Are Leica Q's still relevant and worthwhile?

The answer is yes, to all your questions.

Best of luck.

Nepali Ned said:

Hi All,

I'd like to ask the forum if Leica Q's are still relevant and worthwhile to purchase? Just wondering if purchasing one would be a good idea or if perhaps getting a more up to date model would be best? Can you still purchase accessories etc. for a Leica Q?

Thanks,

Ned

Click to expand...

I bought a Q this year and found it was one of the most enjoyable cameras I have ever used. Like all cameras there are a couple of things to get your head around, in particular the on/off switch that sometimes can go to serial-shooting, instad of single frame.

But the results are still great and it simply doesn't feel dated as such.

However ... I sold my Q after a few months, but only to upgrade to the Q2. But could have also stayed with the Q for some considerable time ...

Some pics I took with the Q:





















Good luck with your decision!

Deed

P.S.: I was in Nepal during the earthquake in 2015 ...

Nepali Ned said:

Hi All,

I'd like to ask the forum if Leica Q's are still relevant and worthwhile to purchase? Just wondering if purchasing one would be a good idea or if perhaps getting a more up to date model would be best? Can you still purchase accessories etc. for a Leica Q?

Thanks,

Ned

Click to expand...

The Q makes as much sense today as it ever did.

Whether it makes sense to *you* is up to you to decide.

Nepali Ned said:

Hi All,

I'd like to ask the forum if Leica Q's are still relevant and worthwhile to purchase? Just wondering if purchasing one would be a good idea or if perhaps getting a more up to date model would be best? Can you still purchase accessories etc. for a Leica Q?

Thanks,

Ned

Click to expand...

If you can find one in excellent condition at reasonable price, do not hesitate to buy.

It's the best bang for the buck Leica camera. The arguable best 28mm lux Leica offers with a very decent and capable camera body in one small package... It is hard to beat.

Very good to excellent copies can be found between $2200 and $3300 USD depending on the actual condition and additional accessories included.

I almost bought one recently ( a practically like new copy with absolute minimal use) for around $2800. But I got myself a Q2 at the end. As much as I admire the Q, I found that weather seal, improved EVF, battery life, 47MP sensor ( for more details even when cropped), new processor, bluetooth instead of NFC, and the improved shadow DR, the highlight priority metering, the iDR etc are worth the extra money for me.

But if your goal is get access to the 28mm lux and take advantage of the Q's beautiful outputs ( JPEG or DNG), and the upgraded features in Q2 are not very important to your use case, I think getting a used Leica Q is the best choice for the money without a question.

You should not have problem to buy accessories for the Q ( Leica or third party).

--
https://www.flickr.com/photos/183079213@N06/

Very worthy camera.



In essence you get more megapixel with the Q2 which gives more opportunity for the digital zoom function but also fires back a bit in lower light.

Few nitpicks from the Q were resolved, like a diopter wheel that sometimes accidentally gets changed, the flimsy battery door which you will hrdly notice and main gripe, the screwed up design of the power on off button.

If Q3 comes with a flip screen, I would upgrade next year otherwise I run with it another 4 years

Best

JK

I bought a used Q but it's almost like a brand new one. And use it along with SL2-S when I travel.

It is a very good 28mm f/1.7. Leica flash SF 60 can work with Leica Q which is a big plus for me.

Hi deednets,

Thank you for your response and the photos you attached. Wow, the clarity and the detail is amazing in the photos you took with your Leica Q

Can I ask why you upgraded to the Q2? Is it because of the attached fixed lens that the Q has that could be problematic for you? Is it best to have a Leica Q type that has fixed length lenses versus the attached?

Hope you were not in Nepal when the earthquake was happening?! Just loved trekking/hiking in Nepal and have been there many times in the past; Everest Base Camp, Annapurna Circuit, Annapurna Sanctuary and the Manaslu Circuit. Just loved it there. Unfortunately, have arthritis in my knees and waiting for one maybe two knee replacements. Will definitely go back again..

