Leica Minolta CL Honest Review
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 15 ต.ค. 2024
- I wanted to give my honest review of the Leica/ Leitz Minolta CL before sending it off to its new owner. This is a camera that I have had a love hate relationship with since purchasing it, and I share all the shortcomings Ive found, as well as the things I truly fell in love with, in this video.
If you were hoping for an in depth review on the camera and system, then I suggest you also check out my good friend Max's video review as well. The link is in the show notes below.
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Nick Mayo
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Show Notes :
Max on instagram :: / maxplustwo
Analog Insights Review on the Leica CL :: • Leica CL Review (35mm ...
Music by :: Beatowski Beats
TH-cam : / @beatowski
Facebook: / beatowskiuk
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My name is Nick Mayo, I am a Michigan based film photographer and creative sharing my triumphs and struggles within the world of art and photography. I have a great number of videos lined up for sharing different things I've learned along the way in my creative journey, as well as some interviews with other creatives and influencers about their joys and struggles within the industry.
Thanks so much for your different take on the Leica CL, Nick. We really appreciate your praise and that you mentioned and linked to our review. Very kind of you! As Hashem said, the two reviews really complement each other. :)
Thanks buddy! You know I love what you guys are doing! Ill support you any way I can :)
I was going to say... seemed wild that both you and Analog Insights reviewed this in the same month :) Despite some shortcomings, it is a beautiful little camera and appears to take lovely photos. Love that black!
Three years later and i just settled on this as my film m body ☺️ i rewatched this (and the AI one) as i often do for purchase validation 😅
All the points you mentioned are, to varying degrees, valid gripes - all of which pale in comparison to the compactness and weight for me. I personally would've been fine with the 40mm lines (that is its intended standard lens, after all), and I'll just imagine the 35 and 50 in relation to that.
Love the meter - like you i rarely use it, but it's nice to have it just to do a quick check and just shut it off again. Without even having to half-press the shutter!
I recently played with my friend's M6, and was surprised to find i still prefer this. The meter is more intuitive to read (albeit upside down), the shutter speed dial and display are nice, and it's just. so. light. Only downside is that it feels more fragile.
Anyway, thanks for the fun watch as always!
I particularly liked the first photograph of the street sign shadow bending around the corner of a building. I JUST got my dad to part with his CL that he got in 1976. I’m looking forward to putting some film through it.
How wonderful! I’m sure you will enjoy it. If I were to make the video again today I would take a more pleased route toward the CL. It really is a great camera.
Nick, I love your photographs, and this earnest, fair and no-nonsense style. I also enjoy Max's videos, they are works of art. Two great points of view and 2 channels at the top of my list.
Thank you so much Gideon! I really appreciate that :)
I noticed on mine, when I attach my Zeiss 50mm f2.0 the 90mm line pop up too. Have the new 40mm f2.8 Voigtlander Heliar Aspheric on the way.
Interesting camera and awesome review / insight to your experience with the camera. I didn’t know this camera existed until now. Ha ha I kind of like the closing quote!
Haha thanks buddy! I think you are the first to comment on the closing quote so far. I may keep it for a bit and see if it still feels good after a few weeks. lol
Nice review Nick! Actually works well informatively when put hand in hand with Max's in depth review. I love the shots also, favourite were the "5&10" and the umbrella shot! -Hashem
Thanks Hashem! I really appreciate that. Super glad to hear the two reviews work well together! And that 5 and dime shot was one I was pretty pleased with as well. Its a cool location, that I look forward to revisiting in the summer time as well. This time with the m2 ;)
Thanks for the review. I was about to buy one, but I think I won't now now. I'll stick with my M2/3
Happy to share my thoughts. I’m glad the review resonated with you. Sorry for the delayed response. Cheers :)
Agreed. The strap system is somewhat of a PIA I solved that issue with a leather half-case, which allowed me to attach a regular neck strap. You need to shoot the 40mm on it. It's a great lens, very compact, and made for this camera body. It really makes the camera even smaller than the way you have it configured with the 50mm. I can't remember, but the 50mm frameline may disappear when you attach the 40mm. I'll have to check though. Nice thoughts, as always, Nick.
Ah I see, I know that when the lens isnt mounted the 50 frame lines were still visible, but I have heard wonderful things about the 40mm. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and insights.
Nick Exposed - I verified this and realized both framelines actually stay visible no matter which lens is attached.
Totally not dissing im just genuinely interested why you dont use the meter and guess exposure with sunny16 instead? I just picked up a leica iiic and have been shooting sunny 16 for the first time. I just wondered. Awesome video BTW. The gear lust is strong
Happy to see another film photographer making content for TH-cam! Happy shooting
Thomas Skrlj thanks so much! Happy shooting to you as well. 😊
One of the cameras i always wanted!
