Huck Finn
Well-known
Does anyone know of a website or book that gives detailed information on the CLE other than CameraQuest? Thanks.
Huck
Huck
Minolta CLE
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W
wtl
Guest
sleepyhead
Well-known
You can always try to ask US! Except for using my CLE with flash (never have), I feel I know it pretty well after about 10 years of use...
anselwannab
Well-known
Sleepyhead has a point, but sometimes I like to read some background to answer simple questions or just to learn enough to ask good ones.
I wonder if wikipedia is a good example of way to store for easy access information about static things like camera bodies, lenses, films and developers. Wikipedia, for those unfamiliar, allows anyone to edit the article on the web for all to see.
Googling works well, but it is like getting a book section by section, with out knowing what order they come in. Plus Google sometimes doesn't find things I know are out there.
RFF-pedia. Just a thought.
I wonder if wikipedia is a good example of way to store for easy access information about static things like camera bodies, lenses, films and developers. Wikipedia, for those unfamiliar, allows anyone to edit the article on the web for all to see.
Googling works well, but it is like getting a book section by section, with out knowing what order they come in. Plus Google sometimes doesn't find things I know are out there.
RFF-pedia. Just a thought.
awilder
Alan Wilder
Back in the mid 1970's ('75 or 76') both Popular Photography and Modern Photography did in depth test reviews of the CLE and it's lenses. Try finding it in your library. The Modern Photography version has some neat diagrams of the RF layout.
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laptoprob
back to basics
And Cameraquest?
Recently someone was looking for a manual on the CLE. A link for a Dutch manual was found, forgot where. I can help with translation, but there is not that much to clarify about the little gem.
Even the flash system is fantastic. Same as the later X700 series. Get a dedicated flash and the camera does the calculations very well.
Bounce the llight wherever you like!
Rob
Recently someone was looking for a manual on the CLE. A link for a Dutch manual was found, forgot where. I can help with translation, but there is not that much to clarify about the little gem.
Even the flash system is fantastic. Same as the later X700 series. Get a dedicated flash and the camera does the calculations very well.
Bounce the llight wherever you like!
Rob
Graham Line
Well-known
You can order a photocopy of the manual (in English, maybe they have others) from www.oldtimercameras.com
They also sell reprints of articles from UK magazines covering the CLE.
You can also learn a great deal by reading through the related threads listed at the bottom of this page.
They also sell reprints of articles from UK magazines covering the CLE.
You can also learn a great deal by reading through the related threads listed at the bottom of this page.
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Ben Z
Veteran
Is there anyone in the USA who specializes in repairing the CLE and has parts? I like the camera's specs but I've been reluctant to spend ~$600 on an electronic camera if it can't be repaired.
T
Treb
Guest
CLE repairs can be difficult because of lack of parts. I've read that the CLE shares a lot of parts with the Minolta XG1. XG1's are cheap, perhaps you could stock up on used XG1's... If the electronics in a CLE pass out you could still use it as an expensive paperweight or sell it as a "parts camera". I wouldn't want to use a CLE as a main body for M lenses.
akptc
Shoot first, think later
Lots of good info on the CLE in this thread http://rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=18084
I ended up buying a fine reprint of the manual for $9 on ebay.
I ended up buying a fine reprint of the manual for $9 on ebay.
Little Prince
Well-known
I have a reprint of the manual too. But I doubt that is what you want.
Palaeoboy
Joel Matherson
"Back in the mid 1970's ('75 or 76') both Popular Photography and Modern Photography did in depth test reviews of the CLE and it's lenses."
I doubt that as the CLE didnt come out till 1980. Possibly you mean Modern Photography June 1981. It doesnt say too much, just a feature based review and they cant really discuss durability as its a new camera at that pont in time. But they like the camera by and large.
The XG-1 spare parts thing that goes around is totally false. The parts are not the same. The CLE uses and off the film plane metering system whose sensor is an integral part of the circuit board. The XG-1 doesnt have the correct curtains to meter off nor does it have TTL flash. The CLE was the first camera to get TTL flash in the Minolta range not the x-700 like some websites say. The dial is thinner too. about the only part that could be interchanged is the red LED cover for the seltimer/battery check light.
There is no book on the CLE like there is on the CL. There is a Japanese Minolta book that does dedicate a few pages to the CLE but its in Japanese.
What specifically did you want to know about the CLE?
I doubt that as the CLE didnt come out till 1980. Possibly you mean Modern Photography June 1981. It doesnt say too much, just a feature based review and they cant really discuss durability as its a new camera at that pont in time. But they like the camera by and large.
The XG-1 spare parts thing that goes around is totally false. The parts are not the same. The CLE uses and off the film plane metering system whose sensor is an integral part of the circuit board. The XG-1 doesnt have the correct curtains to meter off nor does it have TTL flash. The CLE was the first camera to get TTL flash in the Minolta range not the x-700 like some websites say. The dial is thinner too. about the only part that could be interchanged is the red LED cover for the seltimer/battery check light.
There is no book on the CLE like there is on the CL. There is a Japanese Minolta book that does dedicate a few pages to the CLE but its in Japanese.
What specifically did you want to know about the CLE?
yossarian
Well-known
John Craig has this sort of stuff. I can't recall the exact URL, but it should be easy to
locate.
Fred
locate.
Fred
KoNickon
Nick Merritt
He's at craigcamera.com.
K
kruskee
Guest
I've owned a couple of CLEs and had DAG Camera do a repair on the ISO setting system. He had some "parts cameras" and replaced the little circuit board connected with the ISO dial.
Super camera, very well built and compact, with a very bright finder with good 28mm framelines. The 40mm Rokkor is a beautiful lens, great bokeh and very sharp (and inexpensive). I didn't like the "no manual exposure metering" but ultimately replaced it with a second M6 because I wanted identical operating controls.
Super camera, very well built and compact, with a very bright finder with good 28mm framelines. The 40mm Rokkor is a beautiful lens, great bokeh and very sharp (and inexpensive). I didn't like the "no manual exposure metering" but ultimately replaced it with a second M6 because I wanted identical operating controls.
