Q2 - current day performance

[Simone_DF]

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6 hours ago, bobtodrick said:

But blanket statements such as ‘Face detect and AFC is absolute garbage’ are ridiculous.

Does face detect work on the Q2? No, it doesn’t, except very specific cases, so yes, it’s absolute garbage. 

[Le Chef]

Simone_DF is one of those super talented photographers who manages to criticize everything, but interestingly never ever posts any images he has shot...

[steve edmunds]

I use my Q 2 for family stuff often and mostly at f1.7 and find single point AF accurate and reliable and the images beautiful . ps i never use face detect on any camera

Edited December 23, 2024 by steve edmunds

[bobtodrick]

8 hours ago, Simone_DF said:

Does face detect work on the Q2? No, it doesn’t, except very specific cases, so yes, it’s absolute garbage. 

Opinions are a dime dozen...I don't think this one is worth that much.

[Simone_DF]

8 hours ago, Le Chef said:

Simone_DF is one of those super talented photographers who manages to criticize everything, but interestingly never ever posts any images he has shot...

Except if you search the forum, there are a few, including shots with the Q2

[costa43]

16 hours ago, Quarterpounder said:

And asking her what she really wants as a gift, what about that?

She asked me to get her a camera, so that’s what I did 👍 

[costa43]

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18 hours ago, Simone_DF said:

The OP is asking about face detect and AFC. Face detect on the Q2 works only if you are perfectly still in a well illuminated area, and even there it fails miserably without explanation too often. So no, it’s not adequate when it fails at the one thing it’s supposed to do. AFC is just as bad. Can you work around it? Sure you can. Set the camera to AFS and field/spot and you’re good to go. But the question was not about workarounds, but more about an out of the box solution. There’s a reason why Leica did a two generation jump with the Q3, from the Maestro II of the Q2 it went straight to the Maestro IV chip. 

I think single point will be the way with the Q2 after all the research and feedback received. I was thinking about it the other day, it’s probably the most natural way for a beginner to shoot anyway. If she gets into it, then the future looks bright and we can have gear talks round the dinner table and upgrade accordingly😁

Edited December 24, 2024 by costa43

[jaapv]

Field would be better for a beginner - it avoids missing the focus area.

[Simone_DF]

30 minutes ago, costa43 said:

I think single point will be the way with the Q2 after all the research and feedback received.

See Jaap’s post above. Field works well and I find it can be moved around more easily than single focus point. 
Alternatively, consider upgrading to the Q3, it’s night and day for autofocus. 

[costa43]

57 minutes ago, Quarterpounder said:

"You" want the Q2. Her use case is "family snaps", not becoming HBC.

What about a Sofort, or that C-Lux in this fancy champagne colour? 
Women think differently. I have a Q2 and while it is a bit smaller than my 246, the protruding lens barrel does not really make it a camera you want to carry in your bag or coat pocket all the time.

Think about how she is going to use it.

And you can still treat yourself with a Q2, independently of buying a gift for her.

 

Thank you for your opinion. I do agree that she would be fine with anything relatively compact or current but it’s done now, no biggie, a first world problem really. Happy holidays🍷

[costa43]

1 hour ago, jaapv said:

Field would be better for a beginner - it avoids missing the focus area.

Thanks Jaapv, I’ll bear it in mind when setting it up for her. I’m pretty clueless about autofocus to be honest. I’m a manual focus guy. 

[Miltz]

On 12/21/2024 at 3:53 AM, costa43 said:

Hi all

I want to buy a Q for my wife. The Q2 specifically as it seems the market is flooded with good deals for them at the moment. Being 5 years old it’s a pretty mature platform now, after all the firmware updates over the years, where does the autofocus sit with tracking/face detect? My wife will primarily be using it for pictures of our daughter/family snaps. Is it usable or will it frustrate? 

Cheers

 

I wouldn’t get this camera if your wife wants to use face detection for autofocus. Single point is very good. Face detection works in only ideal conditions and still subjects. 

[ianforber]

Good call on getting a Q2. I have one and love it. Your wife will no doubt play around with settings to get what she likes best. Personally I use AF-C and field focus set to the smallest box size. You can get a single shot with a gentle press or a few more with a longer press - I wouldn’t keep it pressed for longer than  is needed to get 5 shots or so. Try setting the ISO so that you get a decent depth of field - f10? Reduce if the ISO gets higher than you like as the Q2 doesn’t really perform well above 3200 for my liking although running the image through Topaz or DxO PureRaw works wonders and lets me use 8000 without fear. 

[LocalHero1953]

Any Q is just a fun camera! There’s a workaround for anything the user finds difficult, including face detect AF. 

[costa43]

Thank you chaps, Merry Christmas to you all. 

 

[jaapv]

On 12/24/2024 at 12:41 PM, costa43 said:

Thanks Jaapv, I’ll bear it in mind when setting it up for her. I’m pretty clueless about autofocus to be honest. I’m a manual focus guy. 

Using AF, I’ve focused on the tree in the distance just between the two people I wanted to portray too often….

[LocalHero1953]

.

Edited December 26, 2024 by LocalHero1953

[costa43]

Update - Wife is very pleased with the camera, early days but positive. She prefers to use it in AFS/spot and doesn’t want to learn about other focus modes at this point. The macro mode has proved useful in a restaurant today already!

I really really like it as a modern wide angle option that has some weather protection and I’m tempted to now add a Q3 to my setup and see how I get on with it. We were using it in the rain today without the angst I usually have with my M cameras. A nice bonus. 

Edited December 28, 2024 by costa43