Leica Minilux

[donvito]

Hi,

I'm thinking of getting a Leica Minilux. I love street photography and I believe this thing would suit my needs for the moment. I used to own a 300D and several lenses but decided to sell it for a lighter gear.

Has anyone used the Leica Minilux? Is there a local service center in Singapore? I might be moving in soon. maybe next month.

And also related to this, does anyone know of cheap film-scanning services? I have been to the Peninsula but haven't seen a shop doing this service or I just missed it...I'd appreciate any help

Cheers!

 

[waileong]

They're cheap now. The local Leica agent will service it, but most likely it will be sent to Germany. If you get a 2nd hand one, make sure it's been fixed for the E01/E02 error. A better choice, if you have the $$, is the Leica CM.

There are plenty of cheap scanning services around. Any lab you send film to will ask if you want a scan on CD. They do this to earn more $$. The scans are low res, and frankly, not worth it at $10 a roll. Get your own scanner, if you shoot enough, it will pay back for itself in no time. The alternative is not to scan and save $$ to enlarge the good prints. If you want to shoot film, why be so hung up about scanning? Just do what people did 10, 20 years ago-- make prints, keep the negs.

Wai Leong
===

Hi,

I'm thinking of getting a Leica Minilux. I love street photography and I believe this thing would suit my needs for the moment. I used to own a 300D and several lenses but decided to sell it for a lighter gear.

Has anyone used the Leica Minilux? Is there a local service center in Singapore? I might be moving in soon. maybe next month.

And also related to this, does anyone know of cheap film-scanning services? I have been to the Peninsula but haven't seen a shop doing this service or I just missed it...I'd appreciate any help

Cheers!

 

[donvito]

They're cheap now. The local Leica agent will service it, but most likely it will be sent to Germany. If you get a 2nd hand one, make sure it's been fixed for the E01/E02 error. A better choice, if you have the $$, is the Leica CM.

Is the error encountered for all Leica Minilux models?

I'm planning to buy a brand new one in Cathay Photo when I get there. Is Cathay's after-sales support good? I'm really concerned with the speed for repairs if in case my cam breaks down. Are there authorized Leica resellers?

How much is the Leica CM? I just checked the Minilux price when I was there 2 weeks ago. It's about S$ 760 if I remember it right...

If you want to shoot film, why be so hung up about scanning? Just do what people did 10, 20 years ago-- make prints, keep the negs.

Maybe I was just used to posting stuff over the web. Maybe low resolutions would do. I have seen some posts of photo shops that would scan a roll for only S$6. You think it's worth it? I think these are hi-res scans of about 9MP.

 

[pipefish]

Re scanning: if you want the scans for posting, I think the cheap 8 bit scans are fine. IMO, the quality you get is not high enough for printing, especially if you are using BW film - you will lose all the tonality. For printing, either send them to a good lab or get a 16 bit scan which will cost more.

For street shooting, the minilux may not be the best tool because it relies on AF. I would think either a rangefinder (which you can zone focus) or a digicam (with its incredible DOF) would be more suitable. That was one reason why I sold off my Contax G2 for Leica and Mamiya RFs.

If you're really set on a film PnS, consider also the Ricoh GR1v, the Konica Hexar and the Contax T2/3 cameras. The GR1v and the T2/3 are really much smaller than the Minilux.

 

[donvito]

Re scanning: if you want the scans for posting, I think the cheap 8 bit scans are fine. IMO, the quality you get is not high enough for printing, especially if you are using BW film - you will lose all the tonality. For printing, either send them to a good lab or get a 16 bit scan which will cost more.

Yeah I think so too...

For street shooting, the minilux may not be the best tool because it relies on AF. I would think either a rangefinder (which you can zone focus) or a digicam (with its incredible DOF) would be more suitable. That was one reason why I sold off my Contax G2 for Leica and Mamiya RFs.

The Leica and Mamiya RFs is really out of my budget But I would love to have it if I win the lottery. hahahah :bsmilie: Have you tried a Voightlander? How is it?

