Canon Pro User Adding Leica to Gear

[DonovanMediaCenter]

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I have been a video professional and educator for thirty years, using all sorts of brands.  But since the Canon 5D, have mainly used Canon DSLR and Cinema gear (C70 presently)…some Sony FS gear too. As I get older, I want to simplify and head in new directions.  I hope to wind down the video tech chase in my career and concentrate on improved stills. The Leica M11 is beyond my budget, but the Q2 is obtainable.  It isn’t the full-on rangefinder experience I am looking for, but as my eyes age, maybe that’s ok.  So, I have until June to decide (budget year stuff) to go with a Q2, or a Q2 Monochrome.   And then hope the Q3 doesn’t drop while I wait for delivery.  The Q2 seems like a solid choice…but since I am not abandoning my Canon gear (and it’s lovely color), a part of me thinks a bolder commitment to the monochrome version would be a creative reboot.  

[DonovanMediaCenter]

I have reviewed many Q2 B&W conversions,  and Q2M images.  The conversions generally appear to be less smooth in contrast transitions. But of course - I have no way of knowing the skill level of the person converting the image - probably at least matching, more likely exceeding, my skill.   So, I give the edge to the M for B&W…but can I abandon color in the first, and probably only, Leica I will ever work with? That argues for the Q2.  

Edited March 18, 2022 by DonovanMediaCenter

[PhotoCruiser]

vor 16 Stunden schrieb DonovanMediaCenter:

but since I am not abandoning my Canon gear (and it’s lovely color), a part of me thinks a bolder commitment to the monochrome version would be a creative reboot

I am photographing all my life for about 50 years with a lot of cameras and different films types and digital from the beginning.
In the 80's I shoot a lot of music concerts and that a lot of them in B/W for the.
My last used DSLR was the awesome Nikon D800 with all prime lenses, also a lot of underwater photography with her.

I switched to the Q and ten Q2 simple for the reason that I was tired to haul around the world all the DSLR gear and for a road trip in 2019 I bought the Q series and now im using only her.

The step from your Canon with probably a lot of lenses to a fixed lens camera is not the easiest one and need some time to get used to not be able to switch lenses.
This lead either to sell the Q series after some disappointing time of fall badly in love with her and use the existing interchangeable lens gear rarely for special use.
As impressive the image quality of the Q2 ist, the 28mm make macro and tele (f.e. wildlife or portrait) photos not very practical but you have your Canon gear for that.

However, if you fall in love with the Q series then you probably would use mainly her for your photography needs and for this reason I suggest to take the non monochrome version for its versatility to shoot in color or B/W.
I never checked the real differences between the monochrome and from color converted monochrome photos, but the general census is that the monochrome version has a (slight) advantage in monochrome photos.
If you are a avid monochrome photographer, then the Q2M would be the better choice,
but you may like her so much that she becomes your main camera and then use the color version is the better choice as she does both exceptionally well.

Chris

 

[DonovanMediaCenter]

I’ve submitted the order for the Q2.  I think the M would be a bolder, more artistically satisfying choice…but I chickened out thinking that my years of editing skills will keep me satisfied using the Q2 for both color and monochrome.  I actually spent a day using one of my Canons in B&W mode at 28mm just to simulate (poorly).   

[PhotoCruiser]

vor 4 Stunden schrieb DonovanMediaCenter:

I’ve submitted the order for the Q2.

Thats a good choice!

vor 4 Stunden schrieb DonovanMediaCenter:

I actually spent a day using one of my Canons in B&W mode at 28mm just to simulate (poorly).

Not sure how good the in camera BW rendering ist, but there is special software to tackle this job rather well and I would shoot in color and render it then on the computer to BW.

Chris

[timplog]

Pretty sure you'll enjoy the Q2.

Been a Canon full-frame SLR-DSLR pro series shooter for decades and was looking, for a practically-speaking  equivalent, "point and shoot-able" smaller every day carry alternative. 

This little model has the tons of capabilities, and first class build quality we're used to. 

It's lighter than my lenses lol

and black & white in the pretty decent EV viewfinder if you like too!

[timplog]

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suppose that would be E-ViewFinder

[mikelevitt]

I think you made the right decision.  I own pretty much everything Canon makes, and also Q2, Q2m, and M9, 10 and 11.  

The Q2 is a great companion to the Canon stuff.  I think you'll struggle with the file processing for a while.  IMO Canon kicks out pretty much perfect jpeg files with perfect WB and color rendition, effortlessly.  On the other hand, the Q2 jpegs are often not great, but the raw files have a lot of latitude for processing because of their superior dynamic range compared to most Canon cameras.

I got the Q2m first, and haven't used the Q2 in B&W mode, so I can't compare them.  But I can say that composing and shooting in B&W definitely forces you into different directions.  On the other hand, the color Q2 is camera you can do anything with and carry anywhere.  Except flash.  The Leica flashes are incredibly expensive, and perform poorly.

Best of luck!