Sharp, contrasty pictures. Subject stands out from the background Lighter and smaller than a SLR Powerful flash for a P&S (GN=12) It''s a Leica!

slightly bigger and heavier than it has to be No automatic lens cap No aperture control

I spend quite a bit of time in trying to decide whether to buy the T3, Minilux or the Zoom. Finally I chose the zoom because I frequently need to use it for my kids. The fixed focal lengths of Minilux and T3 are simply not ideal for this purpose. The first pictures came out above average. I was disappointed because I paid almost 3 times the average price for this camera(USD price above incl databack and leather case). Then I switched over from ISO200 to ISO100 film and changed the Lab. The result was astounding, the pictures were sharp, contrasty and full of details. The exposure were spot on, in both dark and backlit situations. The quality beats my Nikkor zoom lenses and at least at par with the nikkor fixed focals that I have. I was glad that I made the choice. There is very little distortion for this zoom lens and I notice a kind of luminance on the skin tones which I find rather pleasing. I like it more than the tones of my Contax. Using a flash meter, I found the max GN to be 12. This is 2 times the GN of most P&S. Although the literature of many P&S would have you believe that you could shoot 3 meters in the dark with negatives, they are really relying on the lab to give the picture the extra ''push'' which will result in more grainy pictures. To avoid this one has to use ISO200 film. With the stronger flash of the Minilux I can stay with ISO100 which is cheaper here and offer better details. The downside to this camera is that it is a bit too bulky and too heavy to be worn on my belt or my neck. Another 3/4 inch shorter would make the size perfect. This must be possible with to-day''s technology. I also do not understand the lack of the automatic lens cap. It takes at least one more second to remove it before taking a picture, sometimes candid shots of children are lost becasue of it. For a camera of this price its omission is inexcusable. Leica should also add the aperture adjustment in the next version. Although the program works very well, the lack of this important feature means a lot of serious photograghers will not consider this camera. The red eye problem that some photographers have reported does not appear to be serious on my camera. I could hardly see this. Perhaps I was lucky. By the way, you could shoot continuously if the shutter remains pressed. You can get very interesting results with moving subjects. If you are

Customer Service

I emailed them twice on clarifying the spec and they came back with good answers in a day.

Similar Products Used:

Contax T, Yashica T5, many other P&S, Nikon and Contax SLR

strong construction, beautiful design, good size.

price price price, meter, no aperature priority, nothing in the viewfinder except a couple dummy lights and not very bright at all. contax t3 has a great viewfinder. Your buying the name leica for a camera that can be outperformed by numerous $200 japanese cameras, except they''re not titanium.

First of all, for those of you reading these reviews in search of the perfect point and shoot, this is not it! The is however, a titanium clad tank and somewhat of a novelty. If you want to own a leica, wait and save your money for a real one. The images produced are sharp, but not noticebly more sharp than most other quality point and shoots. The light meter is very unpredictable on this camera. And in case you didn''t know, it does not have aperature priority like the regular minilux. If you must have one, get the non-zoom. With the zoom, the manual focus is unpredictable and barely ever on, partly because you don''t know what aperature your shooting at. Essentially, it''s a pure point and shoot. Takes good pictures and there is little that the photographer can do to make them excellent. I sold it on ebay recently (even though I wouldn''t have minded having it around because it is a cool looking camera) because I got a rollei afm 35 and I''m very pleased with it.

Customer Service

didn''t need it. as i said that camera is well constucted

Similar Products Used:

contax t2, t3, rollei 35, rollei afm 35, werra 1, and verious slrs

Sharpness, clarity and saturation of colours, resistance to flare, intuitive control and great quality feel.

Heavy for a compact. Ideally a longer zoom would be nice IF (big ''if'')it didn''t compromise lens quality. Not cheap.

If sharpness and colour saturation in your photography are higher priorities for you than having all possible functions in one package, then buy this Leica. At 35-70mm it doesn''t come near the zoom range of ''consumer'' compacts, and it doesn''t have panorama or other fancy features - it just does all the essentials superbly well and has a solid, quality feel. It has easy-to-use 2-stop exposure override either way, full control of flash, auto or manual focus and a timer ... and that''s about it. What it DOES have is superb optical and build quality. In 40+ years as a keen photographer I have used at least 15-18 different compacts and the only one to come close to the quality of results from this Leica was the 40mm fixed-focus Rollei 35B which used to come up mountains with me. Enlargements from the Leica beat the best of my Olympus or Pentax shots hands down for resolution, colour and absence of flare. I was lucky to find my Minilux second-hand - someone with more money than sense had traded it against a digital all-singing-and-dancing miracle. It now has a permanent place alongside my Leica R8 and Canon Eos kit. The limited functionality (esp. its 70mm ceiling) of the Minilux means it isn''t suitable as your only camera, but used appropriately there is nothing better.

Customer Service

never needed.

Similar Products Used:

Most Olympus Muj and Superzooms, Pentax Espios, Samsung (pretty good zoom lenses), Rollei 35B and others. (SLR outfit was Pentax, now Leica R8 and Canon Eos 5)

Reasonable quality of pictures, Easy handling.

