Puts weighs in on Q…and more

[colonel]

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I wonder why this WiFi app in the Q could not have built in in the M, that would have raised the amount of sold M's I'm sure

Not sure it would have raised the Ms sold but I think it's a good functional to include in future

 

In addition I think a 4G sim socket in the M would be great. I love the fact that the Flickr app on my iPhone is backing up photos to Flickr. If this could be extended to Raws on some service it would eradicate the need to ever download from an SD card as you can just use a computer anywhere to download and edit your latest photos

[digitalfx]

I wonder why this WiFi app in the Q could not have built in in the M, that would have raised the amount of sold M's I'm sure

 

Maybe the lack of WiFi is the reason. Would have no affect on sales if added IMO other than negative as the camera would be even bigger.

[viramati]

I don't give a monkeys what Puts says even with it's flaws this is the best camera out there for what I want to do. Loving it

[hdmesa]

On 6/20/2015 at 4:18 PM, bernie.lcf said:

...Besides, calling the Q distortion huge is an exaggeration compared to all the other lenses out there. 

Resurrecting an old thread to add context for those searching for info about the Q. Unlike Lightroom, Capture One lets you turn off the embedded Q distortion correction (move Distortion slider to zero) as well as remove the embedded cropping to revert the image to its original, optical state. I haven't tested it, but I believe the hard corner vignetting is likely due to the lens hood, and if it is, I may uncrop and and "de-distort" my Q shots more often.

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[LexS]

So good to see this thread activated , it was much much fun to read it today...

I have bought a Q some months ago (my first, with FW3), and I think it is the absolute ideal camera.

It was a bit unexpected that getting used to the 28mm took so little time. And the cropping 28, 35, 50 mm is so elegant (with this super sharp lens and sensor).

Just grab the camera look through the EVF or at the display, and press the button.

Never have other lenses to carry and (thus) losing time with switching...

Lex

 

[Leica Guy]

On 6/16/2015 at 11:27 AM, gpwhite said:

 

I have found Mr. Puts' more recent posts to be less insightful than his earlier work. But I think the members posting here are focused on M vs xyz, whereas Leica is focused on earning more Euro. As Jono wrote, let's hope Leica realizes that injuring the M cash cow makes no sense while it casts about trying to develop new customers.

 

When MBZ introduced the M class SUV, most of the marketplace scoffed. Of course the SUV was sold out for 18 months simply delivering to legacy sedan customers, and then MBZ rolled out an elaborate four-level mix which makes huge profits (the SUV's are not assembled in the same manner or from the same parts bin as the German sedans). I would expect the Q to be sold out for a while as M owners add the camera to their bags. Eventually, Leica can bring forth a Q+ with other lenses or even with an M mount giving limited Q-esque function. All the while, the M evolves slowly (as the S550 does, making fat profits).

 

Why do I expect this? Based on Jono's and Ming Thien's write ups, I jumped on a Q and have been shooting it for several days. Simply fantastic camera, and so portable! IQ is better than I anticipated and usability is just as fluid as an M, once you learn its niggles. BTW, I love 28mm FOV, so I am predisposed to like the Q...  if it were a 35mm, I would not have even tried the camera.

I view the “M” series as very similar to the Porsche 911. Leica keeps perfecting a very nearly perfect camera. At the same time my latest Porsche stats show Porsche in the US sold 2700 SUV’s in December compared to approx 1000 two door sports cars (mainly 911’s, Boxsters, Caymans). My point is Porsche innovated to join the SUV market as a business decision that is a strong component to saving the company. Its diversified now and very successful. 911 enthusiasts mostly did not welcome the move into SUV’s. 

I sincerely hope Leica keeps innovating. I’d love to see a “QM” offered with very high quality EVF, AF and interchangeable lens mount. Some might not like it. I would. I’d also keep the “M” pure as a manual focus, OVF standard for the brand. The Q is a better form factor for me than the SL body. IMHO. 

Edited February 17, 2019 by Infiniumguy

[nicci78]

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Funny to read Put’s blog post 3.5 years later. How wrong was he... In the end Q was one of the most successful Leica of all time. 

 

 

[IkarusJohn]

Really?  I appreciate people like the Q, but one of the most successful of all time?  That’s some claim ...

