Q/Q2/Q3 as sole travel camera kit? What has been your experience?

[LocalHero1953]

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4 hours ago, jwr50 said:

Yes, you can see the “zoom” (electronic crop) in the viewfinder.  The viewfinder frame lines resize each time you select a different focal length.  It’s similar to how the frame lines work on the Leica M rangefinders.  I usually leave mine ser at 35mm and adjust from there as necessary.  

Well, you can see the frame, outlined in a white box. But the EVF does not zoom in to show you just the zoomed-in section. This is an option that has been called for since the Q was launched. So far Leica has remained deaf.

Edited August 14, 2023 by LocalHero1953

[Trankster]

I took my Q2 on a 3 week trip to Italy and it was perfect for me.  I carried it in a small ONA bag or cross body with a Peak Design leash strap.  A protective clear filter, spare battery,  lens cloth and bulb blower were all I needed.  I do have a leather half case and lcd screen protector for the camera body.  There might have been a few times where a longer focal length would have been nice, but I have learned to work with what I have.  Sometimes I covered the Leica red dot and other times not.  

Edited August 14, 2023 by Trankster

[Mikep996]

I was recently in Italy/Almalfi Coast for 9 days.  I took my Q2 and my M10R with 28, 50 and 90 lenses.  As intended, I used the Q2 for the first half of the trip and the M10R the other half as a "test."  In the future I'll take the Q2 and leave the 10R at home.  Yes, the CONCEPT of having the 10R/different lenses sounded better but the ease of use and results favored the Q2.   

 

 

[Rdf]

23 minutes ago, Mikep996 said:

I was recently in Italy/Almalfi Coast for 9 days.  I took my Q2 and my M10R with 28, 50 and 90 lenses.  As intended, I used the Q2 for the first half of the trip and the M10R the other half as a "test."  In the future I'll take the Q2 and leave the 10R at home.  Yes, the CONCEPT of having the 10R/different lenses sounded better but the ease of use and results favored the Q2.   

 

 

I also have a Q2, but sometimes (think I) miss the native 50mm perspective/DOF, etc. As you have both, do you experience much difference in practice?  Thanks

[colonel]

I am fine with the Q2, and Q before, as my only travel camera. I never use a telephoto and 28/35 works for me 99% of the time. 
I do take an iPhone, and tend to use that for all family and incidental photos (e.g. something in a shop my wife likes, etc). I am hoping for a future 200mp sensor which will make 50 and 75 usable and then we will have a try zoom less camera ….

[Mikep996]

12 hours ago, Rdf said:

I also have a Q2, but sometimes (think I) miss the native 50mm perspective/DOF, etc. As you have both, do you experience much difference in practice?  Thanks

I haven't GENERALLY found that I miss the isolation available in the summilux 50mm 1.4.  I thought I would use it a lot more than I actually do.  Of course, if your preferred shooting style routinely incorporates that ability, the Q2/28mm can't match that.    

 

[zyThuM]

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I've done some trips with the Q2 and M10, I would come back home with almost only Q2 pictures. In the last trips I have been using mostly the Q2 and now the Q3 only, I don't miss any other camera or lens, just the waterproof Olympus Tough camera for obvious reasons 🙂 

Edited August 15, 2023 by zyThuM

[Drjohn01702]

On 8/11/2023 at 9:30 AM, OldMan said:

I am finally starting to travel again post-pandemic and have trips planned in the next 12 months to the Outer Banks of NC, Edinburgh and Paris. I’ve also become obsessed with traveling light (carry on only), restricting myself to a 30L backpack and a shoulder bag personal item. Accordingly, I don’t have much room for camera gear despite the fact that I intend that the trips will include a lot of street / travel photography. So, I will only be taking a Q3 and a small flash with me - with its full frame sensor (to allow cropping) and semi wide fixed (but fast) 28mm lens. Does anyone else use a Q/Q2/Q3 as their sole travel kit and have you found that it has significantly limited you or has it been liberating?  I’m thinking it will be the latter, and it’s certainly marketed that way, but I’m interested in your actual experience (not conjecture).  Fire away!

 

On 8/11/2023 at 9:30 AM, OldMan said:

I am finally starting to travel again post-pandemic and have trips planned in the next 12 months to the Outer Banks of NC, Edinburgh and Paris. I’ve also become obsessed with traveling light (carry on only), restricting myself to a 30L backpack and a shoulder bag personal item. Accordingly, I don’t have much room for camera gear despite the fact that I intend that the trips will include a lot of street / travel photography. So, I will only be taking a Q3 and a small flash with me - with its full frame sensor (to allow cropping) and semi wide fixed (but fast) 28mm lens. Does anyone else use a Q/Q2/Q3 as their sole travel kit and have you found that it has significantly limited you or has it been liberating?  I’m thinking it will be the latter, and it’s certainly marketed that way, but I’m interested in your actual experience (not conjecture).  Fire away!

