The Q2 - The only camera you need?

[Flyer]

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With a fixed focal length I guess it must restrict your creativity some some degree, could the Q2 be your only camera? 

I assume the obvious question is what type of Photography do you do and therefore if it was travel it would me fine but if you do mainly Portraits or Landscapes then it's going to be more challenging but is it possible and if so how do you make it work with limited compromises? 

My question is, how many people use a fixed 28mm as their only lens and some only have the one camera? 

The Q2 is a lovely camera but can it really be used as a one camera solution for all your photography needs say up to 70mm range. 

What do you lose if you crop to say 50mm in terms of:

1. What would Noise levels be like if you crop at say 70mm on ISO 6400, would the IQ be as good as a 70mm on an M10? 

2.. Would you miss the opportunity to compress your images that could be done with a longer zoom? 

3. Is the outcome of cropping in camera identical to post cropping? 

Looking through the forum it looks like Q's are very much a second luxury camera? 

I guess it boils down to a compromise in versatility to gain the Leica feel and better ergonomics than say the cumputer feel of the more versatile Sony 

Bet not a single person would rather have a Q2 than an M10? 

 

Flyer

[ravinj]

It depends on what you shoot. For years X1 was my only camera with superb results. If I need 400mm or more to shoot bears in Alaska for my upcoming trip, Q2 is not going to cut it. OTOH, on a strenuous 7 hour hike in rain and wind in Iceland, the Q was very handy. The fact that I was also lugging a Sony A7RII with the GM 100-400 is another story and it did allow me to get some unique perspectives impossible with shorter FLs.

So what do you like to shoot?

[PFM]

I was thinking it would be a perfect everyday camera, and that being full frame the cropping wouldn't be a problem with the resolution being almost doubled over the plain Q.  But then I was reading others thoughts about it, and came to the conclusion that even though what I was seeing results wise was very nice, even at the 75mm crop, it still comes down to the point that the images are being captured with a 28mm lens, so it will always have that look about it. Cropping a 28mm is not going to separate a subject from the background like a telephoto would.  If you shoot street all the time, the Q2 would be a good choice, but I tend to try my hand at everything.  I've shot with a 28mm macro before, and you have to be excruciatingly close for it to work.  Sometimes a little stand-off distance is nice to have, like with a 60mm or 100mm.

I figure the reason that cropping the image was considered preferential to using a MATE lens is the cost of such a lash-up.  I doubt they could have held the line at $5k going that route.  I myself am now considering a D-Lux 7 with it's slightly wider low end of 24mm (equivalent).  But I'm having a hard time talking myself into going M4/3.

PF

[TheEyesHaveIt]

Planning on just using the Q2 in Greece this summer. Leaving my hefty A7RII and 24-105 at home. Will Q2 let me take headshot portraits as well as the Sony with an 85 1.8? Probably not but that’s also not my primary photography scenario. For travel (and even landscape dare I say), I imagine the Q2 will replace the Sony.

[Jay B]

Stop and think about people who do not define photography by a stand alone camera.

How many billions of photos have been taken by the 28mm lenses on smartphones?

So, for those who wish to step up and separate their camera from their phone (and in this case, have enough disposable income), a non-zoom 28mm lens isn't out of the ordinary.

And a savvy salesperson would up-sell the cropping features as a bonus...

[Ecaton]

Yes, if it had a 35 or 40mm f2 lens plus a wide angle converter. A 28 is not always flattering for head shots.😬

[macmania]

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Hi,

i used and still use a Fuji X100F with its 35mm 2.0, and also have the wide angle adaptor. Changing the adaptor is slow and not possible instantly when doing Street Photography. So i often used the X100F with the 28mm adaptor and an Canon 6D with a nifty fifty. Instead of changing i just changed the cameras, much more faster.

Now with the Q2, i love changing my focal length with one button, instant, fast, and enjoy using the already known framelines like in the M's. (i used an M9 many years).

Important is, that the lens of the camera is good and sharp and the sensor is good enough. Than it is no problem to in-camera-crop.

Now with my Q2 it's like using an really outstanding 28mm lux, an 35mm cron and if in some situations needed, a 50mm summarit but with "only" 16MP.

Looking at the files with 50mm crop is really amazing. The 28mm lens of the Q2 is razor sharp wide open, extrem detailed and brilliant.

Printing an 50mm Crop is no problem. The bokeh is great, even at 50mm crop. Of course not as blurry as with an summilux lens, but blurry enough to seperate the background.

Many years ago we only had 6MP Camera in our studio (Kodak DCS760) and printed the files in 60x40cm or bigger without issues.

So doing street photography with 28mm or switching to 35mm (still 30MP !) ,instant, is a pleasure.

