My 15 minute with the Leica Q

[taemo]

Went to The Camera Store this morning and they informed me that they finally have a Leica Q demo, here's what I think of it..

The Leica Q is as small and light as the Fuji X100T although the lens is noticeably larger and heavier which IMO makes the camera front-heavy.
The thumb divot helps a little on holding the Q but an actual thumb grip would have been more comfortable especially since the divot sits very close to the right edge of the body.

I can vouch that the Q EVF is the best out there right now, I have played with the XT1, RX100III, LX100, X100T and the Q was like looking at the real thing, very impressed!.
Also, changing focal length to 35mm or 50mm doesn't zoom you in but rather displays its respective frame lines, 28mm uses the whole EVF.

AF is fast, the only time I had issues focusing was against the light but most mirrorless cameras will struggle with it too

Other than that the camera was nailing focus all the time, it felt a split second faster beside a X100T. I point the camera on something, half-press the button and instantly focus on it.
This in AF mode actually felt faster than a Ricoh GR in snap mode!

Regarding the lens, the 28mm at f/1.7 looks great, nice bokeh and surprisingly I'm digging this focal length.

In AF I could get as close to ~30cm but once in Macro mode, I was around ~12cm.
My only complaint is that switching AF to either MF or Macro mode doesn't feel smooth.
Sure all you need to do to go to MF from AF is press the small button on the focus tab and bring it down but to me it didn't feel natural.
Closest I could get in AF mode

My overall opinion on the Q is that it is great but it is not for me.
The lens is a little too bulky and 28mm is not really my favorite focal length.
While it's awesome that you can crop the Q down to 35mm or 50mm, it's only advantageous if you're shooting JPEG. Otherwise RAW/DNG will give you the full 24MP.
Also, if you're planning on using the Q for long exposure, 30s is the longest it can go. From 15s it jumps to T which goes max to 30s.

If you're in need of a fast wide-angle camera then you will love this camera.
I have an X100T on the way since 35mm feels more natural to me and if I need to go wider, I might just keep using the GR or my CV 21mm

 

[f16sunshine]

Thanks Earl
Great to read your 1st impression of the Q.
It sounds near perfect other than the FL.
One thing, is there a mode to set and leave the focus point or must one manually focus whn in manual focus.
Do you know what I mean? Like the Fuji cameras with the manual focus and focus button.
It's not actually manual focus more like, setting the snap point using af manually.

Does the Q have a functiontp do this?
Thanks!

 

[Ranchu]

That's a lot of contrast.

 

[taemo]

Thanks Earl
Great to read your 1st impression of the Q.
It sounds near perfect other than the FL.
One thing, is there a mode to set and leave the focus point or must one manually focus whn in manual focus.
Do you know what I mean? Like the Fuji cameras with the manual focus and focus button.
It's not actually manual focus more like, setting the snap point using af manually.

Does the Q have a functiontp do this?
Thanks!

Andy, are you referring to the AFL button on the GR and Fuji cameras?

didn't dwell too much into the menu settings but according to some reviews, the custom button on the left of the thumb grip can be assigned to the following
•Digital Zoom
•AEL/AFL (Auto Exposure and Auto Focus Lock)
•AFL (Auto Focus Lock)
•AEL (Auto Exposure Lock)

That's a lot of contrast.

the lighting inside the store is dark but yeah new leica lenses are very contrasty

 

[gwg]

Thanks for your thoughts, sounds like I'll have to have a look at this camera!

 

[jsrockit]

I can't wait to get mine... exciting camera. It'll be months unfortunately... typical Leica.

 

[taemo]

I can't wait to get mine... exciting camera. It'll be months unfortunately... typical Leica.

there are times that I feel like wanting to sell all my digital cameras and settle with a Leica Q but 28mm is just not my focal length and not a big fan of the lens size.

hopefully one day Leica releases a Q with a 35mm f/2 lens the size of a Summicron, then I would be more comfortable to take the jump

 

[jcrutcher]

I received mine a couple of days ago. So far I really like it. The quality of camera is excellent, AF is fast, macro is easy and accurate. I've enjoyed shooting it manual focus, with the assist and peaking it focuses on what you see. I'm not a 28 mm guy however I'm surprised how much I'm liking it and the photos are very usable. I was worried that at that wide of focal range it would blow the highlights(I live in Arizona, lots of stray light). No it does not in fact acts very much like my M240. I figure if I stand 20 feet away from the subject if I step forward 5 feet I have the same shot as a 35 mm. It works. The lens is super sharp and even if you crop the photo in processing the remaining is very usable. If it wasn't a 24 meg sensor that step may not work as well. This weekend it's my wide lens to go with M240 with 50 cron and 90 elmar. More to come.

Jim

 

[jsrockit]

there are times that I feel like wanting to sell all my digital cameras and settle with a Leica Q but 28mm is just not my focal length and not a big fan of the lens size.

hopefully one day Leica releases a Q with a 35mm f/2 lens the size of a Summicron, then I would be more comfortable to take the jump

I understand. I have two other cameras for other focal lengths, so I'm splurging on a 28mm camera. I too thought I wouldn't like the bigger 28mm protruding from the Q... however, in person I didn't mind. It is still smaller than the Sony 28mm f/2 for the A7 I use currently. I'm hoping for a 50mm model. In your case, I think it is a good thing to be able to talk yourself out of a $4250 camera. 🙂

 

[willie_901]

I received mine a couple of days ago. So far I really like it. The quality of camera is excellent, AF is fast, macro is easy and accurate. I've enjoyed shooting it manual focus, with the assist and peaking it focuses on what you see. I'm not a 28 mm guy however I'm surprised how much I'm liking it and the photos are very usable. I was worried that at that wide of focal range it would blow the highlights(I live in Arizona, lots of stray light). No it does not in fact acts very much like my M240. I figure if I stand 20 feet away from the subject if I step forward 5 feet I have the same shot as a 35 mm. It works. The lens is super sharp and even if you crop the photo in processing the remaining is very usable. If it wasn't a 24 meg sensor that step may not work as well. This weekend it's my wide lens to go with M240 with 50 cron and 90 elmar. More to come.

Jim

Well perspective is different when one stands 5 feet closer. Yet Winogrand use 28 mm lenses often and that worked out well for him.

 

[jsrockit]

Well perspective is different when one stands 5 feet closer. Yet Winogrand use 28 mm lenses often and that worked out well for him.

It's an intimidating focal length for using with people that you don't know. It takes a real commitment. Winograd just didn't care and it worked great for him. Not as easy as people think (his work).

 

[willie_901]

It's an intimidating focal length for using with people that you don't know. It takes a real commitment. Winograd just didn't care and it worked great for him. Not as easy as people think (his work).

Yes, and a lot of practice.

The advantage of being that close is, in some circumstances, people think you are photographing something beyond them. The higher the density of strangers, the easier it becomes to use this focal length.

There's no time for fiddling with the camera or agonizing over framing. Anticipation and and having intuitive composition skills are key. So is confidence. But it does work.

 

[jsrockit]

I'm comfortable with 28mm. I've used the Ricoh GR extensively. I forced myself to learn it since the GR is such a great camera. The Q is going to force some to learn to love 28mm.