CL accessories and tips

[daves]

Hi folks, after a lot of thought about which rangefinder I wanted, I ended up plumping for an almost mint CL with 40mm Summicron. Now, there are two things I want for this: a lens hood and cap as my camera came with neither, and a good half-body carrying case, preferably in black leather. Where do you get such things? Also any good tips on supplementary lenses (I'm really enjoying the 40mm and finding it wonderfully crisp and responsive) and what film is best to use would be massively appreciated. This is my first RF and I haven't used film much at all before so responses "for idiots" totally OK.

[FrankS]

Hi Dave, and welcome to RFF. The CL and 40 C-Summicron are a great combination. I use my CL mainly with a CV40mmf1.4 and CV21mmf4 with external finder.

Google 'Leicatime' and 'Zhou' for leather cases for the CL.

The only negative about the 40 C-Summicron lens is that it has an odd-ball filter thread. The diameter is not uncommon, but the thread pitch is. You will have to do some research on this.

edit added:
They take a series 5.5 filter. The lens has 39mm thread but the pitch (threads per inch) isn't the same as other 39mm threads. Standard 39mm filters can be partially screwed on but aren't too secure.

[Brian Sweeney]

I use the Zhou half-case, works well. I found a Leather "holster-style" case for an Olympus Digi-zoom that holds the CL, lens, and half-case.

A B&W 39E (size) Skylight filter is currently on my Summicron-C.

[JRG]

KEH currently has the original CL leather case, if that's of interest. They also have the rubber lens shade; I don't see the cap to fit that shade, however.

[daves]

I use the Zhou half-case, works well.

Hi Brian. Do you mind me asking how you got your Zhou half case. I can find the shop on e-bay fine, but don't see any cases for the CL at all. Is it a case of contacting Mr Zhou direct and taking it from there? I have a nice, soft Lowepro case that cost me about £12 that does the job for the time being, especially in the absence of a lens cap, but I'd like something a little more classic if possible.

[rpj]

I have much the same problem as DaveS: I have a CL with 40mm f2 Summicron. But I have the original rubber hood and lens cap (also the 90mm f4 Elmar). I would like to use the Heavystar metal hood with these lenses, but in all the discussion I have not seen a definitive answer to the question Which size hood to order? Also, by replacing the rubber hood, the orignal lens cap does not fit the lens w/o the hood, so what to do about getting a third market cap if I go to the Heavystar hood?

Any advice would be appreciated.

[BillBingham2]

Welcome Dave,

One of the things I do when I get a new lens is take it to the food store and shop for a lens cap. Of late it's mostly just the lens shade/hood, but the process is the same. I look for plastic caps on products that fit over the lens/hood securely but not too tight then I purchase three or four of the product to make sure I have on. I have tupperware and yogurt on on Nikkors, baking power on some CV, old bouillon cubes for old Leica 39mm glass. It works great and I think helps keep the film fresher (;->. Just need to keep your eyes open and see. The cap on my 180/2.8 is from a chocolate syrup can that I got back in High School (lens is newer but the filter has moved).

Again, welcome to one of the best places on the net.

B2 (;->

[vrgard]

I highly recommend Luigi's (Leicatime) half case for the CL. That and the now discontinued M-Classics wrist strap make a perfect combination for the CL.

As for a hood, I found a shallow hood on ebay that fits just fine. May have been a heavystar hood but it's been too long now for me to remember. Then I picked up a snap cap (plastic cap that's got a spring-loaded catch in it) that fits inside the hood. The snap cap is a little cockeyed in the hood but it stays in place just fine. And because the hood is shallow it doesn't add much to the overall depth of the camera/lens combination (important to maintain one of the best things about the CL - it's small size).

Enjoy your CL and 40 'Cron. It's a great kit.

-Randy

[Ronchnam]

Hi,
Check Cameraquest (http://www.cameraquest.com/cle.htm) for shade and cap. And "Welcome to the club !"
Regards

[Paul T.]

I have the original CL case. I am certain the Zhou case is much better; the original one is impractical and the Zhou case allows you to hang the camera conventionally, which is much better. My camera is dented at one edge - it bangs against things when you sit down. THe Zhou case would easily prevent this.

I have the original rubber hood which I really like, because they're so compact - which is one of the camera's greatest USPs. However, I bought a heavystar hood for my 35mm SUmmicron, and it fitted perfectly well, it made it in at least a turn. He had some attractive tapered ones in stock last time I looked.

The 90mm Elmar C is another wonderful, underpriced lens. A 28mm would be the logical next chice, but I managed for years with just those two.

And I wasn't aware that you could use any other film but TriX in a CL?