I was a Canon shooter since the 1980’s, up until earlier this year when I bought a Q2.  With an upcoming street photography trip to Paris coming up, I decided to sell all of my Canon gear and go to Paris with only the Leica.  With 5600+ pics made in under a week, I can tell you I’ve never been happier or more satisfied with a camera.  I’ve never regretted that decision for a single moment.  Just take a quick look at some of the images I made in Paris using ONLY the Q2 with its single prime lens.

https://www.pixelsnbites.com

[jaapv]

17 hours ago, Rdf said:

I also have a Q2, but sometimes (think I) miss the native 50mm perspective/DOF, etc. As you have both, do you experience much difference in practice?  Thanks

DOF yes, but the perspective is created by the shooting distance/crop, not the lens. 

[1945 Mouton]

I went to Peru and Machu Picchu a couple of months ago carrying just the Q2, leaving my 3 Sony bodies and 14 Sony lenses at home.  It was a liberating experience traipsing all over Peru with just a Wotancraft 3L bag across my body.  The camera performed perfectly, at times in light rain.  I have since replaced it with the Q3 and am looking forward to our trip to Egypt in December with the Q3 as the sole camera.

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Edited August 15, 2023 by 1945 Mouton

[Blackadder978]

We went to Brittany this year for two weeks and I took my Nikon Z7II and three lenses as well as my Q2. The Q2 is always hanging at my side and the Nikon body with one or two lenses in a small backpack or attached to the backpack strap for easy access. My experience is that in towns I prefer the Q2 and mostly leave the backpack behind, but on long walks to take landscape shots, I tend to use the Nikon gear much more since the 24-120mm and 100-400mm are used quite a lot. So for city trips I would be happy with the Q2 alone, but for everything within landscapes I like to have longer lenses. If I would be pressed to take one camera only, the Q2 would be my choice, since its a very versatile beast and would cover most of my needs since can crap the shit out of shots and to an extend cover for the missing teles. 

[Lancej]

 Dear OldMan,

I recently got back from a trip to the South of France. The first part was with my full Nikon Z9 kit  and lot's of heavy long lens to shoot the horses and the flamingos of the Camargue with.  Heavy gear but with wildlife and  birds you're kind of locked in here . Having said that I am obsessed with trying to get a great wildlife image with the Leica Q2 but I have not delivered on it as of yet.

Once that part of trip ended  was part 2 which was traveling around with my wife, to various towns and countrysides. My Nikon gear stayed in the hotel room 95% of the time  and I never once left the hotel without my Q2. It was exhilarating never having to  worry about what lens to bring or shoot with, nor any  burden of carrying and watching over a heavy gear bag all day.

With the Q2 , It felt like I was in stealth mode. 

My set up is so simple, I carry the Q2  over my shoulder in a small leather fanny pack/ belt bag by Canadian company Matt & Nat  https://mattandnat.com/products/olek-vegan-belt-bag-purity-olek-purity?variant=40055344496773  as I do not want  to telegraph I am carrying a camera bag. This also holds my wallet, car keys, lens cloths, extra Leica battery,  sd card,  and my  iPhone. I love this set up, it is a great bag but there are many options just like it. For the camera I also slip it in to a small neoprene pouch into the belt bag that I bought on eBay similar to this one on the  link  below .  This  protects the camera from being scratched or rattling aroundwith my iPhone,  car keys, coins, etc beside it. It takes less than 10 seconds to put it and take it out. 

Neoprene pouch. https://www.amazon.ca/18-135mm-15-85mm-18-105mm-Fujifilm-55-200mm/dp/B079DS63SX/ref=sr_1_10?crid=3LC2RBJ59SUM8&keywords=medium%2Bround%2Bneoprene%2Bcases&qid=1692131410&sprefix=medium%2Bround%2Bneoprene%2Bcases%2Caps%2C123&sr=8-10&th=1 

 The camera is so small and unobtrusive that I shot in coffees shops, Michelin star restaurants, retail shops, galleries,  etc,  and no one  ever batted an eye. The only time someone asked me about the camera was when I was in the Leica store in Marseille which is totally expected and frankly insulting if they did not. :-]   As an aside this is a nice shop  and really lovely people who run it. Great photo books as well. 

