Bought a CL, did I get a good deal?

[photobizzz]

CL owners, picked this up for $425 shipping included, did I get a good deal or just average?

Leica CL (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=130188786592)

BTW: What is the little button on the bottom right of the lens mount? (lens facing you)

Also, does anyone think I will have any trouble focusing a 90/2.8 Tele-Elmarit wide open on the CL? I know the original lens was a 90/4.


Colin

[Film dino]

The little button is the battery checker.With a live battery & the shutter cocked, pressing this button should make the viewfinder meter needle deflect from the top right corner down to below the "right exposure" notch

[RML]

IMO you always get a good deal if you're happy with the purchase. No need to worry whether or not you get the best deal. Just enjoy that camera. :)

[sinetsin]

Yes! Always a good deal!
The CL is a little great camera! i love mine!

I tested a tele-elmarit with my CL and i didn't had any problem (I wear glasses;)) but if you have any problem... maybe I can trade my elmar-c for youe tele!! ;)
Enjoy it!!

[Al Patterson]

That is mid-price, as I've seen user CLs go for under $300, and some in better condidition go for $500 or so. As long as you are happy, enjoy it, it's a great little camera.

[edodo]

If all is working then its a very good deal! The CL will become one day very sought after.

[photogdave]

That's about the going price right now, which is a good thing. This means that the seller knows the camera, and the market. It's not overpriced, so it's not a ripoff. It's not way underpriced so there is probably nothing wrong with it. To my mind this makes it a good deal!
I bought my CL knowing that the meter needed repairing, so mine was cheap but I spent some $$ to get it up and running.
Enjoy!

[Matthew Allen]

This just appeared on the bay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/LEICA-CL-LEITZ-WETZLAR-RANGEFINDER-CAMERA-M-MOUNT-BODY_W0QQitemZ130191082918QQihZ003QQcategoryZ30063 QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem


Same photos of the same camera. Something fishy's afoot.

Matthew

[anselwannab]

I've heard that people recycle photo's, but I don't think that's cool. Considering I think the nicest thing about it is that it looks real clean, I'd straighten out what you are actually getting before completing the deal. That's just what I would do. Maybe get the guy to take a picture of it with todays news paper, just the hostage guys do.

$0.02 and I'm overcharging

Mark

[Brian Sweeney]

No problem using a 90/2.8 Tele-Elmarit on mine, or the Canon 50/1.5.

It's a very nice camera, fits in a side-pocket in the compartment case.

[photobizzz]

This just appeared on the bay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/LEICA-CL-LEITZ-WETZLAR-RANGEFINDER-CAMERA-M-MOUNT-BODY_W0QQitemZ130191082918QQihZ003QQcategoryZ30063 QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem


Same photos of the same camera. Something fishy's afoot.

Matthew

The seller had 2 CL's, one with the 1.5v mod and one without. I have bought from him before and have every confidence that the camera will arrive in good condition, I have also ordered a few 1.35v wein cells for the camera from BH.

[rich815]

Assuming the meter is in accurate and working condition then yes, it's a fair price. After all it's a "very rare" camera (only about 8 available on eBay right now! Only 8 in the completed auctions screen! ;-)

I got mine from someone here with a Luigi case for $425 but had been told the meter reacted but was dodgy. Got a full CLA from Sherry for about $220 (she replaced some gearing that was wearing and repaired some of the meter's wiring) and now it's working perfectly.

If it arrives with the meter dead or not working properly then you paid about $200 too much.

[photobizzz]

I was looking at the Luigi case yesterday, and I would love to get one, but at 160

euros I cannot swing it after buying the camera. I just wish that was $160 dollars,

then it would be affordable!:D

[rich815]

I was looking at the Luigi case yesterday, and I would love to get one, but at 160

euros I cannot swing it after buying the camera. I just wish that was $160 dollars,

then it would be affordable!:D

It is a fantastic case! Mine is in perfect functional shape but well worn, like a fine, comfortable leather glove.....

[vrgard]

And Luigi's case really improves the feel of the wonderful but lightweight CL camera. I use a Luigi half case on my CL along with an M Classics wrist strap. Makes for a great combination.

-Randy

[anselwannab]

I love my CL. I bought in person at Nat Cam and found the meter stuck from time to time. They stepped up and re-imbursed me to have DAG do a CLA on it. The CL is at the corner of the envelope of small size and image quality. There are smaller cameras, and their are higher quality cameras, but nothing with a better blend of properties.

I was amazed at the pics, in my gallery, of the airplanes at the Dayton Wright Field Air Force Museum. I have the Minolta version with the 40 Rokkor, and I can blow those up to 13x19, no problems. And that was shooting at iso 400, F2 at 1/30 (sometimes slower).

[-kk-]

welcome to the club! Love my CL!

[Matthew Allen]

The seller had 2 CL's, one with the 1.5v mod and one without. I have bought from him before and have every confidence that the camera will arrive in good condition, I have also ordered a few 1.35v wein cells for the camera from BH.

You're probably right, the seller has perfect feedback after all. That said, I think it's dishonest to use pictures that don't match the item without saying so. I note that the description in the second auction says "Look at the pics" whereas in yours it doesn't, but when buying it's a fair assumption that you are getting exactly what you see.

Matthew

[Way]

I bought my CL and 40 Rokkor from Sherry Krauter about a year ago and the price may have been a bit high but everything was CLA'd and worked great. It even came with a warranty from Sherry. I feel that I got a good deal.

[Stu W]

This seller is a photo recycler. He's sold CL's before. Everyone seems happy though.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=130185624648

[greypilgrim]

Seems like this is a good price?

