Kudos for the CM

[kdemas]

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All,

 

I am in Paris on business this week and decided to bring along my CM rather than one of my Ms, saving a little space and weight in my computer backpack. I must say I forgot what a nice little camera this really is, light but oh so refined. For a P&S the shutter is buttery smooth and very quiet.

 

I'll post a few pictures after I return but I thought I would give a little feedback as to what a nice travel camera this really is.

 

Kent

[superfrog]

I agree, its a lovely little camera, but occasionally I get frustrated with the focussing. Because you have to trust the readout on the LCD, you won't know if you've got the pic right until you get the photos developed.

I haven't had the courage to make it my only camera on holiday yet, I usually take a RF as well...

Still, its great in low light and situations where you want to stay low key.

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[gberger]

The CM really is ideal for situations where an M6 or M7 would appear slightly intrusive. We can put the CM in my wife's evening bag for discreet use. IMO, the lens id superb - - a step up from the Minilux due to better coatings.

[bobtodrick]

I've just run my 10th roll through my new CM (camera is now 2 weeks old). Decided that my

normal 'carry everywhere' camera (Voigtlander R2/35mm Summicron) really was not all that compact...so replaced it with the CM.

Spent the other night making some 11x14 B&W prints...stunning...everybit the equal of the Summicron (a current Asph).

And I don't actually buy the comment that you don't know what's in focus.

You may not...but I've also had a misaligned rangefinder on a IIIg I used to own. Took 1/2 dozen rolls of film that I thought were in focus...they weren't.

Even a mirror on an SLR can be out of alignment and give focus errors when you think they are focussed.

One of the things I do like about digital (which on the whole I don't like)...you can immediatley verify if you have focus...with film you're not sure till you have the film under your loupe.

[rjans]

The CM is a very good upgrade of the Minilux. It is the camera I enjoy the most, not to big not to small and easy to use. Manual focussing is sometimes giving out of focus pictures so I prefer to use the autofocus. It is also perfect to use with slide film.

[wda]

I am a staunch advocate of the CM and frequently use it as a travel camera of first choice.

 

The main slight snag I found was the tendency to turn the focus wheel away from AF, inadvertently. I have cured this by a simple pre-shooting check by running my finger around the periphery of the dial, without thinking about it. No problems since.

 

As to performance; I defy anyone to separate an image from the CM from any comparable Leica lens.

 

David

[albertwang]

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I hope that Leica wisens up and creates a digital version of this camera.

[kdemas]

David,

 

I too have moved that distance ring. Just a little more tension would be great.

 

Kent

[superfrog]

Yes, its manual focus that I struggle with.

Left to auto, its great. But in low-light, when you don't want to use the flash, manual focus is a must. If you use auto, the camera uses an intense flash of light to judge the distance.

 

I'm not knocking the camera though, it goes with me everywhere and the picture quality is superb when I'm using it correctly!

[wda]

Yes, its manual focus that I struggle with.

Left to auto, its great. But in low-light, when you don't want to use the flash, manual focus is a must. If you use auto, the camera uses an intense flash of light to judge the distance.

 

I'm not knocking the camera though, it goes with me everywhere and the picture quality is superb when I'm using it correctly!

 

Leonard, on the few occasions when I want to set the focus manually, I do so then remove my fingers from all points near the dial for fear of upsetting the focus. A stiffer wheel would be better.

 

David

[gylee]

The CM is a great. I travel a lot for work and bought mine to take with me on business trips and it is sensational for that purposes. The image quality is first class and the actual camera itelf is quite a jewel. The flash is also really rather good for a compact camera. I love it.

 

If only they could put a stronger detent on the focus wheel to lock it in autofocus. This seems to be the only complaint that people make about this wonderful little camera.

 

Oh, and for the second time this year - I agree with Alfie. They should make a digital version of this camera. The Ricoh GR-D proves that there is a market for a fixed lens high quality digital compact. I would probably buy a digital CM (although I would miss the bokeh, on the assumption that it would be a small sensor camera).

