Almost five years ago, Leica did something unusual. After half a decade of producing a rather haphazard array of APS-C fixed-lens cameras – from the X1 to the X – they finally got it right. The Leica Q with its full-frame sensor, f/1.7 Summilux lens and traditional physical controls, set the photographic world alight. Even confirmed Leicaphobes offered grudging praise. About the only thing they could complain about was the price. Plus ça change!
The Leica Q was a success from the off and within days it was on serious backorder, a situation that didn’t improve until well into the second half of 2016. Although I am not privy to the figures, I would be extremely surprised if the Q has not been Leica’s most successful digital camera of all time.
The odd thing is that such a successful design has remained unchallenged. Its only competitor has been the Sony RX1, a camera that never really set sail for reasons that I have never been sure about. Perhaps price had something to do with it. Initially, the Leica Q was barely more expensive than the Sony and it had a built-in viewfinder. Nothing much not to like there, and the customers flocked in.
During 2015 and into 2016, the original Leica Q became my favourite digital camera of all time. After nine months I chronicled my adventures with the camera. I still stand by every word. The Q has now been replaced in my camera bag by the even more competent Q2 with its 47MP sensor, revised rear controls and greater cropping abilities. But the original Q remains a stonking buy on the used market. It is one of those cameras that will become a classic.
So what did I think of the Leica Q after the first few weeks? Here is my review of the camera which was published originally in June 2015. Since then, the readership of Macfilos has grown and you might have missed this. Or, perhaps, you are in the market for this camera as a used buy. I can thoroughly recommend it.
(Note: Apologies that many of the images in this article are not clickable to view in the Lightbox. The galleries, which are new, can be expanded in the usual way).
2015 Review of the new Leica Q
The Leica Q is the company’s most significant introduction since the M240. Not only does this camera meet competitors such as Sony and Fuji on equal terms, but it also betters them in several respects while offering Leica’s unique selling proposition, simplicity.
At last, in the Q, we have a full-frame compact with a superb lens that gives up little, except the versatility of a system mount and the rangefinder system, to the more expensive M. It is the perfect second camera for any M owner. And at its price, it will attract new recruits to Leica ownership.
I have had just over a week to get familiar with this camera. Normally I would wait longer before writing a review but, such is the interest in the Q, I am publishing my initial impressions as quickly as possible. They are mainly concerned with the design and handling. I will follow with a more focused view after more experience.
Design
The Q takes its design cues from the X and X Vario. In a subtle way, though, the Q contrives to pay homage to granddaddy M rangefinder. With its rounded ends, its simple and precise controls and the innovative lens ergonomics, this new camera is every inch the mini M.
This is the first camera to be designed by the new in-house team at Wetzlar, rather than by Audi Design. Lead designer Vincent Laine, from Sweden, has managed to create a classic. He has perfectly distilled the Zeitgeist of M photography and produced a thoroughly modern camera that has everything you really need rather than what market forces decide you need. The design team has resisted the temptation to tick every box and, as a result, the camera is all the better for it.
The influence of true photographers is palpable. That thumb indent, a sort of Thumbs In grip, is more effective than you imagine. The controls are slick and precise, the viewfinder is a triumph. It is the best I have ever tried and I am not excluding the finders in the Sony A7 or the Fuji X-T1.
The matte black trim with white engraving is pure Leica and in perfect taste. Even the black shutter release button is all the better for having resisted the temptation to chrome. And the new diamond-pattern faux-leather trim strikes just the right note. This is one handsome and exceedingly desirable camera.
In addition to feeling like an M, the Q is also solidly built, perhaps not as substantial as the M with its brass top plate, but the weight benefits are an attractive tradeoff.
Controls
The body offers a refreshingly uncluttered and simple control layout, devoid of the excesses found in most modern digital cameras. This is a major advantage and will be welcomed by existing Leica M owners and the increasing number of photographers who are fed up with feature inflation.
Programmable function buttons are kept to a minimum, just one FN and one unmarked button which is mainly intended for control of the digital crop. The D-pad is simple in the extreme—the four-way buttons are used for moving the focus point or for navigating menus and playback.
Leica has resisted the temptation to make them programmable or dual-functioned. The central button does a few things well, including action confirmation and view toggling, but nothing more. This is a camera where you feel no need to fiddle and no compunction to keep changing functions to the point where you never know quite where you are. Once, learned, the layout of the Q is nigh on perfect.
The three-inch 1.04 million dot screen is bright and contrasty. It does not tilt, which some users will find disappointing. However, having used tilting screens on Sony and Fuji cameras during the year I can live without them. They do have an undoubted advantage when creating low-level shots, twin-lens-reflex style, but Leica’s concentration on essentials is commendable.
The screen offers touch control facilities, not quite as extensive as those on the Leica T, mainly restricted to focus selection and scrolling through menus, selecting options or navigating playback. The good thing is that touch is entirely optional. Everything you need to do can be accomplished using traditional controls, unlike with the Leica T.
To the left of the bright 3in LCD screen there are five buttons with just the right amount of resistance:
- Play
- Delete
- FN
- ISO
- Menu.
The FN button can be set to a small number of options, as can the unmarked crop button which sits on the top plate immediately below the shutter dial. Descriptions are above the buttons on the left of the screen. It can be a little confusing to decide which legend belongs to which button, particularly against the black background of the camera. You have to remind yourself that the legend is always above the button but it is something users will easily get used to.
The most striking feature of the camera back is the large oval viewfinder with a very shallow eye cup and a clear glass screen covering the magnified central viewing window. From a design point of view, this large screen makes the actual viewfinder seem larger than it is. To the left of this window is the eye sensor. Finally, in traditional Leica fashion, the legend LEICA CAMERA WETZLAR GERMANY is engraved above the screen and filled in white.
The overall impression is one of good taste and elegant functionality. The layout provides you with what you need and not a jot more.
On the top-plate, we have the traditional shutter speed dial with its A(auto) setting and speed markings from 1+ to 2000. Strangely, the speed markings on the dial of the review camera do not line up precisely with the reference dot. It is a little disconcerting and gives the impression the speed is set to one-third stop slower than the marking. However, the dial moves in full-stop increments which makes the apparent misalignment unusual. Other cameras, seen in photographs, do not appear to suffer in the same way and Leica has just confirmed that the dial might need adjustment.