Take care,

Nepali Ned

Hi nonicks,

Thanks for your reply and your comments as I appreciate them very much.

I have the chance to get a new Leica Q from an estate sale, but it doesn't have any accessories.

Its good to hear from what you mentioned I should not have a problem to purchase accessories.

I've heard great things about Leica's and just wondered with the way technology is whether its worth it.

After reading your supportive, postive comments, I'm going to give it a go and purchase this one.

Will let you and the others on line how things turn out.

Take care, and thanks again,

Ned

Nepali Ned said:

Hi All,

I'd like to ask the forum if Leica Q's are still relevant and worthwhile to purchase? Just wondering if purchasing one would be a good idea or if perhaps getting a more up to date model would be best? Can you still purchase accessories etc. for a Leica Q?

Thanks,

Ned

Click to expand...

I'm having to smile widely. I have an X-Vario I consider wholly relevant and worthwhile. It will produce images at least as good as my skill as a snapper will permit.

This is a funny question, IMO.

Hi Jk1002,

Thanks for your reply and your comments.

I have the chance to get a new Leica Q from an estate sale, but it doesn't have any accessories.

I've heard great things about Leica's and just wondered with the way technology is whether its worth it.

I appreciate you pointing out the nitpicks that the Q has, which I will keep in mind.

This appears to be a good introductory Leica camera to get my feet wet so to speak and maybe upgrade down the road.

Thanks again,

Take care,

Ned

Hi psrkn,

Thankyou for your reply and your comments as I appreciate them very much.

I have the chance to get a new Leica Q from an estate sale, but it doesn't have any accessories.

I've heard great things about Leica's and just wondered with the way technology is whether its worth it.

Sounds like its a good camera to accompany my other SLR and the price is good, so I'm going to go for it.

Thanks for mentioning the Leica flash SF 60 as I'll have to hunt down the accessories needed and this will help me with what I need to get.

Will let you and the others on line know how things turn out.

Take care,

Ned

Nepali Ned said:

Hi deednets,

Thank you for your response and the photos you attached. Wow, the clarity and the detail is amazing in the photos you took with your Leica Q

Can I ask why you upgraded to the Q2? Is it because of the attached fixed lens that the Q has that could be problematic for you? Is it best to have a Leica Q type that has fixed length lenses versus the attached?

Hope you were not in Nepal when the earthquake was happening?! Just loved trekking/hiking in Nepal and have been there many times in the past; Everest Base Camp, Annapurna Circuit, Annapurna Sanctuary and the Manaslu Circuit. Just loved it there. Unfortunately, have arthritis in my knees and waiting for one maybe two knee replacements. Will definitely go back again..

Take care,

Nepali Ned

Click to expand...

I upgraded because I could. I wasn't unhappy with the Q, but there were a couple of things I felt I wanted to try:

• Different on/off switch. I never bonded with it, but could work with it.
• I often liked the 35/2 aspect ration and bokeh better than the 28 (really more like 25/26mm) and since the Q2 has around 50Mpx, the crop still is around 30Mpx. Thought i would shoot at 35mm a lot.
• Curiosity ;-)

I was in Pokhara when the earthquake struck. Even now when I think, write down or read it somewhere, the 11:56am time still make me shake a little. When it happened I thought that all safety in the universe was gone.









I didn't feel like taking pictures and only took a few when people weren't looking. The images posted here I took 6 days after the earthquake in Kathmandu.

Coming back to your Q question: I think you should be just fine!!

Deed

Nepali Ned said:

Hi nonicks,

Thanks for your reply and your comments as I appreciate them very much.

I have the chance to get a new Leica Q from an estate sale, but it doesn't have any accessories.

Its good to hear from what you mentioned I should not have a problem to purchase accessories.

I've heard great things about Leica's and just wondered with the way technology is whether its worth it.

After reading your supportive, postive comments, I'm going to give it a go and purchase this one.

Will let you and the others on line how things turn out.

Take care, and thanks again,

Ned

Click to expand...