[bags27]

Excluding the Panasonic rebadged cameras, in terms of pure sales the M3 must be THE most successful Leica of all time, i suppose. Followed by, what?, the M6? In these instances, not just sales, but success as great, transcendent pieces of machinery. All things considered, the M3 is likely the greatest camera ever made.

I don't know about Q sales, but as a product that makes an important statement, the Q is pretty successful.

Still, not nearly in the ballpark of the M3 and M6, I think.

Edited February 18, 2019 by bags27

[IkarusJohn]

I would think so - the M9 was pretty huge as well (problems aside).  Leica struggled to meet demand.

[pico]

21 minutes ago, bags27 said:

Excluding the Panasonic rebadged cameras, in terms of pure sales the M3 must be THE most successful Leica of all time, i suppose.

It is impossible and unwise to look backwards to predict success today.

 

[nicci78]

Oh yes M3 and M6 are Leica’s best sellers. 

All Leicas sellers confirmed that the Q is a great sell even today, it does not slow down. 

Edited February 18, 2019 by nicci78

[IkarusJohn]

"All Leilas sellers confirmed ..." ?  When?  Where?

I don't mind the enthusiasm for this camera - I'm sure it's as good as everyone says, but this is pure hyperbole, surely?

[hdmesa]

2 hours ago, IkarusJohn said:

"All Leilas sellers confirmed ..." ?  When?  Where?

I don't mind the enthusiasm for this camera - I'm sure it's as good as everyone says, but this is pure hyperbole, surely?

One way I can tell is by having watched the "in stock" versus the "more on the way" status for the Q models (and special editions) at B&H over the last two years. They were constantly rotating between the two status, meaning Leica was selling every Q they were making. The Q-P is currently listed as "more on the way", so just in the last day or two, they cleared out their existing stock. Now who knows – maybe they only get two at a time. But whatever the case, even after the initial hysteria where the Q was out of stock for what seemed like forever, they have continued to sell very well.

[IkarusJohn]

And how many did Leica make, and B&H order?

Nothing more than guesswork ...

[nicci78]

Just ask any Leica dealer. They will praise the Q sales. A saviour after disappointing X Vario, X and T cameras. 

In Paris Leica stores, they still sell one or two per day at least. More than three years after introduction. Leica is discreet about the real numbers but is actually really high. But Leica stores are very happy about them  

Leica dealers in Paris even have used Q waiting list. Crazy. No used Q sits behind the window more than a day or two  

FNAC is really happy about Q. Selling far more than M, according to them . 

 

So it is not a secret that Q is selling really well and still selling at a nice pace. That’s why Leica was not in a hurry to replace it.  

Edited February 19, 2019 by nicci78

[IkarusJohn]

Probably all true, but when I read “one of the most successful Leicas of all time”, I think to myself, the M3 made the company, and the M9 saved it.  Loose words, but we’ll never know.  It’s a matter of degree. Not my kind of camera, but no doubting its popularity. 

Edited February 19, 2019 by IkarusJohn

[LocalHero1953]

46 minutes ago, IkarusJohn said:

Probably all true, but when I read “one of the most successful Leicas of all time”, I think to myself, the M3 made the company, and the M9 saved it.  Loose words, but we’ll never know.  It’s a matter of degree. Not my kind of camera, but no doubting its popularity. 

I am also suspicious of global assertions of truth with nothing but local anecdote to back it up. 

The T is also a candidates for 'most successful Leica', since it introduced the L-mount, which is versatile enough to be used for APS-C, full frame, and possibly small MF, and has led to the CL, SL, and the income stream and marketing cred afforded by the L-mount alliance. It has allowed Leica to break out of the dead end represented by the M series and revealed a new dawn of potentialities.

So, the most successful Leicas of all time? The Barnack, M3, M9 and T - take your pick. Your guess is as good as mine.

[pgk]

14 hours ago, pico said:

It is impossible and unwise to look backwards to predict success today.

We never seem to learn from the past .....

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica Q

[nicci78]

local anecdotes tells a lot. T was a disaster, sales wise. Such as X Vario. FNAC almost ended selling Leicas because of T, X Vario and X 113 sitting on the shelves forever. 

However Q saves it all. By the way FNAC refuse to sell and to accept any order about TL2. T and TL2 was such a disaster, they do not want to touch this line anymore. Funny thing they still try to clear off their last T cameras.