Leica Q

[nerwin]

Ah, to buy or not to buy, that is the question.

You can buy me one if you'd like

 

[Braineack]

who buys this ****?

 

[Solarflare]

Thanks for all your super helpful suggestions.

If anyone can find sarcasm in this posting, they can keep it.

 

[Derrel]

Hollywood celebrities like leica
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/20/fashion/leica-cameras-favored-by-celebrities.html?_r=0

My favorite part of that all-too-flimsy "article" was the New York Times-style correction of a major blunder in the original version of it:

"Correction: September 20, 2012
A previous version of this article was accompanied by a picture of Emmy Rossum holding what was incorrectly identified as a Leica rangefinder. It was, in fact, a Fuji digital camera whose design was inspired by classic rangefinders such as the Leica."

Bwaahhhaa-haaa-hahhh! Hilarious!

 

[Solarflare]

Well, wasnt the New York Times exactly that newspaper that no longer employed dedicated photographers ?

If thats the case, unsurprisingly they no longer have people that can tell the difference between a Leica M and a Fuji X-Pro1.

 

[jake337]

I'd wait on a possible Df2. Maybe they will get it right the second time around.

Plus if they don't make a Df2 then you will be able to find a nice used Q at a discounted rate.

If you think it will last you 10 years then it will still be an option next year, no?

I'm still kicking myself in the ass for not pushing my D90 for one more year. I would be holding a refurbished D4 right now for 3k.

 

[Solarflare]

The Df2 is a system camera (1). The Leica Q however is a compact camera. That means, it has a fixed lens. Thats a very different beast.


I think the hardware of the Q is "good enough". All I would need is a firmware upgrade:

- Most importantly: fix the handling of the electronic shutter. The way its done now might be okay for some rather cheapish micro four third cameras that are exessively tiny - but not for a 4000$ full frame compact. Because of the rolling shutter issue, I would definitely need full control of when electronic shutter its used and when its not. Thus we need: (a) disable the electonic shutter completely (b) a transition mode which would be like it is now and (c) use only the electronic shutter. Personally I would actually only need (a) and (c), but I think others might still like to keep (b).

- Allow higher shutter speeds than 1/2000 if the aperture is closed. That should be perfectly possible with a central shutter. For example the Fuji X100 has 1/2000s wide open (at f/2), but allows up to 1/4000s when the aperture closes down (this is reached at f/5.6). This of course would be used in mode (a) and (b). To get above 1/2000, one would do the same as it is now. Since 1/2000 is the highest one can get wide open anyway, it would perfectly make sense.

- Allow full sync speed with flash, i.e. up to 1/4000s at f/5.6. Yes you need to use a flash on the camera or a sync cable to actually make this work. Still, it should be an available option.

There are also issues with the ergonomics. There are two very very easy to access buttons that I couldnt use for anything useful, while important options are too much out of the way or not available at all:

- Allow to reprogram the movie button. Personally I see absolutely no point of shooting movie on a 28mm fixed compact. I want a button thats so easy and direct to access (in fact easy to press unintentionally without even noticing) to do something useful (and something that doesnt waste ressources when pressed accidentaly, possibly without even noticing). Thus I would like to set ISO on that button. Other alternatives could for example include white balance for JPEG-Shooters. But most importantly also allow simply "NONE" for people who keep pressing that button accidentally or just dont need it at all anyway. Maybe also allow to use the current ISO button as the movie button if the movie button is the ISO button, for people who still want to use the movie recording but prefer to have ISO right under their fingertipps.

- More options for the backward thumb button. Right now it defaults to digital zoom(2) . Theres alternatively a couple Focus and Metering lock options that I dont need either on this kind of camera. Good ideas I could think of would be "Disable Flash useage" and "Enforce electonic shutter" - and a "Quiet mode" that does both (actually that last option would be all I personally need, but different people will have different needs). And, again, allow NONE as an option, simply because some people might find no useful option at all for their own uses and thus might want to disable that button completely.

Thats all. With these upgrades, I would definitely buy the Q. Its costy, but with the changes described above it has all options I need, a lot of extras on top which I dont actually need and sometimes not even appreciate(4), and would be an excellent solution for wanting a social, nonintrusive camera one can carry anywhere.


(1): Besides, about the Df2: I wont hold my breath if it ever comes, the Df was dispassionate enough as a project. Thus, that they never release a followup is a quite likely possibility. Basically Nikon was as enthusiastic about the Df as Canon was (and still is) about their EOS M.

(2): A digital zoom might be okay on a smartphone, but on a 4000$ camera its something I'll never ever need, even less on a quick access button. Seriously, I dont buy an expensive full frame sensor camera to only use less than APS-C sized chunk of it.

(3): Such as the macro mode, which personally I consider completely superflous on a 28mm fixed lens camera - I would much rather have a better lens instead. But probably many other people will love it.

 

[Solarflare]

VIDEO: Side by Side: Sony RX1RII and the Leica Q. Which would I buy?

Hmm.

IMHO the competition would actually be between the following cameras:

1. Ricoh GR, GR2
2. Nikon Coolpix A
3. Fuji X100, X100s, X100t
4. Leica X, X2, X-E Typ 102, X Typ 113, upcoming X-U Typ Typ 113 (underwater)
5. Sony RX1, RX1R, RX2R
6. Leica Q

These are compareable fixed lens cameras with a prime 28mm or 35mm [equivalent] lens and an APS-C (23.6x15.6mm) or full frame (24x36mm) sensor.

The Leica X was the trendsetter, the Ricoh GR was around for ages (4 versions) with very small sensors (1/1.7" aka 7.6x5.7 mm) until they changed to APS-C.

And quite frankly the Ricoh GR and Fuji X100 would be in the lead of this competition for me, with the X-U as a special purpose choice.

The Fuji X100 line has a combined OVF/EVF and almost fully exploits the possibilities of being a compact camera (silent operation, flash sync up to 1/4000 sec).

The Ricoh GR line is known for great optics, really good ergonomics, and very high stealth factor. Ironically its also the cheapest of all these choices.

The X-U would have still good optics, but also the special purpose useage. Then again I am not aware I would ever actually NEED an underwater camera ?

 

[beagle100]

VIDEO: Which would I buy?

Hmm.

IMHO the competition would actually be between the following cameras:


6. Leica Q
ra ?

At $4,200 for a Leica Q ....... I think I'll keep my cheap mirrorless

www.flickr.com/photos/mmirrorless/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mmirrorless

 

[Solarflare]

Well, yeah. Such a compact comes with a number of possible advantages though:

- Very high quality glas that basically isnt available for my D750, except in the form of the manual Zeiss Distragon T* 2.0/28mm ZF.2.

- Less lens switches, well and I could sell my 28mm f1.8.

- Very silent operation.

- Very high flash sync.

- A much less obtrusive camera, compared to a DSLR. Also much, much prettier than any DSLR, and a "good feel" thanks to great build quality.

As somebody who enjoys the most photographing people, a camera like this makes a lot of sense.