CL over an M body?

[puketronic]

I'm thinking of selling some of my M gear for a CL.

I have two M's and have never handled a CL. I use my Rollei 35 the most in this format because it is relatively light, very compact, and of high-enough build quality. I want a rangefinder with reduced weight/bulk and I prefer 40mm over 50mm (and hence no collapsibles) and so a CL + 40 cron seems like a natural choice.

I will probably try to get my hands on one first but I am wondering if anyone prefers the CL over the M.

 

[loman]

I would get the CLE which is a much nicer camera than the CL.

 

[darkosaric]

Hi,

look at this thread:

(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

I think you should get CL and keep both M body's .

regards,

 

[Newt_on_Swings]

You should ask yourself what lenses you shoot with, and how wide of an aperture you routinely use. The much shorter base lengths of the CL/CLE are not as accurate as the larger M bodies. Also there are a few lenses that will not fit on the CL/CLE because of the funky flip up metering cell.

 

[Steve Bellayr]

Getting a CL/CLE repaired may be difficult as parts for those cameras are no longer in production.

 

[Richard S. (rich815)]

I have an MP, an M2 and a CL. Thought of selling the CL as I use the others more but when a quick pocketable camera is what I want the CL with the 40mm f/2 Summicron is hard to beat. That said also consider a Konica Hexar AF. I just got one at a great price and its a terrific performer for the 35mm f/2 range. AF and metering has been spot on. Great camera for the street or for shooting my kids in the playground. And sometimes I like an a non-interchangeable lens camera. No choice of lenses to worry about which is sometimes a good thing.

 

[jochen]

Hello,
the CLE does not have the flipping up measuring cell, it measures the reflected light from the shutter. Furthermore I think the CLE does not have the mercury problem.

 

[Newt_on_Swings]

You are right the CL is the only one with the moving meter cell.

 

[jochen]

...."the only one with the moving meter cell" with except of the Leica M 5.

 

[ArthurP]

Having used the CL but not the CLE I tend to think that the later camera by Minolta (who built both, anyways) might be the better choice for the various reasons stated above. Cosina-Voigtlander makes more recent 40mm lens compatible rangefinders that may interest you and you can always fit the Summicron f2 to them if you don't like the C-V lens line. Probably none of these have the build quality or smoothness of the M bodies if that is a concern.