The Leica C-LUX 2 ultra-compact digital camera would be near the top of everyone's list if looks and brand name meant everything in the digital camera world. It's a sharp-looking model, available in either a silver or black metallic body. And it carries the Leica brand name, which is the company famous for making top-of-the-line lenses. Unfortunately, the C-LUX 2's suggested price of nearly $500 makes it tough to recommend this model.

The C-LUX 2's 3.6X optical zoom lens is a little misleading because this camera offers a limited wide-angle option. The lens measures as a 28-100mm lens (compared to a 35mm film lens). This lens doesn't quite equal a typical 3X zoom lens (35-105mm), but it's close enough that you probably won't notice the difference. The limited wide-angle capability is worth the trade.

Unfortunately, the C-LUX 2 doesn't offer an optical viewfinder. Instead, you will have to frame all photos using the 2.5-inch LCD, which isn't the perfect tradeoff. Fortunately, the LCD is sharp and bright. The camera body measures only 0.9 inches in thickness, but we found it to be easy to hold and use. The positioning of the buttons and dials on the back of the camera body make it easy to hold.

As with most ultra-compact models, the C-LUX 2 doesn't offer a full manual-control setting. It does offer a few specialty features and scene modes to help you achieve the best image quality. You'll notice some noise in low-light photos, but only if you make extremely large prints or shoot at high ISO settings. Color representation is very good in all types of lighting. At 7.38 megapixels of resolution, you can make high-quality prints up to 11x14 inches in size.

Response times are less than you'd expect in a camera in this price range. You can shoot your first photo about 2 seconds after pressing the power button, which is good for an ultra-compact model but becomes less impressive when the unit's price tag is under consideration. You'll occasionally notice some shutter lag, especially when shooting in low-light conditions where the autofocus function will struggle at times. Shot-to-shot delays range from a little more than 1 second to nearly 3 seconds, depending on whether the flash is in use. In continuous-shot mode, you can capture five photos in about 2 seconds, which is an OK performance.

Leica did include optical image stabilization (IS) with this model, which is a great feature for avoiding blurry photos from camera shake. Optical IS isn't something found in every ultra-compact model, but it is something you'd expect to find in a $500 digital camera.

Finally, the Leica does offer a 2-year warranty with the C-LUX 2, which is double what most companies offer for ultra-compact digital cameras. In addition, this model ships with a 64MB memory card, which helps its overall value. However, it's not enough to justify the large price tag with this model. You can find ultra-compact digital cameras with similar features at a much lower price from other manufacturers. If you can find this model at a bargain price and you really like the looks, then the C-LUX 2 becomes more appealing.


Pros: Thin camera body, easy to hold, optical IS included, 2-year warranty, limited wide-angle capabilities, good looking model
Cons: Price is too high, feature set doesn't match price tag, shutter lag is problematic at times, resolution could be higher

Warranty
2 years, limited