The motto of the Leica Q2 It’s ‘perfection or nothing’. In fact, I think it is a motto applicable to all Leica cameras, since the search for that perfection in everything they do is their main reason for being.
Leica cameras have become more than just cameras, they are pieces so exclusive that you could put them in the showcases of a museum, with the added bonus that they also have spectacular performance.
Today I will talk about the Leica Q2, a camera that has been on the market for a couple of years but continues to fascinate many photographers (despite its price). You want to know why? Let us begin.
Who is the Leica Q2 for?
The Leica Q2 is a professional compact camera, Mainly oriented for travel, documentary or street photographers. Not only because of its robust and sealed body, but also because of the type of lens with which it is combined, a very sharp and bright Summicron (f/1.7) and with a 28mm focal length that makes it ideal for these disciplines.
For those who always work with these types of photography (documentary, street, travel…) it can work perfectly as the first and only camera, since thanks to its impressive sensor, the digital zoom brings us up to 75mm with great image quality.
On the other hand, we cannot ignore the outlay that this camera entails, you will need some good savings to get hold of it. That said, for those who have them, I don’t think it’s a camera that anyone can regret.
Leica Q2 Features
The Leica Q2 is a no less than 47.3 MP full-sensor professional compact camera that comes with a built-in Summilux 28mm f/1.7 ASPH lens.
We are going to see in depth the characteristics of this professional compact. But first you can whet your appetite with a small presentation video:
Design
The Leica Q2 is a first and foremost elegant camera. Its finishes are really beautiful and careful, it is a pleasure to hold it in your hands. It feels robust and comfortable and you can tell that it has been cared for down to the smallest detail.
It is a camera sealed against rain and dust and very robust thanks to its magnesium construction. It weighs about 734g, it is not the lightest on the market but it is enough to be very comfortable to wear around your neck.
The controls are few and essential, oriented towards a way of working focused on taking a quick and precise picture.
At the top are the speed dials, and a customizable button with up to 8 functions, as well as on and off. The aperture is controlled through the lens itself, from which you can also select auto mode and focus. On the back we have access to the menus.
His lens is a Leica Summilux 28 f/1.7 ASPH. The focal length is 28mm, although with the integrated zoom the focal range is extended to 75mm and it has an aperture of f/1.7. It also has a macro mode that allows focus from 17cm.
It is a very robust and bright lens, with a great defocus, very designed for manual use.
The body has a good grip, with a design very much in the classic Leica line (the famous M). This model incorporates a slit for the thumb as you can see in the following image. If you are looking for more grip due to the way you work, you can add a handgrip.
The menus are located on the back, and are very complete and intuitive, designed so as not to “waste time” digging through millions of options (as happens with other cameras). Nothing is missing and nothing is left over.
The screen is non-retractable touch screen. It has a good resolution and allows you to work with it quickly and effectively, when it comes to focusing and controlling other parameters.
Performance
The performance of this camera is something spectacular, its image quality is impressive as well as its focus system.
The Leica Q2 is a 47.3 MP full-frame compact camera with truly impressive sharpness in terms of sharpness and dynamic range, boasting up to 14 points (and the truth is that it shows, and a lot, when analyze the images).
The lens has a digital zoom of up to 75mm which makes it a really versatile lens for most situations.
It has an integrated stabilizer in the body, a fast (less than 0.15s) and precise autofocus system.
Leica Q2 Specifications
Let’s see in detail the main specifications of this camera:
Camera type35 mm compact digital camera, fixed focal length24 x 36 mm image formatImage sensor47.3 MP full frame CMOS sensor (effective)LensLeica Summilux 28 f/1.7 ASPH., 11 elements in 9 groups, 3 aspherical elementsDigital zoom28 mm, 35mm, 50mm, 75mmBuilt-in image stabilizationYesDynamic range14 aperture pointsAutofocus systemContrast-based autofocus systemAutofocus modesAFS (Shoot only when focus is achieved), AFC (Shoot at any time), AF settings can be savedISO50-50,000Shutter typeChoose between mechanical, electronic or hybridShutter speeds60 s to 1/2000s with mechanical shutter, 1s to 1/40000s with electric shutter, in 1/3x, flash sync up to 1/500s.Max speed of shooting 10fps Viewfinder Resolution: 1280 × 960 pixels x 3 colors (=3.68 MP) Display Display 3″ TFT LCD monitor with approx. 1,040,000 pixels, touch control possible Focus range 30 cm to ∞, with macro adjustment from 17 cm Exposure composition ±3 EV in 1⁄3 EV increments Scene modes Auto, sport, portrait, landscape, night portrait, beach/snow, fireworks, candles, sunset, digiscoping, miniature effect, panorama, time lapseBluetoothYesBattery shotsApprox. 350 Dimensions (W x H x D) Approx. 130 × 80 × 91.9 mm Weight Approx. 734/652 g (with/without battery)SoftwareLeica PHOTOS App
To see the full specifications click here.
