I have owned a Leica Minilux for more than 20 years. The truth, though, is that I am not a compact camera kind of guy. The Minilux was the antithesis of my then shooting philosophy. It is a fixed lens, fixed focal length, metal skinned, compact camera, and I loved my interchangeable lens, almost always plastic cameras. Back then I mostly shot with a Minolta SLR and the kit standard zoom it came with. I sometimes even changed up to the kit telezoom with all its glorious chromatic aberrations that was so satisfying to look through, and so disappointing to get back from the minilabs. It is probably why I shot one roll through the Minilux on a 10 week road trip and about eighty rolls through the Minolta. That one roll through the Minilux though was amazing. I still remember how shocked I was by how sharp those images were. And then the Minilux went into the cupboard, well looked after as neglected cameras often are.
My film revival came about 18 months ago. The Minilux was not forgotten in this, but once again I neglected it. I checked the battery, shot the shutter, then put it back in the cupboard. In this case it wasn’t simply a prejudice against compact cameras. A little thing called the Internet seemed to have been invented between when I purchased my Minilux and when I took it out of the cupboard with a purpose earlier this year. And said Internet has a tendency to scare folks with information. In this case much has been written about my little red dot camera and the E02 error of doom. It seems that simply using the little bugger brings it closer to death because of an inevitable wear and tear on a lens flex-cable, and when that cable breaks it bricks up the camera with a notorious “E02 error” message. If I ever shot this camera again I must be careful with this camera, very careful.
By early 2019 I had been shooting film for more than a year, and had taken at least two whole overseas trips with nothing but film. I was feeling confident. If not now, when would I shoot the Minilux? In March I ran a roll of Tmax 400 through the camera and the camera was superb. The f/2.4 maximum aperture was put to the test and the images that came back were well exposed and sharp as get out. The problems of an inconvenient flash mode (always on as a default with a clunky flash off button pressing routine), and a ridiculously small viewfinder were rediscovered, but accepted. I even deliberately used the zone focus and manual aperture settings. I captured one of my favourite urban blue hour photos on this roll. Maybe I could be a compact camera shooter after all. Just stay alive little guy, stay alive.
In the mean time I had taken a courageous step and submitted an article to 35mmc that I was thrilled to have had published. Chasing the dragon I started looking for something else to write on. Not finding much about the Minilux on 35mmc I sensed an opportunity. I loaded the Minilux with Acros in early October with view to a “5 Frames With” piece. I shot half a roll in a meeting in a city, and mucking about with an attempted macro (that is not worth trying, by the way). Today I had planned to finish the roll. My first shot was on a train platform. My brother in law looked admiringly at the Minilux and I proudly stated that this was a 21 year old film camera still going strong. Flash off, set aperture to f2.4 and gently push on the exposure button. Fizz. What the…? E02, E02, E02… Batteries out, batteries in. E02… The camera was still able to rewind the roll. But the shutter would not open and the E02 error repeated.
The first half of the roll photographed normally. I developed the Acros in Ilfosol 3, and scanned it on the Epson V600. Contrast was tweaked in lightroom.
Replacement lens flex cables are available for purchase on the ‘Bay, but it is very difficult to find any information on do it yourself repairs. There are no instructional videos. There is a Korean language step-by-step guide, but the instructions seem about as clear as in an Ikea flat pack. Doing it myself with two left feet for hands and no soldering skills is a pipedream. I am not sure that I will find a repairer in Sydney or that I will want to pay for it. Bellamy Hunt writes about converting the lens to an M-mount, but I am not sure that I want to rip the lens from its body either. For now it is decorating our display table as an ornament. It certainly is a gorgeous beautiful shiny red dot brick.
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Raymond Yee on Leica Minilux Death by E02 / 5 Frames with a Beautiful Brick – By Bill Thoo
Comment posted: 14/12/2019
https://www.mgrproduction.net/single-post/2016/1/4/Conversion-adapter-for-Leica-Minilux-to-Leica-M-mount
It not cheap but I reckon its the way to go. Repairing the Minilux is potentially a short term fix as, unless there's a guaranteed better cable, it's likely to fail again. Shame, I know as the Minilux is a great package as a compact camera. If I ever gat another one I would do as some have done and store it with the lens extended all the time. This would involve turning the camera on and whipping out the battery wit it extended. A bit of a faff but that's the only way to ensure the cable doesn't fray.
