I’ve made no secret of my admiration for the Leica Q. It came out of the blue in mid 2015 and immediately captivated the photographic world. Even the traditional Leica naysayers were for once stuck for words.
This was a wonderful implementation of the fixed-lens camera in full-frame format and with probably the best electronic viewfinder on the market (the SL’s is better — or, at least — bigger but that came a few months later). The success of the Q took even Leica by surprise and the camera was on back order for almost a year. About the only thing anyone could criticise, and that unfairly, was the wide 28mm lens. This was only because popular prejudice centres on 35mm as being the ideal carry-around focal length and, as a result, 28mm is often sidelined.
As I discovered in my test of the camera and my nine-month review, that wide lens can be a positive boon, particularly for architectural and landscape work, and it is no disadvantage for more general work. With its fast f/1.7 Summilux lens and great handling, the Q is well deserving of its success.
Nevertheless, one thing was missing and that was a traditional silver chrome version. We’ve had to wait two years but, according to rumours, a silver version of the Q will be announced next month. Sadly, as reported by Leica Rumors, the Leica Q Silver Chrome will be a limited edition, similar to the short-lived Q Titanium, now discontinued. It seems that production could cease in March 2018. So, if you always wanted a Q and were waiting for the silver finish, now’s your chance to put your deposit down.
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