Best compact camera lens
Aperture Priority able
Manual focus has infinity lock
Relatively low shutter lag for a "point and shoot"

Close focus requires recomposition
Flash exposures only relaible with print film
Not enough information in viewfinder

Often unfairly compared to the Yashica T4, Olympus Style Epic, etc. Those are excellent cameras, but achieve only "satisfactory" to "good" results, in my opinion. The Minilux is a typical Leica camera: more expensive, and a bit more quirky. You have to spend time with it and learn its idiosyncracies. Yes there are compromises-- no closeup capability, in challenging situations you need to take your eye away from the viewfinder to check shutter speed,and other mild annoyances. But in the end, when the prints emerge from the soup, they're sharper and better graded than what I can achieve with more than 50% of my 35mm gear, and I own a lot of it.

Tried a used T2 before purchasing this one. Liked the shutter action and the single dial (aperture and scale focus) of the Minilux.

Giving this 5 star overall, 4 star value for a new camera. If you can get a clean used model for $500 then I'd give the value rating 5 stars.

Customer Service

Very good. You can actually call Leica (New Jersey), and speak to a knowledgeable tech person. Very friendly.

Similar Products Used:

Yashica T4 Super
Olympus Style Epic
Contax T2

the finest point and shoot optics I've seen. Accurate and easy to use

1/400 top speed - using 400 speed I often have to over expose.

if you want a pro quality point and shoot - this is one.

Customer Service

not tried

Similar Products Used:

olympus stylus epic (the best value going)
canon elphs
pentax 928
nikon action touch water proof

Clarity of picture with amazing color. Great contrasts.

Beware of gray market camera without warranty.

Takes great pictures and great in low light setting with fast lens for a point and shoot.

Customer Service

Leica service is good but slow. Make sure the camera has USA warranty. Gray market cameras not covered.

Similar Products Used:

None

Pictures are as clear as my Leica M6 with the 35 mm. You can give the camera to someone to shoot and no problem.

Viewfinder small, sometimes hard to rember all the functions.

I would like to trade for the zoom, but you can't change the apature. I love shoting and if I purchased this first I would have gotten the M6

Customer Service

Don't know but I have talked to the headquaters and they answer any and all ?'s.

Similar Products Used:

Leica M6, Rollie 35, Rollie Q35, Minox G35, Canon A1, Canon F1

Excellent optics! F2.4 lens for a point and shoot. That's enough. What else do you want from Leica?

View finder not big enough. Motor too noisy.

I bought it at about US$530 in Hong Kong. Seems to be a better deal here. I developed my first roll, and then decided to abandon my Canon EOS system. I can see the fine texture of the rocks in the prints that i haven't seen in any previous picture i have ever taken. (The film used is only a cheap mass market negative. Slides are even better.) I haven't used an M6 but I believe the quality of the lens is the same as those used in the M6 system. Try it if you value quality. Those in budget please consider something else.

Customer Service

Not yet tried.

Similar Products Used:

Rollei Priego Zoom: Good but far from this one.

Fast Lens
Simple design
Strong construction
Sharp contrast
Makes other P&S look quite inferior

Fastest shutter is slow
Expensive in its class
Tiny viewfinder
Rare film mis-loading

I liked it so much I bought three - I bought titanium one with QD then bought the Zoom version and then bought a black non-zoom that re-defines a "user" camera -- it looks hammered, perfect for my trip to the middle east. I traveled with several people with expensive Nikon SLR setups and when the prints arrived everyone hesitantly agreed that the Minilux took the sharpest pictures. The black Minilux that I used looks terrible after a few years of use (scratches, etc) but everyone who didn't recognize it thought it was just a cheap-o $40 camera -- a real advantage in my opinion when traveling. I have since invested about $6k in a Leica M6 system and while the prints look a little better I sure don't get the ease and candid shots that I brought home with the Minilux. I have a difficult time getting other people to think that a $650+ non-SLR, non-zoom camera is good, but the proof is in the results. Amazing contrast. The "lack" of all the whiz-bang features is a good thing in keeping a simple camera.

Customer Service

Not yet needed.

Similar Products Used:

Olumpus Stylus Epic
APS Cameras
Digital cameras

Optics!!
Fast lens.
Ability to use cable release

Controls are fiddly.
I've lost shot by mistakingly having the focus set on infinity ratherthan AF - all in learning.
Max shutter speed too slow

The quality of the photos produced by this remarkable little camera caused me to sell all of my Nikon gear and buy an M6 system.
Even in conparison with the M6, the Minilux optics shine!For this I'll gladly put up withthe fiddly contols.

Customer Service

Haven't needed to try

Similar Products Used:

None

-Small and light, just the thing for sticking in your pocket when you don't feel like lugging around a SLR.
-Much less obtrusive in social settings than a SLR.
-Leica optics.
-Remote shutter release and mini tripod help with existing light photography.
-Fast lens for a P&S.

-Shutter speed is too low for bright days with fast film.
-A lot of button pushing to alter settings.
-Boxy.
-Price, but at least it's not plastic.

Great little travel camera for those times when a SLR is too much. You get the pictures that you would have missed because you didn't have your full kit with you.

Customer Service

Haven't needed it.

Similar Products Used:

Leica Mini-zoom

Excellent lens quality. Pic of Spanish patio used for front of section in newspaper at 37.5cm by 42cm (15" by 16.8") and detail of tiles was fantastic. (used Elite 100 film). Fast lens. Light and compact. Extremely well-made.

Viewfinder too small. Would love bigger finder and separate flash. Motors a bit noisy. Body a bit marked after a few years. That's all!

Pro quality results from a compact camera. Don't bother with machine-processed postcard-sized prints - or only occasionally. You won't apprecate the quality this camera is capable of. Try slide film or have a special print blown up big - you'll love it! Expensive compard with other cameras, but worth it.

Customer Service

Electronic faulty on first one I bought. Another one sent from Australia without delay. No problems at all since.

Similar Products Used:

Old Olympus rangefinders. Still good. Olympus Superzoom (called something else in the US): disappointing, zoom lens not

Renders images of superior quality in tonal gradation, contrast and sharpness.

None

The pictures produced by the Minilux are as sharp and contrasty as those produced my my M6. Superb!
Contrary to what it says above, the Minilux has a built in flash unit.

Similar Products Used:

None