For classic camera buffs, the Minox DCC Leica M3 is a beautiful camera, and at less than $200, its an extravagance that many camera lovers can afford.The camera body is a miniaturized version of the classic Leica M3 that was introduced in 1954, and quickly became a favorite among photographers for its practical simplicity and excellent opticals. The original Leica M designation was for the Rangefinder series, which combined the rangefinder and viewfinder into one large, double image viewfinder.Apart from its rugged good looks, the Leica cameras were made famous by those classic photographers who used them and produced some of the most stunning photography of an era.Henri Cartier Bresson, Robert Capa, Alfred Eisenstaedt, Elliot Erwitt, Mary Ellen Mark, Sebastiao Salgado, and Garry Winogrand were among the most famous Leica photographers.The Minox DCC Leica M3 may look like the beautiful old classic, but it is in fact, a different beast. For one, the Minox model is digital, with resolution up to 5 MP (the camera has a 5.0 MP, CMOS Sensor and 3.2 MP Hardware-resolution). And the camera body itself is a miniature version of the original design, measuring only 2.9" wide x 1.8" high.This Minox mini-digital camera is an upgrade from the earlier version, featuring a color monitor and a memory card slot to add to its 32 mb of internal memory.Let's face it, this camera does not have top of the line features. However, in terms of classic stlye, the Minox DCC Leica M3 is unique in the arena of lifestyle digital cameras and has acquired cult status among some camera buffs.As the company describes it, the camera is a perfect mix of "perfect, high-precision miniaturization of top technology combined with a touch of extravagance."The cameras functional controls have been discretely integrated in the body, including the 1.5 inch TFT color monitor, and images and movies are stored on SD cards with a capacity of up to 2 GB. In addition, there is a 32 MB internal memory available for storing files. And for the first time a built-in Li-ion battery provides the camera power supply. The camera also sports a video mode for shooting AVI formatted video.Overall, this is a a beginner to intermediate camera that shines mostly for its nostalgic design, but at that, it does a fantastic job.You can find several versions of the Minox Leica M3 Mini.
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