Leica CM - "The king of point & shoot".

[ISO]

I think the Leica CM is the only point&shoot camera, that is allowed in Leica M section. Some say it is a Leica M for your pocket. Some say it is "The king of point & shoot"...Some say it is overprized and will never become a collectors item. But how much does a compareable lens for a Leica M cost ?

Leica CM - What users say....
(feel/ handling, size, viewfinder, lens, mechanics, sound, weigtht...whatever, the pictures maybe ?)

Please do not compare with other cameras (including the minilux). This is just for the Leica CM as a camera. Is it a fantastic camera ? What is missing on this camera ?

Thanks, ISO

 

[John Noble]

What's missing?

I'd like a shutter speed dial, please, and make the focus dial MUCH harder to dislodge from the AF setting. The VF could be bigger, too. It would be cool if it would prefocus without having to hold a half-click on the shutter release when in manual mode.

Other than those minor quibbles, I can't fault mine. It does what it does very well, and I feel like I got my money's worth. I'm not damning it with faint praise: for a grand, I expect a LOT from a film P&S.

 

[ClaremontPhoto]

It's a great camera.

Leica say that 'MP' is mechanical perfection, and I like to think that 'CM' is compact M. What's missing? Surface finishes: at the very least black paint, but I'd like to see black neoprene or carbon fiber.

Having said that and being ready to buy in this segment I am seduced by the Fuji Klasse.

 

[Mike Richards]

Mine is CM zoom, f3.5 35-70mm. Excellent design and construction. Solid feel. Best and most reliable autofocus system I've used. Quiet operation. For drawbacks, read first sentence again. Can't say much more without the comparisons you don't want. Photos:
http://homepage.mac.com/richam/PhotoAlbum115.html

 

[Michiel Fokkema]

Hi,
I bought mine second hand. It suffered fro the battery problem. When it came back it suffered from another problem. Then when it came back, all without charge btw, it was oke. And now it is a really nice and capable package. The lens is outstanding and doesn't stick out when not used. the settings are memorised and the top speed is 1/1000th. Much better than the Minilux.
However my wife has a Minilux zoom and despite it's disadvantage over the CM is a very capable camera also.

Best regards,

Michiel Fokkema

 

[sepiareverb]

Wish they still made this one- I would buy one eventually.

That dislodging from AF trouble might make me hate it tho- that was the WORST thing about my G1.

It does seem like a great camera- I've never had the chance to handle one, but the size and shape do seem like it would be a good fit for my hand. This is one of the cameras on my 'someday' list.

 

[ISO]

Thanks for the responses.

Maybe from here I will also open some space for cameras to compare in this class. As far as I know in this class there are the Leica minilux (little brother of the CM), Contax T2, -T3, Rollei AFM and also the cheaper Yashica T´s with their Tessar lenses and the Ricoh GR series with the wider optics. In some situations, as a "pocket" camera, but without a autofocus, their is the Contax- T1 (RF), Rollei 35 series and the Petri Color 35 to consider. Last two are a bit older and more classic....also easier to repair!

My standpoint so far. The CM is "a king of point and shoot" - but not "the" only (and perfect) one... But again, the Leica CM is a really really good camera and there is not much to compare with in this class! It is on my "someday list" as well.

Feel free to comment, if you like...

 

[ISO]

If you are looking for a "budget" pocket camera with even a rangefinder- maybe the crown goes to Olympus XA. Another solution could be the Olympus 35 RC.

You should get "sharp" photos with this cameras. BUT do not expect "Leica or Zeiss quality pictures". There is a "magic" in their lenses and that costs money.

This "magic" will be around 10% of your final picture - the high gloss, if you want. The other 90% magic has to come from yourself... and as probably most of you agree, this is the hard part you also can not buy.

Again, fell free to comment, or write about the CM or your favorite pocket camera...

Thanks, ISO

 

[sepiareverb]

I think the Leica CM is the only point&shoot camera, that is allowed in Leica M section....

It appears not.

 

[sepiareverb]

I've just run the first few rolls through a Rollei 35SE. This thing is compact for sure, but I'm still a little slow with the unconventional layout of the controls. Quality seems very nice- the 2.8 Sonnar delivers nice looking negs. I'll print tomorrow and see how they look at size.
I'll be carrying this around a lot this summer, and shooting a bunch with it, assuming I can get used to that layout. Not quite a point & shoot, but compact.

The Contax TVS was my point & shoot camera of choice, but I've been less than thrilled with the lens at times- especially if I go bigger than 5x7. Hopefully the Rollei will do better here. I'm also watching a few Conbtax T2's on ebay as another possible alternative.

 

[ISO]

@sepiareverb. Give the Contax T2 a try. Excellent Viewfinder as bright and clear as the one of your Rollei 35. I especially like the viewfinder on the T2. It gives me a feel on how to move to get into the perfect spot to finally press the button. What I read about you, your style and your cameras, the T2 could be a good one for you. Also the Zeiss lens makes it a good camera for color work. The feel and handling of the T2 is also very nice. I never had problems with the AF and I do have a lot of keepers from this camera. But I never tried the T3.

Also, I can say some good words about the minilux. The lens on mine is "better" than the one on the T2. Very sharp lens and a joy to look on the detailed quality of the final photos. The worst thing on the minilux is the viewfinder, but since I know how the results will look like, I do not care about this anymore. It is my only Leica so far, so maybe the results are just "normal" leica quality. Size is about the same as the T2 and yes, you can also use this one as take everywhere camera but it will not fit in a Levis 501. Feel of the minilux is just great. I like the minilux a lot with XP2 inside. Never tried the CM.

 

[sepiareverb]

ISO- Thanks for the notes- That Rollei VF really is an eye-opener to what a little camera VF can be isn't it?
A friend has a minilux, but I've never really fallen for it like I thought I would when I heard she had it. Don't know what it is about it that I don't like, but I'll agree the glass is very nice. Looking at some pictures of my kids she shot with it that are stunning- even on 400 film.
I also like that Zeiss color, and the T2 has further appeal as I'm very familiar with it's cousin the TVS. My only concern is that focus wheel- like the G1's design, and I was always knocking the G1 out of AF mode- though I suppose some gaff tape would remedy this.

 

[pvdhaar]

..
Please do not compare with other cameras (including the minilux)..

Why not? The Minilux has got exactly the same lens (40/2.4 Summarit)..