If you're really set on a film PnS, consider also the Ricoh GR1v, the Konica Hexar and the Contax T2/3 cameras. The GR1v and the T2/3 are really much smaller than the Minilux.

I checked pbase for sample photos of the T3 and I really didn't like them or maybe the scans are just poor. Well, let's just say that I have some bias for a Leica. Anyway, I'll try to check the Ricoh and Konica ones.

 

[pipefish]

Others might disagree, but image-wise, I don't see what a Leica can do that the newer Bessas cannot. There are differences, yes, but not a few K worth of differences.

BTW, I sold my Leica after that realization, but this is really OT and will invite flames, so lets leave it at that.

 

[donvito]

Others might disagree, but image-wise, I don't see what a Leica can do that the newer Bessas cannot. There are differences, yes, but not a few K worth of differences.

BTW, I sold my Leica after that realization, but this is really OT and will invite flames, so lets leave it at that.

What lens do you use with the Bessas?

 

[waileong]

If you're really set on a film PnS, consider also the Ricoh GR1v, the Konica Hexar and the Contax T2/3 cameras. The GR1v and the T2/3 are really much smaller than the Minilux.

Minilux is one of the few P&S where you can preset the focus distance and aperture. If you read the manual, you'll also learn how it can be set to hyperfocal distance or even zone-focused. It's thus ideal for street photography. Only irritating thing is that it always powers on with the Auto flash mode. Takes six presses to change to Flash off. What you could do is buy a simple lens cap for the lens and leave the Minilux always on when you are out shooting-- then you won't have to wait 3 s for the lens to come out of the body, and you'll reduce wear on the lens retraction mechanism.

Voigtlanders are cheap, a used Bessa R2 + 40/2 should cost you less than $1,000-- which is not much different from a $760 minilux. However, this R2 combo is much bigger than a minilux, and obviously, it's a manual rangefinder, albeit with a meter. Whether you like rangefinders or not is a different story...

 

[ricohflex]

They're cheap now. The local Leica agent will service it, but most likely it will be sent to Germany. If you get a 2nd hand one, make sure it's been fixed for the E01/E02 error. Wai Leong
===

oh now i know why people sell their minilux.
repair in germany e01 e02 cost >$500 ?

and after that not sure if error will come back ?
or other problem?

hmm....my quite cheap leica mini 35-70 still working after 10 years
new (minilux) is not always better than old

lucky never "upgrade" to new minilux

 

[donvito]

oh now i know why people sell their minilux.
repair in germany e01 e02 cost >$500 ?

I'm really bothered with this error thing. It's not cheap to have it fixed. Hmmm...do you think it's worth the gamble? Is this error only for the minilux?

How much is the Leica mini 35-70?

 

[ricohflex]

I'm really bothered with this error thing. It's not cheap to have it fixed. Hmmm...do you think it's worth the gamble? Is this error only for the minilux?

How much is the Leica mini 35-70?

so long ago, it was cheap, maybe $250? cannot recall exactly since bought on impulse
and not big amount so never register it

personally i would not buy something which is known to to have 'for sure' problem.
that means design error or manufacturing mistake repeated in all cases.
maybe something wrong with one of the circuit boards

will you buy a car that is known to have problem with the brakes?

or a TV that everyone knows will breakdown after a few months, go in and out of the repair shop (even under warranty it is a big let down, you have to take leave, transport the darn thing to and fro) better not mention the brand here.

or an oven that EXPLODES ? hopefully not while you placing your face next to the oven glass door, checking if the roast is done. (some years ago - more than 1 case)

try not to buy an air regulator with problems like that and go diving. You may be 50 meters deep and suddenly the thing stops working.

bye bye

 

[donvito]

so long ago, it was cheap, maybe $250? cannot recall exactly since bought on impulse and not big amount so never register it

Hmmm...what model is this?

Thanks for the info about the Minilux! Someone's selling it for $500 but I'm thinking twice now.

 

[ricohflex]

Hmmm...what model is this?