During my first week with the Q the little camera has been to the Brooklands Museum, the London Naked Bike Ride and the historic city of York including a dash up and down Whip-Ma-Whop-Ma-Gate
After the 2000 engraving is a dash which reminds us that from 1/2500 the electronic shutter extends the range to 1/16000s. The mechanical shutter is whisper quiet while the electronic shutter is silent. Another plus point for the street photographer.
To the right of the speed dial is the shutter release with a concentric on/off switch which also controls single or continuous shooting. This is in the familiar spot and very easy to use by feel. However, I do find that the switch moves too readily from S to C. Several times I have found myself in continuous mode by mistake. Slightly stiffer resistance would be welcome. [Note: This has been cured on the Q2]
To the right of the shutter release is the movie button which cannot be disabled in the menu. Fortunately, I have not so far suffered from phantom movies as I did when testing the Leica X a few weeks ago. I suspect it is less sensitive than the button on the X and X Vario.
Finally, to the rear right of the top plate is a flush, recessed control wheel which adjusts exposure compensation but also acts as a scroll dial in the menu and in playback mode.
The FN button is programmable and can be set to control seven options:
- white balance
- exposure
- scene modes
- file format
- metering mode
- wireless LAN
- self-timer.
In exposure mode, repeatedly pressing FN toggles through options: Exposure compensation, bracketing, and flash compensation. On other settings the recessed control wheel on the top plate is used to move between options or, in some cases, the setting can be set by touch on the screen.
The FN button is also quite clever. A quick caress brings up the last-selected option but a longer press shows the list of options (as listed above) which can be scrolled through using the soft dial on the top plate.
The Zoom/lock button above the screen, which is unmarked, can be set within the menu to AEL/AFL, AFL, AEL or Digital Zoom (the default). I have tended to leave this as a zoom-selection button.
The central button of the direction pad toggles the screen and viewfinder through various levels of information. It also acts as action confirmation for menu items.
There is one glaring omission in the list of physical controls. The camera desperately needs a view or live view button (as on other cameras in the range, including the D-Lux and M). Many photographers prefer to work from the viewfinder with the screen disabled.
The required option can be set within the menu but, once fixed, there is no way back other than to squint at the menu in the viewfinder. This is a really serious omission which reminds me of a similar fault with the Sony A7 range. It is highly frustrating and, on occasion, seriously annoying.
While an extra button is now out of the question, I hope Leica can devise a way of offering soft access to this feature in a future firmware update, perhaps by adding an eighth item to the FN button list.
The entire control layout, with the exception of the omission of a live view button, is straightforward and exceedingly simple. Leica M users will feel completely at home. It is a perfect example of less being more.
Communication
So far I have not explored the wifi capabilities, other than downloading the new iOS app specially created for the Q. Android support will follow later. The camera also offers near-field communication. I will explore this in a later update.
Menus
The simplicity and sense of purpose that exemplifies the Q extends to the menu system. It is an improvement over even the commendably straightforward layouts on the M and X models. For starters, there is an easy-to-read compact sans-serif system font which displays clearly in white against a dark grey background.
Highlights are indicated in bold type with a red line under the item. The red line can be a bit confusing at first—does it refer to the item above or below? I am now used to it although I think I would prefer an alternative background or colour for the highlighted option text.
The menu consists of one continuous list over four fully populated screens, followed by WLAN and Reset on their own at the end. Unlike on other cameras, where menu items are arbitrarily grouped into folders, often confusingly, this single-list approach is refreshing (although we have seen it on other Leica cameras).
What is interesting is that the items appear to have been sorted into Leica’s view of which functions you need most frequently. So, for instance, the first screen leads with digital zoom, focus, exposure, continuous shooting speed, self timer and flash settings. Less-frequently needed functions such as play mode, image numbering, language, format and user profile are relegated to the last full screen.
I rather like this approach and I have had no difficulty navigating the menus. This simplicity is in direct contrast to that on other cameras I have used recently, particularly the Sony A7II.
The menu page stays on the one last viewed when you come back for a second time. This is a sensible choice.
I find only one thing odd about the menus. The option to select monochrome mode is hidden under Saturation on the JPEG settings where it is very difficult to find. Normally I would expect to find this in the mode section.
The Scene Mode option is set by default to PASM, allowing the camera to operate in program, aperture priority, shutter priority or manual according to the setting of the physical dials and lens. In addition, if required, there are baked-in settings for full auto, sports, portrait, landscape, night portrait, snow/beach, fireworks, candlelight, sunset, digiscoping, miniature effect, panorama and time-lapse. So far I have not had the opportunity to explore these options.
JPEG resolution can be set to 24/15/8 Megapixels at maximum, corresponding to full-frame, 35mm crop and 50mm crop. Full-frame resolution can be scaled down to 12, 6 or 1.7MP with corresponding reductions for the crop settings.
As with the X cameras, it is impossible to record DNG files only—the options being JPG only or a combination of DNG and JPG. Reviewers have repeatedly highlighted this strange behaviour when testing X and T cameras and I am still unsure why Leica insist on adding a compulsory sidecar file when all you want is DNG.
This raises a particular problem with the Q because there is no significant file compression. As a result, every DNG file is 43.1MB while JPEGS (at full resolution) average 6.5-12.5MP. It is possible to scale down the JPEGS if you are not going to use them but the storage of nearly 50MP per shot is always going to be a problem. Already I find my powerful 5K iMac with its 32GB of RAM working overtime importing these Q DNG files. The implications for long-term storage are significant. [Note: Just wait until you get your hands on the Q2, then…]
As on all modern Leicas, ISO parameters can be specified in conjunction with the Auto setting. Maximum exposure time can be set to anything from 1s through to 1/2000s.
Presumably, because this is a fixed-lens camera there is no option to choose a value linked to lens focal length as there is with the M and the T. Maximum sensitivity can be set to any value between 400 and 50000. My preference is to set the Auto ISO function to 1/60s and 6400 for general work. Specific ISO settings can be adjusted by the ISO button, from auto to any fixed value.
