Minolta CLE
- Thread starter pikapig
- Start date
Chandler
Member
Check out Camera Quest's write-up on the Minolta CLE.
It was an improvement over the Leica's CL with the added electronics following Leica and Minolta's joint development of the CL. Kinda like an electronic CL. Hence CLE.
I read a bit and heard quite a lot of differing views of the CLE while researching on which film RF to purchase, and the general sense I get from most people is that it is a good camera, and that the CLE was considered the most advanced M mount RF in its time.
Ironically, it is precisely because of its dependence on electronics which makes it a liability 30 years later.
I quote Chiifei - "If the electronics fail, your camera is as good as gone. Hard to repair or source for parts."
Some food for thought.
I have owned a Minolta CLE before.
The Minolta CLE is the only brand which had M-mount before Leica's patent ended in 2000. It was a collaboration between Leica and Minolta where you get German mechanical standards and Japanese electronics reliability at that time. The CLE is almost like an M7, 20 years early. In fact, the Minolta uses a more complex metering method compared to any Leica M. The CLE shares the same electronics parts as the Minolta X700 (IIRC) and should not be difficult to source for parts.
Moving onto my personal experiece, the CLE is a good camera. I'll share some Pros and Cons, hope its useful to you.
Pros:
Low cost
Small size
AE mode
Very accurate metering (similar to matrix metering today)
Beautiful 40mm lens which is low in cost
Swinging back door for easy film loading
Film rewind at the bottom, similar to Zeiss Ikon
Can take hand grip of Zeiss Ikon (but will block a part of the film rewind button)
Drawbacks:
Framlines; 28mm, 40mm & 90mm
Shorter baseline
Electronic Shutter
Metering only with AE mode
The Minolta CLE is the only brand which had M-mount before Leica's patent ended in 2000. It was a collaboration between Leica and Minolta where you get German mechanical standards and Japanese electronics reliability at that time. The CLE is almost like an M7, 20 years early. In fact, the Minolta uses a more complex metering method compared to any Leica M. The CLE shares the same electronics parts as the Minolta X700 (IIRC) and should not be difficult to source for parts.
Moving onto my personal experiece, the CLE is a good camera. I'll share some Pros and Cons, hope its useful to you.
Pros:
Low cost
Small size
AE mode
Very accurate metering (similar to matrix metering today)
Beautiful 40mm lens which is low in cost
Swinging back door for easy film loading
Film rewind at the bottom, similar to Zeiss Ikon
Can take hand grip of Zeiss Ikon (but will block a part of the film rewind button)
Drawbacks:
Framlines; 28mm, 40mm & 90mm
Shorter baseline
Electronic Shutter
Metering only with AE mode
I pickup the Minolta CLE during the early 90's. It's very compact and light weight. The original foam for CLE backdoor light seal should be deteriorated by now. It's sticky and melts. I had it replace and CLA at LIM's mechanic at Shaw(retired long ago). During the mid 2000, again i got myself another CLE. One for color and one for B/W. This time i had the backdoor seal replaced at DE camera Philip. Even Philip admits that it's a better build camera. Until now i don't have any problems with it. The metering is accurate and convenient in AE mode. Batteries A76 or LR44 are easily available. Just make it a habit to remove the batteries when storing the camera for long periods. Overall it's a good Japanese quality camera. It's a light camera for travelling. I even took the 2 camera to the freezing mountains in China and still works. Whereas my canon ixus went dead cos of the cold.
The Minolta CLE is a nice little compact M but its not Leica. Nice feel to it but its still not Leica. I remember it being fairly quiet on the shutter but not Leica quiet. I sold it after getting the Zeiss Ikon.... I think the CLE will go very well with a Rollei's HFT 40mm f2.8 sonnar! :devil: :sweatsm: 
compact leica electronic...this was mine for a while...
compact leica electronic...this was mine for a while...
Last edited:
I came to know it only recently...didnt know leica has these collaborations.
The dates when its release, its much earlier compared to a M7..wondering how different is it compared to M7. the framelines look pretty much different compared to voigtlander series...