When i do jobs (e.g. people, wedding) i go with the Q2 AND the 6D with its 85mm and the 50mm), but on vacation or street walks i only take the Q2 now.

Did some people shots yesterday, used 35mm framelines, to my surprise often used the whole 28mm too, makes fun doing people shots with 28mm, this is really new for me, but with 35mm or even 50mm it feels exactly like using these "real" lenses.

Showing a print at an exibition, shot with the 50mm crop on the Q2, i guess no one could see that its only 16MP in a negative way.

greets

Marc

 

[Trev]

16 minutes ago, macmania said:

Hi,

i used and still use a Fuji X100F with its 35mm 2.0, and also have the wide angle adaptor. Changing the adaptor is slow and not possible instantly when doing Street Photography. So i often used the X100F with the 28mm adaptor and an Canon 6D with a nifty fifty. Instead of changing i just changed the cameras, much more faster.

Now with the Q2, i love changing my focal length with one button, instant, fast, and enjoy using the already known framelines like in the M's. (i used an M9 many years).

Important is, that the lens of the camera is good and sharp and the sensor is good enough. Than it is no problem to in-camera-crop.

Now with my Q2 it's like using an really outstanding 28mm lux, an 35mm cron and if in some situations needed, a 50mm summarit but with "only" 16MP.

Looking at the files with 50mm crop is really amazing. The 28mm lens of the Q2 is razor sharp wide open, extrem detailed and brilliant.

Printing an 50mm Crop is no problem. The bokeh is great, even at 50mm crop. Of course not as blurry as with an summilux lens, but blurry enough to seperate the background.

Many years ago we only had 6MP Camera in our studio (Kodak DCS760) and printed the files in 60x40cm or bigger without issues.

So doing street photography with 28mm or switching to 35mm (still 30MP !) ,instant, is a pleasure.

When i do jobs (e.g. people, wedding) i go with the Q2 AND the 6D with its 85mm and the 50mm), but on vacation or street walks i only take the Q2 now.

Did some people shots yesterday, used 35mm framelines, to my surprise often used the whole 28mm too, makes fun doing people shots with 28mm, this is really new for me, but with 35mm or even 50mm it feels exactly like using these "real" lenses.

Showing a print at an exibition, shot with the 50mm crop on the Q2, i guess no one could see that its only 16MP in a negative way.

greets

Marc

 

 

Thanks, appreciate your thoughts. I was wavering over such an expensive purchase for me. Definitely on my radar now.

[Flyer]

Looks like a sound option for most applications, but I still feel a need for other focal lengths for creativity purposes. 

Maybe the Q2 and say a Sony a7 or a MFT would be a good companion? 

[viramati]

I used to carry my Q with me everywhere but the more and more I got into the Sony system the less it came with me. For work I use 2 A7rIII's but what has slightly surprised me is that when travelling I would leave the Q at home as I just don't want to deal with 2 different systems (batteries, charger etc). Basically the Q was my street camera and for that work there really is nothing that can beat it but really my A7rIII and 24GM can fill this role most of the time. On the other hand I am soooo tempted

[lucerne]

On 3/10/2019 at 4:29 AM, Flyer said:

With a fixed focal length I guess it must restrict your creativity some some degree, could the Q2 be your only camera? 

I assume the obvious question is what type of Photography do you do and therefore if it was travel it would me fine but if you do mainly Portraits or Landscapes then it's going to be more challenging but is it possible and if so how do you make it work with limited compromises? 

My question is, how many people use a fixed 28mm as their only lens and some only have the one camera? 

The Q2 is a lovely camera but can it really be used as a one camera solution for all your photography needs say up to 70mm range. 

What do you lose if you crop to say 50mm in terms of:

1. What would Noise levels be like if you crop at say 70mm on ISO 6400, would the IQ be as good as a 70mm on an M10? 

2.. Would you miss the opportunity to compress your images that could be done with a longer zoom? 

3. Is the outcome of cropping in camera identical to post cropping? 

Looking through the forum it looks like Q's are very much a second luxury camera? 

I guess it boils down to a compromise in versatility to gain the Leica feel and better ergonomics than say the cumputer feel of the more versatile Sony 

Bet not a single person would rather have a Q2 than an M10? 

 

Flyer

All the facts you need and your listed concerns have already been debated on the forum and it appears that you have read the responses and in your own mind you know the answers.  Why not start with either one and get to know it and it’s limitations.   

