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Sample photos (8)

Specification

Sources of data

• Leica CL booklet (PUB. 112-92) (August 1973).
• General Catalogue (July 1977).
• Leitz General Catalogue of Photographic Equipment (January 1975).
• Leica Catalogue (January 1979).
• Leitz General Catalogue of Photographic Equipment (September 1978).

Manufacturer description #1

A fixed lens imposes limitations - interchangeable lenses overcome them. That is why the LEICA CL offers the proven LEICA bayonet lens system. With two specially developed lenses - a 40mm SUMMICRON-C f/2 and a 90mm ELMAR-C f/4 - the new CL ideally meets all needs of creative picture control with minimum effort. More than 90% of all pictures are taken with medium-focus lenses. Hence the 40mm and 90mm lenses offer the most useful practical focal length combination. Both lenses are coupled with the LEICA CL view- and rangefinder. On fitting either lens the appropriate brightline frame automatically appears in the finder.

The new 40mm SUMMICRON-C with its increased angle of view and high speed is the perfect lens for snapshots, short-range feature photography, architecture, interiors, or close-quarter shooting. The great depth of field of this lens gives you enormous action shooting latitude: moving subjects remain within your field of view and sharpness zone. Further, this lens covers broad landscapes and wide views with maximum detail right into the image corners.

Manufacturer description #2

Screw-thread LEICA lenses and lenses for the LEICA M models have a differential helical focusing movement, i.e. the rear focusing barrel bearing against the rangefinder coupling roller moves only in and out. For a more compact and lightweight design, the 40 mm SUMMICRON-C f/2 and 90 mm ELMAR-C/4 for the LEICA CL have instead a direct rear focusing cam. These lenses can be mounted on the LEICA M, but do not provide precise coupling with the rangefinder. For this reason we do not recommend the use of the CL lenses on the LEICA M cameras.

From the editor

A standard lens for the Leica CL (1973), but could be used on any M-series camera, although the rangefinder coupling was then slightly inaccurate due to the different cam slope.

A special rubber lens hood was provided which could be folded back over the lens when not in use and therefore be permanently attached. To fit Series 5.5 filters, unscrew the lens hood, place the filter in position and secure it by screwing the hood in again (Note: screw thread at the front of the lens is not the same as the LEICA E39 filter thread).

There were no dedicated front lens cap available for this lens. The front lens cap 14191 attaches to the rubber lens hood and will not attach to the lens without the hood.

This lens was also made by Minolta in Japan under the name M-ROKKOR 40/2. The only difference is that it uses 40.5mm filters and hood instead of Series 5.5 filters and special hood.

Other wide-angle prime lenses in the Leica CL system

Lenses with similar focal length