Lens
The 28mm Summilux lens consists of eleven elements in nine groups with three aspherical elements. Its most surprising feature, however, is not the optical quality. Not only is this a superb optic, sitting midway at f/1.7 between the traditional Summicron and Summilux maximum apertures, it is also a triumph of good ergonomic design.
With its aperture ring and depth-of-field scale, it looks just like an M manual lens after a big dinner. Portly it undeniably is compared with the svelte M optics, but then it has to accommodate motors and stabilisation functions. Once you get over its stubbiness, this lens impresses in every respect.
The aperture ring, marked from 1.7 to 16 and operating in one-third stop increments, sits at the outermost edge, just as the gods ordained. The widest aperture is on the left, as with any Leica lens (and unlike Fuji lenses which drive on the other side of the road and cause me no end of confusion). To the left of the widest aperture is the A(auto) position, beyond a smooth and precise détente.
Above: Normal focus mode and the depth of field scale sits alongside the 30cm to infinity range
Twist the macro ring and the 17cm-30cm scale appears to work with the depth-of-field scale. This is sheer brilliance
A on the aperture dial allows shutter priority using the speed dial; A on the shutter speed dial permits aperture priority. Or A on both put the camera in program mode with the control dial altering settings in tandem. This arrangement was first designed for the Digilux 2 over ten years ago and it has never been improved upon. We have grown more familiar with it on the X-series Leicas in recent years.
As with any M aperture ring, the travel from widest to narrowest aperture takes up around a quarter of a full turn and has firm stops at either end. Although both aperture and focus rings are electronic, Leica does a remarkable job of simulating the feel of an M-mount lens. From behind your viewfinder with your fingers on the focus tab, you could almost think you were holding an M.
The focus ring, with its accompanying depth-of-field scale, also moves through a quarter turn. It is equipped with a tab, similar in design to those on several modern M lenses, including the 50mm APO-Summicron.
This tab design, however, features a small button in the centre of the upper edge which releases the focus ring to move between AF and MF. Previously, on X cameras, the focus ring has made do with a détente similar to that on the aperture ring. After a week I still find this little button difficult to locate by touch and somewhat fiddly to operate. I am not sure that I don’t prefer the old method with the simple détente, but time will tell.
On a positive note, the focus tab allows the setting to be judged easily by feel. With the tab at six o’clock, the focus is at approximately 65cm and it is a good starting point for quick manual focus. Similarly. moving the tab to 4 o’clock puts the wide lens in its optimum hyperfocal setting for most street photography. As an aside, the focus tab props up the lens when the camera is placed on a flat surface. However, if AF is engaged with the tax off to the side the camera will flop down on the lens.
The most interesting design aspect of the lens is the macro ring which sits inboard of focus, against the body. Moving the ring to engage macro flips the focus scale, which slides back and forth beneath the macro and focus rings.
Instead of the normal 30cm to infinity markings, the macro scale reveals a 17cm to 30cm range which lines up with the standard depth-of-field scale to provide a good estimate of the in-focus range. It is quite remarkable and is one of my favourite features of the camera. I cannot stop playing with it, savouring the magical smoothness and perfectly damped progression from normal to macro scales.
When I first saw the specification of the Q I was surprised to find in-lens stabilisation. With a focal length of 28mm, stabilisation is certainly not essential and it can be switched on or off in the menu. Many purists avoid optical stabilisation in the belief that it compromises image quality. I have a feeling that OIS on the Q is there mainly to enhance the video. It is significant that OIS is switched off by default and, I suspect, many still photographers will not use the feature.
Theoretically, however, the combination of high sensitivity and optical image stabilisation has the potential to turn the Q into a very effective low-light camera. ISO performance at 3200 and 6400 is outstanding and I have been pleasantly surprised by results at 12500. Higher settings are best left for emergencies only as you would imagine. But even shots taken at 50000 are still usable. Contrast this overall performance with the realistic ISO1600 maximum of the M9 just five years ago.
This lens is truly innovative in its ergonomics and yet contrives to be archetypal Leica in concept and appearance. It looks more like a “proper” Leica lens than any crop-frame autofocus lens yet produced by the company. As a fixed lens, it benefits from the designers’ ability to tune the optics precisely to the sensor.
To cap it all we have a wonderful lens hood. It is a small aspect, I know, but it demonstrates the Leica attention to detail. The hood, which adds no more than 8mm to the length of the lens, screws on in place of the removable bezel. The thread is so precise that the hood always finishes with the inscription LEICA CAMERA WETZLAR perfectly centred on the white aperture blob. Something else to delight.
This is also one of the best looking hoods I have seen. Normally I try to get away without a hood but in this instance, I actually like the look of it and have left it permanently attached to the camera. Taking it on and off according to lighting conditions seems unnecessary because it is so compact. And, of course, that bezel will easily be lost. It’s best to leave it in the camera box.
I have been using a protective UV filter which fits easily inside the hood. It would also be possible to add an ND filter (there is none built into the electronics). However, with a top speed of 1/16000s, the camera has a three-stop advantage which reduces the need for a filter except in very bright conditions. It contrasts with the Leica X which I reviewed last month. On that camera, with a 1/2000s maximum speed and no electronic shutter, it is impossible to use the widest aperture in bright conditions without the addition of a filter.
On the negative side, there is a rattle from the Q lens when the camera is switched off. At first, I worried about this, jumping to the conclusion that something was broken inside. But when I checked the forums there are reports of similar rattles with Panasonic and other lenses. Apparently it is something to do with the stabilisation mechanism and Leica has confirmed that it is normal.
Viewfinder
The Q, as a whole, is nothing short of brilliant in concept and implementation. But my favourite features are the lens ergonomics, as already described, and the viewfinder. The mere fact that the EVF is there, built into the body, is a welcome feature in itself for Leica watchers.
With 3.68 million dots, this finder is one of the finest I have ever used. It is better even than the EVFs on the Fuji X-T1 and Sony A7, both of which I have used extensively in the recent past and both of which are considered state of the art. The image is large and I have noticed very little lag or smearing. It is nearly as good as peering through a DSLR viewfinder and, because of the high resolution, the view looks natural, almost optical in character. It is the nearest I have experienced to the M’s rangefinder view and that is a compliment indeed. When those frame lines are selected I get a real sense of déjà vu.
