Anyone use a Q for rugged outdoor activities?

[yeatts]

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Is there anyone here that uses or has used a Leica Q as an camera for hiking, fishing, or other sort of "rugged" outdoor activities?

I'm an avid fly fisherman and head to some rugged, remote places a couple times a year to fish. Some climes are more friendly than others, but weather can be unpredictable. I'm often drifting in boats on rivers; risk of capsize is minimal and I have dry bags but things can get splashed.

I haven't wanted to bring my M system along for obvious reasons, but am also dissatisfied with lugging around my iPhone or some of the other cheaper point and shoots I've owned over the years.

Just curious to hear if anyone in the group has put their Q "through the ringer", so to speak, outdoors.

I've also considered something slightly cheaper like a Fuji X system camera, but I love the Leica look and simplicity.

 

[Tp2000]

I've used it in a couple of different scenarios (cycling off road, walking and scrambling).

Its more rugged than you'd think. My previous Q was dropped a couple of times (sorry, Leica Gods, look kindly on me) and stood up to it ok. How I looked after it depended on a few different things. I've  moved to the Q2 now (so am a little more relaxed about wet weather than I was before).

I used a soft cloth bag to put it in when it was in a backpack. Id then put that in a plastic bag if necessary.

On a bike and when scrambling, I have a 3 point harness (mettle speed strap - but Skingrowsback also do one) which ensures the camera flops around less, but is very quick to bring up to your eye. You can also drop it quickly if you need to without worrying about the camera swinging anywhere out of control.

In terms of keeping it clean/dry etc - I never really looked after it as such, but Never had any issues. If the weather was crap then normally taking photos wasn't top of my list!

Hope that helps.  

[PhotoCruiser]

Here are several complains of people ruined their Q2 with sand our dust or with rain.
It is always difficult to guess how extreme their use really was, but I would be careful with water and desert like conditions.

I shoot only outdoors,
in very dry Sardinia and very humid Costa Rica, I shot in the Desert in Oman, Jungle in Panama with my d800 and none of it had problems.
The only cameras I had problems with dust inside where compact cameras with very long tele as they breathe too much while extending and collapsing.

I have basically two solutions for transporting the Q:

• Never on a neck strap or any other strap, I have the Grip, thumb rest and finger loop and the camera will only fall together with me
• As above, I have the Q2 either in my hand or tucked away in a sling type backpack or a big messenger bag.
• In both bags the Q2 sit in a Q2 size padded camera bag from Case Logic with the finger loop upwards tobe able to pull her quickly out
• the Sling Backpack with long zipper is a watertight PVC bag, similar to this one
• The messender bag is a big swiss made Freitag bag made of truck tarp and almost watertight
  
  This is the pouch with the size of the Q

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Edited January 28, 2022 by PhotoCruiser

[hofo100]

I am using my Q as an almost weekly hiking companion (here is a search link to the related photos in this forum) and the Q is always carried with a Peak Design camera clip on the belt of my backpack without any additional protection. Overtime, you see some signs of usage but the camera has been proven to be absolutely reliable - and I have it for taking photos and not for keeping it in mint condition as a collectors item (other Leicas might qualify for this job better ;))

The only issue noted over years of usage is sensor dust spots, which, however, only become visible in high contrast postprocessing of blue skies shot at small apertures. 

Edited January 28, 2022 by hofo100

[yeatts]

8 hours ago, hofo100 said:

The only issue noted over years of usage is sensor dust spots, which, however, only become visible in high contrast postprocessing of blue skies shot at small apertures. 

I haven’t held a Q2 yet, but isn’t the lens permanently attached to the body? How do you get dust spots on the sensor?

[ravinj]

It is moisture and dust resistant, not moisture and dust proof. While Q2 seems better than the Q in this regard, I had two Qs and somehow dust/lint made its way to the viewfinder. No spots on the sensor though. My Q did develop spots on the sensor visible at F11.

