I would like to hear from people using the Minilux. how are the optics? how the camera compares to the Yashica T4 super (about $150)?

I dislike point and shoot cameras, but I want to have a camera with me everywhere I go. I like to have as much control on the depth of field and focusing and fine optics. I also need something simple to use for my wife which is not interested in photography, but can help documenting our baby girl.

-- Nir Soffer (nirs@mac.com), November 12, 2001

Answers

Nir: I have a Yashica T4 and it is an excellent small camera: IMHO teh best of the bunch. Many times it is difficult to tell the results from other "real" cameras, as it has a Tessar lens, BUT, you have little or no control over the settings: it ia all automatic. You also must be careful what you put in the middle of the frame as the autofocus does exactly what it is told to do. What do you want for $150.

The next best thing is a bit bigger, but something like the Konica S2 or S3, Yashica Electro or some other similar camera from the 60s. Short of paying almost/over $1000 for a Nikon T28 or Contax T2, you will have to stick to the used market. Of course a Leica IIIg with a collapsable Summicron will do the job, but at a lot more money.

A really neat feature of the T4 is the 90 deg. viewer, which lets you look down from the top, like an old brownie or a Twin Lens Reflex or Hasselblad: great for sneaking shots when people don't suspect they are being photographed.

Cheers

-- RICHARD ILOMAKI (richardjx@hotmail.com), November 12, 2001.

Go here: The Leica Minilux and Summarit 1:2.4/40mm

Bert

-- Bert Keuken (bkkn@wanadoo.nl), November 12, 2001.

I had one (with fixed lens) for about one year. This is a really good little camera. Maybe, a bit boxy and large for a P&S.

For a casual user, full automation works well: I gave my minilux to my girlfriend, who has a limited interest in photography, and she gets really nice shots. If you want more control, you can switch to 'Aperture priority' mode. You can also set the focusing distance manually (You have to guess it as there is no rangefinder).

To get a better idea of the quality, there is a web site dedicated to the minilux with some beautiful pictures. Unfortunately, I'm not sure if it's still active (I get some error message in japanese...): minilux club Despite the auto-focus and the automatic film advance the camera is very silent.

One annoying detail is that you cannot save a default starting mode: Every time you turn the camera on, it selects an auto-everything mode, with the f*@£$£ flash ready to fire in low light. You have to press a button several times to get to an appropriate mode (ie. no flash) and to make it worst you have to keep the button down for 2/3 secs before modes begin to change.

Another downside is that the camera is expensive for a P&S. You might want to consider other brands (one of the Ricoh GR? - although a 28mm lens is probably not the best focal to document your baby girl...).

-- Xavier Colmant (xcolmant@powerir.com), November 12, 2001.

I don't have any experience with the Minilux (I would like to get the zoom version some day.) But I have had a Yashica T4 for a couple of years and puchased a Contax T3 a couple of months ago. I have been very impressed with both cameras. I bought the Contax after quite a bit of consideration (including a request for help from the locals) .

The main thing that would recommend the T3 over the T4 is the additional control available (the image quality of the T3 is better (though the T4 is pretty damn good to begin with), the T3 also has a superior viewfinder (also much beter than the one on the minilux, even more significant if you wear glasses), the T3 is also much better built.)

Carrying a camera with you all the time can be a bit of a hassle (I've gotten to where I have a hard time leaving it at home, even when the chances of needing it are slim), so you might consider getting the T4 to see if it is worth the trouble (even without the extra control, you will get some fine images). If it is too much trouble, give the camera to your wife and be glad you didn't spend the extra money. Otherwise, give the camera to you wife and step up to the T3 or Minilux (or whatever else might be out by then).

If you do decide to start with the T4, act fast because they have gone out of production and are becoming hard to find.

-- Ron Buchanan (ronb@fusive.com), November 12, 2001.

Xavier's comment reminded me of something: Personally, the single biggest advantage the Contax T3 has over the Minilux is that the T3 can be set to retain almost all of it's settings after the camera is turned off.

-- Ron Buchanan (ronb@fusive.com), November 12, 2001.

I recently bought a used Minilux as a replacement "emergency backup" for which I used to carry a Rollei 35S but got tired of guess- focusing or using a separate Leitz clip-on rangefinder at wider apertures where the DOF doesn't cover errors well. The Minilux lens is as good as the Rollei (the HFT Sonnar). The top speed of 1/400 is only a tiny bit more limiting than the 1/500 on the Rollei. The AE is very nice. Unlike the Contax T2 I was also considering, the Minilux can use full aperture in AE (the T2 could only use f/4, with 2.8 accessible only in Program mode). I also like the Minilux's larger size, which is easier for me hold steady. The only 4 drawbacks to the Minilux I've found are 1)the flash-on default (as stated by others), 2)the very low viewfinder magnification (0.35x), 3) the lack of filter threads, and 4)the manual focusing is guess-only as opposed to the T2 where the AF serves as a kind of rangefinder (though this feature has been dropped from the T3). I think the Minilux is a big step up from the Yashica T4 in terms of flexibility for the serious user.

-- Jay (infinitydt@aol.com), November 12, 2001.

It's a very good camera, but I find it somewhat large and awkward in its controls. My preference would be for the newer design of the Contax T3.

Comparing either of these cameras to the T4 Super what you're buying is finer build quality and improved optics, but, most important, a much greater degree of user control. If that additional control is not significant to you and your primary aim is standard 4x6 photos from a photofinisher, the T4 Super will be perfectly adequate to the task.

My preference in "carry it all the time" 35mm cameras is a Rollei 35S or Minox 35GT-E. Explicit control of focus, DoF, excellent lenses, either manually set exposure or (Minox) AP-AE with override by adjusting the film speed to suit. But they are not "point and shoot" cameras, they require that the focus and exposure be set properly, so they might not be appropriate for the casual snapshooter.

-- Godfrey (ramarren@bayarea.net), November 12, 2001.

I'm using non-zoom Minilux along with my Canon equipment already for more than 5 years. It's fabulous camera. It's true that's litle bit heavy for P&S and somehow clumsy, you have to practice a little bit with controls for a while, but I'm sure you will like it pretty soon. Optic is excellent, that's most important. Hope Leica will introduce new model with same optics (maybe little wider - 35 mm) and faster shutter (1/1000th). I will jump for it immediately.

-- J.Major (jmajor@login.cz), November 12, 2001.

The minilux is a fine camera with a cracking lens; the same foibles apply as with all point and shoots. Another basic, tiny ultra-easy-to-use choice, if you can find it (search the web) is the Mini 3. Try searching for pix at Photography with the Mini 3. My wife's one cost only $100 and she is quite happy with it.

-- David Killick (Dalex@inet.net.nz), November 12, 2001.