The eyepiece is centralised in a much larger oval enclosure with a second glass screen covering both viewfinder window and eye sensor. The rubber eyecup is very shallow and quite unlike the large rubber surrounds seen on other cameras. Some users who do not wear glasses might prefer a larger eyecup to help cut out stray light. As far as I am aware there are no alternatives at the moment. For glasses wearers, however, this flat profile is an advantage, allowing the eye to get closer to the finder. I have no difficulty seeing the edges of the large screen while wearing glasses.
The camera can be set to show live view on the screen, in the viewfinder or automatically to toggle between both. The eye sensor works well, no misses yet, and I have it set to low sensitivity. Unfortunately, the transition is also triggered by a finger waving in front of the window or by the thumb resting on the top left of the camera while accessing menus or in playback. Other users have reported that a neckstrap can also trigger the transition.
This can be distracting and it is something I have not experienced with other cameras. One problem is that the viewfinder window is right next to the top left-hand edge of the camera with the sensor on the left of the window. It is exactly where the thumb rests when holding the camera in two hands. Perhaps moving the sensor to the right of the window would address this problem.
The diopter control, to the right of the viewfinder, is away from prying fingers but I still find it out of adjustment frequently. This is par for the course with most modern viewfinders and I might have to resort to the old black tape trick.
A built-in finder is what we have been requesting ever since the X1 in 2010. It is just so much more convenient not to have to fit an accessory to the hot-shoe. These external devices are invariably ugly and inconvenient, even making it difficult to put the camera into a bag without snagging. About the only thing I can say in their favour is that they can be tilted upwards for low-level shots.
All in all, this viewfinder is another triumph for the Q and it is a surprise that Leica is actually leading the pack for once. M owners who try the Q will not feel shortchanged and will be surprised just how familiar the experience feels.
Below: Comparison between 28mm, 35mm and 50mm crops (click to enlarge)
Digital zoom
Digital zooms are nothing new. Almost every point-and-shoot offers unfeasibly long zoom capabilities but with correspondingly unfeasible results. Zooming digitally (as opposed to using an optical zoom lens) does nothing that you cannot achieve just as easily by cropping in Lightroom. That said, with small sensors, the opportunities for cropping are limited. As a result, the digital zoom has a bad name and serious photographers do not even consider using the function on most cameras.
With the Q, however, Leica has introduced a sleight of hand which makes the digital zoom more attractive and worth using. The camera offers two stepped levels of zoom to transform the 28mm lens into narrower 35mm and 50mm FOVs. With the full-frame sensor, these crops are usable although the resolution does suffer, down from 24MP to 8MP at 50mm and 15MP at 35mm.
So far, there is nothing new here. Ricoh has long offered a similar stepped-zoom digital system with the GR. Also a native 28mm camera, the Ricoh can be set to 35mm and 47mmcrops. The viewfinder image zooms in and occupies the full screen.
Full frame 50mm crop
Leica does it differently, however. In a stroke of genius, the designer decided to introduce frame lines. The unmarked zoom/lock button above the screen toggles from full screen (28mm) to frame lines for 35mm or 50mm. To dispel doubt, the lines carry a tiny 35 or 50 imprint at the bottom right-hand corner.
Any rangefinder user will feel right at home with these frames. At 50mm, in particular, there is quite a wide surrounding view which enables anticipation of subject movement, something that is always lauded as a benefit of the mechanical rangefinder. Even at 35mm, there is a respectable border to simulate a rangefinder view.
But why bother with any of this when the same result can be obtained in post-processing? It’s a fair point but I beg to suggest it is worth persevering with this feature of the camera. I believe Leica’s approach enhances the photographer’s experience and makes framing and composition easier.
It is undoubtedly useful for producing cropped JPEGs for instant emailing or copying to the iPad without the need for further processing. But it is also helpful in composing 35mm and 50mm shots when you feel in the mood for those focal lengths.
If you crop to 35mm or 50mm, the Q produces no-return JPEGS which cannot be expanded subsequently. DNG files, on the other hand, give you the best of both worlds. When first viewed in Lightroom they are shown cropped to the camera zoom setting. But pressing the crop tool immediately reveals the rest of the 28mm frame around the edges of the crop. You can also use reset to reveal the full-frame. This is a small point but I find it helpful.
Within Lightroom 2015 which I am currently using, the metadata always shows 28mm regardless of the digital zoom setting. On the other hand, the file size is clearly shown and this tells you whether or not the crop settings were used. A full-frame DNG is 6000×4000 (24MP) with 35mm at 4800×3200 (15.36MP) and 50mm at 3360×2240 (7.53MP)
This brings me to the choice of a 28mm lens in the first place. Not everyone thinks 28mm is ideal, with many preferring 35mm or even 50mm for street photography. I admit I have been on a 50mm kick for most of the last year and I have often argued that 28mm is too wide for general use.
Despite the success of the Ricoh GR and the popularity of 28mm M lenses (including the new 28mm Summilux which, incidentally, costs £1,100 more than the Q camera and lens combined) many photographers regard 35mm as the holy grail for walk-around shots. The wider 28mm focal length is one of the first reservations people raise when I show them the Q.
While I have not had any sort of explanation from Leica, I can surmise that the designers took the view that a wider focal length would offer greater versatility. After all, you can crop 28mm but you cannot un-crop a 35 or 50mm frame. When looked at it this way, the wider lens makes a lot of sense. A 28mm FOV can be very useful in travel, especially for architectural and landscape shots.
In summary, the Leica Q’s digital zoom is fun to use, especially because of the simulated M viewfinder with frame lines, and eminently practical. I have found myself using it frequently as an aid to framing.
For portraits, for instance, 28mm can sometimes be distracting because there is a tendency to stand too close and this leads to facial distortion. But the 50mm zoom setting forces you to stand further back, resulting in a more natural-looking image. Of course, none of this is a substitute for, say, a 50mm lens on an M camera. But it helps and certainly enhances the versatility of this one-lens camera.
Video
I seldom, if ever, use video so I am not qualified to comment. The camera is capable of recording full HD at 1920x1080p with 60 or 30 frames per second, or HD at 1280x720p with 30 fps. Other reviewers, including Ming Thein, have covered this aspect of the camera. Ming was pleasantly surprised by the video features although Chris in the Camera Store video review (see below) is not impressed.
