Leica M6 vs. Minilux Zoom? (please don't laugh :^)
Pluto Dog
Please don't laugh at my question. I know I am comparing apple
and orange, but...
What I want is a sharp, solid, and reliable camera for mountain
biking, skiing, and traveling. I almost decided to go for a Minilux
Zoom but was later told that point & shoot is mainly for indoor
(I am mostly interested in shooting landscape slides). Is this true?
I heard that Minilux's 35-70mm zoom lens were very sharp. How does
it compare to, say Canon SLR lens EF 35-105mm f/3.5-4.5? Again it's
apple vs. orange; but I just want to get an idea (I've never tried
a point & shoot).
I also thought about the M6 (plus a 50mm). Of course, the price
will be a factor, but not the decisive one. I can afford it. Also,
I am not crazy about camera (read no upgrading/trading, I just want
a good solid camera for life-long use). The question is if I really
need such a good camera. Is there truely a big diffrence between
M6 and Minilux? Don't laugh. :^) Also, is M6 solid enough for
mountain biking and skiing?
Any advice will be greatly appreciated. Thank you!
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Godfrey DiGiorgi
into "available darkness", but that's generally not a big issue for
doing scenics. I would wager that photos taken with the Minilux Zoom
would be indistinguishable even at reasonably large enlargement sizes
from what the M6 or Canon SLR produce.
The M6 is, of course, a higher quality, more solid brick. Simple, manual
operation. Very rugged and dependable. Larger and heavier than the
Minilux Zoom, and not at all dependent upon the batteries for operation.
You'd have to learn more about photography to use it as it is not
automatic: you must focus and set the exposure yourself.
If you wished to forego the zoom lens and wanted a wider angle of view
for scenics, I'd say look at the Ricoh GR1. Another tough, solid little
camera with great features and a fantastic 28/2.8 lens. About half the
price of the Minilux Zoom too.
For the kind of use you're looking at, I'd think the Minilux Zoom would
be an excellent choice. It's a good quality camera, should last many
years of service, and is light and compact with a great lens.
Godfrey
Richard Saylor
wrote:
> What I want is a sharp, solid, and reliable camera for mountain
>biking, skiing, and traveling. I almost decided to go for a Minilux
>Zoom but was later told that point & shoot is mainly for indoor
>(I am mostly interested in shooting landscape slides). Is this true?
I hope not! I use my Minilux mostly for landscapes.
> I also thought about the M6 (plus a 50mm). Of course, the price
>will be a factor, but not the decisive one. I can afford it. Also,
>I am not crazy about camera (read no upgrading/trading, I just want
>a good solid camera for life-long use).
The M6 is good, solid, and may last a lifetime with reasonable care.
However, if you're just going to stick a 50mm on it and not use its
interchangeable lens capability, I'm not sure if it's the best way to
go. Also, it is something of a stealth camera, and that smooth, silent
operation doesn't come cheap. For your purposes, I should think that
silent operation would not be high on the list of priorities.
>The question is if I really
>need such a good camera. Is there truely a big diffrence between
>M6 and Minilux?
The M6 is manual and mechanical, the Minilux zoom is automatic and
electronic. If there is a possibility of your becoming really serious
about photography, the M6 would be the logical choice. Otherwise, the
Minilux zoom should be adequate.
If you think you would be satisfied with an M6 and a 50mm, why not
consider the 40mm/2.4 Minilux? It is a more "serious" camera than the
zoom model. I use mine when hiking and backpacking, and I'm rapidly
becoming addicted to it. For your stated purposes it would probably be
more suitable than the M6.
Richard S.
Fingers503
think of choosing either of these two cameras for mountain biking and skiing .
First of all most would probably choose a lens thats wider that a 50mm for
landscape, lets say 28 or24or 20mm. Get an " inexpensive" zoom point and shoot.
Try looking for one that has a wide view for the landscapes. You can use the
money you saved to replace it after its become smashed up.
Good luck.
Carlo (fingers503.com)
PuckFinn
Puck
Pluto Dog
Thanks to everyone who replied to my newbie question,
in particular, to Godfrey for his suggestion of Ricoh GR1.
I used a manual camera (50mm) exclusively in my college
years (a lot of fun). After I came to the U.S. for graduate
school, I bought myself a Canon Rebel with an EF 35-105mm
zoom lens (I am quite satisfied; but it's not very convenient
for mountain biking, etc.). I've never tried a 28mm lens,
nor a point & shoot.
I think I have two choices (I've ruled out the Leica M6.
Not ready for it; thanks, folks :^):
1) Go for the GR1 and use the extra money for another
Canon zoom lens (80-200mm?) in case I want to zoom one day.
2) Go for the Minilux Zoom and get rid of my Canon.
I think if I want to learn photography (not sure yet :^),
I should go for option 1. Otherwise, Minilux Zoom won't be
a bad choice for a life-long camera. What you think?
Godfrey DiGiorgi
> I think I have two choices (I've ruled out the Leica M6.
> Not ready for it; thanks, folks :^):
>
> 1) Go for the GR1 and use the extra money for another
> Canon zoom lens (80-200mm?) in case I want to zoom one day.
>
> 2) Go for the Minilux Zoom and get rid of my Canon.
