Today Leica announces the Q-P which, surprisingly, is not the Q2 everyone has been gossiping about. So don’t get too excited. The Q-P is a cosmetic update to the current Q but with the same technical specification. The Mark II version of the Q, which is rumoured to have a larger sensor and 75mm crop lines, will probably not appear mid 2019 at the earliest.
In the meantime, the Q-P is a very attractive design which, with its top-plate engraving and stealthy appearance, will appeal to those who have appreciated -P editions of Leica Ms over the years. The Q has been one of Leica’s most successful digital cameras, if not the most successful. The Q-P, as with the -P version of the M, brings a mid-term update which will put some new life into sales.
There are three main differences from the standard Q. First, the top plate and bottom cover are finished in a new matte lacquer developed by a Swiss manufacturer specialising in high-resistance paints. The lens also comes in a matte-black anodised finish.
Second, the shutter button and switch has been redesigned, with M and CL styling. Third, the red dot is removed (in true -P fashion).
The Q-P is as attractive as all -P “upgrades” and comes with a price tag of £4,100 (including a real leather strap), some £500 more than the current price of the standard Q.
After writing the above I had the chance to fondle the Q-P at Red Dot Cameras here in London. I have to say I was impressed. The Q-P may be just a cosmetic makeover but it is a gorgeous one which gets the want buds salivating. The new paint finish is unexpectedly magnificent and the whole camera is clearly more desirable than the standard Q. I would say it is worth the premium because it will hold on to its value better in the long run.
PRESS RELEASE
Leica Camera is pleased to announce a new premium variant of the esteemed Leica Q full-frame compact camera, the Leica Q-P. The Leica Q-P matches the critically acclaimed technical specifications of the ongoing Leica Q and pushes the design further forward to new heights of stealthiness and refinement.
The Leica Q-P replaces the front-facing red Leica dot logo with the classic script logo engraving on the top plate, favouring a more discreet look and aesthetic. The new “stealth” paint finish in a high-resistance flat matte black gives the camera an even darker black look and subtle textured feel. The shutter release and on/off switch have been redesigned and upgraded, giving users a better and more positive tactile feedback when taking pictures or switching drive modes. Elegantly contrasting the all-black camera is an adjustable-length high quality brown leather strap, exclusive to this Leica Q-P package which also includes a second rechargeable battery. The Leica Q-P is available at Leica Stores, Boutiques and Dealers this month.
Hi, I am excited about this and have contacted my dealer to get one ordered. It is the sexiest ( can I say that ina British blog 🙂) camera I have seen and I do not need to wait for the Q II. I could be dead before then, as I have waited a year for the Q II not wanting to purchase just before the rumoured update. But the reality is, most cameras in the last few years exceedwhat we really need for most purposes and I prefer to be creative than be unhappy searching for more that is an elusive dream in reality. The real issue is whether the haptics and rendering suit your needs for joy in photography.The Q is a great camera and if it inspires me to do more photography then it serves its purpose. I absolutely love the look of the camera and the strap looks gorgeous so if you do not appreciate it then it is simply not for you.
I had the chance to play with a Q-P this evening and it exceeded my execrations. The paint finish is gorgeous and the whole camera is a delight. It made me want another Q. Indeed, if you are happy with one focal length then it is a better carry-around prospect than an M10.
I already have a half case and silk strap ready for it due to two prior failed purchases of the Q on ebay. I am delighted that you are confirming my instincts on the finish. I do not care if it is stealthy as much as it looks elegant. The best aesthetic camera I have ever owned is the Leica SL – even young non camera people asked what it was and I had a well-known professional photographer in a restaurant come over and ask if he could handle it. The Hasselblad X1D is gorgeous but still is not as beautiful as the SL and the SL has better haptics in my opinion but too HEAVY for me. My system will now be the Panasonic G9, Leica Q-P for walk around and street photography, and Hasselblad X1D for methodical photography.
Sorry I am not very familiar with the Leica product naming hierarchy, if it is not too tedious can you explain the P suffix? as I understand it has been used on multiple models.
I understand that the P stands for “professional” and it has been used as a suffix on both film and digital cameras. Perhaps the best know is the film MP. The design includes the traditional Leica engraving on the top plate and a generally more subdued image. When Leica made the P version of the M240 they had to hyphenate the M-P to differentiate it from the still current MP. Basically though, the -P version is a marketing ploy to put new life into sales of a camera in mid life. The P versions tend to be the most in demand on the used market in the future, so the extra cost is worth it.
‘P’ is – or has been – used to suggest "Professional" ..which often involves just removing the usual Leica red dot to make the camera less noticeable, and to put the word ‘Leica’ in flowing script on the top plate of the camera instead.
The latest ‘P’ – the M10-P – does actually improve on the normal M10 by having a noticeably quieter shutter (..which Leica, the company, claims to be the quietest of any or all M-series rangefinder cameras).
Among other ‘P’ variations, down the years, have been the M4-P, which introduced a wider-angle viewfinder, showing the view seen by a 28mm lens, not just a 35mm.
Many of the ‘P’ cameras have simply been cosmetic variations on the normal model, although the first ‘P’ was a variation which allowed a trigger-winder (..a faster than usual film advance lever..) to be fitted to the bottom of the otherwise standard M3 camera ..the first of the Leica rangefinders which had the rangefinder focusing spot in the centre of the viewfinder window, instead of having separate windows for focusing and then composing the picture,
Leica are at it again. Talk about the Emperors New Clothes!
The leather strap doesn’t look stealthy next to the matte black Q-P. Did Leica have leather left over from making M5 straps in the 1970s?
Handsome camera! The revised shutter / power switch is a good update, but I’m not going to pay $5k USD for it 😜 I’ll wait for Q2.
You said larger sensor: I assume you mean more MPs, not a larger format right?
Yes, that’s right. The rumours are suggesting a higher density sensor which, I suppose, would mean 36MP or, even, 42MP. No doubt this would be a testbed for future SL and M cameras. But is all rumour. However, if a new Q with such a sensor does come along it will rather take the sails (not to mention sales) out of the M. I can see many M owners taking the opportunity of picking up a 28mm Summilux with a Q2 attached!
As good as this lens is, its more of a Summicron with a Q attached than a real Summilux.
That said, the regular Q is about the same price as the 28 Summicron, so still a good deal.
I hope it doesn’t pull too many from the M, as I would like to see the M series (including film cameras) continue for a long time). I think that many M users appreciate (in addition to the interchangeable lenses) the optical viewfinder and rangefinder focusing system, which the Q does not have.