Mechanical update Q2 during 2020?

[Koen_NL]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Quick question: is anyone aware of a mechanical update to the Q2's design somewhere between December 2019 and September 2020? Today I was able to compare my Q2 (manufactured 12/2019) with a new model at the Leica Store (manufactured 09/2020) to investigate some excessive banding issues. Under the exact same circumstances and settings the newer Q2 showed images that were a stop brighter and no banding (we shot at 3200 ASA). The store owner suggested there might have been a none-publicised change of sensor-type or -brand somewhere in-between when these two cameras rolled out of the factory.

The first image is my camera, the second one is the store's. In order to amplify the problem, luminosity has been increased in Lightroom by the same amount on both (hence some grain).

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!

 

[Advertisement]

The Leica Q3 is available for pre-order at B&H Photo Video and Adorama

[reklovreklov]

I have not heard anything about any internal updates in the Q2 until now. Have you seen these kind of banding until you own this Q2 or has it started at a later time?

I would probably sent in the camera to Leica Wetzlar directly so that they can check if the Q2 is inside their specs or if a recalibration or a part exchange is necessary. I would attach the pics as examples for the issue. You should be still in the warranty window just in case.

Edited May 16, 2021 by reklovreklov
Fixed typo

[Koen_NL]

5 hours ago, reklovreklov said:

I have not heard anything about any internal updates in the Q2 until now. Have you seen these kind of banding until you own this Q2 or has it started at a later time?

I would probably sent in the camera to Leica Wetzlar directly so that they can check if the Q2 is inside their specs or if a recalibration or a part exchange is necessary. I would attach the pics as examples for the issue. You should be still in the warranty window just in case.

Thanks for your answer. Wetzlar have already had the camera for inspection and say it is working 'normally', which triggered me to compare with a new camera. I sent them a few other images that were not comparisons but showed clear banding at as low as 1600 ASA. For my type of work (and most of us, I suppose) trust in our equipment is vital. So if I can't even safely shoot higher than 800 ASA, what sense does it make to own a 5000 euro camera that claims to go to 50.000 ASA? By the way, I have also done tests against the Canon 5D-SR, which I also own, and the latter comes out clean every time while the Q2 never does. So frustrating.

[AlexKirk]

23 minutes ago, Koen_NL said:

So frustrating.

Have you set the settings for both cameras to default ones before your comparison test?

 

[Koen_NL]

6 minutes ago, AlexKirk said:

Have you set the settings for both cameras to default ones before your comparison test?

 

We did. The Leica Store manager made sure every single setting was the same on both cameras - including the firmware of course. We then shot the shots off a tripod (despite them being shot at 1/500) so as to not have any doubts about outside influences / strange light falling in / etc.

[Koen_NL]

8 minutes ago, AlexKirk said:

Have you set the settings for both cameras to default ones before your comparison test?

 

Oh sorry, you may be referring to the Q2 vs the 5D-SR - in that case I mirrored their settings as much as I could. No profiles, same ASA, aperture and shutter speed, similar lenses, etc.

[jrode]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

What was outcome of your issue? Did they find something? Replaced?