Not a strictly Leica question, but many of us seem to use a point and shoot camera on occasion. I was about to supplement my R cameras with a Contax T3 which has had great reviews. Now along comes the Rollei AFM35 with similar features but a slightly larger body, which appeals to me. Has anyone had any experience with this camera yet?

-- Ivor Quaggin (iquaggin@home.com), October 11, 2001

Answers

What about the Minilux?

-- Jack Flesher (jbflesher@msn.com), October 11, 2001.

What about the Ricoh GR1

-- Richard (richard@designblue.co.uk), October 11, 2001.

Why not buy one of each? Seriously, any of the better P&S cameras are capable shooters, and there is no clear "the best" one. I do have experience with the Contax T3, and its lens compares favorably with the best Leica lenses I own, and that is a huge compliment.It is fully useable at f2.8, and there is none of the annoying corner light fall off that just about every other P&S camera I've used exhibits at one setting or another.

Here's the specs on the Rollei http://www.rollei.de/en/produkte/index.html.

Only problem with Rollei is their infamous customer service-they have a bad reputation even taking care of their medium format customers. What price is that thing selling for?

-- Andrew Schank (aschank@flash.net), October 11, 2001.

I like the little Yashica T4. The Zeiss lens is excellent and you can have one for way under $200. Pentax and Olympus make some very nice little point and shoot zooms that take great pictures. Cheers.

-- Don (wgpinc@yahoo.com), October 11, 2001.

Since the whole reason to have Leica is for the lenses, I guess that is the important question I would like to have some input on re the Rollei. There is no doubt the Minilux qualifies but although it is the same length as the Rollei it is 6mm higher and thicker and 80gms. heavier. I find it just a bit bulky for a P&S. My interest in Rollei stems from having both a Rollei 35 with Zeiss Tessar and a 35SE, both gone alas and also my current P&S, a Rollei Prego70 with Schneider lens, also a very good P&S but totally automatic and therefore often frustrating.

Thanks for your comment, Andrew - I was not aware of Rollei's reputation or lack thereof in the service area. The list price is $1,199Cdn, which translates into about $760US, but the street price will doubtless be lower. Bad service talk makes me nervous though.

-- Ivor Quaggin (iquaggin@home.com), October 11, 2001.

Maybe I was being too harsh on Rollei Service, but there was a lot of talk over at "medium format digest" of problems people were having, although some of it involved gray market cameras. My only experience was trying to get a strap for my Prego 90 that was missing in the package, and they took my address and must have forgotten about me the minute I hung up the phone as I never got anything from them.

Anybody out there have an opposite experience, where they thought Rollei service was the best on the planet? That's one of the problems wiht the web, that you hear more of the bad experiences than the good and you start to think quality controll and customer service no longer exist. After reading some of the threads here about problems people have with new Leica equipment, you could the impression the new stuff is no good, which really isn't the case.

-- Andrew Schank (aschank@flash.net), October 12, 2001.

Hi Ivor,

Where do you see this Rollei AFM35 on retail in Canada? I live in Calgary and haven't seen one yet.

Fred

-- Fred Lee (leefred@cadvision.com), October 12, 2001.

How about a Leica mini 3? The smallest and cheapest Leica you can buy by far but still a great performer.

-- David Killick (Dalex@inet.net.nz), October 12, 2001.

Guess what. I just looked at the Fuji Klasse on the pophoto.com site and it is identical to the new Rollei AFM35. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised in these days of outsourcing but it makes me wonder who is actually making the thing. Maybe I will head for the minilux after all, at least Leica's reputation is behind it even if it is made elsewhere. Thanks to everyone who contributed.

-- Ivor Quaggin (iquaggin@home.com), October 12, 2001.

Get the T3. I am about to get one. Tt has all kinds of good controls. Control on the minilux is very very minimal and it can't save any of your settings. It is also big and heavy. The viewfinder on the minilux is like looking through a tunnel. I've owned or played with most of the high end P&S's. The T3 looks better than all of them.

-- jay goldman (goldman@math.umn.edu), October 12, 2001.

I haven't seen the Rollei AFM35 in person yet, but I would personally go with a Contax T3 anyway. I have the similar Contax Tix and never cease to be impressed by its superb lens. The T3 is nearly the same size, with a newer lens design ... and the photos I've seen from it are just outstanding.

Looking at the web page for the Rollei AFM35, it looks like a good camera with the additional feature of automated exposure bracketing, but it seems a little larger.

Godfrey

-- Godfrey (ramarren@bayarea.net), October 12, 2001.

Get the T3. I've used the camera, and the results are unbelievable.

-- Alex Lung (zigi23@yahoo.com), October 13, 2001.

Give me the Minilux anyday, the T3 is just too small for my hands. Smaller cameras (particularly AF ones) are difficult for me to hand hold. The added heft of the Minilux and length of the body is a plus. The Contax T2 qualifies too, but I prefer the Minilux as you can at least get a greater than 1/250 sec shutter speed in real situations.

-- Robin Smith (smith_robin@hotmail.com), October 15, 2001.

My favorite point and shoots in the desired order:

1) Leica Minilux-- you gotta support the brand you love best! 2) Leica z2x-- if you need the cheapest substitute with a dope lens. 3) Yashica T4-- weatherproof although please don't dunk in my demo... hahaha. 4) Nikon Nice Touch 3--cheap good workhorse 5) Leica Mini series-- 1 , 2, or 3-- easy to lose so be careful!!! 6) Pentax PC330-- for cheapie backup on the P and S side of things.

-- Albert Wang (albert.wang@ibx.com), October 17, 2001.

I've used the following to supplement my slr kit: yashica T4 (ok but only just ok), Ricoh GR1s (lovely to use, but over-hyped - mine had noticeable corner light fall off, Contax T3 (mine's for sale - contact me if interested!), Leica minilux (just acquired,first results are encouraging- no light noticeable fall-off, good shadow detail and hand holdable. My preference?(1) Leica, (2) Ricoh

-- chris tremlett (tremlett@online.no), November 09, 2001.

I was comparing the Contax T3 and The Rollei AFM35.(Klasse in Japan) I like the idea of a three shot bracketing that the Rollie AFM35 is capable of doing. Let's face it, both lenses are great! Pop Photo in there March 2002 issue give the Rollie AFM lens a better rating in resolution over the Contax T3. I like the 38mm lens of the Rollei AFM35 over the 35mm of the Contax T3. The truth is, the Contax T3 is a well built machine. The Rollei is a magnesium aluminum that covers a plastic interior, although there are metal rollers, plate, and rails in the Rollei. Im not too keen on small size cameras. I enjoy exposure lock. The T3 has this feature and to my knowledge the Rollie AFM35 does not have it. Im at a cross road. What do you think?

-- Greg Mendez (greg799@pacbell.net), May 20, 2002.

Ivor-

If you have not made a decision yet. I have the Rollei AFM35 and the T3. I like them both. The T3 is smaller. The AFM35 is cooler and a great design. In any event take a look at some images with both at this site uder my name.

http://www.contaximages.com/document.php?id=768 http://www.contaximages.com/document.php?id=985 http://www.contaximages.com/document.php?id=986 http://www.contaximages.com/document.php?id=990

You cannot go wrong with either camera. You can get the Rollei for about $550US and the T3 for about $570US if you look hard in the marketplace. Good luck!

-- Vincent Peacock (vpeacock@optonline.net), May 26, 2002.