Leica releases $6,295 'Reporter' version of its Leica Q2 Monochrome camera

$ 6.295 , as though they were peanuts: no thanks, not even on my dead body.

They are just adding new product for the collectors.

Look, everyone stop whining about the price. If you register this beast, you get extra benefits which are clearly worth it:

"By registering your item, you can extend the warranty on your Leica camera or lens for a further 12 months and you’ll receive three digital editions of the LFI Magazine. This offer covers all Leica cameras and lenses from the M-System, SL-System and Q."

Three magazines and an extra 12 months? Priceless!

That is such a cool camera - I'd never buy it. But give me one and I'll use the heck out of it.

I'd be scared to take it out of its box, much less use it!

Just to remind you B&W lovers, we have an alternative to this expensive camera:
>>>Kodak 400TX Single Use Camera<<<
FILM FRIDAY!!! :)

Beautiful camera. I wish I could afford one. Even the used prices for the original Q here in Canada are just silly. Too bad.

Consider LEICA Q2 with 28mm rangefinder for USD 6.300.

Or Nikon Z9 for USD 5.500 with focus stacking + interchangeable lens.

Mind you there is the weight factor to consider?

I find reading comments very entertaining. These ones especially. More drama than usual IMO.

Sleek. Modern. Elegant. Words.

I prefer the CL always but it seems that there will be no CL2, so no more Leica for me.

they should raise the price to $20K so even more people would want it.

Funny name "The Reporter"; as if it's going to be in the hands of reporters, shooting only in b/w and at wide angles? And, is any "reporter" going to carry a $6k+ camera around?

Nothing is certain but death, taxes and Leica envy.

If Leica sold this camera model with different focal length I’ll bet they’d have some takers. Absolutely nothing wrong with 28mm and there’s plenty of room to crop, which I suppose is the idea, but I’ll bet they could sell a 50mm version.

Great looking tool, I like it, but can't afford it. It is like a Rolex, there are watches out there that are 50 times cheaper that display exact the same time... This is a camera that absolutely attracts lot of attention to your friends.

I think it's important to remember Leica's beginnings and subsequent heritage. The original Leica changed not only the way photography was practiced, but also the kind of images that could be made.
I personally feel that Leica owes it to the medium to continue making these exquisite small "rangefinder" cameras. Additionally, their market share means they cannot follow or copy the other manufacturers, so I am thrilled they blaze their own trail here.

And as an aging image maker who has dropped the idea of having tons of gear, Leica allows me to celebrate my craft with as little as possible and with a bit of nostalgic flair.

The Q is a nice camera... If you can live within the limitations of a fixed 28mm lens and its associated crops. Leica's various Monochrom cameras are also very nice.

That said, this is a niche within a niche within a niche. Take it as such.

Every war correspondent worth their salt must carry one of these.

Don't be upset if you cannot buy the "Reporter". More affordable models like "Informer", "Survivor", and "Prepper" are underway...

Ok so i got one, the coloured version, not that it will spare any less bashing. But lets hear me out for a moment.
If you are not a professional photographer, wouldn't you want a camera that grows old with you and was designed to "age" beautifully when used? On top of that a camera that is FF, fixed prime lens, no distraction on adapters or bringing another lens that you will never use anyway.
All other cameras when they worn out, its some kind of wrap that peels and turns real ugly or the dials are plastics and it breaks, you end up replacing the wraps and the camera looks old, ugly on everything but a new skin.
This camera on the other hand, "Kevlar fibers will wear over time to create a unique patina " grows with you in your life journey.

Leica deserves a lot of respect for what they’re doing. They are a German pioneer of the 35mm film camera, and the industry has turned completely around — Image quality is dependent on the sensor, electronics are built in Asia, and smartphone design teams have massive engineering teams. Everywhere you look, in every direction, the deck is stacked against manufacturers like Leica and Hasselblad, who built professional quality equipment through precision, low-volume, skilled labor manufacturing.

Leica will never have the volume to build their own sensors or chips, or to staff the software R&D teams that Samsung, Apple and Google have amassed for smartphones. Yet, they persevere, and continually release beautiful, functional cameras which their customers absolutely love.

I would buy it. Sadly its usefulness-to-price ration doesn't quite work out for my budget.

The forum is always an "interesting" read whenever expensive "pro" gear is involved. In particular the fact that hobby photographers sometimes own high-end gear that is beyond their needs and capabilities is made fun of.