Dont let my review sway you, definitely give it a go. Despite the quirks I found in the camera, it really is a solid m mount setup :)
Great review and video. I am impressed with your images and videos. I have owned a few Leica's but currently find myself sans-Leica, a problem I hope to resolve soon. From one Michigander to another keep up the good work. On a different not I have recently been experimenting with shooting past expiration date film, with nice results. Perhaps a future posting for you. Best of luck and keep doing what you're doing.
Hey thanks dude! Leica's are wonderful cameras to shoot with. Hopefully you find another one in the future. And I may do some videos on that in the future. I love shooting expired film. I covered one portion of it with my Tmax 3200 vid I did a couple months back. But there is more to say on the subject for sure. thanks for the kind words and comment!
i totally understand your frustration + little negatives you found, but as you said you bought this camera as backup. so whats the problems for just split seconds of delay?
its back up, so small and lightweight while able to use M mount lens is most important rather than carry two leica Ms
at least thats what i thought
That’s fair!! And to be even more fair, now that I no longer have either, I would be more than happy to take a Leica CL on again. I think what it was is just previously before having the CL I had a m3 that I had sold and was missing. I was a bit rough on the CL for not being what the m3 was as a secondary shooter to the m2.
Thanks for the comment!!
@@NickExposed Yeah, its compact camera. Pack two Leica Ms for serious photo shooting, Pack Leica M(Color) and CL(B/W) for regular days will be very good and versatile. Get CL again! price will be higher every year because CL is pretty much only compact M mount film camera and very unique
I have the M5 and love the side straps. I‘m having to use a M6 now and find that the normal straps always come in the way. But I do carry my cameras on my shoulder 90% of the time. But I’m also all about the fraction of a second. That’s why the M5 reigns supreme.
Great video on the CL. I initially used the CL and eventually moved to the CLE. I think they definitely got it right with the more advanced CLE. I think you would find the CLE to be much better fit.
Interesting, if I ever get my hands on one I look forward to seeing the differences between the two. Thanks for your thoughts
I want to buy titanium cover for Leica CL... i saw it in real life. It look amazing but hartd to find it.... even person who own it said that it was custom...
PS: sorry for my english... still learning.
I hope you’re able to find one. I have not seen one of those before.
Nice Review. I have been looking at the Minolta CLE. Seems to improve many of the issues of the CL and I feel is a no brainer alternative. Does anyone else have an insight into the CLE vs CL?
Simon Johnson people have been telling me I would probably prefer the cle over the cL with the issues I described. But I haven’t gotten my hands on one to play with yet. I know Justin Yun on Instagram has one that he enjoys.
I know it's an old video but I needed to check it out because someone has one at a very reasonable price. I'll pass on it. Yeah, two gunning is weird if you don't have the same or similar. I two gun it with Nikon F eye level, and an F2 eyelevel, sunny 16 as well. How you liking this -30 today?
other reviews saying that only 40mm frame line is permanent in the viewfinder. I think you can see both 50 and 40 because you are using 50mm lens. If you use 40mm lens, it should not be that crowded
Ah interesting. You are probably right! 40 is a strange focal length for me. It’s inbetween two of my favorite focal lengths, but its a compromise I would never seek out really. But your point is still very much valid.
@@NickExposed I don't own a CL or CLE but the 40mm that was built for these cameras is an amazing lens and one of my most used, adapted to my Sony.
Don't use a strap. Keep the camera in your hands at all times. There are only 40 and 90 mm lines in the viewfinder because those are the lenses that came with the camera. Your criticisms are largely picayune and your review completely misses the two major drawbacks with this camera, which are: the shutter is prone to burning from the lens acting like a magnifying glass (if the lens cap isn't left on and you're careless with the sun). And...the prism inside the rangefinder assembly tends to get jarred out of alignment, over time. Aside from those things, this is an excellent camera, and I've owned and used one for over 50 years.
Ian Robbins Excellent comment to the video. I own a CL that is Like New Condition, you mention your points on its flaws. The prism you mentioned that can get jarred, is that the slight rattling I hear when I tilt my CL forward and back? My CL is just pristine, but I notice a slight glass movement when I tilt the camera.
Therein lies the issues that people have with this lovely well built Leitz Minolta, superfluously comparing it with Leica M-series models, and critiquing it using glass on the CL with nonexistent frame lines in which it wasn’t designed for. The CL was only designed to use the 40mm and the 90mm only with a 50mm frame line squeezed in there. This is a great rangefinder when correctly pair with M-Rokkors.
That 40mm is the reason (along with price) I constantly consider picking one up.
I can see how that shutter advance even torques the camera body forward slightly. Like you almost would have to re-establish your framing with every shot.
I don't have any real exposure to high end film cameras and to be honest some of those fidgety little adjustments look appealing to me. I might be frustrated in real life but I can also imagine that little wrestling match with the body of the camera might add something to the photographs. I would have cut that strap off and threaded a hand loop through the top metal ring. Wear a camera case around my neck or on my belt for when I wasn't shooting. I actually like how the bottom half of the camera is tethered to the top. Looks quirky but practical.
