From 1968 on, the black plastic shoulder pieces between the front cover and the top cover are held in place by visible screws. In Fall 1968 Minolta began selling black body SR-T101's, like image at left, from serial number 1270xxx on. First generation serial numbers range from 10001xx to approximately 1650xxx.
Leica Minolta CLE Minolta CLE: Compact Leica M Mount RF with AE and TTL Flash / / / / // The Minolta CLE was introduced 1980. Yet, father Leitz makes haste very slowly.
Until the introduction of the Leica M7 in 2001, the CLE remained for 21 years the most technologically advanced Leica M mount camera ever produced. Not bad, for a Minolta.
Most CLE owners consider it one of the best cameras they have ever owned. Bsa airsporter serial numbers. Compact like the older CL, the CLE (electronic) boasts a list of impressive new features. Instead of the 40/90 combo for the CL, the CLE uses a more useful set of 28/2.8, 40/2 and 90/4 multi coated Rokkors.
They use Leica's traditional parallel focusing cams for complete focusing compatibility with the rest of the M system. The rangefinder is longer and with a brighter RF focusing spot. For the first time, the CLE offers TTL flash off the film plane with its small CLE Flash. Also for the first time, it offers aperture priority exposure as well as manual exposure. The CLE's electronic shutter is the 1st built into an M mount camera. The CLE was an expensive quality camera with an admittedly limited market from the start.
Research at this time indicates a production of only about 34,000 cameras. I'm guessing the starting serial # was 1000001.
The recorded low is 1001001. The recorded high serial number I have recorded so far is 1033618.
The CLE's 40/2 Minolta M-Rokkor is very sharp, certainly comparable to Leica optics. This pic shows the on/off switch. The CLE turns itself off after about 20 seconds, and can be re-activated by just the touch of your finger on the shutter release. Neutral position is OFF. Pushed down, the camera is on. Pushed UP activates the self timer with its blinking red light.
The CLE's metering system is very sophisticated for its time and for a rangefinder. A Silicon cell in the bottom of the film chamber reads the approximate exposure off the patterned shutter curtain. Actual exposure is set DURING the exposure by metering off the film!! The CLE's rewind is on the bottom of the camera, like the CL and the M5 before it. The bottom battery compartment holds D76 cells, along side of the battery check and the rewind button. Other include:. One of the few M mount cameras with TTL metering(M5,CL,CLE,M6).
The metering range is EV 3 to 18, which translates to 1/2 second at f/2 to 1/1000 at f/16 using ASA 100 film. The manually set ASA range is an ample 25 to 1600, with a plus/minus 2 EV range effectively extending it even beyond that. A silicon metering cell reads a centerweighted, bottom biased, reading OFF THE FILM during exposure. The only M Mount camera which offers TTL flash (until the 1998 M6 TTL).
The only M Mount camera to offer Aperture Priority Exposure. Stepless shutter speeds in AE operation. Extremely bright RF/VF system, comparable to the Leica M and Bessa R series. Magnification is.58 with an effective baselength of 28.9.
See. The BEST and largest built in 28 mm finder in any M series camera.
An exceptionally smooth shutter release which also doubles as an on/off switch. A very quiet shutter with a range of 1 second to 1/1000th plus B. Framelines for the 28/40/90.
Smaller than any M except the CL. A set of three superb multicoated lenses. The 1st M mount camera with the accuracy of an electronic shutter. The 1st M mount camera with the ease of film loading swing open back. The 1st M mount camera which uses an electronic remote shutter release. If you want the ultimate in vibrationless photography, this may be it.
Comments about using 135 lenses on the also apply to the CLE Frameline NOTE: While the CLE has automatic built in framelines for the 28, 40, and 90 Rokkors, there is not complete frameline compatibility with the other M cameras. The 28 frameline is visible at all times.
The 40 and 90 framelines appear or disappear according to mounted lens. The CLE 28 brings up the 35/135 framelines on the M6 via mechanical linkage. The frame line lug on the CLE lens can be modified by a repairman to bring up the proper 28 on the M6-but of course then it would bring up the 90 on the CLE! A Leica 35/135 brings up the 28 frameline by itself on the CLE. The CLE 40 lens brings up the 50/75 frameline on your M6. A Leica 50/75 brings up the 28/40 combination on your CLE. The CLE 90 lens brings up the 90/28 frameline on your M6.
A Leica 28/90 lens brings up the 28/90 combination on the CLE. One solution to the CLE's different framelines is using modern Cosina Voigtlander Leica screw mount lenses, with the adapter that brings up the frameline of your choice.:. No AE exposure lock. No Meter on manual exposure.
Dead Batteries = Dead Camera. The 28mm Minolta Rokkor lens which often exhibits 'spots' at the edge of its elements from poor edge coating. The bigger the spots, the more likely you will see flare or other problems in your pics.
