Summicron-C 40/2 on Minolta CLE

Pardon me for this Leica-rookie question: what do I have to watch out for when using a Summicron-C 40/2 on a Minolta CLE? Am I right to assume that the correct frameline to use with the Summicron-C 40/2 is the inner (smaller) one seen in the viewfinder? Many thanks!

Yes, the outer one is for the 28mm. Theoretically, the CL's 40mm you

have has a slightly different slope on the focusing cam, but I have

used the 40 on an M3 and had no problems at all.

By the way, those little 40's are spectacular for the money. Mine is

every bit as good as the best other leica lenses I have shot with.

Looking at the negs with a 10 power lube, the stuff from the 40 shows

remakable detail, especially in the f4.0 to f8.0 range, but it is even

good wide open. I have the Minolta badged one and it is one of my

favorite lenses.

Lens guru Mike Johnson says of any lens he has ever used, and he used

hundreds, the 40mm Summicron got the most praise from people he

showed the pictures to.

 

<p>

 

You can say anything you want about contrast, lines per millimeters

and what not... but when all is said and done, if people like your

pictures... what else matters?

It is a great lens but was designed for the Leitz/Minolta CL. The

CL lenses had a different, steeper lens focusing cam than

normal M and CLE lenses. The CL camera, which does not have

to focus f1.0 lenses, has a simpler, shorter based rangefinder

mechanism. The M and CLE cameras' rangefinder is fine tuned

by adjusting the length of the roller arm which means that it can

be in a slightly different position horizontally from one camera to

another. The short ending to the long story is that quite often the

M and CLE camera's rangefinder will not couple to a CL lens

correctly. Point the combination at a point at least two miles away

and, if everything lines up OK at infinity, it should be fine. If it does

couple correctly, bear in mind that it may not work so well with

your next body.

 

<p>

 

Cheers

Thanks guys for your good advice! John, thanks especially for your

good tip, which I didn't know! I discussed this with the camera shop

people and they said they would have the camera tuned or the lens

changed if my 40/2 doesn't focus properly. I have checked the focus

at infinity as you advised and everything seems to line up; but I'll

know for sure when I have my first roll of film shot with the camera

and lens developed. Thanks again, especially for being patient with

this Leica newbie (well, not quite, mine's a Minolta after all!).

To wrap up this thread, I'm relieved to report that my CLE and

Summicron-C 40/2 seem to be enjoying a happy marriage--the pictures

from the test roll of film all turned out to be in focus. A friend

of mine, who allowed herself to be the test subject, absolutely hates

the lens (as well as me) because the photographs taken reveal far too

much facial details! Anyway, thank you so much, Andrew, Al and John.