Leica Q in 2020

[Fontan]

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Would anyone here consider buying a Q, if the condition and price are right, in 2020?  It’s still a nice little camera. Am I the only one who thinks that?

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[Guest]

45 minutes ago, Fontan said:

Would anyone here consider buying a Q, if the condition and price are right, in 2020?  It’s still a nice little camera. Am I the only one who thinks that?

I bought a Q silver and a Q-P in spring 2020 switching back to Q/Q-P as my sole cameras after shooting M + 35mm exclusively for a couple of years.

The Leica Q is my favorite camera of all time and perfect for my photography. Couldn’t be happier and still an amazing camera in 2020.

[Craig Clark]

6 hours ago, mcpallesen said:

I bought a Q silver and a Q-P in spring 2020 switching back to Q/Q-P as my sole cameras after shooting M + 35mm exclusively for a couple of years.

The Leica Q is my favorite camera of all time and perfect for my photography. Couldn’t be happier and still an amazing camera in 2020.

I did the EXACT same thing. I went from Nikon to Sony full frame and this past spring, I sold everything I had and bought a QP from Leica Boston and a Q from a friend.  The Q I bought knowing that there was dust on the sensor - I had Leica DC send it to NJ and for (around) $280 they did a complete servicing of the camera and had it back to me within a month.  I shoot primarily with the Q only because I kind of feel like the QP may increase in value over time and mine is in pristine condition.  All that being said I have zero regrets and very little interest in upgrading to a Q2.  Having owned a Sony A7R3, I realize how difficult those huge files are to manage - and for what I do (hobbyist), 24mp is fantastic.  

[Fontan]

18 hours ago, mcpallesen said:

I bought a Q silver and a Q-P in spring 2020 switching back to Q/Q-P as my sole cameras after shooting M + 35mm exclusively for a couple of years.

The Leica Q is my favorite camera of all time and perfect for my photography. Couldn’t be happier and still an amazing camera in 2020.

 

12 hours ago, Craig Clark said:

I did the EXACT same thing. I went from Nikon to Sony full frame and this past spring, I sold everything I had and bought a QP from Leica Boston and a Q from a friend.  The Q I bought knowing that there was dust on the sensor - I had Leica DC send it to NJ and for (around) $280 they did a complete servicing of the camera and had it back to me within a month.  I shoot primarily with the Q only because I kind of feel like the QP may increase in value over time and mine is in pristine condition.  All that being said I have zero regrets and very little interest in upgrading to a Q2.  Having owned a Sony A7R3, I realize how difficult those huge files are to manage - and for what I do (hobbyist), 24mp is fantastic.  

While 24 mp is fine for me as well, at the price point of what Q-P goes for, this thought of shelling out a bit more to go ahead and get Q2, as weather sealing is also a consideration. I have a M10, and I want a camera with AF when I get sick and tired of having to manual focus. 😳

[Bruce x113]

I just sold my Fujifilm X PRO1 and 4  Fujinon lenses, and also my Leica X typ 113 Silver/Brown too Adorama in New York City. And I checked with them and they had a used like new Leica Q in extremely excellent condition, with no marks and no dust, everything looks still brand new. Over the past three years I have stopped in at both the Boston Leica Store and DC Leica Store, for a walk-a-bout with instructors and I always requested  a Leica Q. After the very first time shooting with the Leica Q I knew it was just a matter of time till I had my own. I only have had it now for 8 weeks and just loving the Q. Thx 4 L👀KING !!

[nicci78]

Go for the Q. I still think that it is somehow a superior camera than Q2 : 

- lighter.        
- cheaper.    
- faster general operation 
- smaller DNG size   
- faster AF    
- better ergonomics : exposure compensation dial at the correct position & proper video button    
- better high ISO       
- way cheaper and widely available battery (buy Panasonic or Sigma version)    
- still the same awesome lens  

After more than 50K images with the Q and 25K images with Q2. I can tell you that I regret selling the former for the later at a great cost of upgrade. Stupid of me. 
 

Please not that Q2 is not usable over 6400. Noise level is too overwhelming. Q is still ok at 12000 and even at 25000

Q2 needs 1/125th or 1/250th minimum shutter speed to ensure 100% sharp images  

Q only needs 1/60th or 1/125th  

You have to disable OIS under 1/60th  otherwise you will get slightly blurry images. 
However OIS works great (100% sharp images) for both cameras at 1/15th or 1/30th. 
 

Q2 ISO 50 will blown up your highlights. You have to underexposed of 1 stop minimum. 

[Guest]

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9 hours ago, nicci78 said:

Go for the Q. I still think that it is somehow a superior camera than Q2 : 

- lighter.        
- cheaper.    
- faster general operation 
- smaller DNG size   
- faster AF    
- better ergonomics : exposure compensation dial at the correct position & proper video button    
- better high ISO       
- way cheaper and widely available battery (buy Panasonic or Sigma version)    
- still the same awesome lens  

After more than 50K images with the Q and 25K images with Q2. I can tell you that I regret selling the former for the later at a great cost of upgrade. Stupid of me. 
 