[davephoto]

for those of you who have used both the cm and the minilux, what improvements do you see in the former over the latter? i'm curious as i've owned as used the minilux for near 7 years. it has served as my only camera on a number of holidays and has always performed fabulously, never leaving me wishing i had brought along another camera. i've never experienced one of the much-discussed e02 errors which, i understand, is often caused by accidentally turning on the power when the lens is physically obstructed from fully extending into position. i realize that the lens coating is 'improved' on the cm, but never noticed any visible difference in the final prints. the one thing that is apparent, however, is that cm is a bigger drain on the battery.

[rjans]

Dave,

I have both. Personally I prefer following improvements:

-the bigger viewfinder with built-in displays

-higher shutter speeds (Minilux restricted to 1/400). It allows to use higher ISO also in sunny daylight

-aperture 22 (Minilux 16)

-less motor noice from lens movement when focussing

-flash can be set 'off' as default and remains off

-the possibility of using an external (TTL) flash like the SF 24 from Leica

But I still use the Minilux mainly for interior pictures without flash using high sensivity color negative film. The Minilux has an active AF and does not use a focussing help light.

What I like less:

-the focussing help light in some situations

-the focus wheel turns to easy (as already mentioned by other users)

Best

Roger

[Guest menze_as]

I had the minilux before my CM - but some things really annoyed me:

the small viewfinder

the restriction to 400 ISO

the menu clicking - you have to click several times to over- or underexposure (and back again)

and that you are in flash mode when starting, and have to click 6 times to turn it off.

 

The CM is so much better ... there is only one thing I miss:

I would like the possibility to adjust ISO manually (besides the automatic adjustment) - to be able to flexibly use C41 films (which you can exposure from 100 to 400 ISO or even 800 [XP2] with film in camera).

I am glad to have bought the CM before it is sold out! A camera I often carry with me, also besides the M.

 

Greetings, Astrid

[kdemas]

Astrid,

 

The following used to drive me nuts as well:

"and that you are in flash mode when starting, and have to click 6 times to turn it off."

 

That was until I found out you can set the default flash mode through the back menu. I don't have my camera with me right now but I believe you choose the "flash off" default and then hold it for something like 10 seconds and, viola, you won't have to reset it every time you start up.

 

I think it's hidden in the manual somewhere as well.

 

Take care,

 

Kent

[bobtodrick]

Nope...you can't default the Minilux to do flash off.

That's one of the main reasons, along with the so much improved viewfinder that I traded in my Minilux on a CM.

That plus the aforementioned higher shutter speed (TriX in bright dayligh was just not an option with the Minilux).

As well...though it has not bearing on camera quality/operation is just the fact that the CM looks 'more' like an M series camera.

[Guest menze_as]

Hi Kent,

 

I had got no manual with the minilux (bought it used) ... but as Bob says, it seems not to be possible to set flash-off default. Yes, that was very annoying to me; but it took me some time to realize that the CM is worth the money it costs, and to buy it instead ...

 

Regards,

Astrid

[kdemas]

Astrid,

 

My apologies, I did not read your previous post correctly. I thought you were having problems with the "flash off" on the CM, not the minilux. I too owned a minilux and never found a way to do it.

 

Have a nice weekend!

 

Kent

[davephoto]

...

-the bigger viewfinder with built-in displays

-higher shutter speeds (Minilux restricted to 1/400). It allows to use higher ISO also in sunny daylight

...

-flash can be set 'off' as default and remains off

...

But I still use the Minilux mainly for interior pictures without flash using high sensivity color negative film. The Minilux has an active AF and does not use a focussing help light.

r

 

thank you, roger. those are very good positives indeed. just a question regarding the passive AF system on the CM: besides requiring some assist lighting, are there are any differences in focusing speed you've found between the cm and the minilux? the five-point passive autofocus system in my contax t3 focuses quite accurately and relatively quickly. however, i've always felt more certain with the focusing in the minilux.

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[rjans]

Dave, I do not notice a big difference in focussing speed between the Minilux and the CM. Although I have the impression the CM is a little slower in low light situation due to the focussing light, but it is more an impression. Certainly there is less noice with the CM. If I have to choose between both I take the CM, it is surely a better photographic tool.

Roger