Leica CL (1973)

• Affordable M-mount entry
• Compact M system
• Travel photography
• 40mm lens users

• Compact M-mount body
• TTL CdS metering on a swinging arm
• 40mm frame line always shown, with 50 or 90mm
• Developed with Minolta, built in Japan
• Vertical-travel cloth shutter

• Only 40, 50 and 90mm frame lines
• Mercury battery discontinued
• Short rangefinder base (18.9mm effective)
• Some users report fragile rangefinder alignment and meter mechanism

• Meter problems
• Rangefinder alignment issues
• Shutter speed dial wear
• Light seals deterioration
• Battery replacement needed

The Leica CL (1973) was developed with Minolta and built in Japan. It takes nearly all M lenses, but deep-protruding lenses can hit the meter arm and eyed lenses do not fit. The short effective rangefinder base (18.9mm) is too short for accurate focusing with lenses longer than 90mm or fast lenses wide open. Use an adapter or substitute cell for the mercury battery, or an external meter.

Typical range

£400 - £700

Excellent condition

~£900

Indicative, no dated source.

Prices as of 2026-01. UK market, may vary.