Leica CL and Barnack Accessories?

eli griggs · Nov 28, 2022

With a CL on the way, with a M to LTM adapter, I am planning to use my FSU glass and some accessories, including some Leica LTM pieces I still have to hand.

My first question is, will the FED turret finder be correct for this camera, regardless of branding, FSU or Leica,vso long as the focal lengths are covered?

I've seen where it has been fine on Barnacks but the Leica CL is a different thing in the all together.

Also, will the folding steel sports or action finder from the Barnacks, a IIIC for example, also have a workable field of view?

Any tips will be appreciated as I've never used one of these before.

I've owned and used a M3 SS and a nice IIIC and my FSU kit worked well with the Barnack but I do no want to assume anything with this lightly made camera.

Cheers and Season's Best,
Eli

summicron1 · Nov 29, 2022

The FED finder will work just fine on the CL. The hot shoe is right over the lens, so there's not even parallax issues except for close in, and for the longer settings it even has an adjustment for that.

Any other finder will also work just fine. As long as the focal length is right, it will work. The ONLY thing you need to be careful of is how far into the camera the lens reaches -- if you are going to use a 50mm collapsable lens you should put a strip of either label tape -- the kind that you use an impression machine to put words on to -- behind the lens head onto the lens barrel so that the last 1/4 of an inch doesn't collapse into the lens, or just a rubber band around the lens barrel. Bottom line -- the rear of the lens head shouldn't extend into the camera much beyond the lens mount to avoid interfering with the meter arm.

Don't try to use a 21mm lens on it at all. Not sure about Leitz 28s. I use a Canon 25mm LTM lens on my CL all the time.

Other than that, you're good to go. The CL is a great little camera -- my standard travel camera, in fact, usually with the 40, the canon 25 and a Voigtlander 15, all of which work just fine and don't cause problems with the meter arm.

summicron1 · Nov 29, 2022

Finders in general, regardless of brand, are interchangeable -- I have a nice mix of Leitz, Canon, FSU and Voigtlander that I mix and match. The FSU multi-finder is a really nifty one, goes down to 28 which the Leitz one does not, and the view with all lenses is larger.

eli griggs · Nov 29, 2022

summicron1 said:
The FED finder will work just fine on the CL. The hot shoe is right over the lens, so there's not even parallax issues except for close in, and for the longer settings it even has an adjustment for that.

Any other finder will also work just fine. As long as the focal length is right, it will work. The ONLY thing you need to be careful of is how far into the camera the lens reaches -- if you are going to use a 50mm collapsable lens you should put a strip of either label tape -- the kind that you use an impression machine to put words on to -- behind the lens head onto the lens barrel so that the last 1/4 of an inch doesn't collapse into the lens, or just a rubber band around the lens barrel. Bottom line -- the rear of the lens head shouldn't extend into the camera much beyond the lens mount to avoid interfering with the meter arm.

Don't try to use a 21mm lens on it at all. Not sure about Leitz 28s. I use a Canon 25mm LTM lens on my CL all the time.

Other than that, you're good to go. The CL is a great little camera -- my standard travel camera, in fact, usually with the 40, the canon 25 and a Voigtlander 15, all of which work just fine and don't cause problems with the meter arm.

Thank you very much for this information, it's good to know what's what in a new piece of kit and no damage it in the finding out phase.

I liked the nice Voigtlander 28mm on my IIIC, the silver metal one and it's finder, as my standard carry lens, but I sold that with that camera, when I had to take care of other matters, so I need to look for a lens that will give me that same focus lenght.

I appreciate the tip about the collapsible lens.

I have a FED or Industar 50 collapsible and might make a brass ring that'll keep it from hitting the meter, I'd just no trust to a rubber band the rough way I sometimes work.

Godspeed and Season's Best,

Eli

gone · Nov 29, 2022

The most valuable accessory that I found for mine was a beautifully made half case that allowed the camera to hang on a strap like a regular camera. Having only that one strap lug made the camera slow to get up to my eye. But what the heck, it's a Leica, so I guess that's a feature :>}

MRZHOUCASE Black Half Case for Leica Minolta CL Film Cameras 2021 New Version | eBay

They are displayed as demonstration purpose only. For certain countries where SpeedPak is not available.

www.ebay.com

craigclu · Nov 29, 2022

I'll add kudos to the Mr Zhou case. It aids greatly in grip and handling. BTW - I bought this CL with a non-working meter many years back (I was using incident metering anyway). After hearing that DAG had parts for these, I sent it off to him and found the good news being there was a simple wiring disconnect issue. It was returned promptly with a CLA, battery conversion and working like new (and active meter). He has been an excellent resource over time. https://www.dagcamera.com/contact.html

The rf on the little CL is easily disrupted by over-sized hoods and the simple tube style can work quite well. The original V'lander hoods on the 40 ƒ1.4 and ƒ1.2 both interfere.

GregY · Nov 29, 2022

There's also this T case from the East

TP ORIG half case for Leica CL (Film camera) | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for TP ORIG half case for Leica CL (Film camera) at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.ca

very nicely made.... $38 USD. pretty much 1/2 the cost of the Mr Zhou
.....or buy mine for $20. (selling my CL)

eli griggs · Nov 29, 2022

Thanks for the tips on cases and repair sources.

I generally carry a camera on a short strap, if at all, but the nice choices you've shown me might just be a nice addition.

Cholentpot · Nov 29, 2022

GregY said:
There's also this T case from the East

TP ORIG half case for Leica CL (Film camera) | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for TP ORIG half case for Leica CL (Film camera) at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.ca

very nicely made.... $38 USD. pretty much 1/2 the cost of the Mr Zhou
.....or buy mine for $20. (selling my CL)View attachment 322968

You're selling your CL?

