The Leica minilux is the first in a series of four luxury titanium-clad point and shoot cameras that were produced by Leica Camera starting from 1995; it is equipped with a high-quality lens and body to compete with similar premium compact cameras produced during the Japanese bubble-economy era, including the Contax T line, Konica Hexar, Nikon 28Ti/35Ti, Minolta TC-1, Ricoh GR series, and Rollei QZ 35W/35T.

When the Leica minilux was released in 1995, it was compared to the earlier Contax T2 and Nikon 35Ti; all three were autofocus, titanium-clad point and shoot cameras marketed at a premium price point and made in Japan.

[3] A remote-release socket is provided on the front of the camera, an unusual feature for a compact.

[13] Also that year, a minilux zoom with black lacquer finish was available as part of a limited "Bogner" set.

[14] Compared to the minilux, the CM moves the LCD status display to the back of the camera; the hot shoe was retained from the minilux zoom and was made compatible with the Metz Mecablitz SCA 3000 system.

[16] Summarit lenses have been removed from unusable minilux cameras and remounted for use with Leica M rangefinders.

On the left side are buttons that control the self-timer, EV compensation, and operating mode.