Leica CL (1973–1976)

Name: Leica CL
Brand: Leica

The Leica CL is a compact 35mm rangefinder camera built from 1973 to 1976, designed jointly with Minolta. It was the first Leica with a vertical-travel metal focal plane shutter. It was also the first compact Leica with a built-in meter (the M5 got a meter first, being first overall). It takes Leica M-mount lenses, but the short rangefinder base means it only couples reliably with lenses from 40mm to 90mm. There are no 135mm framelines in the viewfinder, and longer glass won't focus accurately. High-Fidelity (September 1980, p.119) noted cameras from this era were advertised via mail-order catalogs.

Leica hoped the camera would bring in new users. It didn't sell well. It cost too much and competed directly with the M5. Production stopped after about 65,000 examples. The Minolta CLE is generally regarded as its electronic successor, sharing the shutter and much of the internals.

It's smaller and lighter than an M-series body, with a quieter shutter, and it's fun to use with the standard 40mm f/2 Summicron-C. It's not a true M camera, though. Build quality is a step down from the M-series, the rangefinder patch is less bright, and the viewfinder is smaller. The meter is a known weak point. Aging connections mean it often fails, and cleaning the contact points is the usual fix. Assume the meter is off until you've cleaned it.

Prices today are low relative to M bodies - roughly $700-$1,200 for a good working body. The original 1.35V mercury battery (PX-625) is no longer made. A Wein cell or CRIS adapter with recalibration is the standard workaround.

Lens mount: Leica M-mount
Shutter: Focal plane, 1/1000 to 1 sec plus B
Metering: Built-in CDS, match-needle, center-weighted
Viewfinder: Bright-line with 40mm, 50mm, and 90mm framelines
Film speed: ASA 25–1600
Flash sync: 1/50 sec, X and M sync
Weight: 540g with battery
Dimensions: 127mm × 77mm × 33mm
Standard lens: 40mm f/2 Summicron-C