A Return to the Q

[midnhtsun]

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Hello All,

I've just posted a new blog entry on my site, discussing my return to the Leica Q in 2025. The Q2 was my first Leica camera, which I eventually sold to upgrade to the SL and M cameras. This ended up being a two-part post due to the length. In this first part, I share my experience of what got me back to the Q, how it compares to the SL and M cameras. If you are trying to decide between the three models — Q, SL, and M —this post should help. Part two will be out in a few weeks, where I will discuss the various Leica Q models and give some recommendations between them.

A Return to the Q

choose files...

[RQ44]

Just read the blog. I agree, the Q series, especially the Q3 is a very versatile camera, capable of delivering in the field. I won't say it was a gateway for me to move to M series as I havn't moved to M series. I did have one for a day to experiment with, and though it is a wonderful camera, I still want the snappiness of a Q3 with me all the time. IMO, I feel I would become frustrated with an M as I want my shots to be sharp every time and taking an M on holidays to a new country is risky, should I return with OOF images.

Love the M series, they are superb but in my hands I feel I wouldn't be able to use one to its maximum capability.

 

 

Cheers

 

[oldsalt]

I've just returned from a five week holiday which included the Faroe Islands, Shetland, Denmark, Sweden and Singapore...

very happy with my Q2 - I use auto focus and leave everything else on manual... works for me... I tried an M (courtesy of the Leica shop in Copenhagen)

and enjoyed the experience but the Q2 is still my "go to" travel camera. 

[Chris W]

The Q series shouldn't be a gateway to the M. Completely different cameras, different workflow etc.

I only ever had an original Q, but I think it's still an amazing camera (for anyone Q curious). I look at the images from that camera and they are glorious.

Solid it because 28mm wasn't my typical lens type. If it was 35mm I'd still have it now.

[Aram Langhans]

On 10/1/2025 at 1:35 AM, Chris W said:

The Q series shouldn't be a gateway to the M. Completely different cameras, different workflow etc.

I only ever had an original Q, but I think it's still an amazing camera (for anyone Q curious). I look at the images from that camera and they are glorious.

Solid it because 28mm wasn't my typical lens type. If it was 35mm I'd still have it now.

Amazing how many times I read this.  But with my Q3 I have a 39MP 35mm Q.  How many sell their Q and get a camera with 35mm and only 24-36mm sensors when they had an almost 40mm camera at 35mm.  I know it is not exactly the same as far as aperture goes, but I doubt many would notice or care.

[Chris W]

4 hours ago, Aram Langhans said:

Amazing how many times I read this.  But with my Q3 I have a 39MP 35mm Q.  

That wasn't the case with the Q (1). I can't afford a Q3. Even the Q2 is quite $$$.

For me the Q would have to be a second camera, maybe just for travel. My M10 was £3500, and I traded it for a great deal on an M11. I can't afford the same again to buy a Q3.

So it's really not that 'amazing'. Yeah, I sold a Q1 24mpx before crop for a 24mpx M10.

Edited October 8 by Chris W

[Aram Langhans]

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And that makes perfect sense from a Q or possibly even a Q2.  But I have heard it from Q3 owners or would be owners that sell/pass because 28 is not their thing.  My friend who bought my Q2 is thinking that right now.  I tell him he is crazy unless he is going for a large MP body, which he is not.

Edited October 8 by Aram Langhans

[Chris W]

OK.

Can you limit the viewfinder to 35mm? I think I'd still be annoyed composing with a 28mm field of view, even knowing I'm choosing 35mm for my image.

I might one day pickup the Q3 43, when it is cheaper used. Although again, I would have preferred 35.

[jmschuh]

vor 17 Stunden schrieb Chris W:

I think I'd still be annoyed composing with a 28mm field of view, even knowing I'm choosing 35mm for my image.

The M also has a 35mm frame, which is no different from the Q. Why doesn't that bother you with the M, but the exact same thing bothers you with the Q?

That's not logical.

[midnhtsun]

You can have 35mm framelines appear in the viewfinder, JPGs are cropped, but your RAWs will still retain the full image.

[keeping_a_balance]

On 9/29/2025 at 8:19 PM, midnhtsun said:

Hello All,

I've just posted a new blog entry on my site, discussing my return to the Leica Q in 2025. The Q2 was my first Leica camera, which I eventually sold to upgrade to the SL and M cameras. This ended up being a two-part post due to the length. In this first part, I share my experience of what got me back to the Q, how it compares to the SL and M cameras. If you are trying to decide between the three models — Q, SL, and M —this post should help. Part two will be out in a few weeks, where I will discuss the various Leica Q models and give some recommendations between them.

A Return to the Q

choose files...

I have a very similar story as you.  Q2 --> M11 --> SL system --> Sold q2 for Q343... now miss the 28mm Q.

Q2 was the Leica gateway drug, the quality, the feel etc all the nice things you mentioned in your post.  

I personally use the flippy screens a lot so if I were to aquite the 28mm would be a used Q3...

I find when out shooting I love how the original Q3 can compliment a second body with a 50 or 75 on it where as the Q343 is difficult to combine so tend to use that more on its own...  

Anyway nice post congrats on picking up another Q2!

[Chris W]

3 hours ago, jmschuh said:

The M also has a 35mm frame, which is no different from the Q.

I guess I'm ok with it because overall I prefer manual rangefinder focussing to autofocus.

If I'm using a more compact autofocus camera I don't need to spend £3,000+ on a camera that doesn't suit my framing. There are a few that have 35mm as the single lens and even more that are system compacts where you can attach your choice of 35 or 50mm lenses.

In the end, the 28mm Q wasn't for me, and the more croppable Q2 and Q3 are still too expensive for my budget.

[midnhtsun]

2 hours ago, keeping_a_balance said:

I have a very similar story as you.  Q2 --> M11 --> SL system --> Sold q2 for Q343... now miss the 28mm Q.

Q2 was the Leica gateway drug, the quality, the feel etc all the nice things you mentioned in your post.  

I personally use the flippy screens a lot so if I were to aquite the 28mm would be a used Q3...

I find when out shooting I love how the original Q3 can compliment a second body with a 50 or 75 on it where as the Q343 is difficult to combine so tend to use that more on its own...  

Anyway nice post congrats on picking up another Q2!

Thanks! Eventually I would like to get a Q3 for that same reason, I find that I use the flip screen a lot on the SL3 and on the Q2 I keep wanting one.

[Driften]

I went from the Q Typ 116, to the CL, to the SL2-s then left Leica. I later missed the Q and got a Q2 reporter. The cropping of the larger sensor finally made sense in an all around camera. I had gotten on the pre-orders list when the Q3 came out but then canceled over the long wait times back then. I actually liked the images I got out of the Q better of the two. I sold the Q2 this year when it didn't perform as well as my other cameras and decided it was more pride of ownership than anything else. For now I get my Leica fix from a D-Lux 8 100 years edition and do my other work with Sony and Nikon. I expect someday I'll miss it enough to buy a Q3 43.