In use
It is very hard to fault this camera on the basis of my short experience. I have loved every minute of using it and have only very minor quibbles about the control functions, outlined earlier in this article.
The Q is the right size in my opinion, just like any Leica film camera. It fits the hands well, the controls are perfectly placed and the lens haptics are outstanding. I have been using it with a wrist strap most of the time and it is as comfortable as an M6 or M7 but in a lighter package. The indented thumb grip helps a lot but I would not rule out an accessory Thumbs Up if I can persuade Tim Isaac of Match Technical to make one. At the moment I think it will be a difficult task because of the placing of the zoom/lock button.
The lens is tack sharp in the centre, even at the widest aperture. Edges are extremely sharp at f/5.6 and narrower but there is a very small degree of softening at wider apertures as is often the case. Colour rendition is excellent and none of the shots in this review has been subject to editing in this respect.
Many people talk about the unique “Leica signature” but I never seem capable of detecting this; all I know is that I like what I see. In most respects, the results from the Q are comparable with those from the M and other reviewers can detect the Leica pop.
I have no doubt that the 28mm Summilux-M will outperform the Q’s prime. If it doesn’t, there is something wrong in the pricing. The question is just how much better. I doubt I am competent enough to tell the difference and, for most purposes and for most people, the f/1.7 fixed lens of the Q going to be a brilliant tool.
ISO 6500 ISO 25000 ISO 5000
In macro mode, the widest aperture is limited to f/2.8, presumably in the interests of obtaining optimum sharpness. Unlike the Leica X, however, there is no restriction imposed when using the standard minimum focus of 30cm.
Leica claims a continuous shooting speed of ten frames per second with slower options at 5 and 3fps. In single-shot mode, continuous pressing of the shutter manages 12 shots before the recording slows down because of buffer overload. This compares with six exposures on the standard Leica M with its 1GB butter or just over 20 shots on the M-P thanks to the larger 2GB buffer.
Autofocus
The contrast-based autofocus is extremely fast and reliable in good lighting conditions. It also performs well in low-light, both in terms of speed and accuracy. It beats the Fuji X-T1, the Sony A7 range and could even be as fast as the Olympus OM-Ds which are said to offer the fastest experience. Subjectively, AF feels as fast as on any camera I have used and this is particularly impressive for a full-frame camera.
If selected, the touch-screen function can be set to permit focus selection or to combine focus with shutter release where you can take the picture by simply tapping the screen. This is similar to the system on the Canon EOS-M, reviewed last year. It is undoubtedly useful for selective focus when using the screen for composition. Screen touch focus is a menu option and is not in operation when standard focus modes (multi, single-point, tracking, face detection) are selected. So, if you hate the thought of touch focus it can simply be disabled.
It is disappointing that AF mode selection is not assignable to the FN button to enable quick changes between touch and traditional focus options. Personally I would substitute AF mode selection for WLAN or self-timer in the FN-button options. Or, better still, just add it to the list. In mitigation, the focus mode is the second item on the first screen of the menu, so it is quite easy to find (unless you happen to have left the menu on another page because it returns to the last page viewed).
Manual focus
Manual focus implementation is, without doubt, the best I have found on any mirrorless automatic camera. In my opinion, is second only to the experience of using a rangefinder. The live view responds instantly to the slightest movement of the focus ring. If required, it can be set to automatic magnification, which I find useful.
Initially, this appears as 3x view but a press of the button in the centre of the direction pad brings up x6 magnification. The good news is that this setting sticks even after turning off the camera. Once fixed, the choice of magnification will stay at 6x until you again toggle the button.
Because the focus ring on the lens functions identically to that on a mechanical M, it is very quick. It is easy to home in on an approximate sharp view before fine tuning. Most modern autofocus lenses are extremely disappointing in manual mode since the focus ring twiddles round and round and, often, you do not know which way to turn, lost in a sea of bokeh.
Focus peaking is available in four colours (red, green, blue and white) but in only one intensity. Some reviewers have criticised the lack of variable intensity but I appreciate Leica’s decision to offer a more simplified set of options. I am sure this is deliberate rather than an oversight.
I do find that setting the JPEG to monochrome is helps with manual focusing because the peaking colour is much more easily visible against a grey background. This is a trick I used with the new D-Lux which, uniquely as far as I am aware, allows the live view to be set to monochrome while still recording colour JPEGS. The Q does not offer this flexibility, however, and any JPEGS will also be in B&W if you opt for a monochrome view.
If you do not wish to use focus peaking, it is still quite easy to detect sharpness by eye. The image shimmers slightly when in focus. I don’t know why this happens but I first noticed it on the Fuji X-E1 and verified that it happens, whether by design or by happenstance, on all Fujis, Sonys and Panasonics that I have tried. The MF Assist options comprise auto magnification (with focus peaking), focus peaking without magnification, auto magnification combined with focus peaking and, finally, assistance off.
If manual focus implementation is excellent, zone focus on this camera is totally impressive. Zone focus becomes progressively more reliable the wider the lens and there is a perceptibly wider depth of field with the 28mm Q lens over even the 35mm FOV as found on the Fuji X100T or Sony RX1. At f/8 or f/11, ideal apertures for street photography, a hyperfocal distance of 2m (or 6ft) ensures that almost everything you are likely to shoot is in focus. This the quickest focus you can get because it is instant.
The combination of superb manual focus, just as satisfying as with a rangefinder camera, and perfect zone focus makes the Q one of the more suitable cameras I have tried for street photography.
Battery Life
Battery life is a problem with the Q as with most competitors. I would say that even the claimed 300 shots on a charge is on the optimistic side. Despite the physically large 1200 mAh battery (the same as that used in the Leica V-Lux and Panasonic FZ-1000) the Q definitely runs out of power sooner than you expect. You will definitely need at least one spare battery, preferably two.
Since publishing this test I find that the battery seems to run down even when the camera is not being used. I have switched off wifi and set screen brightness to low to help improve battery life. Friends have suggested that switching off OIS might also help. As an aside, I have found the camera switched on several times when pulling it out of the bag and I am wondering if, by some chance, the on/off switch is being toggled while the camera is in the bag. Another possibility is that I leave it switched on by mistake and light pressure on the shutter release wakes the camera repeatedly. Battery life is something I need to watch and will report on later if I find any explanations.