Am i right to say that ppl are more inclined to Ikon compared to CLE?
Im really sorry that i initially thought that there wasnt much user for this camera...as i seldom heard about it here...Leica and VC and ikon seems to be more active in the post..
Can i ask the built for the Minolta CLE?
The Minolta CLE is a nice little compact M but its not Leica. Nice feel to it but its still not Leica. I remember it being fairly quiet on the shutter but not Leica quiet. I sold it after getting the Zeiss Ikon.... I think the CLE will go very well with a Rollei's HFT 40mm f2.8 sonnar! :devil: :sweatsm:
compact leica electronic...this was mine for a while...
Bro...u are quite a collector!!
U have Ikon as well rite, how different was it?
Last edited:
Bro...u are quite a collector!!
U have Ikon as well rite, how different was it?
I'm no collector lah bro... though i've "tried" quite a few 135 RFs with AE, from CLE to R3A to Hexar RF to ZI to M7... i've sold them all and keeping just the ZI (s) for AE and shutter speed
and of course, sticking to 35mm & 50mm framelines...
Last edited:
Chandler
Member
pikapig said:I came to know it only recently...didnt know leica has these collaborations.
The dates when its release, its much earlier compared to a M7..wondering how different is it compared to M7. the framelines look pretty much different compared to voigtlander series...
Am i right to say that ppl are more inclined to Ikon compared to CLE?
Im really sorry that i initially thought that there wasnt much user for this camera...as i seldom heard about it here...Leica and VC and ikon seems to be more active in the post..
Can i ask the built for the Minolta CLE?
Check out the Minolta-CLE section in RFF, there're plenty of user photos posted there. Alternatively you can search for CLE-shot pictures on flickr too.
IIRC I think I saw a CLE before either at Benfoto or one of the shops in Penninsula.
Alternatively you can wait for a forumer to put his up for sale and you can view it, or search for it online. I think there should be one or two sets that were posted up for sale in Classifieds that might still be available. You're looking at $700-$800 for it.
Built wise should be almost similar to the CL, with the CLE being slightly bigger.
Last edited:
I'm no collector lah bro... though i've "tried" quite a few 135 RFs with AE, from CLE to R3A to Hexar RF to ZI to M7... i've sold them all and keeping just the ZI (s) for AE and shutter speed
and of course, sticking to 35mm & 50mm framelines...
I heard about the ZI, i like the look for it..but never tried it before..guess out of the many you listed above...i only had a R2A and tried the R2A before..haha
I have a R2A now...instead of buying..im more towards of trying them to see whats the difference..hopefully one day i bump into another ZI, Hexar, and CLE user in the RF outing..so can take a look n compare...
Indeed, i don't even know why I was even "eyeing" the CLE with a Rokkor 40/2 (or was it cron 40/2?) at the Camera Workshop... and for a very decent price of $1100! lol :bsmilie:
Chandler
Member
I heard about the ZI, i like the look for it..but never tried it before..guess out of the many you listed above...i only had a R2A and tried the R2A before..haha
I have a R2A now...instead of buying..im more towards of trying them to see whats the difference..hopefully one day i bump into another ZI, Hexar, and CLE user in the RF outing..so can take a look n compare...
I've played with my friend's ZI before - solidly-built, bright viewfinder and framelines, AE priority, and a really nice shutter sound (hahaha I don't even know why that should be a factor); it's nice! Even though the stupid rabbit creature in that "I Want to Buy a Rangefinder" animation video terms it a "fancier Bessa", it handles and shoots well.
I think newghost has 2 ZIs (a black and a silver one IIRC), one of which was put up for sale recently if I was not mistaken? I remember enquiring about it when I was deliberating over which RF to get. Maybe he can let you handle a ZI during one of the RF outings.
But in all honesty, I think your R2A isn't much worse than the ZI, and definitely newer than the CLE. So if you're looking to trade one for the other, I'd rather you stick to your R2A. I mean, all 3 cams have AE priority right?
Hey bro, thanks for adding me on flickr. Nice shots you have in your album!