I had same issue with Sony RX1R which also had a fixed lens.

[Lutzi]

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Hi.

I have used Q2 fly fishing and hiking trips and I can say that it works flawlessly in nature.

BR, Ari

[stuny]

I've been taking may Q everywhere, regardless of weather and activity.  Sometimes it spends a lot of time in my backpack, but it's always with me, most recently in fine sand in the Empty Quarter of Oman.

[jaapv]

On 1/29/2022 at 7:32 AM, Lutzi said:

Hi.

I have used Q2 fly fishing and hiking trips and I can say that it works flawlessly in nature.

BR, Ari

How do you attach the hook and line to the camera? 

[Lutzi]

19 hours ago, jaapv said:

Kuinka kiinnität koukun ja siiman kameraan? 

Sorry, I didn't have that spell correction (Jaap) on. 

Let's try again so there won't be any misunderstanding to anyone.

Q2 was with me on fly fishing and hiking trips, it has always worked flawlessly in all weather conditions.

[jaapv]

It was a joke...

[DavidJohn]

I bought mine to use it—and that's just what I do.  Anywhere, under any circumstances.  

I'm a shooter, not a collector.  It will certainly show the signs of usage soon, and I bet I'll change the filter a couple times when it gets scratched or chipped.  And, probably the lens hood as well.

When I was much younger, and a lot more adventurous, I wore out a few Nikons.  They just got so dinged up and seriously smashed up, that the repairs weren't worth it—so I replaced them, and went on shooting just like before.  

Now, I'm not going to take the Leica underwater (or me, for that matter), but pretty well any other use is OK in my books.

I don't have a case, and won't be getting one.  Not even one of those half-cases.  I don't like the feel of them.  And, the camera seldom sees the inside of a camera bag.

It's a superb camera, and I use it for its intended purpose.  

[yeatts]

22 hours ago, DavidJohn said:

I bought mine to use it—and that's just what I do.  Anywhere, under any circumstances.  

I'm a shooter, not a collector.  It will certainly show the signs of usage soon, and I bet I'll change the filter a couple times when it gets scratched or chipped.  And, probably the lens hood as well.

When I was much younger, and a lot more adventurous, I wore out a few Nikons.  They just got so dinged up and seriously smashed up, that the repairs weren't worth it—so I replaced them, and went on shooting just like before.  

Now, I'm not going to take the Leica underwater (or me, for that matter), but pretty well any other use is OK in my books.

I don't have a case, and won't be getting one.  Not even one of those half-cases.  I don't like the feel of them.  And, the camera seldom sees the inside of a camera bag.

It's a superb camera, and I use it for its intended purpose.  

I certainly appreciate that point of view.

I too grew up shooting Nikon’s - on the trail, up on a cliff, and in some remote places across the world. Even inflation adjusted the Leica’s are a far greater investment though.

I bought the Q2 a few weeks ago and have been using it almost exclusively over my M. I put a UV filter on the front, but otherwise leave it uncapped and mostly turned on and carry it everywhere and it has proven a great companion in that respect. 

Agree these are cameras to be used.

[Alan Friedman]

If you haven't looked into it already, the silicone rubber lens cap for the Q series made by Really Right Stuff is great and definitely worth adding to the kit when the camera might see a hard knock or two. Been carry the Q2M around on winter hikes in Vermont this past week and enjoying it tremendously.

[redrocksjoe]

I would say I have put mine through the outdoor ringer, taking it rock climbing, hiking, running, mountain biking, backpacking, etc. 

living in Moab, UT it goes through fairly extreme temperature extremes, dry sandy days and snowy cold days. 
 

I have not noticed any adverse effects to the camera. I really like using it, in fact with gloves on the controls on the outside make it super easy to work with. Plus not being able to change lenses keeps me from bringing extra weight and keeps dirt out of the sensor. 
 

Pics are in the link in my signature. Any other questions just let me know. 
 

cheers,

-Joe