The Leica CM came !
My Leica CM came on December 24, 2003. It was a Christmas present from Leica. The Leica CM seems to be one of the Leica M series cameras by top cover design similarity.The Leica CM is almost same size as the Minilux.
This slide switch is not so smooth for opening a lens cover. Sometimes the edge of switch is paining my finger. There is the character of MADE IN GERMANY on a bottom plate. Although it will be one of the big message from Leica, The Minilux was made in Japan but the CM in Germany. Many Leica users seem to like GERMANY.

The CM's finder is improved very much from the Minilux's. One can see clearly through new finder, exposure information, distance information, etc. came to be displayed by LED like M7. Diopter setting range from -3.0D to +1.0D. The rubber eye piece of the CM is good for a glasses user.

For an enlarged f-stop control lever, it is easy to operate. But I think the click of a program position is a little weak. The AE system ( programed and aperture priority AE) is almost same as the Minilux.

The distance setting dial is enlarged and the focal aid mechanism attached. But It is not easy to use manual focusing. So I think it is enough for using on just AF. The AF position click is weak a little. So the distance setting dial is easily moved from AF positiin to 0.7m after taking the CM out from a pocket.
A hot shoe is added on a top cover and the SF20D electronic flush can be used. A flush exposure control mechanism is same as the M6 TTL/M7/R8/9. When an external finder is carried on a hot shoe in program AE mode, The Camera function will be failed and displayed Error in a view finder. If one wish to use a finder, should change to aperture priority AE mode.
The operation panel sets it as four buttons by using a dial together. Although anything does not have a display in the button itself, but it is symmetrical with the display of liquid crystal. There are the set button of the flash mode and exposure compensation, a self-timer, the date, from a top to the bottom.

The flash-off mode which was the greatest pending question, was solved.

It became possible to save flash-off mode. This mode could be held until it exchanged batteries.

 The Summarit 40mm lens is almost same as the Minilux except a lens coating.. The maximum speed of a shutter becames 1 / 1000 seconds.(By opening F2.4, restricted to 1 / 750 seconds, by F4 to 1 / 500 seconds. 1/1000 sec. shutter speed comes from F5.6 to F22. ). It is a big advantage.
The Leica CM is the high-class compact camera from which the Minilux evolved justly. I think that the Leica CM becomes a good rival of the Contax T3.

A comparison the images of the CM and the Minilux is here!