Marc Lieberman 
, Jul 14, 2005; 01:17 a.m.
I recently purchased a recently CLA'd Leica CL. The seller's Leica
tech who performed the CLA says that he replaced the meter. The bill
for the CLA was about $180.
My own Leica tech (Steve Choi)tells me that the meter may have been
adjusted during the CLA, but that it could not have been replaced,
because the coil pattern on the photo cell was the "old-style" that
has not been made in a very long time. He says that new photo cells
used as replacements on CL's have a different coil patterns and are
more sensitive than the older cells. Pictures of the photo cell on
the camera I purchased and of the "new version" of the photo cell
(from another camera) are posted below. Steve tells me that his cost
for a new cell is about $170.
The seller points out that the photo cell on the camera he sent me is
very clean and that the white parts of the cell have not yellowed. He
suggests that the cell has to be new or it would have turned yellow by
now.
I know that if they are working at all, the old light meters on CL's
are notoriously unreliable and prone to pooping out. That is why I
was happy to find a camera advertized to have a new meter still under
warranty.
So here are my questions:
1. Can one tell definitively whether the photo cell on a CL has been
recently replaced by looking at the coil pattern? Or is the fact that
a photo cell has not yet yellowed a good indicator of whether it was
recently replaced. Is it likely that a qualified Leica tech would
both perform a CLA and replace the light meter on a CL for $180?
2. Am I wrong to put so much emphasis on whether the light meter in
the camera is new, or is the type of adjustment that would come with a
competent CLA just as good?
This is the photo cell on the camera I purchased.
Marc Lieberman , Jul 14, 2005; 01:20 a.m.
This is an example of what Steve Choi says is a new photo cell that he uses as the replacement on CL.
This a new photo cell according to Steve Choi
Frank Granovski , Jul 14, 2005; 01:58 a.m.
Re: #2.
Why are you worrying about this?? You could have worse problems like those dork bars I have. Anyway, I just bought my packaging supplies from Office Depot so now I can send my sick CL to Sherry tomorrow.
Marc Lieberman , Jul 14, 2005; 02:04 a.m.
Frank-
I just scanned a roll taken with my Norita, and it was afflicted with nasty dork bars. Maybe you damn dork bar posts are infectous.
Marc Lieberman , Jul 14, 2005; 02:06 a.m.
One more thing, Frank. I'm sure my seller is reading this thread right now, rolling his eyes and wondering the same thing you are. ;-)
Frank Granovski , Jul 14, 2005; 03:17 a.m.
From the very beginning I had those bars---my first Leica; and after getting it fixed twice, I was driven over the edge. Our peanut gallery didn't help. Well, some did.
About the CL's photo cell, I don't think it matters if you have a new one or an old one or a old new one (old stock). The CL's meter is going to be flaky no matter what. It's no ELECTRO GSN, after all, even though they were both introduced in 1973.
Andy Aitken , Jul 14, 2005; 05:10 a.m.
Marc, if it's any help my CL cell looks exactly like the 1st picture, isn't yellow at all and is still working fine after 32 years (even though the rest of the camera is pretty battered and has other minor problems).
Alan Wilder 
, Jul 14, 2005; 07:26 a.m.
Marc, why not send the pictures via email to Dave Ellwell(?) @ Leica in Northvale, NJ? I'm sure he can give you the scoop on the cell.
Ben Z , Jul 14, 2005; 09:13 a.m.
Him, or to DAG dagcam (at) chorus (dot) net. I've never seen any CL cell except for the first one. Perhaps the established repair guys have some stock of them but others like your repair guy have to get them from another source and adapt them. Either way, I once spoke with DAG and he said the cells really don't go bad all that often, most of the time they can be adjusted. Sherry from most of the reports I've heard seems mostly to say they have to be replaced. Given the cost of the cell (over $100) I'd be inclined to give DAG a shot at adjusting it. Worst-case scenario he can replace the cell for the same cost as her. According to him, the main problem in the CL meter is some kind of linkage between the shutter/ISO wheel and the meter itself that refuses to stay adjusted.
Jeremy Tok , Jul 14, 2005; 09:17 a.m.
http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=00C1kg
Michael S. , Jul 14, 2005; 09:34 a.m.
Marc - I clicked on this because I saw your name and because I was remembering your old "Got my Astia kicked..." thread and figured this one, like that one, might contain some very entertaining photos.
Oh, well, I'm here. And since I read your post, here are my thoughts, none of which is of course directly responsive to your questions -:)
1. That meter could very well have been "replaced" as the seller's technician claimed -- replaced with an old-style but functioning one from a parts camera or even from new old stock.
2. If the replacement came from a parts camera, then I suppose the new meter in the camera isn't really "new," it's just new to *that* camera. But it's still "replaced," meaning that the seller's repair invoice would still technically be correct if it used the word "replaced."
3. I thought the notoriety of CL meters resided less in the cell than in the problematic set-up/placement of the arm and the mechanism, but I've never had that camera and could well be mistaken. Steve Choi and others here would know.
THMT ~ , Jul 14, 2005; 12:01 p.m.
Marc,
For what its worth, mine was CLA'd and had the light meter replaced by Sherry. Works
perfectly and spot-on accurate compared to my heldhand meter. It looks exactly like the
2nd photo (the one Steve Choi has). So I'm guessing your CL meter is likely the old light
meter, not a new one. Hope that helps.
Rob F. 
, Jul 14, 2005; 12:15 p.m.
I emailed Sherry to take a look at your photo. Here's what she said:
"It is the old photocell. Not all, but many photocells have died or are dying, but it varies from camera to camera. The average life span of a photocell is 25 years. The camera was in production from 1973 -1975. as long as the photocell is accurate, I would not worry about it. Low light readings are most indicative of a dying cell. Best regards, Sherry"
Douglas K. , Jul 14, 2005; 12:34 p.m.
Frank, be sure to let us know when you have taped-up the package...And also when you have addressed it...And do tell us when you are heading out to the post office to send the package. We're all waiting.
Frank Granovski , Jul 14, 2005; 05:41 p.m.
It's all done, Doug. So now you know. It's flying 1st class to the big apple.
