Leica Minilux 35mm Film Camera
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- Battery Type: 1 x 3V Lithium Battery (CR123A)
- Film Type: 35mm
- Zoom Lens: Without Zoom Lens
- Zoom Range: 40 mm
- Camera Type: Point and Shoot
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Quite possibly the perfect point and shoot
Pros
Quality, durability, aesthetically pleasing
Cons
A little pricey, but probably the only Leica I can afford
Recommended it?
Yes
The Bottom Line:
The last point and shoot that I'll probably ever own. Built like a tank to house some incredible optics.
I bought my Minilux used nearly three years ago to use while traveling, hoping to shed the weight of a big SLR. The fact that it was so hard to find used says a lot. It was a bargain at $450, but it definitely showed a little wear.
After going to the top of Mt. Rainier twice, getting soaked through Asia, dropped in the Himalayans and fallen on during many ski outings, it looks quite beaten but still takes great pictures. A testament to Leica quality and durability.
I love that I can use slide film in this camera and trust that they will be exposed correctly and the pictures will be sharp as a tack. I love being able to manually over or under expose or manually focus or select the aperture. I love the f/2.4 lens and being able to use 400 speed film to take existing light photos in places where flash is not allowed or would simply be inappropriate. Although a zoom lens would be more convenient, the 40mm focal length is wide enough for most travel shots yet not so much that it distorts candid portraits or causes excessive flash falloff. The bulb setting even makes it practical for night photography, but be sure to get the remote release. Finally, I just love the way this camera looks: clean simple lines, uncluttered controls and classic styling. And of course, no lens cap to remove or lose.
Okay, that's my praise, here's my complaints. Why is this camera so hard for other people to use? If I ask someone to take my picture with this, I usually end up explaining that they must press the shutter release completely down. The camera makes a sound when the release is pressed halfway and the lens moves to focus. Most people think they took a picture and I must check to see. 3 out of 4 times they have not. It's just annoying.
Another annoyance is that at the end of roll, the lens will not retract until the entire roll has been rewound which means I must hold the camera at the most inconvenient time so as not to damage the lens. It would be nice if the lens would retract, but I guess the film would be damaged.
I found that the battery life is about average and that having spare lithium batteries is a necessity, especially outside of the U.S. Using higher speed film helps with battery life since the flash will fire less.
Lastly, my wife wanted a date back for this camera. I finally found one in Hong Kong. But finding accessories is a challenge...why did Leica have to make a special remote release? I certainly hope I don't have to go to Hong Kong for parts if this camera ever breaks. Which brings me to another observation. The Minilux is tough but not weather resistant. Getting it wet really plays havoc with the built-in flash. Plastic bags are my friend now.
After going to the top of Mt. Rainier twice, getting soaked through Asia, dropped in the Himalayans and fallen on during many ski outings, it looks quite beaten but still takes great pictures. A testament to Leica quality and durability.
I love that I can use slide film in this camera and trust that they will be exposed correctly and the pictures will be sharp as a tack. I love being able to manually over or under expose or manually focus or select the aperture. I love the f/2.4 lens and being able to use 400 speed film to take existing light photos in places where flash is not allowed or would simply be inappropriate. Although a zoom lens would be more convenient, the 40mm focal length is wide enough for most travel shots yet not so much that it distorts candid portraits or causes excessive flash falloff. The bulb setting even makes it practical for night photography, but be sure to get the remote release. Finally, I just love the way this camera looks: clean simple lines, uncluttered controls and classic styling. And of course, no lens cap to remove or lose.
Okay, that's my praise, here's my complaints. Why is this camera so hard for other people to use? If I ask someone to take my picture with this, I usually end up explaining that they must press the shutter release completely down. The camera makes a sound when the release is pressed halfway and the lens moves to focus. Most people think they took a picture and I must check to see. 3 out of 4 times they have not. It's just annoying.
Another annoyance is that at the end of roll, the lens will not retract until the entire roll has been rewound which means I must hold the camera at the most inconvenient time so as not to damage the lens. It would be nice if the lens would retract, but I guess the film would be damaged.
I found that the battery life is about average and that having spare lithium batteries is a necessity, especially outside of the U.S. Using higher speed film helps with battery life since the flash will fire less.
Lastly, my wife wanted a date back for this camera. I finally found one in Hong Kong. But finding accessories is a challenge...why did Leica have to make a special remote release? I certainly hope I don't have to go to Hong Kong for parts if this camera ever breaks. Which brings me to another observation. The Minilux is tough but not weather resistant. Getting it wet really plays havoc with the built-in flash. Plastic bags are my friend now.
