Difference between revisions of "Leica CL"
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| − | |maker=[[Leica]] | + | |maker=[[Leica|Leitz]] |
|dates=1973-1974 | |dates=1973-1974 | ||
|variants=Leica CL, Leitz-Minolta CL | |variants=Leica CL, Leitz-Minolta CL | ||
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| − | The '''Leica CL''' is a 35mm compact rangefinder camera made by [[Leica]] with interchangeable lenses in the [[Leica M lenses|Leica M mount]]. It was developed in collaboration with [[Minolta]] and appeared in 1973. | + | The '''Leica CL''' is a 35mm compact rangefinder camera made by [[Leica|Leitz]] with interchangeable lenses in the [[Leica M lenses|Leica M mount]]. It was developed in collaboration with [[Minolta]] and appeared in 1973. In some markets it was known as the '''Leitz Minolta CL''' or '''Minolta CL'''. |
| − | The Leica CL has a vertical running focal plane shutter, from 1/2 to 1/1000, and a through-the-lens CdS exposure meter mounted on a pivoting arm just in front of the shutter. The exposure is manual and the shutter is mechanical. The shutter speeds | + | The Leica CL has a vertical-running focal plane shutter, from 1/2 to 1/1000, and a through-the-lens CdS exposure meter mounted on a pivoting arm just in front of the shutter. The exposure is manual and the shutter is mechanical. The shutter speeds are visible in the finder. The finder's framelines are for a 40mm, 50mm or 90mm lens. The 40mm frameline is always present and the 50mm or 90mm frame line is automatically selected upon mounting of the appropriate lens. |
| − | The CL can take nearly all the [[Leica M lenses]], with the exception of some that could hurt the meter's arm. It was sold with two lenses specially designed for it | + | The CL can take nearly all the [[Leica M lenses]], with the exception of some that could hurt the meter's arm. It was sold with two lenses specially designed for it: the ''Leitz Summicron-C 40mm f:2'' sold as the normal lens, and the ''Leitz Elmar-C 90mm f:4'' tele lens. Both take the uncommon [[series filters|Series 5.5 filters]]. The Summicron-C 40mm is reputed to be one of Leitz's sharpest lenses. A ''Leitz Elmarit-C 40mm f:2.8'' was also briefly produced but was not sold in numbers. The lenses specially designed for the Leica CL can physically mount on a Leica M body, but Leica recommended not doing so because it would not give the best focusing precision.<!-- Why ever not? --> However, some people say that it is unimportant and that they can be used perfectly on an M. When sold with a Leitz Minolta CL, the lenses were called ''Minolta M-Rokkor 40mm f:2'' and ''90mm f:4''. With the later [[Minolta CLE]], Minolta would produce lenses of the same name but where completely mechanically compatible with Leica M bodies. A new ''Minolta M-Rokkor 28mm f:2.8'' lens was introduced. All these lenses can be mounted on the CL too. |
| − | Today the CL is a superbly compact and quite cheap camera to mount M lenses, but it does not have a rangefinder as precise as | + | Today the CL is a superbly compact and quite cheap camera on which to mount M lenses, but it does not have a rangefinder as precise as that of any Leica M body. The [[rangefinder base]] of the CL is 31.5 mm and the viewfinder magnification is 0.60, leading to a small [[rangefinder base|effective rangefinder base]] of 18.9 mm. For many users this is too short to accurately focus 135mm lenses.<!-- Well of course! (Who'd ever think of mounting a 135mm lens?) What about 90mm, or indeed 50mm at f2 or faster? --> Some users report the camera is rather fragile, especially the rangefinder alignment and meter mechanism. |
| − | The camera uses a swinging meter arm like the M5; therefore certain | + | The camera uses a swinging meter arm like the M5; therefore certain lenses that protude deep into the body cannot be used on the CL. These include: 15mm/8 Hologon, 21mm/4 Super Angulon, 28mm/2.8 Elmarits before serial number 2314921 or 2314920 (sources differ), all eyed lens including M3 wide-angle lenses, the 135mm/2.8 Elmarit, and the 50/2 Dual Range Summicron. |
| − | + | Sixty-five thousand serial numbers were allotted to the Leica CL. Some examples of the CL received special ''Leica 50 Jahre'' markings in 1975, for Leica's 50th anniversary. | |
| − | In the first issue of ''Classic Camera'', there is a picture of a demonstration Leica CL. It was completely operational, with the top plate cut away to show the internal mechanism. It is said 50 were made by Minolta. | + | In the first issue of ''Classic Camera'',<!-- What's this? --> there is a picture of a demonstration Leica CL. It was completely operational, with the top plate cut away to show the internal mechanism. It is said 50 were made by Minolta. <!-- And where does this paragraph belong? --> |
