CLE. The CLE is one of the best of the lot for many reasons. However, I have screwed up royally by not remembering that it will not meter in manual. Lights blink and stuff happens...but not good stuff.

I have had some issues with the battery dying and then the camera won't wind or fire....and not having a spare like I should. It also has an on off button that's easy to forget.

Great view find and mine service a long time ago by Gus Lazzari.
 
I think that I'll be okay with the metering. If I see that the meter is being fooled while in AE by excessive brightness or darkness, instead of exposure lock which is missing, I'll just dial in exposure compensation.

In manual mode, I could slip the CV Meter ll in the hot shoe.
 
I have never understood the usefulness of the exposure compensation dial, as it has always taken me much more time to use it than to just meter and set in manual. I even find the auto-to-manual technique I described above much faster.

Exposure compensation dials have been around for awhile, though, so I must assume that there are others who effectively make use of the feature. 😕

- Murray
 
I had one years ago. Two suggestions. 1. Put a piece of gaffer's tape over the little plastic battery cover, which tends to open on its own, spilling the batteries at very inopportune moment. 2. Beware this is an averaging light meter. I was used to center-weighted meters and never found a way to get a good reading from the meter in the CLE.
 
Pablito said:
I had one years ago. Two suggestions. 1. Put a piece of gaffer's tape over the little plastic battery cover, which tends to open on its own, spilling the batteries at very inopportune moment. 2. Beware this is an averaging light meter. I was used to center-weighted meters and never found a way to get a good reading from the meter in the CLE.
Click to expand...

Strange, I have two CLEs and on both the battery cover snaps shut tightly. No chance of batteries spilling.
The avg meter pattern is as accurate as the 3D color matrix metering in my almighty F6 (which is a fancy name for avg metering pattern). So if you know to compensate for back lit scenes, no problem.
 
CMur12 said:
I have never understood the usefulness of the exposure compensation dial, as it has always taken me much more time to use it than to just meter and set in manual. I even find the auto-to-manual technique I described above much faster.

Exposure compensation dials have been around for awhile, though, so I must assume that there are others who effectively make use of the feature. 😕

- Murray
Click to expand...

I always agreed 100% with this - until I bought a Nikon Df. When using it at night or low light situations, the meter will assume I "want" the equivalent of full daylight, so I use the exposure compensation dial to reduce by 1-2.5 stops to get what I really want, which is a low light shot...
 
My parcel arrived today! The CLE looks much better than the seller's description. What a wonderful viewfinder and 28mm framelines! I took a few shots outside and just set it to sunny 16 on manual. I think I'm going to like it. Hope it lasts without breaking.
 
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