Leica MiniLux Zoom Blurry Pictures

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Bu11dog

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Nov 30, 2005
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Hello Everyone,

I am new in this formus. Glad to find this place. becuase I just got a Contax T3 and Leica MiniLux Zoom last month.

After my first roll of film came back, half of 36 pictures from MiniLux are blurry like the following examples. Can someone help me figuring out why this is happening? :confused:

The research I did online suggested that I maybe moved the camera too fast after pressed the shutter. Someone online suggested that there is a almost 2 seconds time lag after pressing the button.

Thank you so much for your times! :p

2670-R1-09-27A_9.jpg


2670-R1-26-10A_26.jpg


2670-R1-30-6A_30.jpg
 
Make sure you are in autofocus mode. The images look as if the camera is focussed at the minimum possible distance. Maybe it is in manual focus mode.

It does not have a 2 second shutter lag. It may take 2 seconds after pressing the shutter before it is ready for the next shot.
 
Hi richard_l

Thank you for the response.

Sorry, this maybe a stupid question but how do I check if the MiniLux is setup in AF or MF? :bang:

Thanks.
 
Bu11dog said:
Hi richard_l

Thank you for the response.

Sorry, this maybe a stupid question but how do I check if the MiniLux is setup in AF or MF? :bang:

Thanks.
Click to expand...
I'm not familiar with that camera, but let me take a guess. The knob on top of the camera is probably used for focus. There should be some numbers, an infinity symbol, and maybe the letters AF. If some indicator (a dot or mark) is pointing to AF, it is in autofocus. If it is pointing to a number or infinity, then it is manually focussed to that distance.

If the same knob is used for off/on, then AF should be the first position when you turn it on. If you overshoot the AF position, then it probably goes into manual focus.

I'm just guessing on this, so everything I've said could be nonsense.
 
Richard is correct. I have a Minilux zoom and there is a focus dial that allows you to zoom-in and zoom-out. It should be on AF for auto-focus. It can also be set to other distances manually. One wold use the set focus (as indicated 0.7, 2.5, 5, infinity) if you were taking several photos in rapid sequence at the same distance.
 
I am very sure that I was using the AF mode. In addition, I checked the instruction again and I pretty much followed the steps except I maybe shocked the camera a little when press the shutter.

The 2 pictures that concerns me are #1 and #3. The black looking frame makes nervous I hope the camera does not have any any issue. :confused:

Well do you think the film that I used may have something to do with it? I used Kodak 400 Max which expired in 2004. In addition, all those pictures were taking in door with low light and no flash.

Please help!
 
This is not camera shake.

This not a 2004 expiry film issue. I am using 1998 expiry film in a Minilux right now!

This *is* a focus. issue.

Or a wind-up.
 
Thanks Jon

If possible, can you tell me what your camera does in following situation so I can tell if my camera is acting weird? Thank you very much.

*When AF selected and shutter button half pressed, does your camera makes some motor sound that try to focus? My camera is dead silent.

*After pressed shutter button all the way to take a picture, does your camera's lens start to move forward then back? Mind does that everytime I take a picture then the image from viewfinder looks totally different from the picture I wanted to take earlier.

Thank you so much for your helps.
 
It seems that you might have a defective camera. The black rings look as if there is a problem with the auto focus or zoom mechanism. Can you bring this back to shop where it was purchased?
 
I have the 40mm Minilux, not the zoom. Yes the lens will focus as you depress the shutter release. Theres a little sound and it physically moves.

Try manually focussing your camera at various distances for a few shots. Example: set it to infinity and take a picture of something a hundred metres or more distant.

Another thought: some of your pictures look like they were taken really close. My Minilux has got a minimum focussing distance of 0.7 metres (about 27 inches I think). What about yours?
 
Certainly appears to be a focus issue... I'm not familiar with this camera model, but my first reaction was that you were trying to take extreme closeup shots closer than the camera is capable of focusing. Could that be the problem? What do the non-blurry pics on that roll look like; fully sharp?
 
Thank you all for responding to my question.

I am pretty sure that those pictures were taking with at least 0.7 metres. Because I learned that if I get too close to the subject, the green light will blink.

All 3 pictures were taking for my baby girl. #1 and #3 are daytime and #2 is at night. They are all in door shoot.

One possible cause that I learned is the zoom motor has some issues. I am going to try 2nd roll of film to see what's will happen this time.
 
I had an enlarging lens that did this. The lens would not not focus no matter what I tried to do. Always got a ring and nothing was in focus at all. I brought it back to the shop and spoke to a Nikon representitive. He told me that there were some issues with certain batches of enlarging lenses, where the elements were out of alignment.
 
If those photos were of a child they were way way closer than 0.7 metres.

A small child's head at 0.7 metres will not fill the frame.
 
Hi Jon

The #1 and #3 pictures were my daughter sitting on the bed and I tried to take the picture of her whole body not just her head.

I am pretty sure I was more 0.7 metres away because if not, the camera will flash me with green light.

Hopefully we get good weather here in Pacific NW this weekend so I can go take some pictures.
 
Bu11dog said:
.

After my first roll of film came back, half of 36 pictures from MiniLux are blurry like the following examples. Can someone help me figuring out why this is happening?
Click to expand...

Only some pictures were blurry?

Could it be that your finger (or strap or case) wandered in front of the little rangefinder window just near the front of the viewfinder?

Try another film with nothing in front of the rangefinder.
 
Thank you all so much for helping me out. The 2nd roll of film did not have the same blurry issue as the first roll.

My guess is my hands were not stable enough when shooting the 1st roll of film. I am too used to the quick shutter from DSLR.

I will need to pay more attention about light and exposure when shooting MiniLux Zoom and T3.

Again thank you all.
 
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