Poor price/performance. As good pictures with less expensive cameras. Built in flash is practically useless; worse results than with built in flash of all other cameras owned, including the lowest priced one.

I bought this camera based on the outstanding overall score and raving reviews of this site. The camera is been overated. Comparing to pictures shot with my other cameras - the pictures are marginally poorer in clarity - at a much higher price.

Customer Service

Not used yet.

Similar Products Used:

Contax T2, Pentax Espio 1120 mi, Yashica T4,Samsung Evoca 170.

lens exposure

slow shutter speed limited zoom range overall size (not a true pocket camera)

I purchased this camera with the accessory flash about a year ago to compliment my M system, put it in the closet and forgot about it. Two months ago I needed a camera fast, for a trip where size and weight were very important, and grabed the Minilux. On the plane I installed a new battery and read the instruction manual. Shot what was needed (Royal Gold 400), including backlit, portrait, landscape, had the processing done at my pro lab and held my breath. The exposure is right on and the sharpness and contrast is comprable to my M lenses. This camera has just earned a permenant place in my kit. I do wish the zoom range was 28-90 and max shutter speed was 500, but it is darn good the way it is. There may be some M gear on the market soon.

Customer Service

I hope nothing happens, from past experience Leica is a bear to deal with.

Similar Products Used:

Rollei 35 Prego 90

Phenomenal lens, perfect compact hi-tech titanium body, fits nice in the hands, superb exposures, tack sharp.

I thought I would have a problem with the small viewfinder, but it was easy to get used to. Just see the finished image through the viewfinder and the "problem" disappears.
I have accidently hit the timer button several times. It should be placed where the fingers do not normally touch it. But this is very very minor. I wish the shutter would go beyond 1/250 sec.

I used to own the Leica M4 and have always regretted selling it years ago. The "Leica Image" is very real. It's the ultra sharp lens combined with high contrast that gives the rangefinder Leicas their reputation.

I was skeptical about a point and shoot Leica until I read the reviews in this column. On the strength of the reviews, I decided to purchase the camera and try it out. The film was developed in a pro lab and outputted to medium resolution disc. From my very first looks, I gasped, the Leica image had returned to me at last!

So, if you are a lens freak like I am and demand the very sharpest and clearest lens available together with electronics that make exposures perfectly, get this camera. I cannot imagine another point and shoot that can give usuable professional National Geographic quality images.

I guess the only improvement is to return to the M series rangefinder and get equally superb lenses and have more control over the image taking.

Customer Service

None needed yet

Similar Products Used:

Nikon, Olympus, Contax

quality camera, great lens, quiet.

I have to agree with several other respondents. The viewfinder is a little too small

It's only my opinion but I believe this is the best point & shoot camera money can buy. The viewfinder is a drawback but even with that minor flaw I'd rate this camera at 6 stars if that was possible.

Customer Service

Not required

Similar Products Used:

I usually use a SLR but also own an Olympus Stylus Epic

sharp image, balanced color, bullet-proof built quality, nice looks

none

After my old Nikon 6006 broke down, I bought this little beauty along with a Rollei Prego90 because the latter has more features and a better wide-angle (28 mm). Just came back from a trip to Europe and took about 10 rolls using each camera. In terms of picture quality, the Leica beats Rollei Prego in every way. My wife accidentally dropped the Leica on the marble stepps of the Coliceum in Rome, except a big dent on the body (:-<), the camera performed flawlessly for rest of the trip.

Similar Products Used:

P&Ss from Nikon, Olympus, Rollei, Canon

Great Zeiss glass. Sharpest pictures I have ever gotten with a camera. The layout is very intuitive and easy to use.

None.

I guess I've been on a camera buying trip lately, and after reading some of the reviews I just had to get this little camera. The Canon p&s that this camera is replacing cannot even compare with the Leica. Hell, my brand new EOS-3 with 28-135 lens can't! The only camera I have used that compares image quality wise is my dad's R8. There is just something special about Zeiss optics. The Germans are just too good at building lenses. If you think that I am loading up on hyperbole for this camera, then just try it and see. It is quite easily the best 1000 buck I ever spent. No, my SLR won't spend any time in the closet because of this camera, but until I can afford a 28-70 f/2.8 for my EOS-3, this little Leica will be out when I need the important shot.

Customer Service

Not used.

Similar Products Used:

None really. I've had a little Canon point and shoot for a few years, but it isn't in the same league.

Build quality, lens, looks

Viewfinder size

The exposure and sharpness of the photos from this camera are amazing. I thought long and hard about upgrading the lenses for my SLR or buying the Minilux Zoom - I certainly made the right choice. While the purchase of the Minilux Zoom blew my budget out of the water, I still consider it to be value for money - a testament to the pure quality of the photos. My SLR will now gather dust.

Customer Service

Not used yet

Similar Products Used:

Minolta SLR, Pentax P&S