Customer Reviews

Leica CM Zoom 35mm Autofocus Camera - Titanium Body

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

 

 

The Leica CM Zoom is a wonderful photographic instrument: high quality lens, well constructed, easy to use but with exposure flexibility if desired. I have tried both slide and negative films: all show outstanding results. Amazing colors, extremely sharp details (edge to edge). (Out performs some of my Nikon lenses) The zoom feature is manually controlled and therefore easier to use than most digital camera's zooms (there are a few exceptions to this). The maximum aperatures range from f3.5 to 6.5 through focal length range (35 mm to 70 mm). That makes available light photography a bit difficult unless you use a high speed film. The camera will autofocus if you like or you can set the focus in set increments (e.g. for hyperfocal shooting)

Strengths:

Beautiful photos from the outstanding lens. Well constructed body (titanium). Exposure flexibility if desired (set the aperature and it sets the shutter speed). Well selected focal lengths: 35 mm to 70 mm.

Weaknesses:

The automatic film advance is noisy. This makes unobtrusive street photography all but impossible. The camera's fill flash feature is not always reliable. The lens cap is easy to lose (I lost mine in 10 days!) A bit pricey.

This camera is touted as a point-and-shoot, but it's actually more of a "real camera" because of its features and capabilities. Technically, it's a rangefinder-slash-point-and-shoot hybrid. Because of this, it can serve a broad range of users and uses, be it snapshot work, or fine art/street photography a la Cartier-Bresson. Nothing more needs to be said about the fine German build quality and optics. This camera will eventually become a classic in the Leica line.