CLA= Clean, Lube & Adjust.
Not sure about CLE.
CLA= Clean, Lube & Adjust.
Not sure about CLE.
Thanks #1 ....
Think Compact Leica Electronic
(1981) When Leica ceased the production of the CL in 1975 (which was actually made in Minolta's factories), Minolta was free to change the CL, and so they improved it to make the CLE. And this time they completely dropped the Leitz from the name. It was slightly larger than the CL, but boasted TTL metering with both automatic and manual exposure modes. The nifty metering arm of Leica CL was replaced by rearward-facing, silicon metering sensors that measure the light falling on the film, a bit like one of the Olympus OM cameras did it. The other clever bit is that the shutter curtain has a silver/black pattern on it so it reflects like the film does, so the camera can meter before and during the image exposure -- should the light change! The addition of automatic exposure was a major improvement to the design, although the shutter is now battery dependent. In addition, because it was now a silicon metering cell, the camera was able to offer TTL flash mode -- an incredible breakthrough in camera features at that time. This feature would appear on later cameras -- both Minolta and not. The interchangeable lenses are basically the same, but a 28mm (f2.8) lens was added to the line-up. The camera also has a self-timer and hot shoe. Most cameras were in black, but a limited edition gold version was made to celebrate Minolta 3,000,000th camera. At the time, people thought of it as a miniature Minolta XE-7. It has the same basic features -- more or less -- and the same beautiful feel of XE-7. Nowadays, people think of it as a miniature Minolta X-570. It has the same basic features -- more or less. While it lacks the SLR design, it has the same TTL flash.
Good call !
I had the Minolta CLE in the back of my mind when i saw that.
I love Minolta, I had an XD7 for a few years before I 'graduated' to Leica-R bodies.
Once had, used, and loved a CL or CLE (can't remember which... Hey it was back in the late 1970s) with its 40mm lens. Loved it and if a digital version of it was reintroduced today, I would definitely acquire one. I've read the CL to be described as a "heavy" camera... I choose to describe it as a "solid" camera.
I don't know how far back the Gereonar name goes. Rodenstock and Fuji upgraded their methods of lens manufacture and quality control before Schneider did. Prior to that era - let's just say around 1970, correctly or not, quality control involved a lot more hand inspection and fine-tuning, which means highly skilled labor expense; and that, logically, would have been devoted more to high-end professional lenses rather than entry level options. Even when my brother sold Commercial Ektars back in the 60's, he claimed there were three different quality levels of them, even within the same category, with Linhof getting pick of the litter. Modern computerized lens manufacture has leveled the playing field quite a bit. I'm obviously speaking in very generalized terms; but variations in performance seem to symptomize pre-70's lenses a lot more than post 70's.
CLE = Call a Leica Exorcist. Don't need those cameras haunting this thread.
Thanks, Mark
Image resolution is a bit small, so here is link to full Rodenstock catalogue.
https://www.pacificrimcamera.com/rl/00817/00817.pdf
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