Alan Humphries Recent Work With A Leica Minilux
31st January 2025
In: News, Members' Articles
LEICA MINILUX (An introduction) by Alan D.W. Humphries.
The Leica Minilux was released in 1995 and was the first of four luxury, titanium-clad compacts with a high quality lens. It was followed by the Minilux Zoom in 1998, the Leica CM and the CM Zoom in 2004. It was introduced to compete with the Contax T, Konica Hexar, Nikon 28Ti/35Ri, Ricoh GR series and Rollei QZ35/35T. The camera was made in Japan by Panasonic, the Minilux and CMs were equipped with the Summarit 40mm f2.4 lens and the Minilux Zoom and the CM Zoom had the Vario Elmar 35-70 lens f3.5-6.5.
My experience with the Minilux is confined to the original, which I purchased after they were discontinued, it was brand new, boxed etc. and, if my memory serves me correctly, I paid £250. It is in bronze, although all-black versions were available. I used it quite extensively for a period, however since my conversion to digital it has been sat amongst my small camera collection in the study. A few weeks ago I picked it up for dusting, found it was loaded with film and so bought a battery and set off to rekindle some memories.
The Minilux focuses/exposes accurately and consistently with an acceptable top plate display. I cannot recall using the flash, however, reports tend to suggest that it performs well. Whilst the viewfinder is not the best and you cannot use filters, overall it is a good performer, I used print film however, I understand it worked very well with pro transparency film such as Fuji Velvia 50.
The crazy prices currently being asked on e-bay, indicate that there is high demand for this little camera, but we all know there is an asking price and a selling price. Supply and demand that’s the nature of things, they are worth whatever someone is willing to pay.
The negatives of recent images have been scanned and a little adjustment applied, some of the images will be recognisable from the article “Shelly Creek”. Frankly, the images do not do the camera justice principally because they were shot with old film stock - Ilford HP5 Plus. I have since purchased some new film which I hope to expose in the coming weeks, so please watch this space.
© Alan D.W. Humphries. 2025.
The Leica Minilux was released in 1995 and was the first of four luxury, titanium-clad compacts with a high quality lens. It was followed by the Minilux Zoom in 1998, the Leica CM and the CM Zoom in 2004. It was introduced to compete with the Contax T, Konica Hexar, Nikon 28Ti/35Ri, Ricoh GR series and Rollei QZ35/35T. The camera was made in Japan by Panasonic, the Minilux and CMs were equipped with the Summarit 40mm f2.4 lens and the Minilux Zoom and the CM Zoom had the Vario Elmar 35-70 lens f3.5-6.5.
My experience with the Minilux is confined to the original, which I purchased after they were discontinued, it was brand new, boxed etc. and, if my memory serves me correctly, I paid £250. It is in bronze, although all-black versions were available. I used it quite extensively for a period, however since my conversion to digital it has been sat amongst my small camera collection in the study. A few weeks ago I picked it up for dusting, found it was loaded with film and so bought a battery and set off to rekindle some memories.
The Minilux focuses/exposes accurately and consistently with an acceptable top plate display. I cannot recall using the flash, however, reports tend to suggest that it performs well. Whilst the viewfinder is not the best and you cannot use filters, overall it is a good performer, I used print film however, I understand it worked very well with pro transparency film such as Fuji Velvia 50.
The crazy prices currently being asked on e-bay, indicate that there is high demand for this little camera, but we all know there is an asking price and a selling price. Supply and demand that’s the nature of things, they are worth whatever someone is willing to pay.
The negatives of recent images have been scanned and a little adjustment applied, some of the images will be recognisable from the article “Shelly Creek”. Frankly, the images do not do the camera justice principally because they were shot with old film stock - Ilford HP5 Plus. I have since purchased some new film which I hope to expose in the coming weeks, so please watch this space.
© Alan D.W. Humphries. 2025.
Comments
By David Askham: Alan, I share your interest in resurrecting my older cameras, although mostly from the dawn of digital photography. However I still have my Leica CM. The Summarit is a very good lens. I do prefer the imaging accuracy of live-view, though, so going back is a deterrent for me. By Malcolm Clarke: I found your article most interesting, Alan. I have more or less switched to digital as a lot of what I take is for use in a local newsletter or the like, but I did have considerable success using b/w film and having the negs. scanned at a good resolution. In one case I put the results taken at a friend's wedding onto a disc, with which they were delighted. The lack of colour was, I think, a bonus in their case as it was deliberately an old fashioned event. P.S. I have not bought film in a good while, so a guide as to what is available would be nice, if not too much trouble.
Malcolm By Ken Davis: Some good photos here Alan. Well done for getting out the Minilux. I still use film and enjoy the discipline it brings.
Ken By Alan Humphries: Thank you David,Malcolm and Ken for your kind comments.
In response to your question about film Malcolm, many of the familiar films are still available, Velvia, Sensia, HP5 Plus etc For further information I suggest you do an on line search. Good luck. By Tony Tarlton: Good morning Alan,
Enjoyable photos - I too love film and their cameras (3g, M4p,and a Yashicamat 6x6).
But, for me adding greatly to the enjoyment, is developing the film myself. - A bathroom isn't complete without a film hanging up to dry!!