Q: Leica Minilux (40 mm) handling and price?

[TheToadMen]

I was given a Leica Minilux 40 mm f/2.4 to test. It's the black version and it comes with the original ready case.
A colleague had it lying around: it's the old camera from his father, who died last year.
He knows I'm interested in "old" analogue cameras so he gave it to me to try it and see if it stil works.

(pictures from internet)

I'm not sure what he will ask for it (if at all). I'll try it first and will see if it is still in good working order. There is even still a roll in it (12 exposures), so I'll print these images and give it to him as a surprise. His dad's last images with this camera.

So my question is:

1) How good/bad is this camera (as a point & shoot)? It's says Leica on the front but is this Leica Summarit lens any good?

2) It it is in working order, what would be a decent price to give him for this camera (if he isn't asking any money)?

Thanks,
Bert from Holland

 

[darkosaric]

I had one and I used it for a year or so (some 50 films). Lens is superb, handling and feel in hand is great, manual focus settings are making it auto focus error free (I used auto focus seldom), f top priority is also great.

Minus: viewfinder. It is so small that it is unbelievable. Worst part of the camera. If you can somehow attach external viewfinder - then this is a great camera with no complains - except maybe electronics that could die. On the end I sold it when I got my M6 (got it for 100 euros, sold it for 120 - but not a black version).

 

[Alex Muir]

I have one and I really like it. It produces excellent B&W images, and also colour transparencies. I've never tried colour negatives in it. Mine is the gold and snakeskin version. I have the case in your pictures. It is very useful for protecting the camera. The black camera is very sought after, and commands the highest prices. The case you have is also quite rare/unusual and can be quite expensive to buy on its own. There was a soft leather pouch available which is more common. I have seen some models advertised with an error code showing on the LCD, and the shutter not firing. This seems to be quite a common problem. Mine has always worked as it should. I'm not sure if those with the error code can be fixed. Try a film in it. I'm sure you will like it.
Alex.

 

[250swb]

An excellent lens, really top quality. Infuriating default flash setup that needs endless button presses to switch the flash to OFF, so not ideal for grabbing a quick available light shot, by the time you've switched the flash OFF you'll have forgotten what you wanted to photograph.

Steve

 

[TheToadMen]

The view finder is small. I think I'll even try shooting without it.

I've got me a neww battery. I'll first finish the old roll inside around the house and then shoot a B&W film on a field trip.

And I'll be aware of the flash mode...

Bert from Holland
http://thetoadmen.blogspot.nl