As far as squeezing quality out of a hugely cropped 75mm Q image at ISO 6400 and comparing that image to a full frame 100% image taken with a 75mm lens there is no question which will be better.  In fact, many users have already decided that the impracticability of Eviewfinder focusing at 75mm will probably limit its use..  Additionally, there will be no compression of depth of field at telephoto length on the cropped image.  It’s just a JPG cut-out section of the 28mm original.  The focal length of the lens has not changed.   The RAW image will still be 28mm when imported into Lightroom.   Much less opportunity for creativity.  I hope you are beginning to understand what Leica have done.   It’s almost a trick! but it has its advantages for some users so can’t be hugely criticised.

 

 

Edited March 11, 2019 by lucerne

[jmschuh]

vor einer Stunde schrieb lucerne:

I hope you are beginning to understand what Leica have done. It’s almost a trick!

But a trick that is sufficient for many. For the professional portrait photographer this is certainly not the right solution, but for many other photographers it's just a nice option that saves you having to take another camera with you besides the Q. Especially for travel photography the Q is more than sufficient.

For me, the Q is a camera where I can say: I don't need anything else anymore. This may not be true for everyone, but after I had already made the decision a few years ago not to want to walk around with camera bags weighing tons and to have to change the optics at every opportunity, it's the ideal solution for me.

[FHPdoc]

Spoiler Alert:  Philosophical musing ahead...

For those of us with gear acquisition syndrome, it's not necessarily all about getting the latest-and-greatest upgrade.  Aside from the obvious underlying neurosis/mental health problem (😶), for me there are also the elements of appreciation for and communion with a beautifully-crafted precision instrument.  Part of the creative process includes oneness between the artist and his/her tools, whether they be musical instruments, cameras, automobiles (and repair tools), surgical instruments, high-fidelity 'stereo' equipment, amateur radios, or woodworking tools (yes, guilty on all counts), and the Leica certainly falls within that category...

My M3 with 50mm f/2 DR Summicron come back this week after a complete cleaning and overhaul, and my Q2 arrives who knows when.  Am looking forward to simply getting out and shooting--the process is at least half the enjoyment!  Of course, getting beautiful images is a major plus, but for me that's just icing on the cake.

[Stephen_C]

32 minutes ago, jmschuh said:

This may not be true for everyone, but after I had already made the decision a few years ago not to want to walk around with camera bags weighing tons and to have to change the optics at every opportunity, it's the ideal solution for me.

It certainly reflects my thinking. The Q, for me, brought back joy to city and landscape photography—and generally when hiking—in a way I'd lost when lugging a Canon 1DX Mk II with a 24-70mm zoom lens. Of course it was not so flexible in terms of framing but the sheer joy of using the camera and not being laden like a beast of burden more than compensated for that. I am looking forward to a week of landscape photography in the far north-west of Scotland in May...and the Q2 (so long as it arrives in time!) will be the only camera I shall take.

Stephen

[Tom.]

Note: as an amateur photography is just a hobby. I take my camera when travelling.

I've had a few camera's, the last dSLR was a 5DII with a set of L-lenses. The weight started to annoy me. I was making excuses to leave the camera at home/hotels instead of walking with it all day long, although the camera was great I didn't take lot's of pictures anymore. Sold everything and bought a Q. Best decision I made. Got myself a nice ONA Bowery bag (with space for sunglasses, passport etc.). That's all I need to carry around, I started to enjoy making photos again.

[FHPdoc]

5 minutes ago, Tom. said:

Note: as an amateur photography is just a hobby. I take my camera when travelling.

I've had a few camera's, the last dSLR was a 5DII with a set of L-lenses. The weight started to annoy me. I was making excuses to leave the camera at home/hotels instead of walking with it all day long, although the camera was great I didn't take lot's of pictures anymore. Sold everything and bought a Q. Best decision I made. Got myself a nice ONA Bowery bag (with space for sunglasses, passport etc.). That's all I need to carry around, I started to enjoy making photos again.

Thanks for the tip--I'm looking forward to trying out the Q2 for travel.  I shifted to the Fujifilm TX-2 with their XF 18-135mm lens for travel a couple of years ago and it is extremely versatile.  Not yet sure, though, how the fixed prime 28mm on the Q2 will work in this arena...

[ramarren]

Think of the millions of photographs made with fixed lens cameras, usually with a medium wide lens on them. Of course a Q/Q2 can be your only camera. And of course it's not going to be a camera that can do everything well, but it can do enough. Constraint usually expands creativity, not the opposite.

For almost a decade in the now-distant past, although I had other cameras with interchangeable lenses, the bulk of my photographs were made with a Rollei 35S using its lovely Sonnar 40mm f/2.8 lens. I had both a complete Nikon SLR and Leica RF system at the time. In the early '00s, before the wave of good quality digital cameras became available at prices that I could afford, on a wild hare I traded the entire Leica M and Nikon SLR systems to buy a Hasselblad SWC903. The situation is analogous: I was trading a 35mm format with lots of lenses for a 6x6 format—six times the negative area—camera with a spectacularly sharp and versatile ultra-wide lens. I had everything from an ultra wide lens to a 150mm lens available by cropping that huge negative, with little to no loss in quality. 

