Leica CM
The Leica CM was produced from 2004 to 2006 as Leica’s last attempt at a premium point and shoot. The prior attempt was the Leica Minilux . The Minilux rocked the same Summarit 40mm lens but the CM attempted to correct some of the Minilux issues.
On paper the CM is a dream point and shoot. Auto focus or manual zone focus down to .7 meters. Program or aperture control from f2.4 to f22. Sturdy but compact titanium body with German build quality. Exposure compensation of +/- 2 EV in 1/3 increments. Shutter speed up to 1/1000 and DX film range of 25 to 5000. Plus, the real star, a 40mm Leica Summarit f2.4 lens! If that is not enough, the viewfinder has a -3 to +1 diopter. What more could you ever need?
OK, the CM is not perfect. There is no direct control over the shutter speed. The LED controls are not that intuitive. Worse, the setting seem to reset when the camera is turned off. If you prefer no flash, this can be a pain. The big one for me is to turn the camera on and open the lens cover is a lever in the front that is slow. I guess the other option would have been to have the lens protruding from the body all the time and that would add to the size. But it is an upgrade to the Minilux.
My Take:
Assuming that the goal was to improve on the Minilux and compete with the Contax T2 and T3, how did they do? On improving the Minilux, I say yes. Feels more study, bigger viewfinder and quiet. When it comes to taking on Contax, I think that is a less clear win. The size seem to be somewhere between the T2 and T3. I have not shot the T2 but have shot the T3. The T3 is smaller but almost to the point of too small in the hand but better in the pocket. Both cost more than they should and are now delicate electronic devices that will be hard or impossible to repair. Both have great lens. The CM gives you more focus control but only as a zone focus.
Know this, if you show up with the CM, you will get some nice images and probably be the only one in almost any group to have one. It is not so amazing that you have to sell all you gear to fund one but if you have one of find one that you trust, it is a premium point and shoot with a Leica lens. So shut up and enjoy.
Lens: Leica Summarit 40mm f2.4
Film: Kodacolor 200
