Leica Minilux Zoom--How Bad Is It

[wjlapier]

Just curious to know how bad is the Minilux Zoom? Aside from the error codes is this a capable camera that can shoot about anything say on a family vacation? Mainly daylight stuff?

I don't travel far as some folks do. We take our usual trips to the Oregon coast in the spring and Montana in the summer. Some people photos and some landscape, and some architecture. That's about it.

I have my trusty ( knock of wood lol ) Leica M6 and the ol' faithful Oly zooms. Thinking about my next choice if there should be one.

 

[farlymac]

If you are looking for a good, reliable P&S with a decent zoom, I can recommend the Canon Z135. There are even some user selective options on the rear command dial. There is also the Minolta Freedom Zoom 140 which has an excellent lens too (remember, Minolta and Leica collaborated on many cameras). The Pentax IQ Zoom series is good, and they even have a model that starts at 28mm, the 120SW.

PF

 

[wjlapier]

I have many point and shoots like the Canon and the Pentax. I have two Canon's--155 and 180. The 180 has something like a light leak that shows up on all photos no matter the FL. I'm working on a roll with the 155--this was a Goodwill find. The Pentax is a 28-90 zoom but I haven't got around to really testing it out. Another Goodwill find. The Oly's are Goodwill finds and they work very well. And finally, a Nikon zoom I can't remember what model. But supposed to have ED and ASPH glass 😎 I should really try that one and see what it can do. I was just curious about the Leica since many reviews complain about it one way or the other.

Thanks for the suggestions though.

 

[David Hughes]

Hi,

Have you looked at the Leica C3? It's a very interesting and, I think, overlooked P&S from Leica.

Regards, David

 

[AlexBG]

I loved my contax TVS, for a zoom point and shoot it was great. Gutted I sold it but got a minilux (non zoom) and didn't like the results so sold that. I wouldn't worry about the error codes, if it happens it happens, same as any camera breaking.

I'm also intrigued by the yashica t zoom. Keeping my eye on them on the bay for a bargain.

I think for a family day light vacation nearly any p&s will be good. Search flickr for what each camera's pictures look like or if you like a certain lens type.

 

[Greyscale]

If you are looking for a good, reliable P&S with a decent zoom... The Pentax IQ Zoom series is good, and they even have a model that starts at 28mm, the 120SW.

PF

The 24EW goes even wider, to 24mm.

 

[wjlapier]

My Fujifilm Zoom Date f/2.8 will go from 24-50. Tiny camera like the Canon Z's.

 

[SolaresLarrave]

I don't know if you might be interested on fixed lens P&S but if you want fancy, try the Nikon 35ti. It's a beauty, has some very funky controls, a great 35mm f2.8 lens and even can do panorama mode in C41 film. And matrix metering too! They show up very often on eBay.

I had one, but sold it because I never used it enough... and it was too light (in terms of weight) for my taste.

 

[wjlapier]

I don't know if you might be interested on fixed lens P&S but if you want fancy, try the Nikon 35ti. It's a beauty, has some very funky controls, a great 35mm f2.8 lens and even can do panorama mode in C41 film. And matrix metering too! They show up very often on eBay.

I had one, but sold it because I never used it enough... and it was too light (in terms of weight) for my taste.

Nice camera for sure with a great meter. I had one. Eventually died so I sent to MS Optical and now the lens lives on as a M mount.

 

[Archlich]

The Minilux Zoom isn't a bad camera. Besides the E02 problem, which is curable now, the only thing I have a real gripe on is the squinty viewfinder - and it doesn't seem squinty at all when it comes to zoom P&S cameras, among which small real image finders seem to be a norm. The lens is as good as you would expect from this class of P&S; The build quality is top notch. You'll have to press the buttons multiple times to turn off the flash/ set the exposure compensation though, but again on many zooming cameras these simply aren't adjustable.

It's not a particularly fun or bargain camera to use either, mainly because there are competitors - namely the Contax TVS II - that put things together better in almost every way.

So my suggestion would be the TVS II. Similarly sized and built to the Minilux, but everything's more intuitive (the viewfinder is identical in size to the Contax G2 I once owned). It even fixed some minor usability issues on the original T2 (like the shape of the shutter button). You don't have to hold one, just check the manuals of the camera (available online) first to have an idea.