Ah yes that was where I saw the CLE! The CW! Condition not fantastic though. Is it still there? The price is nice when coupled with the Rokkor 40/2 (I don't think it's the Cron). In fact, there are people looking around for just the Rokkor 40/2, which I am led to believe is a pretty good lens for its price.
I saw Newghost ZI..super chio! Haha..yup im okay with my R2A, infact i nvr tot of replacing it..i might get a full mechanical body one day thou..just abit curious about the other cameras and what is the difference.
Let's hope we get to meet up one day!
artspraken
New Member
ZI the VF sibeh tua. Like cinema liddat lei.
Thanks bros...
R2A is good enough, keep that for AE. On the assumption that you're on GAS, get a light meter and a mechanical M and forget about the other RFs with AE!
The simply reason I ended up with two... i started with the chrome ZI and eventually bought the black one coz the black finishing is more Black Paint as opposed to black "chrome" on my M6 if you know what i mean :lovegrin:
Try getting a real black paint M
Here it is again... :heart:
R2A is good enough, keep that for AE. On the assumption that you're on GAS, get a light meter and a mechanical M and forget about the other RFs with AE!
The simply reason I ended up with two... i started with the chrome ZI and eventually bought the black one coz the black finishing is more Black Paint as opposed to black "chrome" on my M6 if you know what i mean :lovegrin:
Try getting a real black paint M
Here it is again... :heart:
One thing that I really like is the indication of focal length on the frameline that the ZI brings up when you look thru the VF :light:
Of course, that does not make a better photographer but its just one of those things unique to the ZI experience! :heart:
I've researched quite a bit on the CLE vs. CL before deciding on the CL.
Build wise I think they are almost the same and delightful to use! I would just point out the 2 key considerations for me - maybe you can give it some thought!
1. CL is fully manual so even with a dead battery you can use it. Like the rest said, with a shortage of CLE parts, once it's fried it's almost good as gone...
2. Both CL and CLE have short baselengths which mean focusing tele lens and fast lens would be less accurate (for a noob like me, at least!). CLE here would win the CL though.
I've wanted to sell my CL but fell in love with it again so it's now my second body. it's primarily for my wide angles and shots w large dof so the focusing accuracy won't be a problem.
Last of all, the ZI is one chio beast. Good luck resisting the poison!
Build wise I think they are almost the same and delightful to use! I would just point out the 2 key considerations for me - maybe you can give it some thought!
1. CL is fully manual so even with a dead battery you can use it. Like the rest said, with a shortage of CLE parts, once it's fried it's almost good as gone...
2. Both CL and CLE have short baselengths which mean focusing tele lens and fast lens would be less accurate (for a noob like me, at least!). CLE here would win the CL though.
I've wanted to sell my CL but fell in love with it again so it's now my second body. it's primarily for my wide angles and shots w large dof so the focusing accuracy won't be a problem.
Last of all, the ZI is one chio beast. Good luck resisting the poison!
The Dry Box
Senior Member
If you would like to step up from bessa rXa, how about a hexar rf?
Cle was made in japan, imo these are nice cameras, which has features advance at the time where no companies can catch up.
If you do not mind spending a little more, zeiss ikon imo, has the best run for your money, as per previous postings
Cle was made in japan, imo these are nice cameras, which has features advance at the time where no companies can catch up.
If you do not mind spending a little more, zeiss ikon imo, has the best run for your money, as per previous postings
Interesting fact.
In times of the USSR some Moskou institution dealing with photo-camera developments made a real-life shutter crash-test for their Zenits and the Minolta CLE. The Zeniths of the epoque couldn't climb higher then 2500-5000 shutter cycles (breaking after this point, as a rule), while the CLE exhibited more than 20 000 cycles before the changes in exact shutter speeds became noticeable by their equipment.
In times of the USSR some Moskou institution dealing with photo-camera developments made a real-life shutter crash-test for their Zenits and the Minolta CLE. The Zeniths of the epoque couldn't climb higher then 2500-5000 shutter cycles (breaking after this point, as a rule), while the CLE exhibited more than 20 000 cycles before the changes in exact shutter speeds became noticeable by their equipment.
Last edited:
Similar threads
