Q looks pretty great

[Darthfeeble]

"I must say, most are taking the EVF pretty calmly...."

I think they have come quite a ways from the early ones. I have first generation X100 and XPro1 Fujis and have just about forgotten the OVF. Newer EVFs are even better.

One beef I do have with the Q, the marketing folks at Leica keep calling it a "fixed focus" camera. Yet I see the ability to change the focus right on the lens. Am I ignorant of something or should the Q be called a "Fixed Focal Length" or at least a "fixed lens" Camera?

 

[Darthfeeble]

Soft release lack

Soft release lack

The shutter release button is not threaded for a soft release. What is to be done? 😱

I think that the 2 sec. timer has pretty much replaced the threaded remote released. For a soft touch botton, I use little stick on rubber feet on my Canons and it works fine.

 

[Darthfeeble]

There has been some talk about the lack of an RF on the Q. I have an M9 and enjoy it mostly from a wannbe HCB position. Same with my R-D1, but all that said, what's the big deal about a rangefinder? They're a little difficult to focus if your eyes are bad, mine are. They can be fussy about staying in adjustment particularly if you are clumsy with your bag, I am. I have a pair of Fuji cameras with the "hybrid" view finder and I have come to use the EVF almost exclusively. Serious question, what's the big deal?

 

[jcrutcher]

I think the Q is interesting enough to try. I should get mine next week. Is it perfect ? I doubt it but none of my cameras are. I like that Leica has big balls to make cameras like this. Yes expensive but what the hell its only money.

Jim

 

[uhoh7]

It's definitely starting to smell like a Sony to me.

Oh jeez, what a snob.

How would you know what a sony smells like?

go play with your scanner LOL

@ Stephen I think most of us thought it would be more money.

A brand new Chevy the same year could be had for 500USD.

Adjust those prices for inflation and figure the cost of film, and you have about the same price as this camera, or more if you shoot alot.

As to lack of RF. At least they are giving buyers the sharpest EVF ever put on a camera, and also a very bright one. The sonys go real noisy after sundown, and I've had many a headache from their EVFs.

This does not mean all future Leicas won't have RF. For this camera EVF probably makes sense.

The new A7rII is 3200 body only for a camera whose value will drop like a rock, and is a far less finished product.

I agree M9 is a good deal, and M8s are steals. This is a different machine, and looks very well done to me. I won't be grabbing one, cause I don't have the change lying around, but if I did, I would not hesitate.

In general, I think Leica is killing it lately. Incredible lenses. 246. Q. Brand is gaining recognition with young. Sony, on the other hand, is just doing some interesting experiments LOL

Money is not what it used to be. People drop more than the price of a Q on bicycles all the time today. Hard to get out of the grocery under a 100. Sad, but that's the way it is. I don't blame Leica.

 

[silverbullet]

The Q is the first digital Leica which deserves the name 'M' ore better

'Texas Ricoh' ;-)

 

[phatnev]

Chrome Zeiss Ikon w/ 50mm 1.5 $373 USD in 1936 works out to be $6,346.73 in 2015.

Damn.

 

[stephen.w]

Any word on what the AF speed is like? I succumbed to looking at the Huff "review", but am still none the wiser.

If I wasn't already committed (over-committed) to an M system, including a 28mm lens, the Q would be extremely tempting. I would have preferred 35mm, but it seems that in the overall concept, including the choice of focal length, Leica has done something that they haven't for a good while: made a brave camera.

 

[Lss]

Any word on what the AF speed is like?

The word is 'fast'. I think another word regarding the AF performance is 'accurate'.

The way I see it is that as long as there aren't many complaints by actual users, there is hope that there is some truth to it. If I remember correctly, the Sony RX1 was initially only considered 'accurate'. One out of two isn't that bad. 😉

 

[stephen.w]

The word is 'fast'. I think another word regarding the AF performance is 'accurate'.

The way I see it is that as long as there aren't many complaints by actual users, there is hope that there is some truth to it. If I remember correctly, the Sony RX1 was initially only considered 'accurate'. One out of two isn't that bad. 😉

Thanks -- I'm interested to hear users' impressions of the camera in use, as they emerge.