This is a well known defect. At one time Minolta USA repaired such spotted 28 Rokkors free of charge. are no longer available from Minolta USA because there is NO Minolta USA. Minolta is sadly out of business, bought out by Konica who in turn also sold out of the camera business to Sony. The CLE shutter, meter readout, and shutter release are based upon Minolta's XG series.
Keep in mind not a lot of CLE's were made. Your local independent repairman may say they can't work on them simply because they never have before. Ask them if they can repair Egg's.
IF they can, they can probably repair the CLE too! Keeping a few XG parts bodies is a wise decision.
The biggest problem long term is the lack of replacement CLE circuit boards. Like any other electronic camera, the CLE is sensitive to dust and dirt inside the cover. Dirt can give you erratic meter readouts or other problems, a common and easily curable CLE repair. What's the difference between? Two focal lengths were made for the CL: 40/2 and 90/4. Three focal lengths were made for the CLE: 28/2.8, 40/2, and 90/4.
CLE lenses are multi-coated, CL lenses are not. CLE lenses have traditional Leitz parallel focusing cams, CL 40/2 and 90/4 lenses have very angular focusing cams. No one questions the CLE lenses will work well with the Leica M cameras. Some people believe the CL lenses are not 100% compatible with the M's - I disagree, the full story is in the CL profile.
Minolta Rokkor Serial Numbers
The easiest way to spot CLE lenses is their serial numbers are on the lens barrel. CL lens serial numbers are on the filter ring.
The 40/2 lenses for the CL or CLE are among the sharpest lenses I have ever used. 28/2.8 Multi-Coated Rokkor, 7 elements in 5 groups, 4 3/4 oz, special bayonet metal shade. Many of these lenses are prone to develop white spots around the outside edges of the front lens elements.
Minolta realized the problem and repaired it no charge for a long time.though I don't think they are still doing it. If the spots are small there will probably be no noticeable effect, though if the problem has progressed you can get a ghosting effect.
While sharp, it is not as good as the much more expensive Leica 28/2.8's. If it has white spots, my advise is NOT to buy it. Either the Voigtlander 28/1.9 or 28/3.5 will likely have better performance than the two decades older Minolta 28/2.8. 90/4 Multi-Coated Rokkor, 4 elements, 8 13/16 oz, collapsible rubber shade. The optical formula is slightly different and improved from the CL's 90/4 - though the difference is a small one.
Most Leica M lenses work fine on the CL and CLE, the main exceptions being. Earlier 21's and 28's with the large rear elements. Some 35/50/135's with 'eyes' block portions of the CLE's RF/VF windows. Collapsible Lenses. Don't force the lens into the body, or you may damage the lens AND your camera.
The 35/1.4 Summilux will not mount due to a protective ring for the rear element. Remove the ring and you can use the lens-but be careful.
I am not sure about the later 35/2 and 35/1.4 ASPH Leica lenses. Some versions of 35/2 Summicrons have a similar protective ring which makes mounting the lens difficult. Likewise, this ring can also be removed. IMPORTANT: Unmodified, these two lenses MAY damage the CLE's rangefinder cam if they are mounted when not set at their closest focus.
If you have no other lenses available and it's a close up shot, you can use them in their closer focusing range only, but be careful and don't focus beyond about 9/10 feet!. The 50/2 Dual Range Summicron will mount on the CLE in infinity position, but binds with the body when focused closer than infinity. The DR's close up range and 'eyes' are also not usable on the CLE. The CLE's rangefinder baselength is not long enough to consistently focus 135 lenses wide up and close up, but if you shoot at medium and smaller apertures, and from about 30 feet to infinity, you will probably have no problems with accurate focus. ALL of the various Cosina Voigtlander Leica mount lenses 12mm to 90mm will work on the CLE, with TTL metering. Add the Leica screw mount to bayonet adapter to the screw mount lenses, though the 35/1.2 and 50/1.5 are really beyond the CLE's shorter RF wide open and close up. ALL of the various Konica Hexar M lenses will work fine on the CLE and meter properly, with the exception of the 50/1.2 which needs a longer effective rangefinder baselength to focus accurately and consistently wide open and close up.
Stop down to f/2 and beyond, and you will be fine. MINOLTA issued a lens compatibility brochure in May of 1981. Note that later Leica lenses are not included on this list. My thanks to Dirk Feeken for translating it from German: ' Using Leica M-Lenses on the Minolta CLE' The camera's focusing system is optically and mechanically tuned for precise function with the Minolta M-Rokkor lenses.
