Customer Reviews

Leica Minilux 35mm Camera

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Other point and shoot cameras might look sleeker at first. They have more buttons you can press, and might have some special function that makes them especially desirable. (Rarely the ability to take great pictures though, it seems) The minilux follows a simple philosophy: create a camera does not look intrusive and takes the best pictures possible. Leicas have been the favorites of photographers worldwide, since Oskar Barnack decided that maybe taking pictures on 35mm film would make photography more portable and more spontaneous, thus inventing, the ur-leitz-camera, lei-ca. Documentary-style photography was born. Take a look at books with photographs by Henri Cartier-Bresson or Alfred Eisenstaedt. The most important part of ANY camera is the lens. The Leica Summarit 2.4/40 lens on the minilux is excellent. It is very fast (bright) 2.4(!) so you will find yourself taking more natural looking pictures without a flash more often. (Also remember: zoom lenses can never be as bright and as sharp as this lens.) The camera has a light meter built in, so before you shoot, you can find out what might be the appropriate settings for the particular light environment. It is up to you to decide if you would like to overwrite these settings by changing the aperture. (From 2.4! to 16) Measure again, and you will know if your new aperture setting makes sense. If it is too dark, the camera will automatically turn on the back lighting on the display and charge the flash for you. Just in case you would like to take a picture right away. The camera is full of great, very positive surprises. Even the holding strap has the perfect length, so you can shoot spontaneous, yet perfectly sharp snapshots right out of the palm of your hand. The active auto-focus works great under any light conditions. If you do not want to use the auto-focus, you can always overwrite it. The camera just takes great pictures.
This camera is a perfect gift, for yourself or for somebody you care about. It might change the way you see things. It might make you appreciate every day a little more. It worked for me. Really.

While most of the compact cameras are made of cheap looking plastic, Leica, among a few other manufacturers, made some beautiful looking compact cameras which are better made, more precise, more capable of quality results. A well-made and well thought-out camera is already a joy to use, please ignore those who said an Olympus Mju:II or Yashica T4 are better simply because they are cheaper and produce similar but still inferior results.

If you are considering a Minilux, you may like to compare it to Contax T3, Minolta TC-1, Rollei AFM 35 or Minox GT-E. They are all excellent cameras, however, I like the way Leica lenses handle contrast and color saturation, which is more neutral or natural, this is personal preference, of course.

The lens is sharp and fast; manual focus, program or aperture priority auto exposure are available; self timer, socket for cable release, EV compensation, built-in flash and different flash modes make the Minilux versatile; the Minilux is very capable in many situations.

Please don't complain it has no zoom or cannot do macro work or change lenses, no camera can have everything without some sacrifice in other qualities.

The Minilux is the best compact camera in my opinion.

I own a Nikon SLR as my primary camera. After having traveled with it around the world, I realized I wanted a smaller point and shoot for those times when I wanted to travel light or when it wasn't practical or convenient to lug around my big Nikon with its heavy lenses. But I also didn't want to sacrifice picture quality--my primary focus was lens and photo quality and not gimmicks, zoom range, camera body design, or consumer convenience features like APS.

The Leica fits the bill. The look and feel of the camera is old school, with a heavy, titanium, tank-like body. While I really don't care what my cameras look like, I find the classic look of the camera to be a refreshing change from the high tech polished metal look of most point and shoots on the market. No zoom lens--just a high quality, super fast f2.4 40mm Summarit lens. No frills, but all the essential, basic features are there: aperture priority, auto or manual focus, flash, red eye, timer. My first several batches of shots have turned out fabulous.

Yes, you will have to move your feet to frame shots correctly and you'll miss out on some shots that only a zoom lens can get you, but the shots you do get will be top notch. This is not the camera for you if you like to stand in one place, use your zoom lens to frame shots, and count on all the automatic settings to pick everything for you. The camera allows you to set it for autofocus and autoexposure, but photographers who like to go manual will have a lot more fun with it.

I ding the product one star for a few minor reasons. It is indeed heavy and somewhat bulky, so it won't fit in just any pocket. Second, the red eye feature confuses just about everybody--there's a long delay between the first and second flash, and I've found that no matter how much you warn your subjects, they'll still assume the first flash is the one and start moving. I don't shoot that many straight on portraits in dark lighting, but when I have I've lost a few shots to this. Third, it's not always clear that a shot has been taken, and when I loan the camera to folks to take a shot for me I often get two or three shots back because they held the shutter release down too long. Lastly, the camera is fairly pricey for a point and shoot.

But quality costs. And if you know what you're doing with a camera, want to learn what to do with a camera, and/or demand top-notch optics in a point and shoot, this is your baby.

I was inspired to purchase a point and shoot camera when I watched interviews with Sports Illustrated swimsuit photographers. Most of these guys use medium format cameras, but one of the photographers came right out and said that he uses point and shoot cameras because it gives him a lot of flexibility and "the picture quality is just as good." The other inpiration was a well known portrait photographer I have worked with who specializes in black and white. She uses a Leica M6 and her pictures definitely have that gorgeous "Leica look." My objective was to be able to capture Leica quality pictures in black and white. I have not been disappointed! I compared my pictures with hers and the Minilux delivers everything I had hoped for.

