Leica Q-P released!

[bags27]

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I'm not sure that there's a significant correlation between putting out these special editions cameras and putting out "true upgrades." One market is for the collector and glam owner; the other is for the true photographer and a response to market competition. I suspect Leica either outsources or compartmentalizes the development of these special editions that require very little technical development, while spending its real efforts on the upgrades and new cameras.

Leica is microscopic compared to Sony, Nikon, Canon, and Panasonic. It can't possibly offer the variety or the rapidity of upgrades and new cameras. After the initial excitement of a new camera, purchases start to decline; and yet, Leica, for a variety of very good and understandable reasons, sees the cycle of significant upgrade to be 3 or 4 years, even as sales decline. It needs a revenue stream while it develops the next upgrade/new camera. The special editions help provide that, with very little effort on Leica's part. 

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[WvE]

26 minutes ago, LocalHero1953 said:

My point is that your comments apply equally to the Q and to Leicas as a whole. The value of them is what people are prepared to pay for what they offer. Clearly the Q-P offers no added value to you. Nor to me, for that matter, but I don't see why others shouldn't buy it they wish.

You may wish to spend time on a dpreview Sony forum telling its members why you think Leicas offer value for money compared to Sonys. But wait till I've got behind my flame-proof shield before you start.

No shields needed 🙂

I can follow you and I agree that people should of course make their own choices. I also do not doubt that the Q or the Q-P is a good product but I just find it cheap of Leica to sell these "new" editions with no meaningful upgrades. But okay, that's part of their business model.  

Edited November 9, 2018 by WvE

[Viv]

The problem with the Q-P is that the incremental price far exceeds the incremental value.

[bags27]

7 minutes ago, Viv said:

The problem with the Q-P is that the incremental price far exceeds the incremental value.

Not to someone driving a $100k + car. 😀

[i-Leica]

vor 6 Stunden schrieb Viv:

The problem with the Q-P is that the incremental price far exceeds the incremental value.

well.... I order this Leica Q-P just because I like it and its the best what I can get as a compact, was thinking about the "normal" Q, but the new one (P) looks just better and I prefer to like what I have....

[i-Leica]

vor 9 Stunden schrieb WvE:

No shields needed 🙂

I can follow you and I agree that people should of course make their own choices. I also do not doubt that the Q or the Q-P is a good product but I just find it cheap of Leica to sell these "new" editions with no meaningful upgrades. But okay, that's part of their business model.  

why you don't just accept, that its the same Camera but with different finish, why people always!!! want new features? have you ever visited a store with clothing? any new function in the jacket or jeans? no?..... just new look....? hmmm what a shame, why they do that?...... 

Edited November 9, 2018 by i-Leica

[i-Leica]

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vor 6 Stunden schrieb Viv:

The problem with the Q-P is that the incremental price far exceeds the incremental value.

so what?.... why bother? just don't pay 🙄

[i-Leica]

vor 7 Stunden schrieb bags27:

Not to someone driving a $100k + car. 😀

I drive a $85k car and...... I just ordered the Leica Q-P - is my car too cheap?.....

Edited November 9, 2018 by i-Leica

[docdave]

I bought a Leica Q three years ago when it was first released. I loved the look and feel of it, but I ultimately sold it because it didn't have enough easy access to settings. It got in the way when I wanted to shift focus modes, etc. the menu diving was a pain and conflicted with the stated intention of the camera as a simple, essential camera shooting experience.

Now after the recent firmware updates all those issues have been resolved. Every key setting is now easily accessed via the Favorites or the expanded FN button. Now the question was whether to wait and see what a Q2 would look like, or simply buy another Q. The model is three years old after all. The price has never come down. 

I decided to buy the Q-P. Expensive, yes. Very minor upgrades, yes. No red dot, my god. Well, I just received the camera from Popflash photo. Good people and the best packaging in the business.

The camera is simply stunning in appearance. The matte black gives the camera an amazing "presence". It is worth every extra penny (dollars, actually) that it costs. Pardon my hyperbole, but it is honestly the most beautiful camera currently being sold. I haven't felt this excited about the aesthetics of a camera since I bought a Contax g2 kit many years ago. It really has to be seen and handled to appreciate the gravitas it exudes. 

Just my two cents on this camera amid all the venom and vitriol and lrica-bashing that routinely occurs upon the release of a new product. This is not a collector's item. It is a camera designed to be used and thoroughly enjoyed.

I certainly plan to do just that!

Dave

[docdave]

I also added an angelo-pelle half case to this camera. The lettering on the lens is a lovely under-stated burnt orange, and it balances nicely with the case.

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

[howiebrou]

32 minutes ago, docdave said:

I bought a Leica Q three years ago when it was first released. I loved the look and feel of it, but I ultimately sold it because it didn't have enough easy access to settings. It got in the way when I wanted to shift focus modes, etc. the menu diving was a pain and conflicted with the stated intention of the camera as a simple, essential camera shooting experience.

Now after the recent firmware updates all those issues have been resolved. Every key setting is now easily accessed via the Favorites or the expanded FN button. Now the question was whether to wait and see what a Q2 would look like, or simply buy another Q. The model is three years old after all. The price has never come down. 

I decided to buy the Q-P. Expensive, yes. Very minor upgrades, yes. No red dot, my god. Well, I just received the camera from Popflash photo. Good people and the best packaging in the business.

The camera is simply stunning in appearance. The matte black gives the camera an amazing "presence". It is worth every extra penny (dollars, actually) that it costs. Pardon my hyperbole, but it is honestly the most beautiful camera currently being sold. I haven't felt this excited about the aesthetics of a camera since I bought a Contax g2 kit many years ago. It really has to be seen and handled to appreciate the gravitas it exudes. 