Please not that Q2 is not usable over 6400. Noise level is too overwhelming. Q is still ok at 12000 and even at 25000

Q2 needs 1/125th or 1/250th minimum shutter speed to ensure 100% sharp images  

Q only needs 1/60th or 1/125th  

You have to disable OIS under 1/60th  otherwise you will get slightly blurry images. 
However OIS works great (100% sharp images) for both cameras at 1/15th or 1/30th. 
 

Q2 ISO 50 will blown up your highlights. You have to underexposed of 1 stop minimum. 

Very honest post but what about all that extra resolution from the Q2?

Is that not useful?

[mpeterson]

I bought one a few months ago, to use alongside my M10. I really enjoy it, and haven’t been tempted by the Q2. 

[nicci78]

11 hours ago, steve 1959 said:

Very honest post but what about all that extra resolution from the Q2?

Is that not useful?

Of course. What is great about Q2 ? 
- Lots of beautiful pixels    
- 75mm crop mode is usable and is more than a gimmick.  
- 35 and 50mm can be used without any limitation. Q2 is already the 35mm variant of Q. 
- weathersealed ! 
- great battery life. Thanks to bigger battery. But it is very expensive.  
- 3.6MP OLED EVF with 120fps totally crushed the Q LCOS EVF with its colour tearing problem      
- ISO 50 is hard to use. But nice to have.
- New user interface. SL2 like. Great improvement.      
- 3 buttons interface. Making it easy to use other Leica bodies. Like : CL, M10 series and SL2. 
- great auto or manual HD and 4K videos available in 28, 35, 50, 75mm crop. ! Just like a zoom. 
- Bluetooth to wirelessly waking up the Q2. Not that useful. But still there. 

[Rokkor]

vor einer Stunde schrieb nicci78:

Of course. What is great about Q2 ? 
- Lots of beautiful pixels    
- 75mm crop mode is usable and is more than a gimmick.  
- 35 and 50mm can be used without any limitation. Q2 is already the 35mm variant of Q. 
- weathersealed ! 
- great battery life. Thanks to bigger battery. But it is very expensive.  
- 3.6MP OLED EVF with 120fps totally crushed the Q LCOS EVF with its colour tearing problem      
- ISO 50 is hard to use. But nice to have.
- New user interface. SL2 like. Great improvement.      
- 3 buttons interface. Making it easy to use other Leica bodies. Like : CL, M10 series and SL2. 
- great auto or manual HD and 4K videos available in 28, 35, 50, 75mm crop. ! Just like a zoom. 
- Bluetooth to wirelessly waking up the Q2. Not that useful. But still there. 

I think there are a lot of advantages for the Q2. It depends a little on your post processing power in terms of CPU speed etc plus storage in case you shoot in RAW. This is the only main reason I would consider a Q over the Q2. Is see the Q2‘s advantages.

And answering the thread posters question. I did it and think it is worth buying the Q in 2020. Just be aware to buy a model without the dust issue. Mine needed cleaning unfortunately as dust came onto the sensor while using it normally outdoors in cities. Not everY Q has this problem. It something to look out for.

[nicci78]

If you are sensible to rainbow type colour tearing EVF or video projector. 
Do no buy the Q. Get the Q2 instead. 
 

For example if you hate older LCOS EVF from Panasonic cameras. You will hate Q EVF.   
The Q did not display all three primary colours at once. But in rapid succession. Hoping that it will tricks your brain. But if you can see lots of frame per second. You will notice it. Hence an horrible colour tearing when wandering your eyes around the EVF. 
 

If you are sensible to the phenomenon. You can buy the Q. However Q2 EVF viewing optics are far more superior to Q’s. Just like seeing through APO-Summicron vs vintage Russian optics. A bit of exaggeration 🙃 but not far from it. 

Just try it first hand outside under bright sun ☀️ at noon 🕛. You will notice that Q2 crushed Q’s low quality EVF. 

[nicci78]

If you plan to print large : A1 or A2 size. 
Go for Q2. 
 

If you need an occasional 75mm : buy Q2. 
 

If you are daydreaming about a 35mm Q version. Q2 is perfect for that. 
 

If you live in any country where rains are pouring constantly : Q2 is the answer. 
 

If you want a brand new camera with 5000€ to spare : Q2. 
 

If you already got an SL. You can share the batteries with Q2. 
 

But if you have an CL. You can share the batteries with the Q. 
 

If you want unified user interface with M10, SL2 and CL. Q2

Edited October 4, 2020 by nicci78

[stephen.hibbs]

I have a Q but it could never replace my Sony A7rii as there is no bulb mode. A camera at this price and with a 28mm F1.7 would make a great astro camera.

Leica got it wrong there.

[Ronaldraw]

What is a bulb mode? 

[AndrewDD]

I upgraded from Q to Q2 last summer, I was bored in the lockdown... The Q2 does have greater functionality, but I find the interface horrible compared to the Q. If I had known, I would have stuck with the Q

[Ronaldraw]

48 minutes ago, AndrewDD said:

I upgraded from Q to Q2 last summer, I was bored in the lockdown... The Q2 does have greater functionality, but I find the interface horrible compared to the Q. If I had known, I would have stuck with the Q

You will get use to it