As usual, I don’t intend to get too technical with this review. I want to simply provide a “user” experience.

The short review….. I LOVE this little camera. I never imagined anything so small performing so well. Though, small can be an issue if  your an oger and used to balancing an SLR with a 70-200mm lens on the end of your nose. I mean… it’s small.

The settings are pretty straight forward, though there are some pre-programmed settings that are pretty impressive. How about a pre-set for food? Or night scenery… or even Self Portratit. And guess what? They work. It’s Pictbridge compatible, has expanded ISO settings up to 1600 and shutter speeds from 8 to 1/2000 sec. 

I was a little put off by the lack of a viewfinder… though, I quickly got over it. The LCD screen is huge… and it has two brightness settings and an unusal setting that helps view it when you are shooting with the camera overhead. The screen is very clear and exceptionally birght. And the optional grid feature you can deploy is great for keeping horizons straight or employing the rule of thirds.

The camera is feature packed. I’m sure there are folks who’d like more zoom… and maybe manual overides etc. etc. But, hey…. it’s a point n’ shoot. And that’s what I wanted. I wanted a small camera that takes great pictures that can stay in my pocket or carry-on. More importantly, I wanted a small camera that would provide image quality that would live up to pro-standards if the need arises. To me, there’s nothing worse than having a great shot only to find out, the image quality want support a large print or other channel of publsihing. This camera passes that test with flying colors.

The first images I downloaded blew me away. The Leica lens fully lives up to the Leica reputation. Crisp, clear, sharp and wonderful color. At 6 megapixels, you can do anything you want with the image. They’re really that good.

Battery life has been excellent. The 64mb SD card the camera ships with is useless. I’m guessing a 512mb will probably match up with the battery life for 200-300 images at the best quality setting. Speaking of the battery, the charger is a simple wall mount, the battery is the size of a compact flash card but about 1/4 inch thick. There is a current promotion for a leather case and extra batttery for about $70. Well worth it as it’s less than the price of an extra battery. It’s a nice case protecting the camera… but it doesn’t hold any accessories. I found that not to be an issue.. since there are no accessories. :)

Ok… so it has a movie mode and audio mode.. I haven’t played with those features since they hold no interest to me. I want great stills. This camera gives me that.

Two weeks into my ownership, I’m enamored with this camera. I keep it with me and have even trusted it to family outings. It’s everything I want. And it’s so simple to use, my four-yearold was running around taking everyone’s picture at a July 4th celebration.

Like past Leica consumer cameras, this model is also available as a Panasonic/Lumix at a savings of $100 or so. Plus the Lumix is available in colors, whereas the Leica just silver or black. I opted for the black.

So there you have it…. a great little camera, a fabulous lens, beautiful image and all the features you need.

IMAGE GALLERY

Key Features

• 6 Megapixel Resolution 
With a resolution of 6.0 Megapixels, you’ll be able to produce high resolution images that can yield photo quality 16 x 20” prints. Together with the advanced electronics and in-camera software the C-LUX 1 produces images with natural color rendering, excellent definition and high brilliance.

• Leica DC Vario-Elmarit Lens
The powerful Leica DC Vario-Elmarit Lens consists of seven elements (four of which are aspherical) in six groups. With a maximum aperture of 2.8 and a wide focal length range of 28 to102 mm in 35mm format, the LEICA C-LUX 1 offers myriads of possibilities of image composition such as interior shots or group photos. Furthermore, the optics have been tuned to the camera sensor.

• Optical Image Stabilizer   
The C-LUX 1 produces exquisitely sharp photos even in candlelight or when shooting of moving objects thanks to the built-in optical image stabilizer and the high-sensitivity setting of up to ISO 1600.

• Striking Compact Design 
The striking design, and clearly arranged controls gives the camera the timeless elegance typical of a Leica camera and makes operation simple and intuitive. Furthermore, the ultra compact dimensions of the C-LUX 1 means that it easily fits into any bag or pocket and is therefore the ideal companion for everyday use, leisure pursuits, travel or any other occasion

• Durable and Ergonomic Construction
The all metal body with slightly rounded sides along with great attention to small details ensures a reliable and robust product that is comfortable to handle.

• Superb Performance   
Thanks to its extremely short shutter delay and precise autofocus, The C-LUX 1 can be relied upon to capture spur-of-the-moment snapshots; and the powerful battery provides power for up to 320 photos on a charge for carefree photography.

• Three Picture Formats   
Choose from three picture formats - 16:9, 3:2, or 4:3 - of which the 16:9 format is HDTV-ready for viewing.

• 2.5” Color LCD Display
The 2.5” High resolution LCD display features a resolution of 207,000 pixels, and gives a brilliant preview of the photograph, allowing accurate assessment before and after it is taken. The large monitor also enables several people to look at the image together, and the view of the display is just as good from an angle.

• Optional Televid Scope Adapter
The optional Digital Adapter 2 makes the camera capable of producing fantastic nature photographs through a Leica Televid series spotting scope.

• Direct Print Capable 
Print Directly to any PictBridge Capable Printer without a computer, and the on camera image editing features assure that you be able to make just the right picture easily and quickly.