Takes good photographs when it works.

Doesn't stand the test of time.

Well, I’ve finally taken the time to put my 2 cents in on this camera’s performance.

Yes, it takes great pictures - when it works. I owned this camera for a number of years and put about 50, or perhaps 60 max, rolls of film through it. Then it went bad. Although it (surprisingly) continued to take good photos, the LCD display began acting erratically. It would more or less display anything it felt like showing. As a result I was always having to reset the darn thing by turning it off and then back on again.

When I contacted Leica they told me it would have to go back to Germany for testing! They said I could send it to their New Jersey office and they would send it to Germany themselves. I didn’t bother. Being a Leica, I’m sure the repair bill would have been humongous, and why should I spend a lot of money repairing a camera whose microprocessor (I’m guessing that was the problem) might go bad after another 50 rolls is put through it.

It gives by far the best images I have ever had from the 20+ P&S cameras I have used over 40 years of photography. Chunky, solid feel. Though its shape does not look ergonomic, it handles well...

.... except for the shutter release, which is too small, too far recessed and gives no clear sense of when the shutter has actually fired. Leitz really should have designed this critical function better. (I see from several earlier reviews that I am not alone in this sole but important criticism.) The limited zoom range is a constraint, but I am more than happy with the trade-off of quality for zoom range. In my view too many people buy zooms on the basis of range and top end - which both tend to go with compromised image quality.

Totally reliable; totally consistent; outstanding definition and saturation. The image quality (as others have said) is pin-sharp - absolutely excellent for a zoom P&S. This camera complements my two SLR outfits - Leica R7 & 8 with four lenses and Canon Eos 3 and 5 with eight lenses, mostly 'Ls'. It is particularly useful as a companion to the Canons because it gives the image quality that most Canon wide-angle zooms (with the exception of the 24-70L) so obviously lack. Because it is always with me, it gets lots of use and always produces excellent results.

Customer Service

Never needed.

Similar Products Used:

Lots over many years, including most recently Olympus Superzoom 105, Pentax Espio and Canon Mju 140.

point and shoot, hipp-shots possible at a briliiant quality; high quality lens;

viewvinder; but, don't forget this is not an SLR

I read a lot about the under exposure of this camera. Have none off you ever heard about the zone-system? Try that and then retry shooting with this brilliant camera. If you have quality in your hands, you should know how to use it.

Customer Service

Never used it

Similar Products Used:

Canon EOS SLR (Digital+Analog); Hasselblad

lens quality. size. build strength, & trust.

lens cap

superb camera,50% of my people photography is done on this camera, people say the viewfinder is small,but you get used to it,as for dark photos, ileave the camera at +05 stop for all pics as i do my contax t2.wot shutter lag? this is a very fast camera &very quiet, you must be thinking of wind on! also ive had 20 + 24 prints from this camera, i also love the continues drive mode & the build quality. if you mix the slides up from my nikon f4 & this camera with equivalent lens, you cant tell the difference.

Customer Service

not used

Similar Products Used:

contax T2,TVS

The titanium body. The lens - brilliant.

Crooked viewfinder. Slow shutter speed. No aperture/shutter priority modes.

If only the Minilux Zoom had a 28-80mm lens and a faster shutter speed. Brilliantly sharp pictures though. The viewfinder needs work - subjects are off center in photos and horizons are crooked.

Similar Products Used:

Have previously used a Canon EOS 100 with 28-80mm and 70-210mm lenses.

Fantastic, sharp lens. Awesome picture quality. Much more convenient that my old Nikon SLR.

None.

Addressing Raymond's review, I've had my Minilux Zoom for about 9 months now and have shot many rolls of film. I don't detect anywhere near the 2 second delay you claim to experience between pressing the shutter and the picture taking. Part of the perceived delay may in fact be the film winding to the next frame after the picture is taken. I used to think there was a long delay until I realized I was hearing the motor winding the film and the delay was actually very small (this is the first camera I've ever had with auto film winding). I'm extremely happy with the camera and the quality of pictures I'm getting (be sure to use a good lab.......I send my film to Dale Labs in Hollywood, Florida). I will probably rarely use my old Nikon FG SLR again unless I want to use a lens outside the 35-70mm focal length of the Minilux lens. I bought this camera because I wanted top-notch SLR quality pictures in a convenient point and shoot package. This camera is definitely it!!

I wanted to change from big cameras to more handy point and shoot traditional or digital cameras. The main problem I find is the time laps between pressing the shutter and the moment the picture is taken. This should be adressed when testing these cameras. Difficult to take a spontaneous portrait when there is a time laps of 2 seconds between pressing the shutter and the moment the image is taken. Any comments ? Any point and shoot or digitals that do this better ?