Nevertheless it is possible to use some Leica M-lenses together with the Minolta CLE with regards to the following table. This information is based on standard testing methods of Minolta and the Leica-lenses which were available out of the actual program. Minolta is not responsible for any damage which may occur if lenses are used on the CLE, that were not made for this camera. Information about using other Leica lenses on the Minolta CLE can be obtained from authorized Minolta Service Leica Lens usability CLE visible Frame Remarks 21/3.4 Super-Angulon limited 28 and 40mm Metering not possible (blocked by Mount).
Pictures by eBayer Yalluflex. Japanese 35mm focal plane VF and RF ( ) Minolta 35 Contax G mount Other Japanese and - Japanese, - was relatively late to start making its Minolta 35 Leica based 35mm rangefinder camera, beginning in May 1947. Up until then, Chiyoda had specialized in medium format rollfilm cameras such as the folders and TLRs.
Minolta Rokkor Serial Numbers
Eventually, Minolta would even cooperate with to build rangefinder cameras, such as the. The Minolta 35 appeared similar to the with which it shared a common (LTM) interchangable lens mount. The Minolta 35 featured a horizontal cloth focal-plane shutter with speeds T, B, 1sec to 1/500sec, separate shutterspeed dials with a front dial setting speeds below 1/35sec, and a knob advance. Unlike the other Leica copies whose shutters were based on the original Leitz two post, co-axial drum/pulley mechanism, the Minolta used a four-post (two pulleys and two rollers) design similar to the Exakta shutter. It pioneered some features beyond its German contemporary in that it had a combined rangefinder/viewfinder window and a self-timer.
Its integral film take-up spool and hinged back door enabled easier film loading than on the Leica. Advertisement in February 1949. The Minolta 35 was manufactured from 1947 to 1958.
There were nine significant variations during this period. The early Minolta 35 underwent almost continual development from models A to D, and these versions are hard to tell from another since the model names are not marked on the camera, various changes seemed to be 'softly' introduced during production and their serial numbers were sequential without breaks. From the model E on, the model names were engraved on the front plate of the camera. Contents Minolta 35 Model A All versions had the name 'Minolta - 35' engraved on the top cover.
The logo engraving on the top cover of the model A and early model B read 'Chiyoda Kogaku' 'Osaka', and these models may be engraved with ' on the bottom cover. The model A can be confirmed by measuring its 24×32mm shutter mask opening in the film chamber. For the Minolta 35, the physical rangefinder base between the front viewfinder window and rangefinder window was 40mm. On the earliest models the finder magnification was only 0.33, yielding an effective rangefinder base of just 13mm and leading to focusing difficulty.
Later model A bodies have a slightly different set of slower speeds '1, 2, 4, 8, 25' in stead of '1, 2, 5, 10, 25' on the slow speed dial. The change is said to have taken place prior serial number 0900. Another change that needs to be mentioned is the disappearance of the small latch above the slow speed dial on later model A bodies. Coupled interchangeable lenses developed for the Minolta 35 included:. first version of the 45mm f/2.8 Chiyoko Super Rokkor standard lens, with 5 elements in 3 groups. This version featured a small round window in the front bezel to read aperture. 8.5cm f/2.8 Chiyoko Super Rokkor 85mm portrait lens.
11cm f/5.6 Chiyoko Tele Rokkor 110mm short telephoto lens. 13.5cm f/4 Chiyoko Tele Rokkor 135mm telephoto lens. Minolta 35 Model B During model B production the shutter mask opening increased to 24×33mm from 24×32mm. The logo engraving on the top cover changed to 'C.K.S.' (Chiyoda Kōgaku Seikō) during the model B production run, and remained so marked until the model II type b.
Shutterspeeds on the slow speed dial read right-side-up from front of the camera, when one is facing the camera. Some model B may have marking on the winding knob (two variations are known: Latin alphabet or Japanese alphabet). Minolta 35 Model C Minolta 35 model C, image by j hopper The model C shutter mask opening remained at 24×33mm. On earlier models, slow speeds read the same as in model B. However on most model C, slow speeds are marked upside-down to read right when one is holding the camera and looking down at the slow speed dial (but then again, some model B are known to have this feature too). The magnification of the finder was optically improved to 0.7, and the effective rangefinder base became 28mm which increased ease of focusing.
Some model C may retain marking on the winding knob. Minolta 35 Model D Changes for the model D include strap lugs, the rewind lever located to under the winding knob, and an indent into the front plate below the lens mount to make clearance for the lens' focusing tab. The image size of the model D is nominally 24×34mm, and is said to vary between 24×33.5mm and 24×34.5mm.
This image size remained until the model IIB was developed. A modified standard lens became available with the model D:.
second version 45mm f/2.8 Chiyoko Super Rokkor standard lens, with focusing tab but without front bezel aperture window. Minolta 35 Model E Model E is now engraved on the front plate of the camera. The main differences from model D are the addition of a diopter adjustment on the finder, and the addition of a flash sync plug on the right rear of the finder cupola.