Leica Leica Q Type 116

I sure hope there are some good analyses of the 'Q' lens in the coming weeks (esp. since I bought one). The X Vario lens got quite a reputation for its lens (a zoom lens yet!), so I'd expect no less from the 'Q' given the 50 percent greater MSRP.

And I second the alley/graffiti notes - gotta do some panorama or stitching.
 
You think Leica is not using Panasonic to source any components of the Q?

Using panasonic components in the Q and having the panasonic manufacture the Q are two different things entirely. I wouldn't be suprised if there are panasonic components in the Q, Leica should use their partnership to their advantage as much as possible, but I agree with asiafish that the Q (X and the T) are not made by panasonic.
 
Here's a lengthy review I read with graphs comparing to 3 Sony's, including the 36 mp A7R. With RAW images, the Q apparently bests all of the Sonys, for resolution, dynamic range, etc.

Leica Q (Typ 116) review
 
The images I've seen from it are quite impressive. That said and good as it is, I'll be sticking to the X Vario and X, and may even force myself down to just one. I could see trading my X Vario outfit for a 28mm f/2.8 Elmarit ASPH and calling my outfit complete.
 
I will be picking it up tomorrow AM at the local UPS store. I wish they had the battery charged 100 percent, so I could go get some morning shots right away. In a rare event, I was able to download the owner manual yesterday, so I'm just about ready to start shooting.
 

I sent an email using his 'Contact' button, asking him if it's reasonable to judge the Q only compared to the lower-priced competition (assuming they are competition), or whether he would consider the value compared to a Leica M with 28 mm prime lens (which is nearly 3 times as expensive). It just seems that those judgements are based on completely ignoring the competition within the Leica brand.
 
The Q, Uncorrected:

160404136.tFLB6d0T.wleica_q_typ_116_18.jpg
Join to see EXIF info for this image (if available)


Source:
Leica Q: First impressions.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Here is gpwhite at the Leica forums, who has one:

"Well, my Q does not achieve sharp corners, and it shows rather weak corners. PERIOD. But the more I shoot it, the more I am engaged and enthused about my Q.
For me, the Q @ f/2 (seems it nicest opening) is at a large gap below the 28 Summilux @ f/2 on M. Yet, the Q is biting sharp and very good 3D... there seems to be field curvature or something behind the curtain with the Q. It is not pleasant.

My hunch is that the image you posted, chrismuc, was somehow brought forward in the processing stream without in-camera distortion correction (software/ glitch). I shot a couple of tall buildings yesterday, and the lines are perfectly correctly. I not percieve any curvilinear distortion (on a monitor, as prints are a few days off).

IMHO, IQ at distant focus on the Q, however, does not rival the laser-etched, straight lines of the 28 Summicron (at say 10m). I have not shot at a distance with the 28 SX yet.



That's my download so far..."

Very refreshing, honest report.
 
Hm. Why am I viewing this new camera as a "expensive Leica point & shoot travel camera"?

When most Leica users have several Leica lenses, why would they get this camera? They want to use their Leica lenses on the new sensor.
 
The thing I'm struggling with now, related to corners, is whether I'm losing quality due to the lens or due to being out of focus, since the objects in some of my corners are usually closer to the camera than the objects in or near center where I'm focusing. I shoot mostly on auto exposure, with ISO fixed at 200. The camera is biased toward lower apertures, which aggravates the problem. The TechRadar review notes vignetting and so on, but doesn't directly address corner softness or smearing. So hopefully once I have a few pages of images built up, I can make a better judgement. Someone else mentioned the Q's bias toward too low of aperture values in auto exposure, and suggested a firmware change to fix that - hopefully that will happen.
 
Hm. Why am I viewing this new camera as a "expensive Leica point & shoot travel camera"? When most Leica users have several Leica lenses, why would they get this camera? They want to use their Leica lenses on the new sensor.

That's a good question. I think they want to have a smaller 'M' with one 28 mm prime for occasional use when they're not carring their usual bag of accessories (non-travel). To me, those times when they don't carry the gear, they are not out looking at landscapes away from the city - they are doing non-photo things closer to home, and the compact camera and 28 mm lens is well suited for those situations. If I were traveling, and after a day of shooting I left the big bag at the hotel and headed out to dinner and so on, I might want to take just the compact (but full-frame) camera with me.
 
I understand your reply, Dale. I was thinking why Leica did it. Wouldn't they get more buyers if the Q was not a fixed lens camera? Maybe the cost would be double then.

With a digital camera, we cannot afford to buy a luxury one and then use it only occasionally. Unless we are loaded and we do not know where and how to spend the dough :) Digital cameras quickly get outdated.
 
to Raid's point: is this SO much smaller than an m9+28 cron as to make it attractive as a 'compact' alternative to those with that (quite expensive) rig? doesnt seem so to me. if we were talking the size difference of the m9 rig vs say a fuji x100 size, THAT i get.

to me this has three things yet to be achieved by leica: fast af, low light ability and macro capability. and it has a new sensor that will probably piss off those who just shelled out major bucks for their 240's. typical leica. in the end though, at 28mm this is a niche within the already small 'leica niche'. what i'm looking forward to is the next product built off this af/low light/macro tech.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Back
Top