Perspective is a function of distance, not focal length. DoF is a function of physical lens opening, subject relative distances, and magnification to the final output. Field of View, with enough pixels to work with, is a matter of cropping. With these things in mind, you can do a tremendous lot with a Q2 if you put your mind to it. Let go of the constraints on your creative thinking by letting go of the odd notion that you need a dozen lenses to make a good photograph... You rarely need more than one. 

[budjames]

6 hours ago, macmania said:

Hi,

i used and still use a Fuji X100F with its 35mm 2.0, and also have the wide angle adaptor. Changing the adaptor is slow and not possible instantly when doing Street Photography. So i often used the X100F with the 28mm adaptor and an Canon 6D with a nifty fifty. Instead of changing i just changed the cameras, much more faster.

Now with the Q2, i love changing my focal length with one button, instant, fast, and enjoy using the already known framelines like in the M's. (i used an M9 many years).

Important is, that the lens of the camera is good and sharp and the sensor is good enough. Than it is no problem to in-camera-crop.

Now with my Q2 it's like using an really outstanding 28mm lux, an 35mm cron and if in some situations needed, a 50mm summarit but with "only" 16MP.

Looking at the files with 50mm crop is really amazing. The 28mm lens of the Q2 is razor sharp wide open, extrem detailed and brilliant.

Printing an 50mm Crop is no problem. The bokeh is great, even at 50mm crop. Of course not as blurry as with an summilux lens, but blurry enough to seperate the background.

Many years ago we only had 6MP Camera in our studio (Kodak DCS760) and printed the files in 60x40cm or bigger without issues.

So doing street photography with 28mm or switching to 35mm (still 30MP !) ,instant, is a pleasure.

When i do jobs (e.g. people, wedding) i go with the Q2 AND the 6D with its 85mm and the 50mm), but on vacation or street walks i only take the Q2 now.

Did some people shots yesterday, used 35mm framelines, to my surprise often used the whole 28mm too, makes fun doing people shots with 28mm, this is really new for me, but with 35mm or even 50mm it feels exactly like using these "real" lenses.

Showing a print at an exibition, shot with the 50mm crop on the Q2, i guess no one could see that its only 16MP in a negative way.

greets

Marc

 

Marc,

I sent back my Fuji X100F adapter wide and tele lenses a week after getting them for the same reason you described in your post. After getting the M10, I sold the Fuji X100F. 

The X100 series is an excellent 'camera concept. I owned the T, S and F version over the years. I have some great images from these cameras in my portfolio, however, I found zone focusing frustrating and the lens is soft at f2. After using the M10 and Summicron 35 for a few weeks, it became clear to me that I was not going to shoot with my X100F again as my travel camera. 

Regards,
Bud James

Please check out my fine art and travel photography at www.budjames.photography or on Instagram at www.instagram.com/budjamesphoto.

[Leica Guy]

Totally agree. I also owned three of the Fuji X100 cameras. I took some nice photos with them. I was never satisfied with the IQ and moved to the Q. Totally different level of IQ and sharpness. Love the Q. I expect to love the Q2 even more. Hopefully. 🤞 

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica Q

[bags27]

1 hour ago, FHPdoc said:

Spoiler Alert:  Philosophical musing ahead...

For those of us with gear acquisition syndrome, it's not necessarily all about getting the latest-and-greatest upgrade.  Aside from the obvious underlying neurosis/mental health problem (😶), for me there are also the elements of appreciation for and communion with a beautifully-crafted precision instrument.  Part of the creative process includes oneness between the artist and his/her tools, whether they be musical instruments, cameras, automobiles (and repair tools), surgical instruments, high-fidelity 'stereo' equipment, amateur radios, or woodworking tools (yes, guilty on all counts), and the Leica certainly falls within that category...

My M3 with 50mm f/2 DR Summicron come back this week after a complete cleaning and overhaul, and my Q2 arrives who knows when.  Am looking forward to simply getting out and shooting--the process is at least half the enjoyment!  Of course, getting beautiful images is a major plus, but for me that's just icing on the cake.

Wow. Rarely has someone reached into my brain and extracted so precisely thoughts I couldn't myself articulate. Let's hear it for "philosophical musing"! 

I am (for the moment!) passing on the Q2, still so happy with the original, but just bought a CL and feel slightly giddy about the elegance of that machine as well. I do lust for an M3 (more practically, an M6 TTL), but declining eyesight....