Thanks for the info about the Minilux! Someone's selling it for $500 but I'm thinking twice now.

very old model leica minizoom 35-70
suggest you buy a "R" body. digital madness so people throw out 'R' bodies.
a leica RE is more than good enough for photo hobbyist. and cheap nowadays

some consumer digital cams cost more than RE + 50 R f2
and the quality cannot compare.
like comparing a proton saga to a rolls royce

 

[donvito]

very old model leica minizoom 35-70
suggest you buy a "R" body. digital madness so people throw out 'R' bodies.
a leica RE is more than good enough for photo hobbyist. and cheap nowadays

some consumer digital cams cost more than RE + 50 R f2
and the quality cannot compare.
like comparing a proton saga to a rolls royce

I see. Thanks for the info. I just want to do street shooting so I just want something that's compact. I'll check out the Leica R-E but I haven't seen someone in the forum selling it. How much do you think I should pay for a 2nd hand Leica RE? plus the lens of course

 

[ricohflex]

I see. Thanks for the info. I just want to do street shooting so I just want something that's compact. I'll check out the Leica R-E but I haven't seen someone in the forum selling it. How much do you think I should pay for a 2nd hand Leica RE? plus the lens of course

$1,500 should get you the cam + lens

 

[donvito]

$1,500 should get you the cam + lens

You know of a shop where they sell 2nd hand ones? It is advisable to check out the 2nd hand units at the Peninsula Plaza?

 

[ricohflex]

I know most of the shops
check it out
better not say which one is better than another here in the forum since buyer $ is involved

why does camera have to be small for street photog?
are people turned off by big cams?
but don't sneak and take photos without permission with small cam

some members of public are a bit "off the edge" (80% insane) and can give you a hard time
more than 10 years ago I was in a shop
a friend tested a camera before deciding whether to buy
took it out of shop and focused and snap (no film) just to test shutter

a very fierce young lady (not even pretty) came up to him and made a scene
demanded to know why he took her picture
maybe she wanted $$$ compensation or whatever......or make police report

my friend opened the camera and showed her " hey, no film"
and.... he was not taking her photo but just pointed the camera in direction of area where she was.

so you can get into shitty situation taking "candids".
you can have nutcases making police reports about you and creating a scene
some just want the attention, at your expense of course.

 

[donvito]

why does camera have to be small for street photog?
are people turned off by big cams?
but don't sneak and take photos without permission with small cam

some members of public are a bit "off the edge" (80% insane) and can give you a hard time
more than 10 years ago I was in a shop
a friend tested a camera before deciding whether to buy
took it out of shop and focused and snap (no film) just to test shutter

a very fierce young lady (not even pretty) came up to him and made a scene
demanded to know why he took her picture
maybe she wanted $$$ compensation or whatever......or make police report

my friend opened the camera and showed her " hey, no film"
and.... he was not taking her photo but just pointed the camera in direction of area where she was.

so you can get into shitty situation taking "candids".
you can have nutcases making police reports about you and creating a scene
some just want the attention, at your expense of course.

ah no. I don't sneak and shoot. I want a small camera because it's very handy and it's light to carry around. Not for the sneaky thing. I tried street shooting using my 300D and my camera bag and my shoulders really were painful afterwards. Normally my subjects know that I am shooting them and if needed, I ask permission and say thank you of course...

I'll just try to be careful I guess. Would it help if I dress like a tourist always?

 

[alvinchuan]

I brought a lecia CM last month for $1523 exclude GST @ gope foto & film @ tanglin.
It is an update version of minlux. I love this camera the pictue quality is very good.
You can check the specification at lecia web site.
http://www.leica-camera.com/produkte/compact/cm/index_e.html

Alvin

 

[ricohflex]

I brought a lecia CM last month for $1523 exclude GST @ gope foto & film @ tanglin.
It is an update version of minlux. I love this camera the pictue quality is very good.
You can check the specification at lecia web site.
http://www.leica-camera.com/produkte/compact/cm/index_e.html

Alvin

how is Sunda ?
talk about S'pore improving service
tell them to learn from people like Sunda.
if old tel not changed, it is
6737-2633 Gopes Foto