The Leica Q2 is a high-end compact digital camera from Leica. It has been a year since its launch at the end of March 2019.
I got this camera in June 2019.
Since it shares a battery with the Leica SL, a mirrorless DSLR I use for work I bought this camera as a sub-machine for a new camera.
However, due to its high descriptive performance, mobility and versatility, it has performed far better than I had originally expected. Showing.
In this article, I'm going to give you a review and examples of use after about a year of use, in my opinion. I think.
Leica Q2 = "a high-end, non-compact digital camera
If I were to introduce this camera in one word, it would be "a high-end, non-compact digital camera".
A camera with a non-removable lens is usually referred to as a "compact digital camera". It is in the category of digital converters.
The previous model, the first Leica Q, was priced at about 600,000 yen, but its performance in terms of depiction and its ability to capture images is impressive. It was called "the best-selling Leica camera" due to its ease of handling and sophisticated design. It became a hit product.
The Leica Q2 is almost entirely based on the design of the original Leica Q, but with a higher resolution sensor This is an upgraded version of the camera, which is equipped with an upgraded version of the camera with a dustproof and splashproof performance.
In the next section, we will introduce the features that we have experienced with the camera.
A single focal length Leica lens and a full size lens with amazing descriptive power!
The biggest thing about the Leica Q2 is the lens.
Why was the original Leica Q a hit despite its price tag of around 600,000 yen? One of the reasons for this is actually cost effectiveness.
Because the Leica Q/Q2 is equipped with the Summilux f/1.7/28 mm ASPH.
If you buy the equivalent Summilux M f1.4/28mm ASPH. on its own, you'll be surprised to find out that it's an approximate price. It costs $860,000.
It's cheaper than that and comes with a body with a full-size sensor and an auto Focus is also available.
This is why the Leica Q has gained a reputation as a "high cost" camera.
The highly regarded Summilux f/1.7/28mm ASPH. The Leica Q2 is a great example of this.
A modern lens with a sense of resolution and a clean, aberration-suppressed image, with minimal distortion even at 28mm. Picture making.
The tuning is excellent, as only a camera with an integrated lens body can be. The Leica Q2's lens is said to be superior to the Summilux M f/1.4/28mm ASPH. It is.
Photographs taken at a maximum aperture of f/1.7 (f/2.8 at close range) are particularly noteworthy for their beauty.
The combination of a bright lens and a full-size sensor creates an extremely mellow bokeh effect.
The clear, colorful images that seem to trap the subject in the air make you notice the brilliance in the midst of ordinary life.
Dustproof, drip-proof, high-resolution, and autofocus: the most powerful camera for travel
Personally, I particularly like the dust and splash resistance that comes with the Q2.
As the fact that the official Leica images were taken in snowy mountains proves, you could think of the Q2 as "a Leica that can be handled like an action camera".
A little rain or splashing water is no problem.
So, when traveling in any kind of weather, it's a good idea to take only one of these Leica Q2s with you. It has become a regular feature.
While the original Leica Q had a reported problem with the sensor being prone to dust contamination, the dust-proofing function is now available. I have no such problems with the Leica Q2 (although the viewfinder is filled with dust).
It also has improved crop resistance thanks to a 47.3 effective megapixel sensor adopted from the Q2.
With the push of a button, you can select a focal length of 35 mm, 50 mm or 75 mm with a 28 mm single focus. The Leica Q2 is also suitable for a wide range of shooting situations.
By the way, if you're in Lightroom, the crop settings are applied to RAWs as well, so it's really Another good point is that you can use it as if you were switching lenses.
Unfortunately, this crop application is not compatible with Capture One, which is the software I use regularly. I'm not sure if I should use Lightroom only to manage the photos taken with Q2.
And the AF makes it possible for me to shoot with one hand.
If you're traveling alone, but when you're traveling with someone else, you want to enjoy the trip itself more than shooting, so the Leica Q I still feel the 2 is the best camera for travel.
With the Leica Fotos smartphone app, you can use the Leica Fotos smartphone app to access Leica Fotos via Bluetooth. Q2's Wi-Fi can be turned on to transfer photos, so you can use Instagram Stories, etc. while traveling. It is smooth to post to SNS.
It's a very good looking JPG image, so you don't need to edit it. That's where.
The "most playful Leica" for AF and macro photography
The two major advantages of the Leica Q series over typical Leica M systems such as the M10 are It has two functions: autofocus and macro (close-up) shooting.
These two functions are common in most cameras, but the fact that these two functions are available with a Leica lens is a real plus. is a huge advantage.
The benefits of AF are mentioned above. The Leica Q2 also has face and motion recognition AF, but I'm basically using the single center spot AF for Used by.
And after all, macro photography.
It's strange to be able to get close to someone just because you can get close, but the fact that you can get close with a Leica lens is a wonderful thing. It's still a great value.
With the image stabilizer and 75mm crop, considerable macro photography is possible.
The camera is useful for table photos and also for expressing detail when taking objects at work.
A few things that I don't like about Leica Q2.
These are just a few of the things I like about the Leica Q2, but there are also some things that I like about the long term use of the Leica Q2 Introduction.
- There is more noise in high-sensitivity shooting
- The adjustment range for RAW data is narrower
- Log shooting is possible in movie shooting
- I want the optical viewfinder-style EVF setting that ignores film mode (JPG setting).
- Slightly unstable connection to Leica Fotos
The high-sensitivity noise problem is often pointed out about the Leica Q2. I don't have any major complaints because there is no & the noise output is not bad in a film style.
In general, I have the impression that it's a highly complete camera.
Expensive but not expensive, I would recommend this camera to anyone who really wants one.
In a previous article I wrote for Gizmodo Japan, I described the Leica Q2 as "foul". Used.
https://www.gizmodo.jp/2019/12/2019-3camera.html
It's still foul that you can mass-produce Leica-quality photos that feel like a smartphone. and I still feel it every day.
It's not the same as the magic of the M-type Leica, but the Leica Q2 is definitely a real product. It's a camera that will raise your quality of life.
Even if you use the excuse that "it would cost 860,000 yen to buy the lens alone…", it's not a cheap purchase. No, it's not.
But for those who want to enjoy photography in their daily lives, it's a camera that's worth it. I would recommend it.
