Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1998/06/21
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]On 21-06-1998 03:29 Charles Dunlap wrote: >I'd like to see some photos with the lens. Perhaps the glass is so much >better than the Tvs (which took very nice photos in my test of it) that all >of the shortcomings of the body will be negated. That's a pretty tall order. FWIW, I have seen pictures taken with this lens, and I must admit they are REALLY good ! There are several other drawbacks to this new camera however: Firstly, I really don't like the fact that the lens protrudes from the camera (it doesn't fully retract into the body like the Minilux or the Nikon 35 Ti), so you'll have to use a lens cap every time to protect the lens. Secondly, there is the loss of aperture priority settings you have on the Minilux (only Program functions). Thirdly, as with the Minilux, the viewfinder does not show anything except a green or red light as indications. But the Minilux has at least an LCD panel with indication of shutter speed (although you will have to take your camera away from your eye to look), while the LCD display on the Minilux Zoom does not show the shutter speed! Fourthly, the shutter speed ranges from 1s to 1/250 on the Minilux Zoom, but from 1s to 1/400 on the Minilux. 1/250 as maximum speed is on the limited side. In comparison to the Nikon 35 Ti/28 Ti, the latter's viewfinder is more awkward to look through, but you can at least see a display of, among others, shutter speed in it. On the other hand, we should not forget these cameras are for P&S use, and are no replacements for a full-fledged Leica M or R equipment. They are only substitutes, and the only things that are REALLY important to me are perfect lens and exposure. I don't doubt both Miniluxes fulfill their contract in these respects :-) So I would call the new Minilux Zoom a "mixed blessing" and the more I think about it, the more I become convinced that I would choose the Minilux instead of the Minilux Zoom, if I had to take one of them. Especially now that its price has been significantly reduced. That's maybe the most interesting aspect of the new camera, because it had a price-lowering effect on its (IMHO better) counterpart. Pascal - -------------------------------------------------------- Check out: http://members.xoom.com/cyberplace/ - ------------------------------------------------------- Who else than Leica could make a camera like the R8 ? With that unique design and above all: that ergonomics. Nikon ? Canon ? Nobody but Leica ! - ------------------------------------------------------- <<< PGP public key available on request >>>