Leica Q (original) - a little history information please.

[RogerB]

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I have just bought another used Leica Q (the original Q, not 2 or 3), from a dealer here in the UK - it was described as 'Like New' and it truly is, I am very pleased with its condition.

I looked at many used Qs and most that I saw bore a serial no that started around '49', mine showed a serial number starting '54' and when it arrived the little product manufacture card listing the serial number showed a manufacturing date of "2019/01/28".

Production of the original Q started in June 2015, the Q-P started in November 2018 and the Q2 started in March 2019, so I am assuming that my camera produced in January 2019 must have been one of the last original Qs produced - would that likely be correct?

I have heard that the 'dust issue' (often commented on) was a factor in early releases of the Q but was addressed by some additional measures either before or with the production of the Q-P in 2018. With my Q coming off the production line in 2019, i.e. after production started on the Q-P, I am assuming that any such alleged 'dust prevention' measures would have been applied to my camera. Of course this is just conjecture on my part but with the wealth of knowledge here on the forum I thought that I might well be able to get some useful input.

Thanks in advance for any contribution to my questions that you may feel able to make. 

[JNK100]

I believe that the serial numbers allocated are effectively random and that the mfg. date will be as per the card.

I understand that the Q2 has improved dust-resistance,  but I don't think you should be concerned at all.

[stuny]

I've had my original Q for nearly 7 years, in all kinds of environments, including very windy, dusty locations, and I carry it almost every day.  I've had no dust in it so far.

[LocalHero1953]

Leica tends to issue serial numbers in batches for a particular product; within each batch I understand the number use is more or less random. I would treat the date on the card as the best indicator. 

Your question about dust reads to me as concern about manufacturing quality rather than dust ingress in use. Certainly Q2 and later should keep dust out, but there are no guarantees with the Q. There are occasional reports of visible dust on the sensor new out of the box, but I have no recollection of whether that was an early Q issue that was solved. I have certainly read of sensor dust being visible on later Q2s as well; from the reports I've seen I didn't think it was a widespread problem, but obviously a big one when it is seen, because the sensor can't be cleaned by the user - it has to go back to Leica.

[Tseg]

I understand Leica will clean out the Q dust for ~$300.  I have used a fixed lens full frame Sony RX1 for 12 years (also not weather sealed)... it has dust if I take a picture of a white screen at F22.... but they charge $1K to "clean" as I understand they actually just swap out components.  It is still not bad enough for me to explore other cleaning alternatives.  In fact I didn't know I had about 6 spots until recently after I looked for them after reading posts like this...

I understand the biggest cause of dust is going in and out of macro mode a lot as that acts like a baffle sucking in air.  

Edited November 21, 2024 by Tseg

[RogerB]

Thanks for your responses.

I haven't experienced a dust issue with any of my recent cameras so I'm not overly concerned but was sure I had seen somewhere that a modification had been made in later productions of the Q.

Would still be interested to know when production of the Q stopped.  

[trix4ever]

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My Q original has had to go back 4 times for sensor cleaning, the last time it looked like someone had tipped a wheelbarrow of garbage in one corner and frankly there was dust everywhere.

Imaging by Design in Melbourne did the clean for AU$235 incl freight which I thought was good value, but it’s going up on Ebay, I'm over it.

My RX1 Rii has no dust spots at any aperture.

My Ricoh GR and GRDigital iv also had to be cleaned recently by the same outfit at a cost of about AU$150 each.

All have been looked after and never used in particularly dusty conditions.

I had the GR's for as long as I have had the Q, but they've needed one clean to the Q's four.

[trix4ever]

Oh and I never used Macro mode so I can't blame that.

Also all speaker and mic holes have always been taped over.

[stuny]

I've never taped over any of my Q's holes.  

[RogerB]

8 hours ago, trix4ever said:

My Q original has had to go back 4 times for sensor cleaning, the last time it looked like someone had tipped a wheelbarrow of garbage in one corner and frankly there was dust everywhere.

Imaging by Design in Melbourne did the clean for AU$235 incl freight which I thought was good value, but it’s going up on Ebay, I'm over it.

My RX1 Rii has no dust spots at any aperture.

My Ricoh GR and GRDigital iv also had to be cleaned recently by the same outfit at a cost of about AU$150 each.

All have been looked after and never used in particularly dusty conditions.

I had the GR's for as long as I have had the Q, but they've needed one clean to the Q's four.

Wow, thats a bad tale!

I've had 2 x Ricoh GRiii's and they had no visible dust either.

[RogerB]

So no input on when production of the original Q stopped?

[trix4ever]

2 hours ago, RogerB said:

Wow, thats a bad tale!

I've had 2 x Ricoh GRiii's and they had no visible dust either.

The GRiii has a dust shake off function. The first GR to do so. Good to hear it works.

[Chris Nebard]

On 11/21/2024 at 12:45 PM, stuny said:

I've had my original Q for nearly 7 years, in all kinds of environments, including very windy, dusty locations, and I carry it almost every day.  I've had no dust in it so far.

Same: bought my Q in May 2017 and have never had an issue with dust on the sensor. Those who did often advise tape over the mic holes but I’ve never felt the need to do that. I’m sure that the subsequent Q’s are all fantastic but I’m still enamoured of the original. Fabulous camera.