Howdy, I have a new-to-me CL that has a slight vertical misalignment in the RF.

On the top plate of the camera there's a cute little plastic plug just behind the hotshoe. Under this plug is a screw. Now, I'm guessing this is the key to adjusting the rangefinder, and I'm eager to Do Science on this baby.

But, now that I'm a Leica Guy, I understand I'm spose be all restrained (anal). I wish to better myself and will not proceed until somebody here sends me some wisdom.

So before I stuff a screwdriver in there and start twisting... can anybody confirm or deny my best guess?

By the way, I bought the camera just recently, first to me of the breed (Can I get a Hoo-rah!?), and yes, you did see the body listed for sale here. As soon as I had the body, I simultaneously got the hots for, and a good line on a CLE body--the longer rangefinder base was calling my name you see.

Long story short, I didn't buy the CLE, probably won't sell the CL anytime soon, and I want to make the CL my best friend.

Thanks to any and all. Scott

-- Scott Squire (scott_squire@hotmail.com), March 06, 2002

Answers

I said a' Hoo-rah! The wisdom I'll send along is to leave it alone! That's the restraint you speak of. A small vertical alignment is not a big deal, and it will be corrected when you have the camera serviced. Make pictures! The disease is letting the camera become the object...

BTW, you made the right choice on the CL. The CLE is a very nice camera, but not as well regarded in repair circles. Seems too many parts are no longer available...

-- Carlin (carlinm@abac.com), March 06, 2002.

Well I am glad that you got plug out. That is the most difficult part as it is easy to scratch the top plate or damage the plug.

If you look carefullyin the access hole you will see that the set screw you noticed is in an eccentric nut. The set screw adjusts the vertical alignment and the eccentric nut the horizontal alignment. Each has a slight effect on the other so you will probably have to tweak both.

DO NOT BODGE IT UP WITH ILL FITTING TOOLS. Either find the right tools or modify ones to fit correctly. This is so you:

DO NOT APPLY ANY DOWNWARD PRESSURE ON THE RANGEFINDER. Lightly hold the tool in place and apply pressure only in the direction you want the adjuster to turn. Only move the adjusters in small amounts.

-- John Collier (jbcollier@powersurfr.com), March 06, 2002.

Scott

I went the same route -- next stop will be a "real" M!

-- Robin Smith (smith_robin@hotmail.com), March 06, 2002.

Hoo-rah! Someone with technical smarts will probably chime in and tell you how the adjustment is done. There are folks who tweak their rangefinder adjustments themselves---I don't. I always figure I'm likely to cause real damage, and I hate that "Oh no, I broke it!" feeling. If you're good with small, precise toolwork it seems pretty straightforward. Not like trying to field-strip a shutter.

The CL/CLE is a great little package. My first "Leica" was a CLE. I used two bodies and two lenses (40/90)for 6 or 7 years. They handled very well, though I was always puzzled why there was no metering available after switching from AE to manual. The CLE reliability issues are related to the LED display, which can short out and die without warning. One of my bodies lost its LED display twice, the other never had a problem. Minolta replaced both LED displays while I waited, so it's not a difficult repair, but new parts may be getting hard to find. Minolta USA supposedly has none. Some independent repair techs may still have inventory, and since the same display was used in the XG-series slrs there's a better chance some are still floating around. I've never heard of any other chronic problems.

The CL can have troubles with its swinging meter arm, and the meter cell itself, but I think there are still repair parts available and problems don't seem to be frequent. It has that reassuring all-mechanical charm---no batteries, no problem. There's nothing else out there with an M-mount as compact---they make great best friends! Enjoy it, Scott.

-- Paul Brodek (pcb@skyweb.net), March 06, 2002.

Thanks for the answers... And this followup question particularly to the estimable John C (whose Leica wisdom I've been reading for years in e-Leica circles as a lurker/wannabe): The eccentric bit, the horizontal adjuster, does it require a different tool? Or will a single fine-bladed screwdriver alone allow me to twiddle both adjustments as you describe?

Again, thanks. I've just looked at the first few rolls of film from this thing, and it's clear that when I'm doing my job the camera is walking up to its end of the deal. When I get beyond the figuring-the-camera-out stage, perhaps I'll post something.

Best Scott Squire

-- Scott Squire (scott_squire@hotmail.com), March 06, 2002.

Scott-I seem to have the same problem with my CL camera. However, when I had the photos printed, they were all in focus so am wondering if it is my eyeglasses! My situation is as follows: when I try and focus say on the edge of something, the 2 images to not perfectly coincide...seems when I move the focus lever on the lens, I see the images kind of going up instead of coming together. Kind of hard to explain. I am reluctant to try and tweak it myself.

-- Wayne Vaughn (wvaughn1@airmail.net), March 07, 2002.