Comment posted: 14/12/2019
Comment posted: 14/12/2019
Comment posted: 14/12/2019
Comment posted: 14/12/2019
Comment posted: 14/12/2019
Comment posted: 14/12/2019
Comment posted: 14/12/2019
Comment posted: 14/12/2019
James on Leica Minilux Death by E02 / 5 Frames with a Beautiful Brick – By Bill Thoo
Comment posted: 14/12/2019
Great pictures on your last roll!
Comment posted: 14/12/2019
Comment posted: 14/12/2019
Comment posted: 14/12/2019
Terry B on Leica Minilux Death by E02 / 5 Frames with a Beautiful Brick – By Bill Thoo
Comment posted: 14/12/2019
Well, that's my tuppence worth. On a different note, I am surprised that the fault has manifested itself so many years after you last used it. One may have imagined that the flaw in the cable arises from its being flexed in use, but in your case, this can't be the reason. So, perhaps could it be that the plastic coating material it is made from that simply deteriorates with age? Now, this brings me full circle. If the replacement cables are newly manufactured, and if this is the only issue with this model, the new cable will give it many years of extended life. This should be of interest to intending buyers, especially where you can demonstrate it has been repaired by a recognised professional repairer.
Whether you still feel it is worth it, though, have a read here: https://www.photo.net/discuss/threads/once-e02-minilux-is-repaired-is-it-good-to-go.305127/
There is also a small repairer in Portugal, Pedro Delores, about whom good things have been said: contact [email protected]
Comment posted: 14/12/2019
Comment posted: 14/12/2019
Comment posted: 14/12/2019
Comment posted: 14/12/2019
Comment posted: 14/12/2019
Comment posted: 14/12/2019
Ashley Carr on Leica Minilux Death by E02 / 5 Frames with a Beautiful Brick – By Bill Thoo
Comment posted: 14/12/2019
Comment posted: 14/12/2019
Simon Hsieh on Leica Minilux Death by E02 / 5 Frames with a Beautiful Brick – By Bill Thoo
Comment posted: 14/12/2019
Comment posted: 14/12/2019
Comment posted: 14/12/2019
Comment posted: 14/12/2019
jeremy north on Leica Minilux Death by E02 / 5 Frames with a Beautiful Brick – By Bill Thoo
Comment posted: 14/12/2019
Comment posted: 14/12/2019
Bernhard Runde on Leica Minilux Death by E02 / 5 Frames with a Beautiful Brick – By Bill Thoo
Comment posted: 14/12/2019
Comment posted: 14/12/2019
Garth on Leica Minilux Death by E02 / 5 Frames with a Beautiful Brick – By Bill Thoo
Comment posted: 14/12/2019
Sorry to read about the E02 failure on your Minilux. I have a Minilux Zoom that suffered the same fate.
I just found two places that do repairs on both cameras. You can contact them by email for shipping info, etc. The cost was about 165 Euros with return shipping. I live in the US. Apparently both ship worldwide.
From what I understand their work is good. You can Google them to get more info.
JP Camera. [email protected]
Foto Technical's. [email protected]
Good luck. They are too nice a camera to become a brick! Nice photos by the way.
Comment posted: 14/12/2019
Castelli Daniel on Leica Minilux Death by E02 / 5 Frames with a Beautiful Brick – By Bill Thoo
Comment posted: 14/12/2019
Oddball suggestions: get the part and seek out a shop that repairs high end audio equipment. Similar bits.
