Minolta CLE 35mm Film Rangefinder Review
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- Опубліковано 3 сер 2024
- A review of the Minolta CLE 35mm film rangefinder, and M-mount rangefinder designed in conjunction with Leica.
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Bought one when they first came out in the early 80s , I love it. No mirror shock so you can shoot on slower shutter speeds hand held .
I have all three lenses, great image quality,.
Would love a digital version without the silly Leica price tag.
It was originally £500 all in, a really fair price at the time, even then.
For those who have any mechanical problem with CLE, there is a repair shop in Japan called Minami Camera Service. The shop is run by a former Minolta service person who actually repaired CLE at Minolta. He has tons of original CLE parts, though he declines standard overhaul because he is saving parts for others. Anyway, it is THE BEST and the last place to repair CLE.
wichersham great to know! Thank you!
What a nice camera, nice job Mike
Thanks for the review. Very useful.
Had one. Love it.
I dig your reviews man. You have a much bigger attention to detail than most reviewers and when it comes to film cameras, the devils in the details.
Thanks! That means a lot--I love this stuff!
np. I was shooting with a Ricoh GR1v but sold it because I honestly got spooked by all the people talking about how fragile they are. Looking to get a Klasse S I think.
Btw, does the original Klasse or the 35AFM have the NP mode the Klasse S/W does?
The original Klasse/AFM35 does not have the NP mode.
Great video! Now I wanna get one of these haha
This video inspired me to buy a CLE last month. I got a mint one from Japan with the 40mm for £700 - plus £190 import tax. It has been well worth the money and I've since bought the M-Rokkor 28mm to go with the 40. Now that I've run some films through it, I can say that the optical quality of the Minolta 40mm is right up there with the Leica glass - no doubt about it. Film loading is a bit counter-intuitive and annoying, lack of manual metering is not a big deal - exposure comp is easy to access. Slightly worrying, is the instruction to never leave the camera overnight with the shutter cocked!!! Overall, as close to perfect as it gets - but make point of getting the M-Rokkor lenses, they make it a complete package.
Yes, they do say to not leave the shutter cocked, but honestly I've done it hundreds of times!
Minolta was most likely referring to the spring that keeps tension on the shutter when it's cocked. If left under tension for (long periods) a while it'll break yes. It can weaken it, but no harm no fowl if you ask me. Overnight isn't long enough but as these things age, is the risk worth it...
yes, I have one. What I really dislike is how hard it is to read the film counter. Rest all good and thumbs up! Use it with a Voigtlander 15 mm and a Summarit 35 mm.
Photographyandcoffee.com oh wow, I don't even remember that about it, as I hardly ever look at frame counters! Makes me wish I still had it!
This is the video that made me decide to get a CLE. A year and 60 rolls later, I still love this camera. It's been a work horse with an excellent meter and a ridiculously sharp 40mm f/2 lens. I just picked up a nikon 28ti based on your review for the 35ti (i just prefer a wider focal length for P/S). I'll let you know how it goes!
That's awesome! How'd you like the 28ti?
I think I understand- that if the light meter is broke you have good batteries, it will run the shutter and therefore your CLE will still work, Got a Voigtlander 40mm I want to put on one of these.
Nice review. I've wanted one of these but they generally command a high price.
Nothing near a Leica m3 or m4
I always have wanted a CLE, which I consider (for me anyway), the most perfect non-SLR 35mm camera. My resistance to buying is (1) price; for a 30 year old camera, just too much; and (2) the special Minolta lenses for the camera were very good, but too many of them have developed internal element separation to justify risking their high cost. Mike's camera with the 40mm f1.4 Nokton - what an excellent combo.
Randall Stewart they fit Leica lenses
I think getting a second hand one now would be quite a risk.
Thanks for the short and sweet review! I have a CLE and I am looking for the flash. In the meantime, using a 280px flash, it does not fire above 1/60s in manual mode. Does your flash fire in manual above 1/60s?
Thanks for watching! Max sync speed on the CLE is 1/60th. Even if you could get a flash to manually fire at a speed faster than that, part of the frame will be cut off because of the shutter curtain.
I bought a CL recently and can't seem to see the rangefinder patch. Anyone else have the same issue?
This has a screw in remote release socket on the left handside next to the viewfinder.
which do you prefer between this camera and the minolta x-700?
This, for sure. But I'm partial to rangefinders.
oscar big difference in quality. This camera is a Leica camera with a Minolta name
Currently price on these is over $600 for body. I’ll stick with my Contax G1 at that price.
Just use sunny 16 for metering
always a reliable method! Once a month I use sunny 16 just to keep my eyes in practice but I like having a meter. It's just too handy of a tool to not use!
How can I load it?????????????????????
Rosi O. Just like a mintola x700
good vid. but I wish I had not watched it, because now I want one lol
+Mike Zilla This one's for sale!
+Mike Padua I thought you sold it? (we are in a few of the same Facebook groups)
+Mike Zilla it was on EBay and the buyer flaked.
+Mike Padua sorry to hear that. I'll never understand those guys.
Mike Zilla I just bought one and I wanna cry for a few reasons Hahahaha
My CLE is dead;
a crust of greens crystals at the chrome switch,
underneath the battery compartement.
Jaco van Lith if you mean inside the battery compartment, that’s corrosion from a battery that has leaked, and it’s preventing the battery from making contact. Vinegar on a cloth will help you clean that and it’s likely your CLE might still work.
You can clean that off
Send it to Minami Camera Service in Japan. They are a CLE dedicated camera repair shop run by a former Minolta service person. They can repair most problem with original Minolta parts.
@@wichersham hi there, do you have a url for Minami Camera Service by chance? thx
It’s one of the best Leicas ever
Agreed! Probably still my favorite camera, even though I no longer own it.
Love how its a camera video, and then the image is out of focus.