The quality is excellent. The lenses are the best I have ever seen. I collect cameras, but after buying this one, I think that there is no more point in buying others. It can do almost anything that the SLRs can do, plus, the lens is even better. It is built like a tank. Great flash. I took some pictures and had them developed in a one hour joint. The pictures were so clear, sharp, and brilliant. I experimented with the manual features, they produced amazing results. Some shots inside the mall looked like they were taken in a studio.

None.

If you are the type of person that has to have the best, this is the camera for you. This is the best point and shoot, made by the best camera makers in the world. This is the true SLR killer.

Customer Service

Excellent.

Similar Products Used:

Olympus P&S,Nikon, Canon,Panasonic.

Photos so sharp you could cut ripe tomatoes.

None

I make no claims to be the world's greatest photographer, but the quality photos I've been getting with my Minilux is absolutely astonishing. My 35mm uses Zeiss lenses, so I thought I knew what sharp was until I saw these.

I don't have the zoom and kind of wish I did. On the other had, on a recent camping trip, I took some fairly close up pictures of flowers and the AF beautifully isolated the flowers and slightly blurred the background, exactly the way I would have done it using manual settings. Love the light that tells you it's not in focus; no more relying on my unreliable eyesight.

It also seems to handle contrasty light well. Several photos of waterfalls taken from a heavily forested area (metered on the falls) resulted in perfectly exposed water (clear white foam with some detail) and plenty of detail in the shaded areas under the trees. Really professional looking, which I honestly don't deserve! And did I mention sharp?

On the camping trip, I only used in it fully auto mode (the flash went off once unexpectedly and scared me and a deer half to death ); looking forward to learning to use the manual functions.

Cost? I look at it this way: I didn't eat lunch for six months to pay for it, and lost five pounds. So, I'm getting great pictures and I'm thin. What more can you ask?

Customer Service

If this camera breaks, I'll point and shoot myself!:)

Similar Products Used:

Contax RTS
Mamiya TLR

Beautifully built and ergonomic (especially location of zoom controls).

Quite heavy and quite big, and can't fathom why this camera has a cheap plastic clip-on (and fall-off and lose) lens cap?). Also find the viewfinder to be very "dark". The Contax TvsIII by comparison is much brighter and bigger.

Virtually no red eye with the separate flash unit (if only Contax would do similar) and beautifully built - especially the black version if you can find one. A definite replacement for your SLR.

Similar Products Used:

Contax TvsIII, G2

Built like a tank! Great glass!

none

I use my F5 with all the attached toys and glass (all ED), and I don't know, this may have me selling most of it!

I took some test shots, and sent the roll (Kodak Porta 160NC) to a local 1 hour lab (I wanted to test the focus, perferred f-stop, etc that the camera uses [just to get a feel]), and the pictures came out alittle blury, alittle out of focus. Most people would have left it at that, but not beleiving that this camera could create such out of focus shot, I determined that the photo processing machine was out of spec, so I went back, and insisted that they prove to me that my photo's where out of focus, and not them, well, they where out of spec [their machine!], they re-tuned their machine, and all my pictures where dead on! Putting a lupe on them shows the "1 hour-ness" quality, but WOW! I do about 99% of my shots with a 50mm, so this baby is a keeper!

Similar Products Used:

Yashica T4

Built like a Tank. Excellent lens quality. Exposures dead on everytime.

None

The best point and shoot camera ever made and if you want one save your money because it's very expensive.

Customer Service

Not used yet

Similar Products Used:

Canon EOS 1N system
Hassleblads

Unbelieveable lens quality and handling. Best images ever, including those shot with what I thought were near-perfect Nikkor lenses.

None

Seriously considering never using my Nikon gear again. The images are simply astounding, in any lighting conditions. The camera is hideously expensive, but the images are worth every dime. If only I could add filters and get a serious wide angle (24mm) I'd never shoot with anything else.

Customer Service

N/A

Similar Products Used:

Pentax, Canon P&S cameras

As a test, I sent my film to be processed at Wal Mart...yes Wally world. My film into the jaws of one of those small car sized auto processors...gad what was I thinking...We don't shop at Wally World as a rule but we walked the isles and poked around waiting for the film. An hour later I go to pick up the film from the Queen of the photo department. "Say, just what kind of camera were you using?" "These shots are the best Ive ever seen." Of course I thought she was paying me some kind of complement about my "well developed" film skills...But she was actully talking about the quality of the photos not the content.
I pulled out the little point and shoot Leica and showed her the camera..."Wow...how much?"

I would like a bigger veiw finder but I have added the diaopter lens to the rear of the finder and I am happier now.

Best P&S you can get. And you all know what they say..."The best there is might be good enough."

Customer Service

Leica...that says it all

Similar Products Used:

Nikon point and shoot and a Olympus P&S...

Virtually indestructible titanium body,sharpest lenses one can imagine,very user-friendly and most of all it's a Leica camera

The viewfinder could be a little bigger,the plastic lens cap and the shutter button

It's like black magic...that small camera without all those knobs and buttons reveals itself to be a devilish machine. Sharp , so well balanced pictures...
I'm quite sure that purchasing a Leica Minilux zoom was a very wise decision.

Customer Service

never needed

Similar Products Used:

Yashica and Pentax slr's
Canon Ixus

Good solid feel and weight, lense, simple, very simple indeed, looks and its a Leica.

Size, plastic lens cover, noisy zoom, no pouch included in package and if you have a greasy nose it leaves a mark on the back of the camera, can't attach filters or hood. But these are all compensated by the brilliance of this gem of a camera.

It is more simple to operate than a box brownie but gives truly pro results. I used it with Fuji Reala 100 film and was amazed by the images. I will never need another camera again.

Customer Service

???

Similar Products Used:

Contax T2 (Best fixed lens ever). Contax TVS2 which I exchanged for my Leica.

All aspects in camera operation, quality and performance except those noted in "weakness" field.

None.
A bigger and brighter viewfinder would have been perfect... (wishful thinking)!

Highly recommended for anyone looking for that quintessential "Leica image" produced by one of the most magnificent zoom in the compact market. What really sets the Minilux Zoom apart from the rest (Contax TVSII for example) is definitely the performance of the lens - brilliant pictures are possible even in adverse lighting conditions.

Customer Service

No experience yet.

Similar Products Used:

Contax TVSII
Nikon 35Ti
Ricoh GR-1