I used non-Leica accessories, since you asked, for this camera:




Gordy strap, 8.00 lens hood, 2.00 JJC snap-cap. Not in the photo: 3rd party charger and battery

What else is there??

Deed

Nepali Ned said:

Hi All,

I'd like to ask the forum if Leica Q's are still relevant and worthwhile to purchase? Just wondering if purchasing one would be a good idea or if perhaps getting a more up to date model would be best? Can you still purchase accessories etc. for a Leica Q?

Thanks,

Ned

Click to expand...

Unless you need AF I would buy a used M240 over a Q.

The lens on the Q and Q2 is a disgrace to Leica IMHO, it uses huge internal corrections that just destroy micro contrast and perceived depth especially at the edges of the frame.

Most M lenses are optically correct and only need a tiny amount of correction giving you that Leica look that we all know and love.

JanisPaw said:

Nepali Ned said:

Hi All,

I'd like to ask the forum if Leica Q's are still relevant and worthwhile to purchase? Just wondering if purchasing one would be a good idea or if perhaps getting a more up to date model would be best? Can you still purchase accessories etc. for a Leica Q?

Thanks,

Ned

Click to expand...

Unless you need AF I would buy a used M240 over a Q.

The lens on the Q and Q2 is a disgrace to Leica IMHO, it uses huge internal corrections that just destroy micro contrast and perceived depth especially at the edges of the frame.

Most M lenses are optically correct and only need a tiny amount of correction giving you that Leica look that we all know and love.

Click to expand...

Disgrace?



Can you share some pictures where you compared M lens to the lens on the Q to draw such a conclusion?

Hi Deed,

Thanks for your suggestions on the accessories you picked up for your Q and great to see that image of your camera on a tripod too.

I'll see what is out there and this gives me a good starting point.

Take care,

Ned

Hi psrkn,

Good pairing to take with you on a travelling vacation I'm sure.

Thanks for your suggestion about the Leica flash SF 60 working well with your Q. I'll keep an eye out for what accessories and this flash in paticular should it be available.

Take care,

Ned

JanisPaw said:

Unless you need AF I would buy a used M240 over a Q.

The lens on the Q and Q2 is a disgrace to Leica IMHO, it uses huge internal corrections that just destroy micro contrast and perceived depth especially at the edges of the frame.

Most M lenses are optically correct and only need a tiny amount of correction giving you that Leica look that we all know and love.

Click to expand...

Hi JanisPaw,

Thanks for your very helpful comments and suggestion to go with the M240 instead.

Does the Q only only have AF and not MF or both? I find AF can be a bit of a pain when my other camera thinks it knows what I want to take a photo of and so I go to MF

I had a look on line and the M240 is $1,000 plus tax more than the Q at my local camera store.

Considering Leica's reputation for excellence in cameras for years, you would think they would have worked out those lens issues you spoke of and not bothered to put out the Q and Q2.

Thanks again,

Ned

Nepali Ned said:

JanisPaw said:

Unless you need AF I would buy a used M240 over a Q.

The lens on the Q and Q2 is a disgrace to Leica IMHO, it uses huge internal corrections that just destroy micro contrast and perceived depth especially at the edges of the frame.

Most M lenses are optically correct and only need a tiny amount of correction giving you that Leica look that we all know and love.

Click to expand...

Hi JanisPaw,

Thanks for your very helpful comments and suggestion to go with the M240 instead.

Does the Q only only have AF and not MF or both? I find AF can be a bit of a pain when my other camera thinks it knows what I want to take a photo of and so I go to MF

I had a look on line and the M240 is $1,000 plus tax more than the Q at my local camera store.

Considering Leica's reputation for excellence in cameras for years, you would think they would have worked out those lens issues you spoke of and not bothered to put out the Q and Q2.

Thanks again,

Ned

Click to expand...

The Q and Q2 have MF but it is fiddly to use with a short throw so precision is hard.

Software lens correction is normal now and used my most manufactures, I just feel Lecia over used it with the design of the Q lens and it impacts the image quality.