I know that the Leica CL came with 2 Rokkor/Leitz lens of 40mm and 90mm with the outfit. Which other M-lenses are recommended to fit onto the CL without damaging or blocking the rangefinder? I suspect that some of the older ones aren't compatible.

And what about putting screwmount lens on the CL? I won't be collapsing those in but carefully using the lens on it. I think that a better possibility because screwmount lens tend to be somewhat smaller than the modern M lenses.

Plus where can you find a good strap for the CL? Domke straps and Op Techs didn't seem to fit very well since the CL is too small.

sincerely, Alfie

-- Alfie Wang (leica_phile@hotmail.com), December 11, 2001

Answers

In the CL, the full frame is equivalent to the 35mm frame, the 40mm frameline is always there and the 50mm or 90mm come up with those lenses.

Lucien

-- Lucien (Lucien_vd@yahoo.fr), December 11, 2001.

Dear Alfie, if I might give you an advice from my own experience. Don't buy too many cameras, use the ones you have and don't get lost in gear. Your pictures won't improve with a different equipment. What the rangefinder will help you with is that you have to be much more aware what you want to see on the final picture because the finder won't show you this. So you need to be aware of the perspective the lens you are using is giving you etc. If you really inted to buy a rangefinder get an M6, the CL is by far not as sturdy as an M Camera. If you are concerned about money, look out for an M2 or M4. Enjoy your photography

Johannes

-- Johannes Fleischhauer (j.fleischhauer@vsao.ch), December 11, 2001.

Yep, I agree about not having too many camera equipment. I already got rid of the Canon Rebel and Minolta Maxxum for photo store credit. Looks like they don't have any used M-bodies in stock apparently. I want to get a 35mm R lens but so far no luck in finding a good users one in 3-cam.

I only have 5 cameras which I use now: Z2X (for P and S laziness), R4, FED 2, Nikon F, and later on the CL (and so far I haven't negotiated for a M2 yet). I play around with a Minox and some Kievs for fun. I have a Kodak DC3200 for my fiancee and her artwork too. Play around with digital. Kinda fun but nothing which I would die for in particular.

After this Xmas present, I don't plan on procuring any cameras from now on except in a few years. After all, I rather be focused on paying off my bills and achieving solvency with master's degrees debt :(... Yeah, money catches up to you after awhile...

Alfie

-- Alfie Wang (leica_phile@hotmail.com), December 11, 2001.

You ONLY have 5 cameras? I only have 2 and feel they're too many ;-)

-- Antonio Carrus (antoniocarrus@yahoo.it), December 11, 2001.

Oh no Alfie - you are not getting another camera....I suggest you work with what you have as of now.

-- Robin Smith (smith_robin@hotmail.com), December 11, 2001.

Actually I'm trading in for another camera and now I don't have any autofocus cameras anymore. The Leica CL is a budget find. That way I have a Leica rangefinder to use. Too many people are noticing my R4 out on the streets. Not a good sign when I need something a lot more unobtrusive.

Alfie

-- Alfie Wang (leica_phile@hotmail.com), December 11, 2001.

Alfie,

the problem is not: which lenses fit a Leica CL but rather which lenses are easy to be operated on a CL. Most Leica M lenses will fit, there are enough sites who discuss this theme - from www.cameraquest.com to different usegroups. It is generally stated that except for extreme constructions (eg. older wideangles) almost every lens will fit. However the CL only shows framelines for the 40, 50 and 90 mm. So these are the only lenses which make sense to use, all others need an external finder. You should be able to use most LSM - lenses via adaptor, but be aware that the CL has the metering arm so that backwards-intruding constructions will not fit (eg the 21, the Jupiter 12 and others). Of 'real' use are only the 40, the 50 and the 90. Be also aware that the rangefinder base is quite small - so focusing anything that needs more accuracy might cause problems (ie a summilux / noctilux / 90 elmarits and summicrons). BTW most CLs have problems with the metering cell - you might want to check it extensively before buying one. I ended up getting a M2 instead ;-)

HTH - Kai

-- Kai Blanke (Kai.Blanke@iname.com), December 11, 2001.

I have way too many cameras, but I don't let it bother me. ;-)

Lenses for a CL: I used mine with the Summicron-C 40/2 and the Heliar 15, worked beautifully. In general I would be comfortable using the CL with anything up to the 90s, although I wouldn't chance the focusing accuracy for wide open shooting with 50/1.4, 75/1.4 or 90/2-2.8.

Nikon makes a nylon strap with no logo and a nice suede grip pad that is a perfect match for the CL and costs about $14. It's a light camera, you don't need anything super wide or fancy.

-- Godfrey (ramarren@bayarea.net), December 11, 2001.

Alfie,

The CL is a great camera, as far as the meter problems go, Save some money and get the LEITZ minolta version of the same camera -- no meter problems there. As far as lenses go, you should read Stephen Gandys fine cameraQuest web site. He gives you a lot more information then I can.

Sincerely

Hayden

-- Hayden Eiswirth (haydeneisw@cs.com), December 11, 2001.

Haha! Now we are all mothering Alfie ("You bad boy, buying too many cameras!!")! Information on lens compatibility for the CL is given here: http://www.cameraquest.c om/leicacl.htm (scroll to the section "M Lens Incompatibility" somewhere in the middle of the page). I don't have a CL, but most compatible M-lenses on my CLE have to be used without the hood, which obstructs too much of the viewfinder.

-- Hoyin Lee (leehoyin@hutchcity.com), December 12, 2001.

Alfie, I use my Summilux 35 mm on my CL and it actually works very well, just figure the whole window is close to a 35mm frame. Would be interested to hear if anybody thinks I'm doing any damage. Steve

-- Steve Hughes (hughes@fastnetit.com), December 12, 2001.

Needless to say. Tele-elmarit 90mm F2.8 (2nd version) is a favourit lens for Leica CL and CLE. The tele photo lens is as compact as the original Leica Elmar-C 90mm F4 and the Tele-Elmarit deliver sharper result as the lastest Elmarit 90mm F2.8. Another reason is this lens is very cheap and easy to found in 2nd hand market.

Both 35mm F1.4 Summilux and F2 Summicron are good for CL because they as as compact as the original 40mm lens. Mounting with such 35mm Lens would need no extra viewfinders. Summicron F2 deliver higher resolution result and Summilux F1.4 is for low light photography.

-- Christopher Chung (chungsk@netvigator.com), December 12, 2001.

Alfie,

The CL has vertically travelling shutter curtains, it slightly shakes when releasing, and isn’t so quiet as any M or SM Leica. The CL has the VF about 70% of viewing, unreliable metering Cds system with the sensor arm limiting use of some lens having a short rear distance, aluminum anodized top cover. At least it isn't my cup of tea. Though the 'cron 40mm is great. Wait for your IIIf from reparing, it’s genuine classic Leica.

-- Victor Randin (ved@enran.com.ua), December 13, 2001.

I've used the 15mm Heliar, a 24 mm ASPH and the 35/1.4 ASPH on my CLE, along with the standard 40 mm without difficulty. My preference is for the 24 mm ASPH as the full viewfinder image is exactly what is on film with the 24 mm (that is, ignore the frame lines).

-- Robert L Jones (mail@visionsurgery.net), December 17, 2001.