I opted for the basic Minilux over the zoom version because I wasn't willing to compromise image quality. Besides, it's not much of a zoom range. If you want to zoom, you just get closer to the object you are photographing. It's built like a tank. Yes it goes through lithium batteries fairly quickly probably because of the motor that drives the lens in and out - but who cares. I spend a lot more on film and development than on batteries. Some people complain that the small viewfinder is a joke, but I have not had any issues w/ it. I mainly just use all the auto features and the pictures have been awesome. Some people complain that they have to click six times to turn off the auto flash - this is not a problem! The only time the minilux has failed me is when I try to manually override... it fails me because I don't know what I am doing.

I bought this camera for my wife because her arthritis was making her Canon EOS feel increasingly heavy and clumsy, and she was on the verge of giving up photography. The first roll of pictures came back from a trip to Venice, and I noticed with envy that her pictures were better than mine taken with a new model Canon EOS--better exposure, better focus, and clearer. After a lot of A/B testing, I concluded this first impression was correct. How can this be? "It's the lens, stupid" as they used to say about politics and economics. Buying the Minilux was not what I had set out to do (I thought of a Canon Elph), but the salesman convinced me that if I was serious about the quality of my transparencies (still use slide film)I had to pick either the Leica or the Contax. And he STRONGLY recommended the fixed lens over the zoom. I took him at his word and haven't regretted it for an instant. My wife had to get used to walking a few feet to change the image in her viewfinder, but the results have really been worth it, and it's given her real pleasure in taking trips. This camera is not about prestige, or impressing your friends with a brand name; it's about the quality of the protographic image. It is also beautifully constructed, the flash works perfectly for seamless exposure control, and the titanium case feels good in the hand. Frankly, after looking at the results from the next trip to Vienna, Prague and Budapest, I'm thinking of junking my filters, interchangeable lenses, macro attachments, etc. and getting a Minilux for myself.

A point of disclosure; I am a bit of a camera snob. I use a Linhof 4x5 and Nikon SLR equipment. However, I wanted a point and shoot camera but did not want to give up quality, the Leica Minilux does not disappoint. The camera can be described as elegant in appearance, yet feels solid as a brick. The lens quality is excellent; the Leica yields a print of proper exposure, contrast and great detail. Additionally, the lens is fast enough to allow photos to be taken in available light situations. I like the control the camera allows the photographer to override the automatic features to allow some creative control when needed. Although the camera is of slightly larger than pocket size, and expensive, the quality of the lens and the ruggedness of the construction (although, not a weatherproof camera) make this camera a standout in a plastic, disposable camera world.

I own a Leica M6 rangefinder, a Nikon F-100 SLR, a Minox GT, "B" & "C" and the Leica Minilux. Overwhelmingly, I choose the Minilux to shoot with on a daily basis. I have taken this compact titanium camera all over the world and believe me, the picture resoloution is as close to the M6 as you can get. The convenience of the Minilux and the ease of operating the camera allows for optimal creative freedom! Concentrating on your composition instead of f-stops and shutter speeds is a joy. The extremely fast lens allows you to shoot in the most demanding low-light situations. No matter the setting, you can be sure that the exposure will be handeled instantly and perfectly as soon as the shutter button is pressed...and the photo will be crisp and sharp with vibrant detail. The Minilux is beauty, grace and perfection all rolled into one very cool looking compact camera. But hey, it's a Leica and that alone speaks volumes for the quality and design of this little marvel!!! The Minilux is a big camera in a little body that will be prized for it's convenience, excellence, and ruggedness for a lifetime of photography. Obviously, I love my Minilux and I love it more every time I have another roll of film developed. Shoot with a Minilux and be amazed at how your everyday "snap-shots" become frameable treasured memories...BT

Because it will blow away all the myth regarding needing an expensive SLR with hundreds of lenses and flashes and tripods.

If you have talent, the minilux will bring it out. Ditch the SLR until you have exceeded the minilux's performance.

I have been frustrated with my lack of skill with my SLR and other cameras I own, and this baby showed me that it wasn't me, it was my equipment!

Now owning a minilux, I know what I should be expecting from my other cameras, and I know when and when NOT to use the SLR. In most cases you do NOT need your SLR! Just use your talent and your eye for detail! The minilux will do the rest!

Aperture control is totally sufficient. If you need to adjust shutter speed, duh, just close the aperture to get slower shutter! If you can't estimate distance yourself, use the minilux to practice!

I should think ideally one would migrate from the minilux to a MANUAL SLR and when you have exceeded even THAT, then you can go and do the automatic stuff.

I don't even auto-focus. You should know how to focus using the aperture and range settings in the minilux. Fundamental photography technique! If you don't understand how to move the depth of field zone around like this, you have NOT mastered the minilux. Forget the SLR! :-)

This is a handsomely styled camera, complete with that Leica look. You don't have to spend this kind of money to get good pictures but the lens on the minilux is really superb. If you value a fast, sharp lens that gives you that Leica look in your photos, then it's worth the money. Most amature photographers look for a camera with a zoom lens but if you want lens speed that will pay off in low light this is the ticket. There are no perfect cameras. That is, one that can be everything to everyone. The Minilux has a small viewfinder, no information in the finder and a not so easy to set exposure compensation. All the titanium bodied compacts are for looks only; they are still just as delicate as an ordinary plastic camera. I have experienced no problems in using this camera and am always amazed with the results. Sharper than my 50mm Nikkor.

This P&S Camera is truly exceptional. The camera and its titanium shell feel rock solid; the lens is top notch; and the image quality is excellent. Mind you, it will not replace your high end SLR, but if you want to travel light, and not compromise on image quality, then this is the camera for you.