New CL owner checking in

[River Dog]

Greetings to the CL group,

Thanks for this great forum resource. I have recently ditched digital and gone back to film (35mm and MF).

My CL arrived last week and I put a new Zeiss 50mm f/2 Planar ZM lens on the front - a very nice combo with which I am delighted as I take my first steps into the M world. I was going for a M6 but as a street shooter, I was looking for a smaller body and it fits my needs at the moment. I also didn't have the money 🙂

My first CL shot on Neopan 100 - I do my own b/w and colour processing.

Hope to participate and join in where I can.

 

[helen.HH]

Lovely Shot ....Nice gradation of Tones
Never tried a CL but would like to....
Best- H

 

[oftheherd]

Welcome to RFF. Nice shot. Look forward to seeing more.

 

[batterytypehah!]

Welcome and that is a wonderful shot. Love your stuff on flickr, too.

 

[River Dog]

Thanks for your welcome and comments. My first impressions after a couple of rolls:

• I like the camera hanging vertically around my neck
• I don't like the strap getting in the way of the VF when I hold the camera in the portrait position.
• The shutter is louder than I expected though this is compared to the fixed lens Yashica Electro, which is almost silent.
• I like the meter, once I got used to the counterintuative needle direction.
• I don't like pulling out the winder to switch on the meter, I am a left eye shooter.
• I like the weight and feel
• I like the speed dial on the front
• I like the VF - works fine for me at 50mm
• I like the way it looks
• I don't like the rewind - I find the lever hard to get out of its slot in one go

 

[jtullar]

Nice photo, I love my CL and will keep it forever!

 

[David Hughes]

Hi,

They are lovely cameras - almost perfect with just the 2 lenses or perhaps with a 28 added and a bit of guesswork. Better than the CLE, imo, because of the sensible on/off switch in the winding lever. No chance of leaving a CL switched on, but the CLE has a nicer VF with the 28mm framing. I had a CLE for a week but went back with it and my CL was still on the shelf and, well you can guess the rest...

Regards, David

 

[River Dog]

Hi,

They are lovely cameras - almost perfect with just the 2 lenses or perhaps with a 28 added and a bit of guesswork. Better than the CLE, imo, because of the sensible on/off switch in the winding lever. No chance of leaving a CL switched on, but the CLE has a nicer VF with the 28mm framing. I had a CLE for a week but went back with it and my CL was still on the shelf and, well you can guess the rest...

Regards, David

I was not going for a CLE - word is there are much less parts around and Minolta is not supporting them at all.

I might now have the money for a black M6 as originally hoped. How would you compare it to the CL for street use and general ergonomics? If you have had any experience of the M6 body that is.

 

[deirdre]

I'll be joining you as a newer newbie soon. My new CL will be a companion to my M8.