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LEICA Q: STILL WORTH IT IN 2018?


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Not quite a review, but an excellent assessment of what the Q is and why, yes, it is still a worthy expenditure. Thanks to people who suffer from"GAS" syndrome, It is now possible to buy a Q barely used for less than 3 1/2 grands! I say go ahead as you will not regret your purchase.

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I love my Q. My only "problem" with it has nothing to do with it, but with me.

 

Because it's largely a computer and because it's an expensive computer that doesn't sit on a desk but gets bumped around a bit, stuff happens. Because stuff CAN happen, I wonder if stuff WILL happen. The other night, I thought I spotted a pink shift on some shots I was just messing with while watching TV. Oh no!!! my camera is broken: $1500 and 4 months in Germany. Well, you can make any camera take a compromised photo. Just don't shoot the upper corner of your oddly-lit ceiling above your TV late at night and you won't get that pink shift. Me to doctor: it really hurts when I press hard against my knee. Doctor to me: then don't press hard against your knee.

 

Just look at all the nervous questions posted on this board about imperfections--real or imagined. Eh, with a film camera we just shot. Now, we are such perfectionists: not photo perfectionists, but techno perfectionists. We talk more tech than photography. True for any digital camera, but I wonder if Leica doesn't engender more because we expect perfection from such an investment.

Edited by bags27
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Just sold my SL, M10 .. I had some offers for the Q too - but I couldn't bring myself to sell it.

 

I thought my (2x)A9 would replace it, I'm still not convinced about when I will choose to use the Q.. but I'm going to keep it for now.

Edited by dancook
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I don't think there is another high-end 28mm (25mm FOV) option that focuses this close, has an aperture this wide, and has bokeh this nice.

 

I wouldn't mind an updated sensor that provides more dynamic range/less noise in recovered shadows.

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The scary thing is how talented this little fart is! His website firsthandaccount.com. i clicked on the showcase of prints available and was totally 'wowed'. As someone who has spent a lot of time shooting in urban environments, his results make me just want to throw my camera away and quit. 

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The scary thing is how talented this little fart is!

I wouldnt call him "a little fart", what should you be called  ? Big Fart ?

 

 

Well it figures. Somebody always getting offended or outraged about something. Where i'm from to refer to someone young who is impressively good at something as a 'little fart' is a sign of bemused respect. So how about a little cultural inclusiveness here? 'Little rascal' and 'little booger' would probably work too, but then again i hate to push my luck with any high falutin, culturally elite types on here. Oh and btw i still consider myself a little fart, how about yourself? 

 

Also did you look at those great pics of his or just go immediately to 'let-me-show-that-guy-how-crude-he-is-and-how-refined-I-am' mode?

Edited by cdlinz
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I'm shooting the CL, but am curious about the 35mm and 50mm crop modes for portraits. Does it have nice bokeh and can the crop modes still print up to 20 inches on the long side?

Yes. Just don't stand inches away from it when looking at it! In art school, we printed 20x24 B&W prints. We never stood in front of them to see the silver halide grains! No disrespect, just common sense.  

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  • 3 weeks later...

I try to be polite and friendly on here but this film is some sort of joke. It's 11 minutes of matey sitting in a simple unchanged headshot and warbling into the camera - 10.5 minutes too long. He needs to learn to write a script, cut and edit. Move the (movie) camera.

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I just took delivery today of a new Leica Q and am absolutely delighted with it. Last week I bought a Sony A7 III after reading all the rave reviews and then

spent a few days hoping I would bond with it but that never happened so I returned it.

The Sony is a capable camera with all its bells and whistles but I soon discovered what people have said about the confusing and endless menus. The Q is so much more intuitive and I felt familiar with all the controls/functions in a matter of minutes. I don't think the A7 III reviewers were intentionally overhyping the camera but what I learned is that its attributes better suit their style and subject matter rather than mine. 

My first impression were the build quality is magnificent whereas the Sony felt kind of cheap.

The viewfinder is superb, best I've ever looked through. 

Very pleased with the color rendition and detail. 

I doubt I will ever need to shoot beyond 1600 ISO so I feel whatever improvements in the Q2 aren't worth waiting for. 

The Leica app is better than the playmemories one. 

The only negative so far is the camera strap attachment rings, they don't exactly inspire confidence and were a pain to get on. 

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Welcome!

 

I had nearly the same experience with that camera's "big brother". All set to buy a A7riii and a couple of Zeiss loxia primes, but in the end my heart led me to the Q and I have not regretted it for a second. Spent a week recently in Italy with only the Q and got all the shots that I wanted, never missing another focal length, because I was "thinking" in 28 mm.

Edited by bags27
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I doubt I will ever need to shoot beyond 1600 ISO so I feel whatever improvements in the Q2 aren't worth waiting for.  

 

 

The Q is really good at High ISO. I shoot a lot at night and low light :) and it's being just fine. 

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