Thanks,

Doug

[rich815]

Seems like this is a good price?

Thanks,

Doug

Seems like a very good price assuming the CL's meter works.

Looking around a few months back i got the sense a CL with a dead meter can be found as little as $150 and as much as $225 or so. In great condition with a recent documented CLA and working meter for $350-400 or more.

[rich815]

Colin, did you get it yet? Report?

[photobizzz]

It shipped from Washington state on Wednesday so I should have it on the 31/1.

[photobizzz]

I recieved the camera, looks like it was never used, I am very pleased but with a new Wein Cell it reads over 2 stops compared to my Bessa R3A so I just adjusted the ISO so it matched the Bessa. I know the metering is different (spot v. area) but I metered on a wall with the same lens and from the same distance so it shouldnt matter. Shutter speeds seem perfect. I almost dont want to use it it looks so new. Mabye the meter will even out with some use, if not I can compensate. All in all I'm happy.

[rich815]

Congrats then! Good luck with it! I'm using mine more and more. Just so much more pocketable than my MP, especially with my Summitar but with my Summilux it still fits in my coat pocket well.

[-kk-]

can you focus the summilux wide open on the CL comfortably?

[Stu W]

Why not try it with a 1.5v cell? Worth a shot. Stu

[photogdave]

Why not try it with a 1.5v cell? Worth a shot. Stu
Stu is right. If your Wein battery is 1.35V then maybe the previous owner had the meter calibrated for the 1.5v cells.

[JNewell]

Why not try it with a 1.5v cell? Worth a shot. Stu


Agree, if it is correctly functioning, the Wein cell should put it right on. Perhaps it's previously been recalibrated for a 1.5v cell.

[BillBingham2]

Great news all around! Enjoy her and let us know what you think!

Stay safe and thanks!

B2 (;->

[Bingley]

Hi photobizz! Congrats on your CL. I'm interested in your thoughts on how it compares to a Bessa R in terms of handling, vf, etc.

[photobizzz]

Wouldnt a 1.5v battery make it read even more over? Not really sure but I guess it is worth a shot as a 1.5v alkaline is cheap.

As for the Bessa-R v the CL:

Viewfinder is not a nice on the CL, but still very nice. If that makes sense.

Rangefinder patch is smaller on the CL but that dosent hinder use at all.

Parralax correction is very noticible as you focus the CL due to the meter area moving on the right of the VF.

I no longer have a Bessa-R to compare it to but it feels heavier in the hand if my memory serves me correctly.

I dont think a summilux would focus correctly up close, but that is just my opinion from reading about the baselength of the RF, I have a Canon 50/1.2 in the mail and have no plans on using it on the CL, just on my R3A.

[rich815]

can you focus the summilux wide open on the CL comfortably?

Never tested it out specifically for this. However today on my walk from my office to the dentist I specifically shot about 6-8 images wide open and at closest focusing distance. I'll develop the roll tonight and we'll see. I will report back.

[photogdave]

Wouldnt a 1.5v battery make it read even more over?
Not if the previous owner had it calibrated for the 1.5v.
Many CLs, including mine, have been re-calibrated. :)

[photobizzz]

Which 1.5v battery do you use in your CL? I have the LR44/SR44 battery in my Bessa R3A but I think those are 1.55v.

[photobizzz]

BTW: I also found the CL shutter button to be kind of annoyingly small so I had a mini-soft release I had originally bought for my Bessa that works perfectly and IMO does not detract from the look of the CL at all.

[photogdave]

It's just a common PX 625 alkaline that I picked up at the local camera store. I threw away the packaging so I don't remember the brand.

[John Noble]

I use a S625PX silver oxide in mine. I got them here: http://www.batterymart.com/p-s625px-silver-oxide-button-cell-battery.html (http://www.batterymart.com/p-s625px-silver-oxide-button-cell-battery.html) $3.58/ea. for 5, cheap and fast shipping.

My CL came to me with an alkaline battery installed, and the meter was unpredictable at best. I re-calibrated the meter for the S625PX according to these instructions (http://photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=00C1kg) with reasonable success: it's off by a stop compared to my Sekonic, but it's consistent and I can compensate by setting the film ASA one stop high. The culprits are (probably) an aging CdS meter cell and (definitely) a flaky calibration potentiometer.

I find myself ignoring the CL's meter in favor of my L-308S anyway. It's just faster to take a couple of incident readings, get the exposure set, then forget about it and take pictures. I'd probably be more picky if I shot color film in this camera...

[-kk-]

silver oxides are the way to go IMO, very consistent current draw throughout the lifespan of the battery.

Photobizz, if your CL is using the old 1.35v, there's someone in holland that does a 1.55 to 1.35 adapter, which allows you to use current 1.5v batteries (siver oxides or alkaline eg SR44) and they give out 1.35v through this adapter (which is the size of eg a weincell). i can dig up his contact info if you want. i have an adaptor for my CL and works like a charm, cheaper in the long run too. weincells are expensive and dont last long.

[-kk-]

Never tested it out specifically for this. However today on my walk from my office to the dentist I specifically shot about 6-8 images wide open and at closest focusing distance. I'll develop the roll tonight and we'll see. I will report back.

thank you, kind sir :)

[veraikon]

there's someone in holland
Frans de Gruijter
s (siver oxides or alkaline eg SR44)
only sliver oxides are recommended

[JNewell]

Agreed, alkaline is a horrible choice, but a fresh one should be easy to find and cheap, and should allow a check on the meter. The alkaline problem is the discharge curve - shouldn't affect a new, fresh cell used just for this purposel