Thinking of selling my Q2

[Jackalope]

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Like many people here, I moved from "all tech" (Sony) to "mid Tech" (Fuji) to the Q2. Loved and still love the camera. But the Leica bug bit, and I now have an M10 with a 35mm Summilux FLE and a couple of nice Voigtlander lenses (50mm APO Panther and 21mm Color Skopar).

The Q2 in a sense fulfills the need for autofocus, but I now find myself wanting more flexibility--and especially some longer focal lengths.

So I'm thinking of selling my Q2 as a down payment on an SL3, probably starting with a Sigma Art zoom.

My concern is that I have a good bit invested in the Q2: not just the camera, but Arte di Mano half case and strap, extra battery, etc. 

Has anyone here made a similar move? Does it make sense? All wisdom much appreciated!

[dpitt]

I never had a Q because I walked into Leica through a different path. Basically from Nikon to Leica M8 long ago, then to the Leica R lenses with Lumix and Fujifilm for macro and long tele for a while. Then the Leica SL as my Leica R and M digital solution. Funny enough, buying into the L mount with the SL brought me to the TL2.

Now I find the Q series very attractive, but too limited compared to what I already have. If I want the most compact and flexible system, my M9 beats most of them out there, including the Q. I can use a tiny 28 / 35 / 40 lens and it will be smaller than the Q (even pocketable), or I can mount 50 -- 135 mm and it will be much better at long range.

For macro and long tele I love the Leica SL. So why look further ?
The SL is a dream to work with and offers AF and zoom options, but it is heavy and big, even when you mount a tiny M lens. So my solution for an alround compact solution is now the TL2 with an EVF. The CL would be equally attractive, but I found the TL2 at a very good price and it came with the Summilux 35 TL which is now one of the best lenses I ever had, even when used in cropped mode on the Leica SL. I often combine it with my Leica Summicron v3 for a very compact 50mm eq option.

So, maybe if you like the IQ and AF of the Q2, the CL and TL2 merit consideration for you? They can offer zoom and AF in relative small size and weight. I can recommend the excellent Lumix 20-60 AF zoom (30-90 eq) or it can be combined with your M lenses if you do not mind manual focus. Also OIS is an option with some lenses...

Trading in the Q2 for an SL3 does not make sense for me, because of the weight and size difference mainly. They are really on opposite ends of the scale in that department. I use my SL when close to home or car, and take my TL2 or M9 when traveling... Adding the SL3 is an other matter. It would improve on the Q2 in almost every aspect, even in lens quality and handling. If I was 20 years younger I would not even mind the weight for traveling, so YMMV

Edited April 12, 2024 by dpitt

[Wellsyboy]

I've recently gone medium format with Fuji and got rid of all my Canon RF stuff. I have the Q3 and that is going to be my go to street and travel camera but I know what you mean by wanting the interchangeable lens flexibility.

[LocalHero1953]

By Leica standards, a half case and extra battery does not count as "a good bit invested". Perhaps consider it as de minimis.

[Trankster]

My move was from the Q2 to the Q3 which is my all purpose camera.  I sold my Q2 and spare battery about a 1-1/2 years ago on eBay and never looked back.  If you are not loving your Q2 and another set-up better meets your wants and budget, go for it.  I think you can price your Q2 with a spare battery a little higher than without.  I would sell the premium half case and strap separately and you may get a better price that way.  

[dpitt]

Seems like this is a duplicate of

@LUF Admin Maybe merge both topics?

 

Edited April 13, 2024 by dpitt

[liggy]

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Personally I'd rather shoot the Leica glass on my A7RV than on a SL3 but it's a rather personal choice.

That is one big, chunky body.  If I'm going to shoot something that big - it'll be the GFX100S.

None of those options gives you what the Q2 brings to the party though.  

[Le Chef]

I had a Q2 and traded for a Q3. It really is a fantastic camera with a very broad "footprint". There will always be things to criticize, but you have to decide what you can live with and what you can't.

I have a CL and a bunch of lenses acquired over the years. It gives me terrific flexibility when I want to shoot longer or wider than the Q3, with no real weight penalty. 

I look at the alternatives from time-to-time:

The SL2 now 3 - too heavy/bulky to make photography enjoyable.

The M's - the frustration of seeing lenses in the OVF is an irritation that bugs me, and getting older I wonder whether manual focus becomes harder and less worthwhile despite growing up with manual focus film cameras.

Fuji or Sony - the menus just drive to me to distraction. Let's cram every single option we can possibly think of into the menus and pebble-dash the surface of the camera with as many buttons as we can fit on it, and let's not think about how people actually use cameras out in the wild.

And so I stay put with my Q3 and my CL kit...

[liggy]

@Le Chef - part of what I love about the Sony/Fuji dials and buttons is that I rarely have to even go to the menu.
Every setting/option for normal shooting scenarios is right there at your fingertips.  In the case of the dials you don't even have to look at the EVF or screen to know your basic settings. 

In actual use it's faster for me because I don't need to access a menu to change anything.

[Le Chef]

I put my preferences into profiles so I never need to touch what few buttons the Q3 or CL has. I change profiles maybe once or twice while I’m out so all changes I want happen at once without the constant fiddling with buttons. That way I can focus on composition rather than fiddling with settings.

In the end some people like the buttons and some people prefer the profile approach; and that’s why there are different camera brands.