Minolta CLE
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Minolta CLE | |
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| Type | 35 mm rangefinder camera |
| Lens mount | Leica M mount |
| Focus | manual |
| Exposure | manual |
| Flash | fixed hot shoe, TTL contacts |
| Frame rate | N/A |
The Minolta CLE is a TTL-metering aperture-priority automatic 35mm rangefinder camera taking Leica M lenses, introduced by Minolta in 1981.
Leica and Minolta signed a technical cooperation agreement in June 1972.[1] One of its results was the joint development of the Leica CL, a compact rangefinder camera introduced in 1973 and discontinued a few years later. The CLE was a new rangefinder body resembling the Leica CL.
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[edit] Description
The Minolta CLE has an electronic focal plane shutter to 1/1000, and a through-the-lens CdS exposure meter with aperture-priority automatic or manual exposure, and automated TTL flash exposure. None of these features would appear on any other body for M-mount lenses until the Konica Hexar RF of 1999 (which has all but the last). The viewfinder has projected frames for 28mm, 40mm and 90mm focal lengths.
The Minolta CLE is reputed to be reliable, but electronic faults would likely be unrepairable today.
[edit] Lenses
Three lenses were made by Minolta specially for the CLE: the M-Rokkor 28mm f:2.8 wide-angle, the M-Rokkor 40mm f:2 standard and the M-Rokkor 90mm f:4 tele. The 28mm lens has some problems with the durability of the coating, and it is recommended to check the presence of white spots on the coating before buying.
[edit] Gold edition
The Minolta CLE was sold in black finish, except for a gold edition, limited to 300 and sold only in the Japanese market.[2] The top plate is gold with black engravings. The bottom plate, strap lugs, hot shoe and lens release button are gold too, as well as the metal parts of the advance lever and shutter release. The shutter speed disc and lens rings have gold colour numbers. The set includes a standard lens with gold plated bayonet mount and a leather case with a plate marked CLE GOLD LIMITED.[3]
[edit] Notes
- ^ Year and month: Francesch, p. 49.
- ^ See this page at Cameraquest.
- ^ Observation of a gold CLE in a Yahoo Japan auction.
[edit] Links
- (English) Minolta CLE at Cameraquest
- (French) Minolta CLE at Photopalis
- (French) Minolta CLE at www.collection-appareils.com by Sylvain Halgand
- This article is based on a translation of an article from the German Wikipedia. Minolta CLE at Peter Lausch's website
- (Japanese) Minolta CLE by Hitoshi Nishiyama at N. Maekawa's Manual Camera website
- (Chinese) Minolta CLE at www.ccc2000.net
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This article was originally based on "Minolta CLE" in Camerapedia, retrieved at an unknown date under the GNU Free Documentation License.