Round up
That the Q is already on backorder throughout the world is no big surprise to anyone who has had more than a fleeting acquaintance with it. No other digital Leica, except perhaps the M, has stirred the juices quite so vigorously as the Q.
This camera isn’t perfect but, for once, Leica is ahead of the game with a camera that even Leica haters are grudgingly accepting as outstanding. Always there will be criticism on price but, even by non-Leica standards, this camera is not overpriced. It is actually comparable in price to its sole competitor, the Sony RX1 when equipped with the external viewfinder accessory.
As I pointed out earlier in this review, a 28mm Summilux-M lens costs 30% more than the Q. One dealer told me that he is explaining to customers that the camera comes free with the lens. This tongue-in-cheek proposition is not without an element of truth.
With the Q, Leica is back at the cutting edge and I can see defectors, who have found solace with Sony or Fuji, returning to the fold. The inclusion of a viewfinder instead of the tack-on devices favoured by previous Leica digitals is an important part of the Q’s appeal and it is a feature that will convince many to part with their money.
This camera will be a success; to an extent, it already is a success. I feel sure it will lead to further developments in Leica digitals that will sail happily alongside the flagship M. The M is a more solid (and heavier) full-frame camera; it has the best lenses in the world to keep you happy as well as a unique, if quirky, viewing and focusing experience. I believe it will survive as an example of perfection in manual operation.
But, for the first time, the Q offers similar image quality and handling together with a more modern approach in a camera that is affordable. Buy a Q. You will not regret it.
What do you think of the Q? I know that many readers own this camera and it would be good to have your comments.
More pictures in Leica Q Goes on the Naked Bike Ride
You will also enjoy Thorsten von Overgaard’s excellent review
More Leica tests by Macfilos
Video Review from The Camera Store
Gallery
I had the Leica Q. Got rid of it when I learned that Leica refused to allow me to use the wonderful lens at high iso for 20 seconds so I could use it for Astrophotography. Really Leica? After paying nearly $5K for a camera, apparently I am still unable to judge what image quality is good enough. Same for the Q2, even after the latest firmware upgrade. This compulsion by Leica to control my images is ridiculous. Yes I can stack the image, and find other ways around it. Its the principle of the thing! The manufacturer has chosen to cripple the camera and limit my ability to use the tool to its fullest capacity. URGH!
Interesting, and something I hadn’t considered. I don’t know how many people would regard this as a deal breaker but it’s definitely a point to best in mind.
I would head into the Leica Store in SF on a regular basis to look at the Photos in the gallery then head over and longingly gaze at the Q all the while declaiming why I didn’t need one citing a few minor reasons why it was not right for me.
I maintained this charade Holding firm until the Q2 was announced. It was weather sealed so my “a camera costing this much should be sealed” comment was off the board, the viewfinder was now OLED so the minor conflict with polarized sunglasses that I wore disappeared. The resolution boost played well with the crop modes and the print sizes that I made.
In a moment of weakness or was it clarity I headed to the purveyor of all things Leica the week that the Q2 was announced to give it a try and ended up much to my surprise with my name on the waiting list. Fast forwarding to today it is my go to camera and is a joy to use.
I will close here by saying that although I am comfortable with 28mm having owned a Fuji X70 which has an equivalent view angle, I find that I often use the digital zoom (crop) and appreciate the framing lines since they allow me to accurately compose an image in real time.
Agreed. The Q2 is something special. The original Q was good, but the Q2 is a very worthwhile upgrade in so many respects.
Thanks for the wonderful article – you’re not making my life any easier! I started out with a compact Olympus OM2 with a 50mm lens. I was a fan of Jane Bown’s photography where simplicity ruled. I never really thought about needing “more” in terms of lenses.
Now I have a Leica CL with 3 lenses and I crave that simplicity again – never second-guessing whether you should have brought one of the other lenses along instead. I look at the images on LFI and I’m blown away what you can accomplish with this one lens and an approach where you see it as a challenge to be overcome not a barrier to be defeated by. I fear my credit card will need to be calmed ready for what comes next…
Super article with super pictures thank you Mike. I was one of the doubting Thomas’s when the Q was announced and could not see any point in a 28mm fixed length lens camera, though my views mellowed somewhat after actually handling one at Leica in London, in short I liked it but still did not buy.
Your superb pictures taken in Switzerland with the original Q somehow still lingered with me however and secondhand prices also fell – so darn it I eventually bought one and hence have been hooked ever since though much as when the first Q came out I now remain unconvinced as to whether I could be persuaded to splash out again and go for a Q2.
Yes if honest I would of course like one, and maybe another visit to Leica London whenever this awful virus subsides might persuade me assuming they allowed me to stand outside with my O and a 2 and to shoot a few shots on each camera on one of my own memory card so I could try and establish if all of the Q2’s extra m/pixels made as much difference as I would want to persuade me to part with my money.
That said, and please do not tell Leica, but I still would not be buying until I could find one much cheaper again secondhand, in short maybe about when the Q3 is being mooted. Meanwhile thanks again, you never knew it but you did me a real favour with that Swiss test because the Q now is my very best loved Leica (And I have quite a few!).
Thanks, Don. The controls, the weather protection and the SL battery are points in favour of the Q2 but, frankly, I don’t see any pressing need to upgrade if you already own the Q. I wouldn’t consider the 47MP sensor as being that crucial. As you say, prices will soften and it could be a good thing to wait.
I tend to keep my nose close to the ground and as soon as I hear a rumour I will sell the current model, put the money in the bank and await the new one. That way I get a better overall deal. I did that with the Q, selling it over a year before the Q2 came out and, thanks to the price inflation since new, didn’t make much loss. But if I’d kept it, I probably would not have swapped at this stage.
“..shoot a few shots on each camera on one of my own memory card..”
That’s the best tip ever, Don. Well, not so much a tip, as the obvious way to do it! ..I always carry a card to slip into a store’s camera if I think that maybe I’m tempted by something.
Then I take the card home – sometimes after putting a ‘holding’ request on a 2nd-hand camera or on a lens for a couple of days – and then, like you, I examine the photos at home.