| − | + | ==Further reading== | |
| + | |||
| + | * Kisselbach, Theo. ''Leica CL.'' Heering-Verlag, 1976. ISBN 3-7763-3360-X. In German; published one year later in English by Hove. | ||
== Links == | == Links == | ||
| − | * [http://www.cameraquest.com/leicacl.htm | + | * [http://www.cameraquest.com/leicacl.htm Leica CL] at [http://www.cameraquest.com/ Cameraquest] |
| − | * [http://www.angelfire.com/biz/Leica/page21.html Leica CL pages at CRR Luton | + | * [http://www.angelfire.com/biz/Leica/page21.html Leica CL pages] at [http://www.angelfire.com/biz/Leica/ CRR] (Camera Repairs and Restoration, Luton) |
[[Category: Leica M mount]] | [[Category: Leica M mount]] | ||
Revision as of 13:55, 30 September 2006
| Leica CL |
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[ Image wanted]
{{{image caption}}} Maker: Leitz Dates: 1973-1974 Variants: Leica CL, Leitz-Minolta CL Camera Type: 35mm rangefinder system Focusing: manual Viewfinder: Reverse Galiean (x.60) Rangefinder: coupled, combined (ERB = 18.9 mm) Lens mount: Leica M Shutter: focal plane Exposure meter: TTL, CdS cell, spot metering Exposure modes: manual ASA/ISO range: 25 to 1600 Shoe: fixed hot shoe Synchronized: X X sync speed: 1/60 TTL Flash: Minolta TTL Motor drive: none Battery: 1 x 1.35V (px625) Dimensions: {{{dimensions}}} Weight: unknown Number produced: max 65,000 |
The Leica CL is a 35mm compact rangefinder camera made by Leitz with interchangeable lenses in the Leica M mount. It was developed in collaboration with Minolta and appeared in 1973. In some markets it was known as the Leitz Minolta CL or Minolta CL.
The Leica CL has a vertical-running focal plane shutter, from 1/2 to 1/1000, and a through-the-lens CdS exposure meter mounted on a pivoting arm just in front of the shutter. The exposure is manual and the shutter is mechanical. The shutter speeds are visible in the finder. The finder's framelines are for a 40mm, 50mm or 90mm lens. The 40mm frameline is always present and the 50mm or 90mm frame line is automatically selected upon mounting of the appropriate lens.
The CL can take nearly all the Leica M lenses, with the exception of some that could hurt the meter's arm. It was sold with two lenses specially designed for it: the Leitz Summicron-C 40mm f:2 sold as the normal lens, and the Leitz Elmar-C 90mm f:4 tele lens. Both take the uncommon Series 5.5 filters. The Summicron-C 40mm is reputed to be one of Leitz's sharpest lenses. A Leitz Elmarit-C 40mm f:2.8 was also briefly produced but was not sold in numbers. The lenses specially designed for the Leica CL can physically mount on a Leica M body, but Leica recommended not doing so because it would not give the best focusing precision. However, some people say that it is unimportant and that they can be used perfectly on an M. When sold with a Leitz Minolta CL, the lenses were called Minolta M-Rokkor 40mm f:2 and 90mm f:4. With the later Minolta CLE, Minolta would produce lenses of the same name but where completely mechanically compatible with Leica M bodies. A new Minolta M-Rokkor 28mm f:2.8 lens was introduced. All these lenses can be mounted on the CL too.
Today the CL is a superbly compact and quite cheap camera on which to mount M lenses, but it does not have a rangefinder as precise as that of any Leica M body. The rangefinder base of the CL is 31.5 mm and the viewfinder magnification is 0.60, leading to a small effective rangefinder base of 18.9 mm. For many users this is too short to accurately focus 135mm lenses. Some users report the camera is rather fragile, especially the rangefinder alignment and meter mechanism.
The camera uses a swinging meter arm like the M5; therefore certain lenses that protude deep into the body cannot be used on the CL. These include: 15mm/8 Hologon, 21mm/4 Super Angulon, 28mm/2.8 Elmarits before serial number 2314921 or 2314920 (sources differ), all eyed lens including M3 wide-angle lenses, the 135mm/2.8 Elmarit, and the 50/2 Dual Range Summicron.
Sixty-five thousand serial numbers were allotted to the Leica CL. Some examples of the CL received special Leica 50 Jahre markings in 1975, for Leica's 50th anniversary.
In the first issue of Classic Camera, there is a picture of a demonstration Leica CL. It was completely operational, with the top plate cut away to show the internal mechanism. It is said 50 were made by Minolta.
Further reading
- Kisselbach, Theo. Leica CL. Heering-Verlag, 1976. ISBN 3-7763-3360-X. In German; published one year later in English by Hove.
Links
- Leica CL at Cameraquest
- Leica CL pages at CRR (Camera Repairs and Restoration, Luton)
