LeicaMini II

The Leica Mini II comes out of the moment 'titanium' started appearing on spec sheets and ad copy alike. Catalogued as a autofocus compact, it pairs the Leica Elmar 35mm f/3.5 with a 35mm film path. A bit of background: refined version of the original Mini with red-eye reduction added.

Format

35mm

Year

1993

Lens

Leica Elmar 35mm f/3.5

Shutter

1/2s – 1/350s

Min. focus

0.7 m

Flash

Built-in with red-eye reduction

Battery

1× CR123A

The Leica Elmar 35mm f/3.5 doesn't chase exotic specifications; it just renders cleanly, focuses predictably, and gets out of the photograph's way. On the film-availability spectrum, plain 35mm is as easy as it gets in 2026. A single CR123A lithium cell powers everything including the motor; still cheap and stocked at most camera shops. The built-in flash will fire whenever the meter decides it should, so learn the override before your first night out. Minimum focus is 0.7 m, close enough for a coffee cup or a face but stops short of true macro. One thing worth knowing before you load a roll: Same Elmar lens — many shooters consider it identical optically. Pair it with HP5 or Portra and you have a general-purpose travel camera that handles 80% of what you'll point it at.

The Leica Mini II sits exactly where you want a sleeper to sit: low prices, working examples plentiful, and a spec sheet that holds up against far pricier rivals.

• §1Refined version of the original Mini with red-eye reduction added.
• §2Same Elmar lens — many shooters consider it identical optically.