Lomopedia: Leica C11

If you're a fan of compact cameras then you'll like this installment of Lomopedia. And if it so happens that you're a connoisseur of all things obscure, then you'll love this even more. We're taking a look at the Leica C11, a compact film camera that was launched in 2000 at Photokina. It was also the only camera that Leica produced using the APS film format.

This charming little camera carried the signature Leica look. It was sleek, contoured, and stylish, like most Leica cameras that photography enthusiasts all over the world have come to love. It used the APS film format, a smaller film format compared to the ever-popular and traditional 35 mm but bigger than the 110 film format. The APS film format was considered to be the "improved" version of cartridge films. It boasted features like automatic film loading (APS cameras are wound and rewound automatically), a magnetically coated film that could record data (like date and time, lighting conditions, and exposure), and an indicator in every cartridge that could alert the camera whether the film was already exposed or processed.

While the APS format indeed seemed like an improved version of cartridge films, it didn't take off due to several reasons. Digital cameras soon became popular and more accessible to photography enthusiasts. And equipment used to develop APS films was quite expensive at the time. Not to mention that the developing process of APS films was more complex compared to that of traditional 35 mm film.

Sample Photo Gallery

As mentioned above, the C11 was Leica's first and last foray into the world of APS film format. After seeing that there wasn't much demand for APS cameras, the company decided to abandon further development to concentrate on other areas. In spite of that, the C11 is still a viable choice for anyone who's looking to venture into the obscure world of APS cameras. Its lightweight and compact design (which is the signature of APS cameras) makes it a good choice for discreet, on-the-go photography. It has a built-in flash so shooting at night won't be a problem. It also has a zoom capability which is more than anyone could ask for in a point-and-shoot camera. As well as this, the viewfinder adjusts to the selected frame so users can see what the lens can capture in a frame, a particularly helpful feature for composition and framing.

All in all, the Leica C11 is a well-built compact camera that can be a joy to take pictures with for beginners and advanced users alike. It's a stylish camera with quite an interesting backstory. It's also a great choice to add to any camera collection, especially since APS cameras and films are becoming increasingly hard to find.

Technical Specifications:

Lens: 1:4.8-1:9.5/23-70mm zoom (7 separate lenses)
Autofocus: Active infrared system
Film Type: APS films with film speeds of 25 ASA up to 3200 ASA
Exposure: integral center-weighted metering
Shutter speed: 1 - 1/600 sec.
Viewfinder: virtual image type, picture frame changes to match selected picture format
Flash: reaching as far as 2 meters for a 100 ASA film with lens in wide angle position
Weight: 210 g (8 oz.) without the CR-2 battery
Dimensions: 105 x 60 x 40 mm (4.13 x 2.36 x 1.57 inch)

All information used in this article was sourced from Photo.net, nefotografas via Flickr, Photography Review, and Analogue Wonderland.

written by cheeo on 2023-04-20 in #gear #lomopedia #127 #leica #lomopedia #aps-film #leica-c11