Minilux - the most expensive paper weight of all times. After being a good companion for quite it died on me with an E02 error without any warning. Funny enough I still keep it around and I sometimes power it up just to see if it decided to start working again... I don't really know if it is the quality of the photos it used to shoot or the rather hefty price I once paid for it that keeps me from throwing it into the bin.
I think a lot of people get it wrong with this camera, it is actually a rather simple Panasonic unit with a fantastic Leica lens wrapped up in titanium looking steel with a red Leica badge glued onto it.
Strengths:
A good travel companion, fairly light and discreete compared to a regular SLR. After putting some tape over the Leica logo, it will be taken for a rather cheap looking point and shoot camera. I picked it up to substitute my SLR on thrips where I did not want to bring a large kit and loaded with a roll of Velvia and I was always pleased with the results.
Weaknesses:
Although you'll be able to pick one up at Ebay for a cheap price it will most likely die with the shutter error when you need it the most. It is possible to get the shutter replaced, but somehow I have a feeling that I will end up with another E02 a year down the road.
Fairly expensive to buy, expensive to fix and not even really a proper Leica. Trust me when I say that this one will never be a classic...
Customer Service:
I was not impressed with the customer service provided by Leica. They did not even bother to give a response to a polite letter asking for an explanation to the shutter error problem.
I went all digital few years ago and I currently use Nikon D70 and few Nikon lenses for most of my photos. Hoewever, I really missed the picture quality of the prints from the 35 mm negatives and the entire process of carefully composing, waiting, and shooting that can easily be neglected from digital shooting....
Thus, I surfed web and bought this camera for $350....
I was once a high-end Point and Shoot afficinado, so I used and owned most of them in the market before eventually selling them all....
I really believe this is the best point and shoot camera and one of the best bargain now at around $300 to $400 in good condition from www.KEH.com...
Strengths:
I have once owned and used majority of the high end point shoot in the market. However, this is the camera with the best lens. Most of the professional review on the web seems to support this point. I was somewhat worried about the infamous EO2 failuare, but with the current bargain price of $350, it is well worth taking a chance....
Weaknesses:
Shutter speed is limited to 1/400... but you can use slow film such as the Fuji Reala 100 and not have to worry about the overexposure.
Similar Products Used:
Contax TVS I, II, III, Minilux Zoom, Contax T2, Contax T3, Yashica T4
For a while I've been "shall-I / shan't-I" about this camera. Many of the reviews here are worrying. Reliability seems a big problem. However there's some amazing deals on Ebay at present. What the hell, for 200 quid I took the plunge. Unwrapped it and yes, build is a level above, a true pleasure to hold. But how does it perform? I spent two weeks in the beautiful Scilly Isles on a head-to-head - the Minilux vs an old R4 with a selection of wide angle lenses. The results amazed me - the Minilux had the edge every time - a bit crisper, more contrasty, sharp but so so smooth. Honestly, they are the best most consistent set of prints I have ever seen with any camera. It reminded me (not that I need it) how much I love film. So far so good. Will I get E02 error? Time will tell. At £200 it's worth the risk I feel.
Strengths:
* The 40mm summarit is a star
* Consistent performer
* Reasonably portable
* Pleasure of ownership
Weaknesses:
* On/Off switch is a bit of a clunker
* What a racket it makes
* Manual focus option is a bit limited, don't get carried away, it's no RF
Rating Reviewed by: Martin Ekenberg(Unregistered User)
(Intermediate)
Review Date October 27, 2003
Overall Rating 2 of 5
Value Rating 1 of 5
Used product for More than 1 year
Visitors rate this review 2.15 of 5,
13 votes
Review 4 of 69
Price Paid:
$440.00
Summary:
Overpriced camera, unreliable, not even the optics are very impressing.
When comparing to my Yashica T5, the leica minilux took less sharp photos, is a lot heavier and finally it broke (E02, shutter error). From now on, I will stick to Carl Zeiss lenses, i.e. Yashica and Contax.
Rating Reviewed by: Karel Geertsema(Unregistered User)
(Expert)
Review Date September 24, 2003
Overall Rating 2 of 5
Value Rating 2 of 5
Used product for More than 1 year
Visitors rate this review 3.13 of 5,
8 votes
Review 5 of 69
Price Paid:
$650.00
from Netherlands (price i
Summary:
Unreliable and overpriced.
I bought the minilux in summer 2001 to take hiking (starting with a mountaineering course)instead of a SLR. Since I should mostly slides, I wanted the best optics and metering, so stupid me fell for "the Leica Mythos".
True, the optics and metering are good, but the camera now has developped the E02 error (defect shutter, repair costs 141 Euro excl. postage). Within one year the camera underexposed around 2,5-3 stops (on a hike in Yellowstone). This turned out to be a non-reproducable error (Leica Netherlands: user error, only the dealer concluded the same thing as I did: he checked the settings and did some test shots). And about a week before the E02 error the camera managed to drain the battery from full to empty within 5 pictures according to its indication, then it stopped working...
Next time I'll take an EOS 300v /Rebel Ti with 50mm/1.8 hiking.
Strengths:
- good and fast lens
- good metering
- sturdy body
Weaknesses:
- expensive
- unreliable
- loud startup, focussing and "firing" noise (all lens movements); no candids with this camera...
- battery hungry
- mode and ev-compensation buttons cumbersome (e.g.: press mode button 6 times to switch off flash)
- f16 and 1/400 sec max, be carefull with fast film in bright light
- very small viewer with only 2 leds as indication (focus, flash, out-of-range exposure)
Similar Products Used:
Last 10 years only EOS SLR's.
Customer Service:
An unfriendly "User error" instead of "not-reproducable". I still doubt if I will have the shutter repaired due to the underexposure/battery problems (user error, I'm shure).
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