 

[DavidKKHansen]

Chrome Zeiss Ikon w/ 50mm 1.5 $373 USD in 1936 works out to be $6,346.73 in 2015.

Damn.

+1

Just goes to show that high end cameras were also expensive back then. Only difference is photographer's choices of 2nd hand compact/portable cameras were more limited than what we have available today.

I'm starting to like the Q, I will have the chance to fondle it at my dealer later today. The Ricoh GR has become my most used camera the past 2 years, because it's so portable... I have already gotten used to the 28mm focal length. As much as I love a Leica rangefinder, I have to sometimes force myself to use it.

 

[Mike Fish]

Are there many digital options (non-leica) that have the controls in such a "traditional" layout?
Aperture with a dedicated control ring on the lens
Focus with a dedicated control ring on the lens
Shutter speed dial on the top of the camera
My only personal experience is with the Sony RX100m3, and I never really felt "at home" with the controls.

 

[sjgslack]

Thanks -- I'm interested to hear users' impressions of the camera in use, as they emerge.

The AF is remarkably fast. Fastest I've seen in a fixed lens digital cam (but I've not played with them all).

As for accurate - accuracy is pretty easy at 28mm. I've only had a little play so can't speak for the accuracy really. But I was amazed by how fast it was.

 

[stephen.w]

Are there many digital options (non-leica) that have the controls in such a "traditional" layout?
Aperture with a dedicated control ring on the lens
Focus with a dedicated control ring on the lens
Shutter speed dial on the top of the camera

Yes - the Fujifilm X series. I have the X100S, which fits all your criteria, although in terms of the dedicated focus dial, I must admit I don't generally use it as a manual focus camera. (Manual focus is "by the wire", but you get a nice DOF scale in your viewfinder.)

 

[stephen.w]

The AF is remarkably fast. Fastest I've seen in a fixed lens digital cam (but I've not played with them all).

As for accurate - accuracy is pretty easy at 28mm. I've only had a little play so can't speak for the accuracy really. But I was amazed by how fast it was.

That's very exciting to hear.

 

[uhoh7]

Chrome Zeiss Ikon w/ 50mm 1.5 $373 USD in 1936 works out to be $6,346.73 in 2015.

Damn.

Now add film.

I don't like that I can't afford the Q, but the best cameras are rarely cheap.

As many here know, one the motivating factors for the camera industry in Japan was the prohibitive cost of German cameras.

The more things change.....

Still makes it a Sony to me. Time will tell.

Also, adjusting prices for 2015 is way too simplistic.

What is simplistic is calling this camera a Sony, as an insult. Not only is the camera very different from the latest Sonys, but TYG for Sony for pushing the industry, albeit in an imperfect manner.

Now, get back to the past and pretend it's the cutting edge of image creation and workflow LOL. The "process", right?

 

[Aristophanes]

Now add film.

I don't like that I can't afford the Q, but the best cameras are rarely cheap.

As many here know, one the motivating factors for the camera industry in Japan was the prohibitive cost of German cameras.

The more things change.....

What is simplistic is calling this camera a Sony, as an insult.

A Sony will probably take as better or superior quality images (sensor and processing) and optics have become phenomenal down price points.

Aslo, add in post processing computer power instead of film.

Value is value. Leica is a marquee, luxury market, peacock brand now. Their recent QC issues make their items no better than many products at 20% the outlay.

 

[aizan]

i'm glad that the lens has a focusing tab. that little, yet critical feature has been a long time coming. fuji should have put that on the x100!

along with the focusing tab, the built-in, rangefinder-style evf shows that leica is really catering to street and documentary photographers with this camera. will the sony rx1 mkii add these features, or will it remain intended for a more general audience?

 

[willie_901]

I never, ever thought I would own a Leica product.

Should the Q product line be expanded to offer a 50, or even 35, mm lens. I think I will buy one.

 

[DougFord]

Looks like Leica's future. The Lenny K, not so much.
Signs of intelligent life...did they hire new engineers? lol
The manual focus system/operation looks to be a very competent design.