Main advantages and disadvantages of the Leica Q2
The advantages and disadvantages of this camera are very relative, not all those who are looking for this camera profile want a folding screen, or value whether or not it has an integrated flash. However, let’s look at the advantages and some features that some users might miss.
Gallery of images taken with the Leica Q2
I was lucky to have the Leica Q2 in my hands to test it for a few days. Here is a small sample of the photos I took with her. I tried to look for photographically challenging lights and situations: interiors, situations with a lot of difference between lights and shadows, movement, etc.
Here you can see some photos in color and black and white.
Leica Q2 personal opinion
I must admit that the “compact” label caused me some (unfounded) reluctance when trying it, especially at this price. It was clear that he did not know what Leica was capable of. After testing it, I have to say that it really is an exceptional camera.
For a street or documentary photography it is perfect, due to its size, its design and its finishes. It is a fast, robust, sealed camera, ideal for setting it up quickly even (or especially) in manual.
It is a camera to focus on the enjoyment of photography 100%, to feel like Vivian Maier or Cartier Bresson, but with all the Leica technology.
The experience of working with it is excellent, from how it feels in the hands, super robust and compact and for me with just the right weight, to focusing through the lens or turning the ring of the diaphragm openings, it turns the photographic instant into a fantastic experience.
It invites, for my taste, to always work in manual, because it really is a pleasure to do it in an intuitive and agile way. Maybe because it is my usual way of working with photography, but the truth is that in 100% manual mode it is very enjoyable.
At the level of image quality, I found the dynamic range it has and its image quality to be impressive. Even the noise that may appear at certain ISOs has seemed pleasant and beautiful to me.
I, who am such a fan of black and white, have infinitely enjoyed converting RAW images to monochrome and seeing how beautiful their shades of gray, white and black are. I can’t imagine what its sister Leica Q2 Monochrom will be like in that regard.
A lot has happened since my Leica M2, but the essence remains the same. These cameras are from another planet 😉
Leica Q2 versus Fuji x100v
One of the main competitors of the Leica Q2 is the Fujifilm X100v, let’s see what they have in common and how they differ:
ModelLeica Q2FujifilmX100vImageLensLeica Summilux 28 f/1.7 ASPHFujinon 23f/2 (equivalent to 35mm)TypeCompact cameraCompact cameraSensorCMOS full frame APS-C X-Trans CMOS 4Megapixels47.3 MP26.1MPViewfinderOLED 3.68mpOLED 3.69 mpScreenFixed touch of 1.04 mpFolding touch of 1, 62 mpFocusContrastHybrid Contrast Phase DetectionAutofocus Points225117Maximum Shutter Speed1/2000s with mechanical shutter, 1/40000 with electronic shutter1/4000s with mechanical shutter, 1/32000 electronic shutterFrames per second10fps11fpsBuilt-in StabilizerYesYesVideo Resolution4K: 30 or 24 B/s
C4K: 24B/s
Full-HD: 24, 30, 60 or 120 B/s4K up to 30fps or Full HD at 120fps in Full HD 1080pISO50-50,000160-12800 Battery life350350Dimensions130 × 80 × 91.9mm128×75×53.3mmWeight734/652 g (with/without battery)478g/428g (with/without battery)Sealed bodyYesOnly by adding a filter holder with protective filterBluetooth connectivityBluetoothPriceAprox €5,435Approx €1,500
The main differences are the complete sensor of the Leica Q2 with which it almost doubles the Fuji in MP, as well as in the maximum ISO range. The Leica screen is not foldable, while the Fuji screen is.
The Q2’s lens construction is better, as well as half a stop brighter than the Fujifilm x100v.
In size they are very similar, as well as in battery life or in the viewfinder, although in weight the Fuji is much lighter.
The price difference, after the sensor, is the most notable between these two cameras. The Fujifilm x100v is around €1,500, while the Leica Q2 is around €5,500, a difference that is undoubtedly more than remarkable.
Leica Q2 monochrome
The Leica Q2 Monochrom model comes equipped with the same lens as the Q2, and with a full frame sensor with the same number of MP, sealed body, etc. The main difference is that this Leica Q2 Monochrom works exclusively in black and white and has been designed to stand out like no other in this field.
You can check it out here.
I recommend that you take a look at our complete guide to Leica cameras and lenses where you will find the complete catalog of this brand in detail.
Used Leica Q2
Buying a second-hand camera is always an interesting option if we are clear about what we are looking for, what we should look at, and where we are…