Minolta CLE?

[JonathanCh]

Hello guys!

I'm fairly new to analogue photography (started 9 months ago) and recently started developing film at home.
Sadly, a few weeks ago my Canonet QL17 GIII broke. Therefore I'm now looking for a new rangefinder.
Most of the stuff I shoot are people on the street and friends of mine.
As I find myself often feeling like the 35mm lens of my mju i is a tad bit to narrow for my liking, I thought of getting something like a 28mm lens. I did some research and really liked the Minolta CLE/Leica CL with the 28mm kit-lens from Minolta.

Now I wanted to ask you guys if the Minolta CLE would be my best option as I couldn't find that much information online (tough I know how to use google). Are there any comparable alternatives in your eyes? My budget is something between 600-800€ (700-950$). A built in lightmeter is a must have for me.

Thanks for your answers and for any advice in advance.

 

[retinax]

I think there's no competition for the CLE in that price range and for 28mm with an internal finder. I take it you have read about the problems some people report with CLEs? The electronics may be unfixeable, OTOH another body doesn't cost much more than a CLA on a Leica M. Your alternatives in rangefinders would be something with an external finder an a meter like the Bessas (the R4 with 28mm frame lines are a bit pricey), or many other options in ltm without a meter. Or if you want to go medium format, the Fuji GSW 690 or a Koni-Omega with the 58, no internal meters though.


P.S. I assumed your budget includes the lens, if not, the M world is your oyster!

 

[Scapevision]

The Bessa series from Voigtlander are your best alternative usability wise, however I found CLE to be the best out of the cheaper Leica alternatives. Obviously, you're on the Leica forum here and people will urge you to splurge on the "ultimate". I'd go for a good CLE any day if I was in yer shoes. Keep in mind, 28 Minolta lens is hard to find without issues. Also, you can easily use 50mm and 35mm on it by guessing the framelines. I know I have.

 

[Huss]

i have a few Leica Ms but they do not compare to the CLE if you want to use a 28mm lens. The CLE has the best 28mm VF there is.
You don't need to get the Minolta 28mm lens (but it is very good). Any M mount 28 would do. If you do get the Minolta 28, look out for the white dot issue that some are afflicted with.

 

[css9450]

Obviously, you're on the Leica forum here and people will urge you to splurge on the "ultimate".

I like to think of this forum as more than just the "Leica" forum. So hopefully the "Just buy an M" posts don't get too predominate.


My next rangefinder is likely to be a CLE. I have a CL, and its a nice size and reliable. I like the viewfinders of both cameras. I too would like a Minolta 28 but unfortunately I've never seen one without the issues. Another choice would be the Konica M-Hexanon 28mm but they are not inexpensive. I'd love to have one though! My only 28s are screw-mount and they work fine though.

 

[JonathanCh]

Another choice would be the Konica M-Hexanon 28mm but they are not inexpensive.

How does the Konica M-Hexanon 28mm compare to the Minolta 28mm? I found the Hexanon for 400€ ($470) in my city which seems to be a very good price compared to some ebay offers.
If the Konica M-Hexanon is put on the CLE, does the camera recognize the focal length to put on the according frame-lines?

 

[lic4]

I found the Hexanon much sharper than the Rokkor, particularly at the edges. The CLE always displays the 28mm frameines, so you don’t have to worry about the lens; the Hexanon is a good lens for it. The problem arises in the reverse: the Rokkor lens will display 35mm framelines in a Leica M.

I prefer the Voigtlander Skopar 28mm/3.5 on the CLE due to the compact size.

 

[Dante_Stella]

An Avenon/Kobalux 28mm on a 35mm/135mm LTM adapter is tiny and very sharp on the CLE. The nice thing is that you can use super-compact lenses without experiencing color shift when you shoot on film.

 

[YouAreHere]

How does the Konica M-Hexanon 28mm compare to the Minolta 28mm? I found the Hexanon for 400€ ($470) in my city which seems to be a very good price compared to some ebay offers.
If the Konica M-Hexanon is put on the CLE, does the camera recognize the focal length to put on the according frame-lines?

On the CLE the 28mm frame lines are default and visible regardless of lens mounted.

If you don't need lens interchangeability take a look at the Olympus XA4 or the Nikon 28TI.

 

[santino]

A pre asph Elmarit is a great lens but is about 800. The Rokkor suffers from massive Schneideritis..
I'd recommend A CL + finder + Elmarit.

 

[YouAreHere]

A pre asph Elmarit is a great lens but is about 800. The Rokkor suffers from massive Schneideritis..
I'd recommend A CL + finder + Elmarit.

I wouldn't paint with such a broad brush. My Rokkor 28 is clear.

 

[santino]

Lucky you!
The 28 Rokkor is more prone to Schneideritis than any other common lens I know of (hence Minolta repaired them free off charge).

 

[JonathanCh]

You don't need to get the Minolta 28mm lens (but it is very good). Any M mount 28 would do. If you do get the Minolta 28, look out for the white dot issue that some are afflicted with.

I will probably not go for the Rokkor as I can't seem to find one without the white dot problem. So now I'm asking myself what lens to get.
The Hexanon seems like a good lens but it's a bit (too) big for my liking and it also weighs a tiny bit (70g) more than the Rokkor.

The other lenses that have been suggested all look great but I often find myself in situations with bad lighting and so a maximum aperture of 3.5 may not be perfect for my usage.

Has anybody else got some ideas for me? 🙂

 

[retinax]

Consider the Voigtländer Ultrons.

 

[Huss]

Consider the Voigtländer Ultrons.

The thing to be aware of is the CLE is a very small camera, and large lenses can block one of the RF windows, making it impossible to focus. I have had that with some of my lenses, but have never tried something like an Ultron 28mm f2. Perhaps it's fine.

Personally I'd make a 2 lens kit. The 28 3.5 for most of the shooting, and a Voigtlander 40 1.4 for low light (or when you want to use a 40). As the CLE also has 40mm frame lines, that works out well.