Shutterbug Strasse

Posted by Vinylly (A) on June 05, 2005 at 17:33:10

In Reply to: Re: Now I Really Did The Unexpected: posted by Vinylly on June 4, 2005 at 16:24:02:

(This post is turning out to be a mini camera review.)
Apparently Leica is trying to duplicate some of the features of what is common with digital cameras, and that is part of the CM's negatives. Just like in most p&s digital cameras, you have to turn on the camera with a little slide switch at the bottem, this opens up the lens lid as the lens pops out. Digital camera owners would complain that turning it on is slow, and indeed it is much slower then my Fuji F10. My old Contax T2 was very fast, it turned itself on instantly just by turning the focusing dial to AF. This is also true with the older Leica Minilux Zoom. Another feature that the CM lacks that was good about the Minilux is the AF was locked in place and you had to press a center button before you could dial in the other distances. With the CM it is too easy to accidently move the the distance dial to an out of focus position. The CM uses one lithium battery which the instruction manual says is good for about 200-300 shots before you toss it. A digital camera owner would say that this is only mediocre, my F10 is outstanding in this area as it can take 500 shots before the battery requires a recharge. So, with a CM you will have to carry a spare battery, about $5.00 apiece.
One of the most noteable features of this camera is it's absolute silky quiet shutter. This can work against an unwary photographer. If there is any kind of noise about, you can't hear the shutter, so you wonder why the shutter isn't working. The problem is, if you keep the shutter depressed, it keeps on taking pictures until you run out of film and you aren't aware of it until you realize what is happening.
The CM is halfway between a simple point-and-shoot and a fully functioning Leica M model. They probably should have gone all the way. It has AF as well as selecting your own focusing with '>', '.', and '<' that you see as a red LCD in the viewfinder.(you almost need a tripod to use this feature). It has an aperture priority dial. So, all it needs is a shutterspeed priority dial to make it a fully functional manual operating camera.
Inspite of it's weaknesses, -a not so simple to operate p&s film camera's that's trying to immatate a p&s digital camera, it all boils down to it's incredible lens, very solidly built titanium and leather body, -and very sharp images.
(Well Joe, how do you like my feeding this website? Problem is it just seems like I'm talking to myself.)