That’s “talked me out of” a few cameras ..and more often out of buying a lens! Rave reviews, and ‘expert’ tests say lens such-&-such is “incredible”, “wonderful”, “not to be missed”, etc. But a few shots on my own memory card often show me “meh; not as great as claimed”, “so what’s so special about this?” or “I’ll just never need this lens, ever!”
Taking your own card with you is the best advice that I’ve never seen written anywhere before.. Thanks, Don!
Having started photography using a Practika SLR and Pentacon 50mm f1.8 lens, with manual focus, manual exposure settings and whatever ISO film you have loaded in the camera, I enjoy returning to the simplicity of taking photos in that mode. I bought the M8 soon after it came out but found it wasn’t a camera you could easily share, as my wife just wanted something to point and shoot. I later bought the DLux Typ 109 and really enjoyed the ability to manually take control of most things (but manual focus is pretty clunky). Having now moved to the Leica Q2 I can say that it is a joy to use, when you have the time you can set everything yourself and revel in the experience. When in a rush, set everything to auto and fire away. Likewise you can offer the camera to others to point and shoot. I haven’t yet found an easy way to losslessly (is that a word Grammarly ?) re-size the DNGs from 47MP to say 24MP when I know I will not need the massive original DNGs. But the ability to crop to a 35mm equivalent and still retain a 30MP file was the feature that made the difference for me compared to the Leica Q. Yes you can crop any 45MP image to a smaller size (say a Sony A7 Riii + 28mm f2 lens) . What the Q2 offers are the framelines to get your composition and subject distance right in camera. The experience is not unlike using an M camera view finder and being able to see outside the framelines to either wait for the right moment or finesse the composition. Yes it’s expensive but I can easily see this camera still being a joy ten years from now.
Congratulations on the Q2, Tom. I loved the Q but I love the Q2 even more. It’s the perfect travel camera if you are not a long-zoom addict. I agree on the framelines. Some see it has a gimmick, others realise that it is a sensible solution.
For someone who does mostly street/travel photography with occasional landscape and family photos, the Q/Q2 can be a very attractive camera. It includes a versatile lens with some macro capability, cropping function and semi classic controls. I actually like the look and controls of the Q/Q2 better than my CL, despite being bigger. However, I can’t live with only one prime lens; especially since I am very much into landscape. If in the future, like David said, Leica decides to produce an interchangeable lens Q with a new series of smaller full frame L-mount lenses, I will seriously consider it. Since it is L Mount, M-mount lenses can be used via the L to M adapter too. Hmm…maybe it will be called the QL? Be safe and healthy everyone!
Yours Truly,
Patrick
The QL..! What memories of, er, 1984 and the launch of the much-hyped Sinclair QL! (This comment isn’t really about photography, but as Macfilos began in a splurge of Apple Computer enthusiasm, do indulge me for a moment as I remember the poor QL, which was shipped without a complete operating system – but a plug-in dongle on the back! – and, Clive Sinclair, being so keen to ‘get it out the door’ (American expression) was soon himself ‘out the door’ after the debacle of his similarly much-hyped C5, er, ‘vehicle’.)
The Sinclair name was bought by Alan Sugar, who went on to produce further – but rather more dreary and reliable – Sinclair products for a while.
The QL. It promised so much ..but rather under-delivered. Ah! ..Thank you for that ..that’s my nostalgia-fix for the day!
I remember the launch of the Sinclair C5, a narrow dodgem car, complete with an antenna that could easily have been converted into a pantograph for power collection. I seem to remember the thing was pedal-assisted, an ultra-low and very dangerous (that’s what an antenna with flag was mandatory) that was doomed to abject failure. Many of Sir Clive’s inventions were like that. His tiny hand-held calculator, sometime in the late seventies, I think, was the first opportunity many of us had had to get our hands on such a device. I coveted one, which I bought for the company at vast expense. The keys were so small that you almost needed a stylus to operate them. A colleague, who was built more generously than me, had podgy fingers that rendered the device useless. That saved some money.
I also think I bought a QL but can’t remember for certain. I recall that it offered more than it delivered, as with many of Sinclair’s inventions.
He was a truly maverick genius ahead of his time. Without Sir Clive he led a revolution of home computing, and almost affordable prices. Made devices that created a gaming industry, and gaming retail outlets – without many of these things where would todays Iphones and Macs, PC’s etc be. He was part of the electronic revolution. His C5 was decades ahead of the rest.
I worked for the ad agency that was hired by Sinclair in the pre-Sugar era. The team was made up of nerdy tech enthusiasts who read publications like “Amateur Radio Engineer”, and another group who were basically cynical of any technology claim and dismissed them all as boring. And then there was my group that kept asking “But what’s it for?” and failing to get answers when we went up to Cambridge.
This went on until we were asked to launch the C5. We had two to “test drive” and terrified ourselves one afternoon on Bishops Bridge Rd. in W2. We took them to raw space in our building and drove them around after that for fun until they started to fall apart. We never could quite figure out who would want one in terms of mass market or why they would want it. Not too long after that Mr. Sugar took over to the disappointment of the nerds as we promptly lost the business.
The Q though is different: it has focus and clarity of purpose. I would love one but my kidneys keep saying “sell the other one” so I never get to buy one. I just hope Leica never lose sight of that under pressure from those who would say “If only it had a __ or did__ before I throw down my credit card, having accepted the inevitable.
I think Clive wrote for “Amateur Radio Engineer” at one point.
I tried the C5 at its launch at Ally Pally, and insisted on driving it outside on the actual driveway, not on the ‘dodgem track’ inside the building. I drove(?)/pedalled it down the road, turned, and drove up the hill again, whereupon the motor overheated and cut off! ..The trike – with no safety clutch – and this was meant for grannies doing shopping, apparently! – promptly hurtled BACKWARDS down the hill, and the only way of stopping seemed to be to catch your feet in the pedals!
Barmy! ..Madly Unsafe! ..Insane! ..There were, afterwards, one or two of them parked on Finchley road outside some shop or other for about a year (till they crumbled away) but I can’t remember what they were advertising. Insanity pills?