The only time I had to pull out my Nikon was to do a 4 minute long exposure  sunrise shot at Gourdes where I needed a bulb mode, 10-15  stop ND filters,  and a slightly longer lens for the image I had in mind. For everything else it was so great to always have the Q2  ready. Now did I miss some shots by only having this one lens ? Perhaps but I was not on assignment for Conde Naste  "Travel and Leisure'' magazine either so what if  I missed a shot or two. However, the sheer joy of traveling so compact and light is the huge upside here.

I  also use a third party  thumb grip [name escapes me],  and the Leica handgrip. To me these are must have accessories others will differ, but now the camera feels like it is molded to my hand. I couple this with an Artisan & Artist wrist strap https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1420248-REG/artisan_artist_acam_313nblkred_silk_camera_hand_strap.html?gclid=CjwKCAjwxOymBhAFEiwAnodBLF0kVAISi7VMA-X5mDrPOLqynaxJnE-Sgc0s_G42ZyfFuS_GEsGoABoCIU4QAvD_BwE  as I do not like the feel of a camera and neck strap pulling on my neck  at all. This set up works perfectly. If I get tired of carrying it in my hand I  just slip it back in the bag, and pop it back out when I am ready.  This meant I had my camera ready to fire at a second's notice. Previously, I would carry around my older Nikon D850 in my knapsack with  1-2 lens,   and it was such a hassle to take out  and carry around that I often returned after a day of walking around and never used it  more than once or twice.

My big  takeaway is this for every image I might have missed with my Leica Q2 len's shortcomings, I take  10  times more images as I can carry it for  hours in one hand,  versus sitting in my knapsack unused like my Nikon's were.

 

I  also use a Leica Uv filter https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1204607-REG/leica_13035_e49_uva_ii_filter.html for the sole purpose that  I never then use the Leica lens cap,  too fiddly and I  don't want to lose it and have to replace it. I keep the camera in my bag  just with UV filter on  and all ready to go with a quick wipe of a lens cloth. 

I carry an extra Leica  battery, and  SD cards and you're all set.  At night I drop my Tiffen Black Pro Mist 1/4 filter into my bag  to diffuse the street lights and signage of restaurants which is a lot of fun to shoot with.  https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/76560-REG/Tiffen_49BPM14_49mm_Black_Pro_Mist_1_4.html 

 

I also bought a B&W Polarizer filter but to be honest I have used it twice https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1670779-REG/b_w_66_1101626_49mm_pol_filter_high.html 

 

All of this to say as Nike famously states  "Just do it'' you won't look back .

Hope that helps,

Lance 

[gotium]

On 8/12/2023 at 4:41 AM, jbripley said:

On my recent trip to Portugal I took my Q2 and Ricoh GR IIIx with me. Q2 for the daily outing when I had a small bag (PD Sling 5L) with me, so I could stow the camera away at various points through the day. I took the GR with me when going out at night and I didn't want to bring a bag, as I could just stuff in my shorts pocket.

Exactly my travel kit now also. 

[colonel]

Wunderbar, Metzuyan, Excellent!

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[Steven_nl]

On 8/14/2023 at 4:30 PM, Aman said:

Does the old Q2 handgrip fit the Q3?

Yes. Fits nicely. I did see a video where someone said it was not a tight fit, but mine of pretty good. 

[la1402]

When I had the Q2, I was surprised how much more versatile it was than I expected. But still - especially when travelling, I like the 20-90mm range and found the Q2 too limiting, and the Q3 won't change that. My M11, 21 SEM, 35 Lux and 90mm TE kit covers that better, but the price of missing AF, IBIS and not being wether protected and having to change lenses. So in the moment, I often either take just the M11 with the 35 Lux and conscious limitations, or my Sony A7RV with the 20-70. 

[adrianh]

12 minutes ago, la1402 said:

So in the moment, I often either take just the M11 with the 35 Lux and conscious limitations, or my Sony A7RV with the 20-70. 

Do you still take the Q2 with you or just go ahead only with the A7Rv and the 20-70?

[idusidusi]

5 hours ago, colonel said:

Wunderbar, Metzuyan, Excellent!

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Is that in Gozo?

 

[colonel]

5 minutes ago, idusidusi said:

Is that in Gozo?

 

bingo!

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica Q

[idusidusi]

2 minutes ago, colonel said:

bingo!

I knew it we were there many years ago. In the early seventies we lived in Mellieha a short hop away.

Edited August 16, 2023 by idusidusi