MP/CLE
Established
If I am buying a CL which serial numbers are preferable, or are any better than others? Also, would you suggest Leitz over Leitz/Minolta? I have CLEs which I love, but am looking to expand my perspective after selling off my Leica universe.
Palaeoboy
Joel Matherson
There certainly were improvements (mainly to the meter and shutter) some 14 or so I believe that were made to the CL during its production. But by this time any of those problems associated have long since been corrected through repairs and maintainence over the decades so I don't believe that it makes much of a difference which one you get, just try to be sure the meter is working and that the meter arm retracts and extends freely and that the shutter is working at the slower speeds and the viewfinder patch is clear and bright.
One "CL expert" has claimed that its better to Get the Leitz Minolta versions as these were made after the changes were made to the CL's production run but this is simply not true because the Leitz Minolta was released in Japan the very same time the Leica CL was released to the rest of the world. Its true when Leica CL production stopped that the Leitz Minolta CL was then sold outside Japan to fill the gap left by the Leica version which gives some the false impression that Leitz Minolta version was only made after the CL was discontinued.
Just get the best condition you can in any version.
One "CL expert" has claimed that its better to Get the Leitz Minolta versions as these were made after the changes were made to the CL's production run but this is simply not true because the Leitz Minolta was released in Japan the very same time the Leica CL was released to the rest of the world. Its true when Leica CL production stopped that the Leitz Minolta CL was then sold outside Japan to fill the gap left by the Leica version which gives some the false impression that Leitz Minolta version was only made after the CL was discontinued.
Just get the best condition you can in any version.
vrgard
Well-known
Just to second some of Paleoboy's/Joel's comments above, I have a regular Leica CL rather than a Leitz Minolta CL. I sent mine to Sherry Krauter for a full CLA and meter repair last year. When asked, Sherry told me that mine had basically all the upgrades/improvements/modifications made over the product cycle of these cameras.
-Randy
-Randy
Rob-F
Likes Leicas
Sherry says that there were (from memory) 23 improvements and strengthenings of the CL over its production life. Thus it would make sense to get one with a late serial number. And yes, Sherry has said that the Leitz/Minolta has a high proportion of those improvements and strengthenings. I wish I could find my notes from her talk at the LHSA meeting, but I think she said the Leitz/Minolta has around 17 or 18 of them.
Hacker
黑客
I believe the number was 21 improvements.
enochRoot
a chymist of some repute
yeah...i just always look for the highest i can find. one that is a BIG one to me is the advance lever. the older ones had an advance lever that could kind of "tuck in" completely and be hard to grab. later ones have a tab that extends down past the body to make it easier to grab with your thumb.
enochRoot
a chymist of some repute
oops...didn't realize this was from january! hehehe