the lens!
build quality
useful range of zoom lens

not very good at close focusing
auto focusing in dim light can be off the mark

I am surprised by the lens quality of this camera. Although I have heard good reviews about it, I never expected the lens to be so good given the limits on zoom lens. The pictures are very contrasty and sharp. What's even more special about this lens is the color. It can produce really saturated colors that make stand out from other compacts. To put it into perspective, I have used two Contax TVS and two Rollei Prego 90 and this Leica is in a different league because of its lens. I also use a Minolta TC-1, which has a truly great 28mm lens. The C3, on 4x6 prints, shows identical quality in terms of saturation and sharpness!

The build quality is very good too. It is made of metal but very light. This is big improvement over the Contax TVS, which are quite heavy as compact cameras.

The 28-80mm range of the zoom makes it ideal for travel and landscape photos. It is thus a much better choice than the Minilux Zoom.

Similar Products Used:

Minolta TC-1, Contax TVS, Rollei Prego 90

* Build quality * Quiet shutter * Pretty * Excellent optics at wide angle

* Crummy performance at longer focal lengths

I bought the C3 as a new P&S to replace a Z2X which had begun to give up the ghost. Overall I think it represents excellent value. It's mostly called upon for impromptu snapping, kids shots, family and so on. Compared to the Z2X the construction is miles better. Pretty design and feels good in the hand, and also a better viewfinder. Performance is excellent at shorter focal lengths. The nearer you get to the subject, it just keeps getting better and better. There is a big drop-off in quality as you start zooming in. At the far end image quality is poor. In fact nowadays I don't bother using the zoom, just leave it in wide angle. Within these constraints the camera is an excellent performer. Flash also quite meaty for a P&S.

Similar Products Used:

Leica Z2X

Sharp, quality photos, nice design.

Cheap rubber ring around the viewfinder, small viewfinder, short battery life, damaged film.

I bought Leica C3 five months ago and the rubber ring from viewfinder came out. It took a lot of time to receive the part and to find the Leica service. Leica does not cover the cost of transportation of cameras even for a camera in warranty. Other problem: unexplained mid-roll broken film inside the camera! For the photos the quality is very good even in the low-light conditions, sharp and natural colours. A good camera, easy to use, very nice design, but having problems with the camera body so soon and unpleasant experience with the Leica service is quite disappointing.

Customer Service

Non-responsive customer service.

- Wonderful lens, sharp, contrasty, great colour - Good Active AF - Program biased towards non use of flash - Strong flash (when required) - Nice design - Durable, survived drop test a few times - 3 year warranty, hopefully not to be used

- A little expensive - Body a little tubby around the middle - Flash can take a long time to juice up

Great lens, fast, optimal zoom range for everay day point and shooting, lovely rich colour, nice contrast, active AF quite accurate, nice retro design, casing is tough and durable, strong flash, handling control change can be improved (too many pokes) easily by adding a flash mode change button to the normal mode change, otherwise,one of the best, if not the best zoom P&S I have used.

Customer Service

- None yet

Similar Products Used:

- Leica Z2x - Contax TVS - Minolta FZE

Great optics Sharp images, and Rich colours - even in low light with the aperture wide open (quite a strength) Fast lens - f3.6 at 28mm Retro styling Good feel for taking photos. Powerful flash for fill-in or indoor use Comes with a Leica leather case T mode for long exposures (up to 90 secs)

Red -eye reduction is limited (not the strobe type) A bit big for a compact Some of the handling takes some getting used to - but this is part of the fun and there are no real problems

I have put about 30 rolls of film, including B&W, slide and 100-400 ISO films. I'm really pleased with the sharpness and rich colours (quite stunning colours. A little bulky and some of the handling is quirky, but you soon get used to it and it's a great camera.

Customer Service

Not tested

Similar Products Used:

Olympus AZ230 Olympus Mju (Stylus) 140 Rollei prego 70

1. Beautifull, top quality lens 2. Good red-eye reduction 3. Adjustable viewfinder; entire field visible for those who are wearing glasses! 4. Nice (Leica M - round) design; not too heavy; not too big or too small; good for taking pictures 5. Truly portable; with free leather case with belt loop; you keep your hands free! 6. Body is build conform modern standards 7. Simplcity 8. Perfect for familypictures, holidays, landscapes and townviews 9. Nice flashpossibility's 10.Payable Leica quality with 3 years warranty

1. Wish it had a little bit faster shutter; but for 97 % this one is still good.

The results (13 x 18 cm) are phantastic; razor sharp, brilliant colors and beautifull tonality. The C3 deserves a run on the photoshops!

Similar Products Used:

Leica Minilux (Summarit 2,4/40) Contax G2

portability,ease of use,takes fabulous photographs with great resolution.

doesn't like great contrast,or mist,but having said that,will still produce good photos anyway.only one mode button can be tedious

I bought this for Christmas '02.It's brilliant! Buy one.I carry mine everywhere(I'm a motorcycle courier so I get about a bit) and take photos of whatever takes my fancy.Since Christmas i've put 12 films through it and the results are superb,most can't believe the pics are taken by a compact.By comparison I've only put 2 films through my Nikon f60 in the same period.The Leica c3 has re-vitalised my interest in photography,so my advice to you all----is buy one,you won't regret it.

Customer Service

not needed as yet

Similar Products Used:

Ricoh AF80,Chinon auto zoom,Olympus mju 38-80 zoom