The CL ... Rediscovered

[raid]

I had fogotten about my little CL camera for several months, and I decided to leave other cameras behind and to concentrate on its Summicron 40mm lens instead. I found handling the CL really nice; the viewfinder is appropriate for the 40mm lens, and the "spotmeter" was working accurately. I added a Nikkor 85mm/2.0 to my little camera bag, just in case I would run into a situatrion where a tele lens is useful. I chose from my regfrigerator one roll of Kodak Portra 400UC, which is a film type that I had not tried before.

I drove to a place on Pensacola Bay where many people dock their boats. It is the only public marina in Pensacola. One man was sitting alone, trying to catch some fish. Else, it was quiet and just great.

Here are my photos from this two-hour outing:

Link: http://www.photo.net/photodb/folder?folder_id=673768

I am very happy with the sharpness of the images, and I am now determined to take along the CL in my upcoming trip to the Smokies (Tennessee).

Have you rediscovered your CL too?

Raid

 

[Ash]

Really nice images. The waterfront colours are so vivid!

 

[anselwannab]

I think the CL pushes the edge of the envelope in regards to small size, image quality, and portability. M class lenses, a trully pocketable form, and great ergonomics. I love matched needle metering, it is so intuitive.

The CL with a 40 lives in my briefcase for travelling.

Mark

 

[raid]

Really nice images. The waterfront colours are so vivid!

Thanks, Ash. I enjoyed the late afternoon at the waterfront. This film should not be used with a polarizer filter. The colors are intense.

Good luck with getting the Bessa.

Raid

 

[raid]

I think the CL pushes the edge of the envelope in regards to small size, image quality, and portability. M class lenses, a trully pocketable form, and great ergonomics. I love matched needle metering, it is so intuitive.

The CL with a 40 lives in my briefcase for travelling.

Mark

Mark: I also prefer match needle metering. It allows you to think about an exposure. I will throw in my travel bag also a Rokkor 28mm/2.8 lens and maybe a Canon 100/3.5to make the set complete with the CL.

Raid

 

[Keith]

Nice shots Raid .. I'm intigued by the bluish tinge to the sand?

Might have to get the meter repaired on my CL I think!

 

[raid]

Keith: Yes, some shots of the sugar white beach turned out slightly blueish. Maybe this film could not handle the white in the sun as well as other film types do.

Raid

 

[vrgard]

Yes, I too really like my little CL. It's my standard travel rig along with the cron 40 and Rokkor 90/4. Size, image taking ability, ergonomics, it all just works so well and still fits in one's pocket. Oh, and with the Luigi half case it's even nicer to carry and use.

-Randy

 

[raid]

I have the CL camera case, which is like a little bag in which you store the CL.
It is not practical at all.

Raid

 

[dreilly]

I have the minolta version, and am in the midst of trying to recalibrate the meter back to accuracy. I do love the size and ergonomics of it. I'm comparing it to the two Bessas that are sitting on my desk (the result of a GAS attack that's threatening to become an internal civil war) and it's small size is really striking, as is it's clean lines. Aesthetically, it's beautiful. It's a fun camera to shoot with, too. My only gripe is with the ergonomics of the Summicron...the aperture is hard to find with the rubber hood attached. But anyway, I won't degrade the CL...this is a celebration thread.

I like it. Alot. More if I can get the meter to work.

 

[like2fiddle]

Raid,

Nice shots, as usual.

Now you've got me thinking about selling one of my M2's and picking up a CL...built in meter sure sounds nice. I took about half a dozen shots of my family putting up the Christmas tree last night before I realized that my VC II meter was set on 3200 instead of 400! I don't know what I was thinking, I've never, ever come close to shooting at 5.6 and 1/30 in the house at night, so I should have realized when the meter told me to set things there....

 

[raid]

Raid,

Nice shots, as usual.

Now you've got me thinking about selling one of my M2's and picking up a CL...built in meter sure sounds nice. I took about half a dozen shots of my family putting up the Christmas tree last night before I realized that my VC II meter was set on 3200 instead of 400! I don't know what I was thinking, I've never, ever come close to shooting at 5.6 and 1/30 in the house at night, so I should have realized when the meter told me to set things there....

like2fiddle: Thanks. The CL's are not expensive these days. Make sure to get 40mm Summicron with it as a package deal. The lens is worth as much as the camera, in my opinion.

In my home, and with full illumination in the evenings, I am used to shooting at 2.0 and 1/15 or 1/30 with ASA 200 film. Using the Canon 50/0.95 at 0.95 or the Nikkor 50mm/1.1 at 1.1 with ASA 200 film is a pleasure. Too bad these are not my lenses.

Raid

 

[like2fiddle]

Yes, a fast lens helps. I ordinarily shoot at 1/15 to 1/30 and f2 to 2.8 in my house at night depending on what I am using for a lens. Right now Roland is seriously tempting me with that 35 Ultron. I'd have to sell my 40 Nokton though...

 

[tomtodeath]

very nice pictures, i am jealous..

The CL's are not expensive these days.

where? the only non expensive ones ive seen recently were broken/"not tested".
they seemed to be less expensive back when i wasnt looking for one.

 

[raid]

Tom,
I would place a WTB ad here and on PN. You never know what kind of offers you get.

Raid

 

[vrgard]

I have the CL camera case, which is like a little bag in which you store the CL.
It is not practical at all.

Raid

Yeah, I agree, Raid. The original leather bag for the CL is nice for packing the camera away but is not terribly functional in use. That's exactly why I bought the Luigi half case. Talk about night and day difference! So now when I travel the CL in its Luigi half case goes into a larger Canon leather soft case along with the 90mm Rokker in its own original leather bag.

-Randy

 

[raid]

raid -- should have used fuji --- remember, when shooting sand, snow, beaches with extreme sunlight, either put a warming filter on your lens and to UNDER Expose 1/2 stop --- usually when shooting print film, over expose 1/2 stop for better saturations --- never trust any meter when shooting beaches

I know these facts since I have been facing sugar white beaches since about twenty years in Pensacola. It is only this time that I got white-blue beaches. Yes, I am used to Fuji film, and this has been an exception.


Raid

 

[tomtodeath]

Tom,
I would place a WTB ad here and on PN. You never know what kind of offers you get.

Raid

thanks, i had forgotten about that. i tried that a long time ago, got offers, had second thoughts, and was too picky about dents, and i wanted one with a lens at the same time. im gonna wait until after christmas, depending on how much money i have left.