“..then there was my group that kept asking “But what’s it for?” and failing to get answers when we went up to Cambridge..” ..that was my incessant question when I tried a ZX81 at Peterborough W H Smith, where they were on sale. “Oh, it’ll do anything” said the sales boy. “Such as wot?” ..”Oh, er, anything!” ..”Mow the lawn? Wash the dishes?” ..”No, er, of course not.” ..”Then wot?” ..”Oh, er, you know; anything!”
Of course the advertising said that you could run a nuclear power station with one. Was that you, Chef ..did you write that?
Really enjoyable read and great photos. I’ve been dreaming of owning a Leica Q ever since it came out but unfortunately it’s still beyond my budget even for a used model 5 years later! Used models are selling for around the £2100 mark so looks like I’ll just have to keep saving! I’ve toyed with the idea of selling my Fujifilm X-T3 and lenses to put towards it and simplify things with just one camera one lens in the shape of the Q but then I’m not sure if I’d be able to live with the focal length all the time. I mainly shoot street, landscape and travel.
I tried a Q when it first appeared, as it looked like a very appealing camera – though I must take issue with “..At last, in the Q, we have a full-frame compact..” as it isn’t really ‘compact’ ..it’s almost the size as a Leica ‘M’!
But three things put me off:
1 – It’s a 28mm camera. It’ll never be a 24mm or 21mm camera.
2 – As said – it’s almost the size of a Leica ‘M’
3 – The idea is that you can crop its photos to other ‘focal lengths’, e.g; 35mm or 50mm – b-b-b-but you can do that with ANY camera.
That point 3 seemed to me like advertising some special high-priced bottle of special juice, and inside the bottle is something which “You can add to anything soluble to make it liquid!” Wow! So I could buy this special bottle, and add a few drops to, say, powdered milk, or coffee granules, and the special substance would then make it into liquid milk or coffee! Astonishing! Astounding! ..except that you can do the same thing with plain water from any tap. So why pay £9.99p for a quarter-litre of the astonishing ‘new’ bottled whatever-it-is?
It seemed that the Q was being sold as something really special ..even phenomenal! ..but, like the Emperor’s new clothes, there was absolutely nothing to it. Nothing that any other decent camera with a 28mm lens couldn’t so ..and the Q couldn’t do anything that any interchangeable-lens camera could do; namely ..it could never shoot any wider than 28mm.
It was just a medium-sized, 28mm-lens, full-frame camera, with a great advertising campaign, and it promised what any other camera delivers: croppable photos. But croppable photos with diminished resolution: the more that you cropped them, the less resolution was left – instead of keeping the same resolution by swapping lenses.
It reminded me of the Coca-Cola campaign for its new wonder product ‘Dasani’ ..Wow! New! Refreshing! Pure! Bottled water Lifestyle product! But, as the BBC explained in 2004, “..Unlike most of the bottled water sold in British petrol stations and supermarkets, Dasani hadn’t come from alpine glaciers or trickled out of a precious natural spring – it had come out of the local tap. True, the company put it through a purification process and added mineral salts, but the source was still tap water.” ..It was just tap water, bottled at Sidcup. Collapse of product. Coke withdrew it.
The Q was another RX1, but bulkier, and with a slightly wider lens, and with a viewfinder – though the newer RX1RII also has a viewfinder. Essentially – for me, anyway – the Q is an expensive snapshot camera.
No; sorry – I’ll re-phrase that: the Q is, or was, a hugely expensive snapshot camera.
Why not, instead, use a smaller camera with a zoom lens? It’ll always have the same resolution ..20 mpxl, say.. and it’ll deliver anything from around 24mm to 200mm (equivalent). I prefer the little Sony (aaaarrggh ..is that sacrilege?) HX-50 (smaller sensor than full-frame, 30x zoom, from 24-720mm (equivalent) and 20 megapixels all the way to max zoom! – and I challenge you to see the difference between photos taken with that and taken with the Q ..or there’s the (similar) Nikon P7700, with its 7x zoom, razor-sharp 28-200mm (equivalent).
Or then again, I’d carry a miniature Olympus E-M10, able to use a whole host of marvellous lenses, such as the wonderful, small, Panasonic 7-14mm (14-28mm equivalent) zoom.
It’s not easy to convince me that a Leica is generally a better camera – for some inherent reason – than any other brand. Sorry.
I do own various Leicas, but I don’t buy into, or drink up, that ‘superlative’ Kool-Aid.
Now a Q with interchangeable lenses ..now that would have been a different proposition altogether!
Thanks, David, for your usual (maybe slightly tongue-in-cheek as ever) assessment of the situation.
We can analyse and analyse and, indeed, what you say is basically true. But none of this takes into account the subjective appeal of the camera. People like it.
Many owners probably have an M as well and, possibly, a 24mm lens to go with it. Yet they see the Q as something different and desirable. It’s a rounded package that seems to work for many people.
As for the cropping, I think everyone does understand that cropping it not the most desirable outcome. An optical zoom lens would undoubtedly do a better job. But if you want a rounded experience with a fast prime lens its not a bad idea to start wide and then crop. The use of framelines to encourage crop composition is unique, I think. Ricoh offer crop settings with the GR, of course, but it’s done differently. With the Q you get a simulation of the rangefinder experience.
Somehow, the Q gets the juices running (although your juices clearly remain un-run) and it has been a success for Leica. You can’t take that away from the company.
A good retrospective article, Mike, with all the evidence you need to justify keeping this model. The bigger file sizes of its younger brother would be an unjustified burden for me. I also admire the consistently high standard and variety of your illustrations.
Thank you, David. I am currently working on an article based on five older Leica digitals of the ‘teens that are worth buying and keeping for posterity (just like the venerable Digilux 2). The Q will definitely be represented in this list.
Enjoyed the article a lot Mike and have to agree that the Q is a great camera. I still have the original one and honestly cannot see me upgrading to the Q2 as mine does everything I want. I don’t tend to crop much from standard and the A3/A2 prints I get from it certainly meet my expectations.
Cheers, Tom
The experience of using the Q2 and Q1 is very similar. On balance, I do prefer the Q2 for the revised rear controls, the sanitising of the on/off switch without the C position and the SL battery. But there’s nothing wrong with the original Q and I don’t put the 47MP sensor at the top of the list of improvements. I was perfectly happy with 24MP.