- Perfect sharpness, contrast and deepness of colours for a P&S. Forget about your first price SLR, the Minilux can do the same. - Metal Case - The leica myth (cheap...but still Leica)

For that price?....Quite heavy (too much), need a 28/120, only 1/250, weak built-in flash, a F....ng removable lens cap, impossible to change of roll (fully rewinded) and a heavy price... as well. I agree with the previous reviewer who says that the shutter is not "tac". - Buy the additional CF flash... - No possibility of additional filters... Their marketing manager was probably dranked this day, he maybe thought that the Minilux was going to beat the M and R series...?!? No sir, this is a different part of the market. - Leather case sold separatly (why don't they sell it with at least a simple case?).

Well, this review seems to be very pleasant for the Minilux. The sharpness and contrast are perfect for a P&S. Nothing to say about these points. But, I am very surprised by the "darkness" of the pictures. They all seem to be under exposed whatever the tunings I tried (EV, exposure, flash, full sun, shadow...). It is very annoying and I must say that I am quite disappointed by the lack of colours brightness, and, the general lack of brightness by itself... Quite heavy, need a 28/120, only 1/250, weak built in flash, a F....ng removable lens cap, impossible to change of roll (fully rewinded) and a Heavy price... as well. I was waiting to be "more surprised" for such a price (US$2/Gram). This camera needs to be updated compared to the other competitors. The market is growing and whatever it is called "Leica", this not an excuse to have the best lenses and ignore some other lacks. But, in spite of all of these mistakes, you can let your SLR in the drawer for a short trip ar in non too demanding pictures conditions...except the lack of brightness of colours... As somebody has previously said, yes, choose a good lab if you want to remind that it is a Leica...

Customer Service

Hopefully not used yet...

Similar Products Used:

Nikon P&S, Pentax 6x6, Nikon SLR

Optics. Feel.

Horrible shutter lag.

Am I the only one who dislikes the excessive shutter lag? This is my wife's travel camera (and increasingly the only camera we bring along). She loves the optics, the optional flash and the ev control, but she too complains of shutter lag. No other complaints. Oh, I would like to be able to use a filter to protect the lens. A cheap tether for the lens cap solved the problem of losing that piece, though the cosmetic cover for the flash shoe was lost early. Like another reviewer said, spend the money for a good lab to bring out the quality of the lens.

Customer Service

Truly excellent sales service at the tiny store in Denver.

Similar Products Used:

Leica IIf, Fujica V2, Nikon FE2, Nikon F3T, Nikon Coolpix 950 (with less shutter lag than Minulux Zoom)

Colorful, contrasty pictures with fine details Accurate AF distance and exposures It''s a leica!

A bit too big and heavy No aperture control, no shutter speed readout lack of an automatic lens cap- inexcusable oversight for such an expensive P&S!

This is a great P&S for portraits. The colors are saturated, images are sharp and contrasty. Well, you pay 3 times higher than an average P&S and so it is only fair that this camera returns excellent images(the above price includes databack and leather case, not such a bad price, I think). If you use it mainly for people photography you will not be disappointed. If you shoot negatives it is always a good idea to entrust your pictures to a good lab or you may not be able to see the difference in the camera. Just like anything else in life quality is not proportional to the price you pay. You have to pay substantially more to get that Leica touch. Talking about the Leica touch I find the depth of field is somewhat shallow and there is a kind of luminance in the skin tones which I find quite pleasing. It could be due to the coating of the lens. On many of the photos I have taken the subject really stands out from the background. All the exposures are spot on. I am particularly impressed with the backlit exposures where a flash had to be used. The size is slightly too large for a P&S but then you get a flash that is genuinely 12GN max which is 2 times higher than most P&S. Most P&S would have you believe that you can shoot 10 ft with the F=3.5 in ASA100 film but they are really relying on the lab to give the extra push. This would result in more grainy pictures. With the Leica you do not have to worry about this. The time between the real flash and the pre-flash is too long. Most subjects would have moved in the interim. The lack of aperture adjustment means a lot of serious photograhger will not consider this camera, which is sad because this can really replace the short zoom of many expensive SLR. The quality of the pictures certainly beats my AF Nikkor zoom and it is at least on par with the Nikkor fixed focals that I have.

Customer Service

I emailed them a couple of times for clarification on the specification and they got back to me the following day-very responsive

Similar Products Used:

Contax T, Yashica T5, Nikon and Contax SLR