I would go with option #1. That way you have a very compact, light
weight camera with a great lens that's ideal for hiking as well as a
more flexible systems camera for when it's worth it to carry a bulkier
package, and you have more lens flexibility to boot.
Godfrey
Fingers503
dramatic. Just check out all the great shots in a National Geo. issue.
Fingers503
about Minilux cameras that also goes for the other luxury titanium cameras.
They have a thin metal shell covering the plastic camera, they (Contax, Nikon,
Leica) are all excellent cameras with beautiful lenses but, they are not ment
to be knocked around. They are in fact sensitive to being knocked around. The
thin metal coverings bend very easily, because the lens opening clearance is so
close it will become easily jambed with the slightest bangs.
PuckFinn
lens? For top-quality pictures, it's hard to beat the G-system with the
superlative Carl Zeiss optics.
Puck
Pluto Dog
I spent last night reading old posts on GR1 from Deja News.
Tonight I was addicted to Contax G, and now it's 4:00AM in the
morning... :^( I think I may end up getting both cameras. :^)
GR1 is an easy decision (for my purpose, mountain biking, etc.).
Contax G would be a major commitment. By the way, I am just
curious, which prime lenses would you consider first? I think
the 16mm and 21mm are too serious for me (geometric distortion
and price). My interest, if I'll ever be serious about this,
would mainly be in Velvia landscapes and street scenics. Here
is a list of Contax G-lenses I got from B&H:
16mm f/8.0 CARL ZEISS T G-HOLOGON
Item # CO168G....2079.95
21mm f/2.8 ZEISS T G-BIOGON w/Viewfind
Item # CO2128G....1199.95
28mm f/2.8 CARL ZEISS T G-BIOGON Lens
Item # CO2828G....520.00
35mm f/2.0 CARL ZEISS T G-Planar Lens
Item # CO352G....469.00
45mm f/2.0 CARL ZEISS T G-Planar Lens
Item # CO452G....339.00
90mm f/2.8 CARL ZEISS T G-SONNAR Lens
Item # CO9028G....520.00
Thanks again, folks, for your sharp advices!!
Richard Saylor
just get the 45mm and 90mm.
Richard S.
On Thu, 04 Feb 1999 04:20:14 PST, "Pluto Dog" <dpl...@hotmail.com>
wrote:
>Contax G would be a major commitment. By the way, I am just
PuckFinn
the scene (trees, mountains, buildings), a wide-angle can even make the shot
less dramatic.
Puck
Daniel Hopen
I have an M6 and just ordered a Minilux Zoom for my girlfriend. She mostly
take pictures of people both indoors and out. However, I did plan to also use the
Minilux on mountain biking, skiing and other outdoor activities. I took my M6
skiiing and had a fanny pack. I fell on my fanny and got a bruise from it. The
M6 may have contributed to the bruise. But am happy to say my M6 still ticking.
The M6 is a bit large/bulky and heavy for skiing. I used the 35mm Summicron with
an Eveready case. I sure hope the Minilux can take a few punches. Ordered it
from AAA camera (NY) which had the best prices. But am a bit worried because had
to pay to get US warranty.
Dan
Daniel Hopen
Godfrey DiGiorgi
>GR1 is an easy decision (for my purpose, mountain biking, etc.).
It's a delightful camera. Truly high quality and very pocketable.
>Contax G would be a major commitment. By the way, I am just
>curious, which prime lenses would you consider first? I think
>the 16mm and 21mm are too serious for me (geometric distortion
>and price).
The Contax G cameras are excellent. I have a G2 and 16/28/45/90 lenses.
The 16 and 21mm lenses are indeed very expensive, but one of the reasons
they are fantastic is the lack of geometric distortion. They are also
somewhat less convenient to use as you must use an accessory finder for
framing; the 16mm in particular has only one aperture, f/8 and manual
focus.
I'd recommend buying the camera with the 45/2 and 28/2.8 lenses. I'd start
with the 45mm. These are razor sharp, fantastic optics and are very useful
for most all photographic purposes. That leaves plenty of choice for a 21
or 16mm lens in the future on the wide end, and a 90 on the long end. (The
35mm is of course another option, I'm just not as keen on the 35mm
coverage, preferring wider or narrower most of the time.)
The 90 is perhaps the lens I use the least: once past 50mm or so, I really
prefer to use my Nikon SLRs, but it's convenient to have the 90 for when
you're only carrying the Contax G. I bought my 90 used at a pretty good
savings, and I found an unopened demo 16 at substantially less than the
list or normal street price (otherwise I'd never have been able to afford
it!).
Godfrey
Paul Chefurka
wrote:
>I found an unopened demo 16 at substantially less than the
>list or normal street price
??? "unopened demo"??? Vas ist das?
Fingers503
want, and the vision in your mind. Sometimes it may be something in the
distance and you need to bring it in. But a lot of times, people seem to always
be looking far off in the distance for things, and forget to look at whats
around them. A wide angle can give you those sweeping skys and nice effects in
senics. Now I like to use my 50mm or 85mm for people, I would not think of
using a wide angle for that, but look at the work in National Geo., they use
the wide angles on poeple too! and all their shots are great. Better than you
will see in photographic magazines. I've always checked out the photo work in
National Geo. and the Glamour Girl magazines like Elle and Cosmo etc. You will
find all different styles of shooting. But if I had to take one lens with me
for senics, it would be a wide angle.
Carlo