The Leica M3 is undoubtedly the best rangefinder camera Leica has ever made, and the Leica CL is the smallest rangefinder camera Leica has ever made! If only the workmanship and accuracy of the CL had been improved and its temperament enhanced, it would have been a clear winner over the Leica M6!

Leica’s literature indicates that the Leica CL’s short focusing baseline makes it less suitable for lenses with apertures larger than f/2, but that it’s perfect for those with apertures of f/2.8 or smaller! The Leica CL may have its limitations, but it’s still worth buying for its affordability, durability, compact size, and aesthetics.

The camera’s design is impressive and comfortable in the hand, making it a joy to use! In an interesting twist, it is rumored that the Leica CL negatively impacted sales of the Leica M5, leading to its termination after three years of production. I absolutely love the CL more than the Leica M5! I love the Leica CL! It’s got a sleek, edge-to-edge styling that I find much more appealing than the original design of the Leica M5.