"Like a Leica" should be the title of a photo book (say it out loud).
Definitely requires recomposing with each shot. They are just minor quirks, and I do think its a great camera for others, but they are quirks that I didnt want to live with.
I do like the idea of Like a Leica as a book title 🤔
Hey Nick,
I've been shooting this camera for the past year and a half. It was my first M mount body and I can totally agree with you on the strap issue. It's so small that I usually just clutch it when I'm out. I also really think it's meant to be used with a 40mm lens despite having framelines for the fifty. When I use it I really only see the 40mm frames. I can see how coming from an M2 to this system would definitely leave you wanting more though. I also agree it's a great starter M body!
I put a video of my thoughts on this camera over on my channel. Check it out!
Also, cool to see some of your shots of Grand Rapids. I grew up there and miss it from time to time. Keep up the great work!
Oh thats awesome! What part of GR did you grow up in? I do love this city. Ill check your video out to hear your thoughts for sure. Thanks for sharing
from MI! Where do you get your film developed? I moved away from MI in 2007 because I couldn´t find my creative niche there, but I miss it everyday... Thanks, very articulate review. (I'm trying to find a solid compact rangefinder with aperture priority, meter, and a lens that's not super sharp...under $900...I liked the Minolta CLE, but I heard too many negatives about it...that's how I ended up here.)
Hey there Meg!
As for my development, I do all my own bnw processing and scanning at home. And send my color work out of state to Indie Film Lab in Alabama. I’m not too familiar with any good labs available in GR at least. Let alone Michigan.
And the CL isn’t a bad camera. The guy I sold mine to still uses it as a daily shooter and loves it. My only gripe on it is when shooting it as a back up to the M2 it leaves me longing for another m2 instead. Apart from that it’s a wonderful camera with just a couple quirks.
Ever thought about getting a Sony a7 ii and a m mount adapter? I know Digital is just a friend and film a life partner but I was just curious.
David Bryant I haven’t. I don’t know too much about them apart from the fact that they have amazing video capabilities
Have you considered a Leica R 6.2 instead as a secondary body?
17 minutes of complaining for a camera that has been beautifully designed
I was on a high horse that day. haha. Sometimes we just like to complain simply to complain.
Smallest interchangeable lens rangefinder body? To me it looks about the same size as your M2.
It’s definitely smaller, but not tiny by any means. Without a lens it could fit in my pocket with no problem.
Nice video!
I'd love to see you make a CLE review and compare both cameras :).
Lyoh that would be a great video to see. I’m not sure that I will have the ability to do that one. Maybe Pushing Film or Analog Insights could do it.
I think it’s too fiddly and the lightmeter often broken (although mine is working). As a light companion to my M2 I go for the Bessa-R everytime. L39, but much easier to use and a beautiful bright viewfinder. Basically the same price as the CL where I live.
Ah nice. Ive heard good things about the Bessa systems. Ill have to look into them in the future. Thanks for your suggestion
I'll bet you've never seen/used a Canon P, which displays a number of viewfinder frames in the viewfinder. Just mentally see only the viewfinder frame that corresponds to the lens mounted. I never had problems with this "all frames all the time" display, considering it a "what if I tried something else else" idea. By the way, I've never had the scratch to afford any M-series Leica, so I never developed such operational blinders.
I have actually used a Canon P. Had one from a friend for a few weeks back when I was using the Canon 7 and mine jammed up on me. Again Im not a fan of the cluttered viewfinder. Im not saying my preference is the only way to go, but if I am going to share an honest review I should be vulnerable with the things that I get caught up on, and a cluttered viewfinder is one of those things. Not sure what you mean by operational blinders. I simply have found a system that works perfectly well for me, and in that whatever cameras I bring into the workflow will get judged based off that bias. haha
No models ever had a red dot during their production run.
Is this the same with minolta CLE
Nope. Similar though. The CLE would be my pick though with the Minolta 40mm
Like the review though
Why don't you get a M3 instead since you only shoot 50mm.
GainsBrah I don’t only shoot 50. I shoot 35, 50 and 90. So the m2 is perfect
Strap falls in front of lens. Learned. Never happens again. Simple.
Film people bitching about digital camera features in a film camera. :) I hear ya.
A "great" photographer with just one old Leica M2.
A professional has at least two camera bodies.
Not having a lightmeter and Sunny 16 will do.
Does not like the Leica CL.
A naughty boy.
A show off.
So young
Pity.
Makes me think of the spoiled boy in the restaurant
of John Cleese "Fawlty Towels"
Nick had better buy a Kodak Brownie.
It's bad because you can't get used to it? Ah. OK.
you still trying to sell it?? haha message me on ig: avividlife
I sold this right around the same time the video went out. Sorry.
Straps are for nerds :-p
Frank Walsh 😅🙋🏻♂️