Dan
Comment posted: 14/12/2019
Federico on Leica Minilux Death by E02 / 5 Frames with a Beautiful Brick – By Bill Thoo
Comment posted: 14/12/2019
Comment posted: 14/12/2019
Kodachromeguy on Leica Minilux Death by E02 / 5 Frames with a Beautiful Brick – By Bill Thoo
Comment posted: 15/12/2019
Comment posted: 15/12/2019
Matt Williams on Leica Minilux Death by E02 / 5 Frames with a Beautiful Brick – By Bill Thoo
Comment posted: 15/12/2019
Getting the lens converted to M mount isn't a bad idea, though it will be expensive.
People have mentioned Pedro in Portugal - not sure his prices these days.
There is someone in the Ukraine that does them as well. They have 100% feedback on eBay and some forum searches confirm that he is legit. Here's a link to his service ($140 USD including round-trip shipping). Not a bad price at all to fix a camera like that. This is the option I'd do.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Leica-Minilux-E02-E01-Zoom-E51-Leica-CM-error-service-camera-repair-fix/303385781371?hash=item46a333a47b:g:3FQAAOSwhxNbhjvC
Comment posted: 15/12/2019
Greg Hagan on Leica Minilux Death by E02 / 5 Frames with a Beautiful Brick – By Bill Thoo
Comment posted: 15/12/2019
Comment posted: 15/12/2019
Zac Lukins on Leica Minilux Death by E02 / 5 Frames with a Beautiful Brick – By Bill Thoo
Comment posted: 16/12/2019
Comment posted: 16/12/2019
Ben Sandler on Leica Minilux Death by E02 / 5 Frames with a Beautiful Brick – By Bill Thoo
Comment posted: 22/12/2019
JP Camera
Comment posted: 22/12/2019
Charlie on Leica Minilux Death by E02 / 5 Frames with a Beautiful Brick – By Bill Thoo
Comment posted: 06/01/2020
I hope he’s doing better but I’m sitting in a lot of ambiguity. I’m just trying to find the whereabouts of my camera...
Comment posted: 06/01/2020
vintageandphoto on Leica Minilux Death by E02 / 5 Frames with a Beautiful Brick – By Bill Thoo
Comment posted: 09/01/2020
Just send the camera to us, and we`ll fix it :)
It`s our store from Ukraine that was mentioned above by one of the commentators, and we resurrected dozens of Miniluxes with E02, Miniluxes Zoom with E51, Leica CMs and other point and shoots like Contax, Yashica, Ricoh etc.
You may find our listing on ebay using "Leica Minilux E02" phrase
Comment posted: 09/01/2020
Comment posted: 09/01/2020
Jorge O. on Leica Minilux Death by E02 / 5 Frames with a Beautiful Brick – By Bill Thoo
Comment posted: 22/04/2020
any advice?
Comment posted: 22/04/2020
Comment posted: 22/04/2020
Cyrus Korn on Leica Minilux Death by E02 / 5 Frames with a Beautiful Brick – By Bill Thoo
Comment posted: 05/06/2020
tyler on Leica Minilux Death by E02 / 5 Frames with a Beautiful Brick – By Bill Thoo
Comment posted: 09/12/2020
Used the above to repair my Minilux this year; worked a treat. Have example shots and additional info if anyone is interested.
Jen on Leica Minilux Death by E02 / 5 Frames with a Beautiful Brick – By Bill Thoo
Comment posted: 21/01/2021
Comment posted: 21/01/2021
Comment posted: 21/01/2021
Comment posted: 21/01/2021
J.S. on Leica Minilux Death by E02 / 5 Frames with a Beautiful Brick – By Bill Thoo
Comment posted: 03/10/2021
Follow this link on eBay to get in touch, everything from shipping to communication was totally seamless:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Leica-Minilux-E02-E01-Zoom-E51-Leica-CM-error-service-camera-repair-fix-/304153008965?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l6249&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0
I’m in NYC, USPS took a fair amount of time to get tit out but shipping in the other direction was quick. Once it was repaired I had it back within a week.
Ringing endorsement for Bogdan, so glad to have my little walkabout camera back!
Comment posted: 03/10/2021
J.S. on Leica Minilux Death by E02 / 5 Frames with a Beautiful Brick – By Bill Thoo
Comment posted: 03/10/2021