Leica Z2X 35mm Camera

The outstanding Leica Vario-Elmar 35-70mm zoom lens uses optical glass of the highest quality. Special coatings on the lens surface, combined with the best glass, are designed to capture true color as well as super-sharp, high-contrast images. The zoom has three settings--35mm, 50mm, and 70mm-- covering most of the usual needs for scenes such as landscapes, parties, and portraits. A self-timer is included with a frontal flashing-light countdown of approximately 10 seconds.

About Leica
Seventy-five years ago, the first Leica camera was introduced to the public at the 1925 Leipzig Spring Fair. At the time, it was by far the most innovative 35mm camera ever produced (as well as one of the very first). Since then, no camera in the world has been more widely acclaimed for continuously meeting the highest standards of excellence in both optical precision and design quality. Notably, many internationally acclaimed photographers such as Henri Cartier-Bresson and Sebastiao Salgado have used Leica cameras throughout their careers. We think you'll find that Leica compact cameras maintain the same integrity as the M and R models used by the pros, but at more affordable prices. The lenses in all Leica 35mm cameras are still designed by the Leica optical department in Solms, Germany. Every compact camera is also tested for quality in Germany before being released. When you choose Leica, you are buying into one of the great traditions in the history of photography.

Product Description
The LEICA Z(oom) 2X (with double focal length range) is an exceptionally elegant, handy, fully automatic 35mm-format camera with an excellent 35-70mm zoom lens. It is small enough to be stowed away in just about any pocket and thanks to its minimal weight it's a pleasure to have around all the time.Composing your pictures is delightfully easy with the brilliant real-image viewfinder of the LEICA Z2X. Everything you see will be in the picture. Clearly delineated markings for the autofocus field, close-up and panorama photographs are very helpful aids for perfect picture composition. And a clearly legible LCD display keeps you fully informed about all the important functions and settings. With the LEICA Z2X, you have everything under very convenient control so you can devote full attention to your subject.

Draw backs: Plastic housing makes the camera feel cheap.


Cheapest way to become a Leica owner!   March 12, 2001
magellan (Santa Clara, CA)
8 out of 16 found this review helpful

If you've always wanted to own a Leica but didn't want to spent thousands of dollars to do it, this camera is your chance. It's actually made in Singapore instead of Germany, if I remember right, but what the hell, you still get the Leica name and logo on your camera.

The camera is a little bulky compared to most of the other offerings out there, but it's okay. It has most of the features of a typical point and shoot, but the main thing here is the sharpness of the lens. The short zoom lens is very sharp and takes excellent photos.

Since we're on the subject of point and shoot cameras I wanted to make a little plug here for a great little APS point and shoot camera that isn't carried... This is the little Fuji Tiara APS. It's super tiny (the dimensions are less than a credit card) and although it is a fixed-focal length lens, it's very sharp. It's also wide-angle as the focal length of the lens would be equivalent to 29.2 degrees in 35mm format.

I've been using mine for over a year and have been very happy with it. I've had several of the photos I took with it blown up to 8 x 12 and hung on my office wall, and I've gotten lots of compliments on how sharp the photos are, especially given the smaller size of the APS negative.

There are two Tiara models, one in titanium for about...and the other with a plastic body for about... I have the plastic one and it easily fits in your shirt pocket. At 4.6 ounces you hardly know it is there. The camera got a great review in Popular Photography magazine a year ago from the reviewer. Can't recall the guy's name, but he's a famous camera expert and writer/reviewer and he basically loved it and he's not easily impressed usually.

One of the other nice features is that the Tiara supports mid-roll film change, which not all APS cameras offer. With this you remove the APS cassette, put in another one with a higher or lower ASA rating, for example, and when you're through, you put in the original roll of film and it spools back to where it left off originally.

This is another great little camera in case you don't want to spend the money for the Leica.


Leica Z2X - Light and fast.   May 7, 2001
Dr. Mark W. Lusk (Corvallis, Oregon USA)
8 out of 8 found this review helpful

I own a Leica R7 SLR, but at times am reluctant to take it abroad because it would very expensive to replace if it were stolen. I bought this Leica P&S so that I could carry it in my jacket pocket or on my belt when travelling and get adequate results. It has been a good choice. It is far superior to most point and shoot compacts in that the lens is sharper. It is not an SLR however and enlargements or slides clearly show some limitations. But for most general applications, it is a fine camera.


Excellent value for money, if not quite a Leica   December 28, 2000
L. Blackmore (Norwich, VT United States)
7 out of 7 found this review helpful

This is a great little everyday pocket camera. The quality of the pictures is great, and the camera has a nice no-nonsense feel to it. The plastic shell makes it feel as cheap as it is - and makes it obvious to anyone (including the user) that this is NOT a Leica as we know them.

The buttons and functions are a little weird, and getting the flash setting right for a quick shot can be awkward, but the zoom works very well. For some strange reason the film loads upside down, which is a pain in the neck when you're ordering reprints - but that's a minor nuisance that does not detract from the value of a great little camera at a great price.


Excellent quality   November 25, 2000
6 out of 6 found this review helpful

My dad bought this camera for family use about a year ago. I have used it several times and the pictures were of very high quality. Even though my friends took the same pictures on their cameras, the pictures I took with my camera turned out much better than theirs; they were much clearer. This camera is easy to use and the high quality compensates for its size (a little bigger than most other cameras). There is a new model supposedly smaller so you may want to check that out.