Might I offer you $10? I'd even take that up to $20...

GregY · Nov 29, 2022

eli griggs said:
Thanks for the tips on cases and repair sources.

I generally carry a camera on a short strap, if at all, but the nice choices you've shown me might just be a nice addition.

carries much nicer horzontally than vertically w the 2 lugs

GregY · Nov 29, 2022

Sirius Glass · Nov 29, 2022

GregY said:
carries much nicer horzontally than vertically w the 2 lugs

How much does a third lug cost?

eli griggs · Nov 29, 2022

Sirius Glass said:
How much does a third lug cost?

An interesting question.

Did either Leica or Minolta ever offer the service/upgrade of another strap lug?

GregY · Nov 29, 2022

No.... the only way is to use the 1/2 case

eli griggs · Nov 29, 2022

GregY said:
No.... the only way is to use the 1/2 case

And none of the camera repair and builders here are no able to modify the Right side with a new strap lug; why?

GregY · Nov 29, 2022

eli griggs said:
And none of the camera repair and builders here are no able to modify the Right side with a new strap lug; why?

Who knows..... but it's cheaper to buy a 1/2 case than to ship a camera back & forth and pay for custom work

Pieter12 · Nov 29, 2022

eli griggs said:
And none of the camera repair and builders here are no able to modify the Right side with a new strap lug; why?

I would imagine it would cost an unreasonable amount to make such a modification, possibly even compromise the camera body. Carrying the camera vertically as it was designed is no big deal.

Huss · Nov 29, 2022

The CL is not made of metal, so most prob a bad idea to try and add another strap lug.

GregY · Nov 29, 2022

Huss it is made of metal.... but it's certainly not robust enough.
Pieter, if you're walking around town, the vertical carry around your neck or off the shoulder is convenient but if your skiing or climbing and want it across your shoulder, then it's awkward since the 2 attachments are so close together ....you need to make the strap longer than normal....now the camera hangs lower and gets in the way.

summicron1 · Nov 29, 2022

i have one of those half cases and found it kind of unreliable -- maybe mine wasn't made properly, but the velcro strap around the back that allegedly holds the camera in the case didn't do a good job and the camera, once, fell out (GAH!!!!) hitting the ground (GAHHH!!!!!) but fortunately was not damaged.

I glued velcro to the bottom of the camera and the bottom inside of the case and put better grade velcro on the strap holding it in.

Mostly i use the existing lugs on the end of the camera, as god intended. It hangs off my shoulder nicely or even around my neck if need be. Usually I wrap the strap around my left hand and hold the camera with the same hand so it is VERY secure.

as regarding collapsable lenses -- Leitz specifically recommends a strip of dymo label tape -- the kind that you peel the backing off of so it sticks down. A strip of 1/4 inch wide tape a couple inches long wrapped around the shaft of the lens next to the lens head will keep it from going too far inside the camera and smashing the meter arm.

here's a link to the manual if you don't have one. This is required reading. For example, do you know it has a spot meter, not an averaging one?

The manual specifically tells you how to use this. It is wonderful once you learn how.

https://www.cameramanuals.org/leica_pdf/leica_cl.pdf

GregY · Nov 29, 2022

Summicron1, the case i have is attached to the camera by the tripod screw. I carried it around Europe for a month this summer....never a problem. But i suppose the different makers attach them by various means

Moose22 · Nov 29, 2022

I use those same cases. The camera is NOT coming out of the thing, with the tripod screw attachment. The screw is hollow, too, so you can still use the camera on a tripod with the case on.

I use one each for my m3, FM3A and F3. Mostly because I often used to do location photography with a timer or steadying the camera on a wall, and the case keeps me from scratching the bottoms up.

You never want to scratch your bottom in public.

The TP original ones are the best cheap half case for that job.

eli griggs · Nov 30, 2022

summicron1 said:
i have one of those half cases and found it kind of unreliable -- maybe mine wasn't made properly, but the velcro strap around the back that allegedly holds the camera in the case didn't do a good job and the camera, once, fell out (GAH!!!!) hitting the ground (GAHHH!!!!!) but fortunately was not damaged.

I glued velcro to the bottom of the camera and the bottom inside of the case and put better grade velcro on the strap holding it in.

Mostly i use the existing lugs on the end of the camera, as god intended. It hangs off my shoulder nicely or even around my neck if need be. Usually I wrap the strap around my left hand and hold the camera with the same hand so it is VERY secure.

as regarding collapsable lenses -- Leitz specifically recommends a strip of dymo label tape -- the kind that you peel the backing off of so it sticks down. A strip of 1/4 inch wide tape a couple inches long wrapped around the shaft of the lens next to the lens head will keep it from going too far inside the camera and smashing the meter arm.

here's a link to the manual if you don't have one. This is required reading. For example, do you know it has a spot meter, not an averaging one?

The manual specifically tells you how to use this. It is wonderful once you learn how.

https://www.cameramanuals.org/leica_pdf/leica_cl.pdf

Thank you for the user manual link.

I have a heavy duty metal labeling Dymo and some aluminum and/or stainless steel tape, so that'll be spot on.

Cheers!

eli griggs · Nov 30, 2022

GregY said:
Who knows..... but it's cheaper to buy a 1/2 case than to ship a camera back & forth and pay for custom work

True enough, it appears.

Sirius Glass · Nov 30, 2022

Imaging all of the carrying configuration if one does not have the camera is difficult. How about posting the strap configurations and carrying configurations, please?

Leica CL and Barnack Accessories?

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