i know there is a small rf incompatability between the cl and leica m lenses. is it so small as to not pose a problem for wide angles?? what lenses have you used successfully on the cl?? thanks in advance.

-- roger michel (michel@tc.org), April 07, 2002

Answers

Roger,

Have used the 24 and 35 ASPHs quite a lot. Also the 50 and occasionally the 90 (Elmarit-M). Nothing has turned out fuzzy yet.

Best,

Jerry

-- Jerome R. Pfile, Jr. (JerryPfile@msn.com), April 07, 2002.

The CL rangfinder was designed to use lenses with the fastest aperture of f/2. I've read that the 1.4 or 1.0 apertures on lenses may not focus correctly up close on the CL.

-- chris a williams (LeicaChris@worldnet.att.net), April 07, 2002.

Stephen Gandy's CameraQuest,site has some observations; if the link doesn't get you there, search his site.

-- Phil Stiles (stiles@metrocast.net), April 07, 2002.

On a related note, I'd like to know if people have had good luck with either older or Voigtlander screw-mount lenses with an adapter on a CL.

Thanks! Dave

-- Dave Flanagan (dwf@caltech.edu), April 08, 2002.

35 Summilux worked fine, a 90 Summicron focused OK but the smaller base rangefinder struggles with the longer focal lengths. Also, I believe wider angled lenses won't fit because the rear element will bump into the meter arm.

-- David Killick (dalex@inet.net.nz), April 08, 2002.

To Dave, I have the 25 mm and the 90 mm Voigttländer screw mount with M adaptor and they work just fine on either the CLE or the Leica M6 or 7. They should work on the CL, I guess.

-- Olivier Reichenbach (olreiche@videotron.ca), April 08, 2002.

thanks for all the good responses!!

-- roger michel (michel@tcn.org), April 08, 2002.

Roger,

Not only will Leica and Voigtlander lenses work with your CL but you can have real fun with a VC double shoe attachment. The rewind is on the bottom and so rewinding won't get in the way of your external finders.

Do be careful about lenses with protruding rear elements, Roger. They can get in the way of the meter arm. I think all or most modern RF lenses are safe. Avoid old Super A. 21's and the Russian 20/5.6. I was a bit concerned about using my Minolta 28/3.5 on my CL but no problem. Absolutely don't collapse collapsable lenses into the CL or you'll damage the meter arm.

Ultra fast lenses above, say, 35mm are problematic with the little viewfinder.

The cool thing about the CL is that it takes the old 'lux 35/1.4. The CLE doesn't.

Best,

Alex

-- Alex Shishin (shishin@pp.iij4-u.or.jp), April 13, 2002.