Just my two cents on this camera amid all the venom and vitriol and lrica-bashing that routinely occurs upon the release of a new product. This is not a collector's item. It is a camera designed to be used and thoroughly enjoyed.

I certainly plan to do just that!

Dave

Congratulations! Your post certainly makes me want to go out and check it out. I have zero issue with Leica charging more for this, after all my Q is a special edition in bright red which I had to pay more for as well. I just wished they had deemed it a special edition and not as a P model seeing as the changes are pretty much cosmetic and identical to the changes on the other Special editions. Happy photo taking!

[Leica Guy]

29 minutes ago, docdave said:

I also added an angelo-pelle half case to this camera. The lettering on the lens is a lovely under-stated burnt orange, and it balances nicely with the case.

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

Absolutely lovely and the fact it excites you as it does proves that its value to you is worth the cost. Good for you. 👏👏👏

[howiebrou]

6 minutes ago, howiebrou said:

Congratulations! Your post certainly makes me want to go out and check it out. I have zero issue with Leica charging more for this, after all my Q is a special edition in bright red which I had to pay more for as well. I just wished they had deemed it a special edition and not as a P model seeing as the changes are pretty much cosmetic and identical to the changes on the other Special editions. Happy photo taking!

How serendipitous to see that Leica Miami actually has the Q-P and Q Khaki listed as special editions. Does that mean the QP is limited in numbers? I think Q Carbon would have been a great name.

[bags27]

Absolutely stunning. Use it happily and in good health.

It's funny how there are different strokes for different folks. My Q has become a bit banged up. Not the body, but the thumb grip and the lens shade. I was actually a bit relieved when I saw that. I no longer treat it as a work of art, but something to work with.  Of course, both parts are easily replaced for resale, but still, it gives the camera a comfortable sense of wear which I like.

[Leica Guy]

59 minutes ago, bags27 said:

Absolutely stunning. Use it happily and in good health.

It's funny how there are different strokes for different folks. My Q has become a bit banged up. Not the body, but the thumb grip and the lens shade. I was actually a bit relieved when I saw that. I no longer treat it as a work of art, but something to work with.  Of course, both parts are easily replaced for resale, but still, it gives the camera a comfortable sense of wear which I like.

The finish on the Thumbs Up has long ago worn off and brass is very visible. I love it. I was stopped in Yellowstone by a very nice Japanese man who had an M and he was very excited that my Q was worn from use. It was fun. My lens hood is covered in gaffers tape. Looks a little ghetto and I couldn't care less. It works for me. It protects the finish. I’m a proud owner of a well used Q. The best compliment I can give the camera is to wear it out then buy another. 

[Le Chef]

16 hours ago, bags27 said:

One market is for the collector and glam owner; the other is for the true photographer and a response to market competition.. 

I doubt these are truly exclusive target buyers: more likely the classic Venn diagram where the intersect is the Q-P.

[PFM]

I'll not get into the Leica bashing here, because anyone who is a follower of the brand should be very conversant in the way they bring out new models by now.  No one is forcing you to buy the things.  Personally, I'd love to have one,  but the digital models are above my income level at the moment (dang lousy Lottery tickets).  But I do have a suggestion that I would hope makes it's way up the chain of command, and that is for the Q2 to sport a Tri-Elmar instead of just the 28mm.  I know, everything is about lens speed these days, but I'm not looking for a specialist camera.  I want options.  And I'd probably scrape the barrel, and eat beans for many months to get one. 

As to overall cost of the Q-P,  at $4995.00 it's still $1600.00 less expensive than an M mount 28mm/f1.4 ASPH Summilux by itself.  So you are getting a free camera with the 28/1.7 ASPH Summilux. And it's Macro! How can you go wrong? 

PF

Edited November 10, 2018 by PFM
Additional commentary

[andrewteee]

I drive a Subaru Outback, keep them an average of 8 years. We've not bought any new furniture in years except for what our kids need as they grow up (and a new entryway rug, and my wife likes her jam jars for making jams). I buy photobooks and pigment pens + notebooks for sketching. I also might buy the Q-P because it's just about perfect for 80% of my photographic needs and as a career designer I'm drawn to its design; and the one thing about the Q that bugs me is the power switch, which seems to be fixed in the Q-P. I have the Q, which I'll either give to my son or sell to recoup some of the cost. I'm honestly not sure how the Q2 could improve on it. I print small, so MPs don't matter. 

Point being, we all choose the things we love and that work for us and we go with those. Not all who shoot Leica are doctors and dentists (as they used to say about Macintosh audio gear). Some just love photography and invest in that passion. 

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[MarkP]

2 hours ago, PFM said:

and that is for the Q2 to sport a Tri-Elmar instead of just the 28mm.  I know, everything is about lens speed these days, but I'm not looking for a specialist camera.  I want options.  And I'd probably scrape the barrel, and eat beans for many months to get one. 

I have a 49mm MATE which gets less use than it should. To fit a 28-50 on a future Q-iteration would make the lens a fair bit longer, but the width of the current Q's lens could perhaps be maintained with a slight increase in speed over f4.0. Even a 2.4:28-35-50 Tri-Summarit-Q (or what would probably be a 2.4:28-50 Vario-Summarit-Q) would be nice.  F4.0 is a bit slow for a general purpose lens (in use and for marketing) even with improved high-ISO sensor performance.

 My most commonly used focal lengths are 28 & 50 so I don't want a cropped-sensor 50 (as I could just use one of my 28 mm lenses on the M and crop in post).  As an M user this is one of the main things that put me off the Q which is otherwise an appealing camera .

[Viv]

11 hours ago, i-Leica said:

so what?.... why bother? just don't pay 🙄

Thank you. I won't. My Q does everything this new upstart does.