Leica Reviews

When my Kodak slide carusel projector broke I was kind of putting off the purchase of the new. Until my friend decided to give me one for Xmas. What she got me was Leica P150. I can't say that I'm thrilled with this model but also it gets the job done so I have no reasons to complain (much). So here are the pros and cons:

PROS:
-Optically this projector is outstanding, but I would expect nothing less from Leica optics.
-Wired remote is also good. You can retouch the focus from the remote and forward to the next slide. Also remote stores into the body which saves a lot of space.
-Compact design allows for easy storage
-Easy loading for single slides if you don't want to use trays.
-Small reading light or preview window makes life so much easier.

CONS:
-Tray capacity. No matter that I was able to purchase 50 slide extended trays, that's still no match for Kodaks 80 or 140 trays.
-If projector is tilted and slide is not aligned right it will not load for viewing.

In this case tray capacity is what really turns me off. For regular home viewing it may matter very little for some but for me it's a big drawback. I show 300 slides during night and with Kodak I was able to pack just 2 or 3 trays, with Leica it's 6. It's a good product but I think Leica's target customer was a guy who shoots one roll every few months. But projector works and is built well.

after much thought, I chose this camera above other more complicated SLRs so that my husband would feel comfortable using it. As an amature photographer, this is my first "point and shoot" camera and I couldn't be happier. You can have the confidence of the best optics available with this camera- I would use it in an art class in a second. The options are extensive and actually allow for a lot of control. I am thinking of getting the seperate flash unit to eliminate red-eye, though (it has the red-eye reducer but those rarely work in all situations). Buy with confidence and enjoy fine photos for the rest of your life! Such a good idea if you're used to good cameras and have children, who generally don't wait for their parents' focusing efforts with old-time SLRs (and their failing eyesight). Also, it's practically an heirloom. You'll get a kick out of envious photo-finish store staff peoples' comments as an added bonus.

I have owned both the Minilux and the Minilux Zoom ; I have since resold the Minilux Zoom. The lens is simply too slow compared with the less expensive Minilux which uses a fast (bright) 40mm lens which is much closer to what the eye sees (50mm).I worked for the National Film Board of Canada,I have used many cameras but when I travel I bring only the Minilux because it takes incredible pictures even in the worst low light conditions and even without the flash; I use inside churches and museums with the flash turned off. A zoom this size is simply too slow to be useful, 3 steps forward or three steps back will produce the same result with the Minilux and you will be able to take incredible pictures in those low light conditions. Save your money, buy the Minilux. It's the lens that counts.

I'm going to make it very simple. Leica when it comes to cameras is like a Land Rover when it comes to jeeps. Of course you can buy a Cherokee or a Chevy Blazer but if you want reliability, quality and durability you would go for Land Rover. Same goes for Leica... If you are looking for strong, sharp, durable piece of equipment that will not fail you and has possibilities of being expanded, Minilux Zoom is the way to go. You have to realize before purchase that this camera has a relatively short zoom by industry standard (only 2x). Lens is not as fast aperture wise as original Minilux. But the quality of optics and output is superior to many cameras and comparable only to Contax T series. This camera is not for everyone due to the price and some features that are fairly limited for regular/average user. On the other hand for a pro, serious amateur or journalist Minilux Zoom offers features (manual focusing, exposure compensation and full flash control) that they would truly appreciate. Having control over their exposure in such a small package without compromising the image quality is quite rare to get. Anyone who had to drag/carry his/her SLR (single lens reflex) cameras will understand and cherish the value of this piece. Also in order to fully benefit from this camera a basic knowledge and understanding of photography principles is very helpful. Also additional possibilities such as mounting extra flash, bulb mode and cable release makes it an all around camera as well.

Yes, it is an excellemt one . buT gotta learn and experiience how to use it for better result eg. yr hand must be quite steady when shoot. But the result is more than I can say! If money is no object , should get one.

While most of the compact cameras are made of cheap looking plastic, Leica, among a few other manufacturers, made some beautiful looking compact cameras which are better made, more precise, more capable of quality results. A well-made and well thought-out camera is already a joy to use, please ignore those who said an Olympus Mju:II or Yashica T4 are better simply because they are cheaper and produce similar but still inferior results.

If you are considering a Minilux, you may like to compare it to Contax T3, Minolta TC-1, Rollei AFM 35 or Minox GT-E. They are all excellent cameras, however, I like the way Leica lenses handle contrast and color saturation, which is more neutral or natural, this is personal preference, of course.

The lens is sharp and fast; manual focus, program or aperture priority auto exposure are available; self timer, socket for cable release, EV compensation, built-in flash and different flash modes make the Minilux versatile; the Minilux is very capable in many situations.

Please don't complain it has no zoom or cannot do macro work or change lenses, no camera can have everything without some sacrifice in other qualities.

The Minilux is the best compact camera in my opinion.

Other point and shoot cameras might look sleeker at first. They have more buttons you can press, and might have some special function that makes them especially desirable. (Rarely the ability to take great pictures though, it seems) The minilux follows a simple philosophy: create a camera does not look intrusive and takes the best pictures possible. Leicas have been the favorites of photographers worldwide, since Oskar Barnack decided that maybe taking pictures on 35mm film would make photography more portable and more spontaneous, thus inventing, the ur-leitz-camera, lei-ca. Documentary-style photography was born. Take a look at books with photographs by Henri Cartier-Bresson or Alfred Eisenstaedt. The most important part of ANY camera is the lens. The Leica Summarit 2.4/40 lens on the minilux is excellent. It is very fast (bright) 2.4(!) so you will find yourself taking more natural looking pictures without a flash more often. (Also remember: zoom lenses can never be as bright and as sharp as this lens.) The camera has a light meter built in, so before you shoot, you can find out what might be the appropriate settings for the particular light environment. It is up to you to decide if you would like to overwrite these settings by changing the aperture. (From 2.4! to 16) Measure again, and you will know if your new aperture setting makes sense. If it is too dark, the camera will automatically turn on the back lighting on the display and charge the flash for you. Just in case you would like to take a picture right away. The camera is full of great, very positive surprises. Even the holding strap has the perfect length, so you can shoot spontaneous, yet perfectly sharp snapshots right out of the palm of your hand. The active auto-focus works great under any light conditions. If you do not want to use the auto-focus, you can always overwrite it. The camera just takes great pictures.
This camera is a perfect gift, for yourself or for somebody you care about. It might change the way you see things. It might make you appreciate every day a little more. It worked for me. Really.

This P&S Camera is truly exceptional. The camera and its titanium shell feel rock solid; the lens is top notch; and the image quality is excellent. Mind you, it will not replace your high end SLR, but if you want to travel light, and not compromise on image quality, then this is the camera for you.