Is the Minolta CLE only aperture priority?

Full manual for both:

http://cameraquest.com/cle.htm

 

the CL is full manual with match-needle metering, very quick to use, and doesn't die if the battery does. It is my standard travel camera.

 

^^^Yup!

But the CL can't use some older wide angles(21,28) and collapsible can hit the sensor arm. Something like Dymo tape will limit how far the collapsible will go into the body though.
Same thing with the M5(not relevant)

 

the CL should not used leica collapsible lenses when they are collapsed but, interestingly enough, can use some voigtlander wide angle lenses -- I have a 15 I use all the time, and also a Canon 25 (very old) that works just wonderfully.

but, yeah, use a leica collapsible 50, leica says to put a circle of dynamo tape (or something similar) around the lens barrel to keep it from going into the body and hitting the meter.

FWIW, the 40mm Summicron C that comes with it is an excellent lens and can be used on M bodies as a snapshooter lens. It's not so odd, a lot of compacts used 40, and is a good compromise between wide angle and a normal lens that pokes out too far.

 

Yes and no. The CL will mount the CLE lens and focus for most distances. However, the CLE 40mm focuses two or three inches closer than a CL 40mm lens.

 

In the true sense that is a lens that is telescopic in itself for better transport (when mounted on comera). I don't know such lens.
In a wider sense that means a lens which barrel can be pushed into the camera body for transport.

 

yes the CL accepts M lenses many have been stripped of their lens

the 40mm Voightlander is cheaper available single or multi coated and a stop faster, a generation later from the glass catalogue as well

except early wides like super angelon and Elmarit 28mm type I, collapsibles and some LTM lenses like J12 all of which will cause mechanical damage.

the rangefinder has a limited base length so fast longs difficult to nail focus.