In my case I own a Canon R6 and some really nice glass as a pure hobby photographer.
Do I absolutely need it? No.
Do I shoot better pictures with it, than with an amateur camera? Sometimes.
Do I have fun and satisfaction when using it? Definitely!

But in fact professionals take advantage from the buying behaviour of people like me: If pro gear would be purchased only by real pros, the quantities would be much lower and the prices much higher. Win-Win

Here's a thought when Leica announce a new or limited edition camera , I am thinking the bashers could develop a Leicabash app a bit like sportsbet and see how many of the same comments from the same people you can guess .The first prize a Sony phone !! I would donate mine happily .

Why is it called the reporter version.. Rich hipster is more like it..

"Reporter" edition give you passive camoflauge so you can photograph the poor and working classes from relative safety. I hear it also makes you immune to US air strikes but nothing specific about that in the spec so might just be a rumor.

"Leica says this monochrome sensor can capture up to two additional stops of dynamic range (13EV vs 11EV) compared to its Bayer-laden counterpart."
LOL, no
https://www.photonstophotos.net/Charts/PDR.htm#Leica%20Q2,Leica%20Q2%20MONOCHROM,Nikon%20Z%207
It's about 1.5 stops better than the original Q2, but that camera is so bad that the improvement only translates into <0.5 stops over a modern conventional sensor. Part of that is they've got a similar full well capacity at base ISO, but if it truly was capturing 4 times as much light (as it claims to, to get the 2 claimed extra stops) then the high ISO performance should be substantially better.

I just don't get it.

I love the comment section whenever a Leica is in the story.

First off - not an oligarch. :)

The only boat I’ve ever owned was a beater 21’ Sea Ray that cost less than the Q2 Reporter. Sold the boat a year later as a heavy work schedule really messed with the ability to use it.

Never a huge fan of the idea of a fixed lens 28mm either.

That said I was absolutely taken with the whole look of the Q2 Reporter. I am under no illusions that it’ll make me a better photographer. It just has a vibe that appeals to me and it does make you want to carry it everywhere unless you need the capabilities of whatever ILC you prefer.

Really like there is no red dot or or a logo to be seen until you power it down.

It feels great. It takes excellent photos and people respond to it in sort of the same way they respond to a silver X100S - a smile rather than with caution or wariness.

Life is short. Do what makes you happy.

I suppose I can put together a savings plan for one of these. It looks very attractive! What kind of stories will we be covering in a year or two?

Sony A1 costs more, but it does not severely UNDERDELIVER like this Leica.

To all those dissing the camera…Google ‘photojournalists who use Leica’ and you’ll find pages of results like this https://www.leica-camera.blog/2018/12/24/diary-of-a-photojournalist/
Just because you are too poor to own a Porsche doesn’t mean your Kia is a great car!

I think Leica mistakenly added an extra number to the price tag. Either that, or they are pushing the Amazon 3rd party inventory trick where since it takes fewer steps to change the price, when an item is out of stock they simply charge an insane price so that no one attempts to purchase the item while the seller waits for more inventory.

I have owned 9 Leica cameras so far, most of them have been a joke (cracked or corroded sensors, failing video card...)

One of my favorite was the Q and the MM2. If you like the wide perspective of the 28mm, this camera is brilliant! (I had the Titanium finish).

This reporter edition is not that expensive, nothing to complain about, but it is a beautiful camera for sure.
The monochrom sensor is definitely a plus. I don't say that often: bravo Leica.

I suppose they could get away with a MDA or a VGA grade grayscale rear screen hence it is only $6,295

Looks beautiful. Haters gonna hate.

Does it come with a Kevlar photo vest?

I wouldn't take the kevlar covering. Doesn't it fray after a while? Leica is trying to spin it into a feature but I'm not buying their spiel.

"Reporter" : Hey Look Me! I am a "reporter" and I use "Leica". how cool is that?
Sony, Nikon & Canon users : Meh.... look at my fps and DR.

I dislike most Leica 'editions' but I would love to own this! At the very least it would be a fun toy and it would get me out of the house more!

The range of comments here are fairly typical for any new Leica product. People who like cameras and photography as a hobby - whatever their skill level - have varying amounts of disposable income to spend on the hobby. This dictum applies to all hobbies - whether its cars, motorbikes, road bikes, watches and even books (hardback or paperback or ebook).
Some people will spend their disposable income on a Leica - and the majority who do so think carefully about which model or models to buy before doing so.
The Q range of cameras are very good. Not perfect - but very good. So are Nikon; so are Canon; so are Fujifilm; so are Olympus (OM).