[Leica]Leica-Contax P&S comparison...

["Dan S" <dstate1@hotmail.com>]

The thread about the Z2x has prompted me to post a little comparison I have 
done on Point and Shoot cameras.

I compared my Leica Mini3, now discontinued and last selling for 149.99 to 
my Contax T2.  (also discontinued, but last selling for a hell of a lot 
more!)

First the obvious:  The T2 is made of Titanium, is heavier and feels better 
in the hand.  It also offers aperture control and greater exposure over-ride 
than the Mini3.

Now for the shocker:  The lens on the Mini3 is just as good if not better 
than the Zeiss Sonnar on the T2!


Here are the details:
In comparison shots taken at the same time on identical Delta 100 and 
developed in D76 the 32mm F3.2 shows notably better large aperture 
performance than the Sonnar on the Contax.

At full aperture the Sonnar 38 F2.8 shows extremely poor resolution in the 
corners of the frame, while the Mini3 still retains a reasonable amount of 
detail.  (Since neither camera can be "SET" to full aperture I used a brick 
wall in extremely low light to get the meters to open up the lens')

At middle and smaller apertures both lenses show moderately high resolution. 
(MUCH higher than any wide angle lens of the 30's and 40's)  Surprisingly 
they perform MUCH better at distances under 25 feet than they do at 
infinity. (see comment below on light fall off)

Contrast of both lenses is very high, probably due to the small number of 
elements and modern coating. (4 elements for the Leica, 5 for the Contax)

The Mini3 has SLIGHTLY more pincushion distortion than the Contax.

Both cameras suffer from fairly severe light fall-off. (so much so that I 
would never use either camera for slides or prints that I can not work with 
personally to correct the problem) While it is not evident in close up 
shots, horizontal landscapes can be ruined by this trait.

So what moral to this story?  First, in the land of point and shoot cameras 
a lot more money doesn't always buy better performance.  Second, BRING BACK 
THE MINI3!!  Make it water proof and give it an F2.8 lens and Yashica will 
run for the hills!

Best wishes
Dan States
>

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