Looking at the Leica Q as a travel camera? Here is my Leica Q travel photography review with pros and cons of using this camera in your travels, with sample images.
Introduction
The Leica Q is a full frame compact, fixed lens digital camera by Leica. It has a 28mm f1.7 Summilux lens that is sharp and fast.
Hi my name is Sven the Leicaphile, because of it’s compact nature many use it as an all-around camera, but what about for travels? Read on…
Leica Q Travel photography review
Let’s start out Leica Q travel photography review, by asking what really makes a great travel camera? Here’s a few points:
- The less gear the better
- Weight
- Creative possibilities
And that is pretty much it. You want the less stuff to manage (You don’t want to have both the hotel slip in your hands while having to remember to bring your lens), the less weight (both for the luggage and daily walks) and you want the maximum amount of creative possibility (the less gear that does all kinds of genres).
How does Leica Q travel photography fare then? Let’s find out.
The minimalist kit
What’s great about the Q is that it is a minimalist kit, there’s nothing superfluous, everything you could want is built right in: Full frame sensor, fast lens. What’s there more to ask?
You have in a compact camera the power of large DSLRs and with a lens that has a maximum aperture of f1.7, there’s very little you cannot shoot except the extreme situations. Since this is a Leica this has stunning image quality (the subjects borderline 3D sometimes) and is a joy to use.
There’s already so much to manage while traveling, your gear shouldn’t be one of them. No figuring out what lenses you should bring, which one to remember that you left at the hotel, none of that. Just bring the Q and you have everything you need.
The only camera you need
One of the biggest drawbacks to the Leica Q would be the fixed lens. If you are not used to the 28mm focal length, you might wish that is was something else, like a 35mm instead.
Well your wish is granted, while there are no lenses you can add or exchange, the power of the Q is in the 24 megapixel sensor. You can crop to your heart’s content and still have an equivalent of 50mm f2.8 shot at 8 megapixels.
The 28mm is a great focal length to start with, as you can always crop further but not wider. What I mean by this is, because of the digital zoom you can have 28-35-50mm, but with a camera like the Sony RX1, you cannot have 28mm because the lens is a fixed 35mm.
So instead of looking at the Q as a fixed focal length, it is better to look at it as a fixed Tri-Elmar camera.
That makes it pretty much one of the most versatile cameras for travel that is great for everything.
Great for anything
It doesn’t matter if you have a camera with great IQ if you can’t shoot much with it. Travel photography requires being able to do anything at all times as hour to hour you could be on the streets and then shooting portraits.
Keeping in mind that this has a pretty stunning digital zoom, it is great for anything. Natively the 28mm makes its great for street photography and landscape photography, and while you can always use the 28mm to make it work, with digital zoom you can make some pretty stunning Bokeh portraits, detail shots, cinematic shots and more.
The f1.7 makes this camera suitable for low light photography, and you can push the ISO comfortably a ISO 6400. But it gets even better, if you are into macros, you are in for a treat as this is one of the best Leicas you can get for macro photography.
In short there is very little you can’t do with this gem, making the Leica Q one of the best travel cameras.
Size & Weight
The Q weights 640g or 1.41lb, so not too heavy at all. This won’t weigh down your bag (airlines are becoming stingy with weight) and it is not too much to carry all day.
This is important because while you are travelling you don’t want your camera to become a workout, you want it to get out of the way. So the Q is perfect for those long treks. Just a small bag and you can carry your camera, water and other small essentials and you are set.
Zen experience
Most modern cameras feel like operating a plane rather than a photographer’s tool with all the buttons and menus. What Leica Q travel photography provides is not just stunning images, great colors, contrast and versatility, it offers a unique travel experience.
Look at the viewfinder and there’s a zen about it that you pretty much won’t get anywhere else, it’s just you and your picture. Change your aperture right on the lens, your shutter speed on the top dial, everything is right there where you need it.
It’s quite something when you shoot a camera that is about photography than anything else.
Patch the holes
The Q is prone to dust on the sensor, this is a known issue. One of the main ways to prevent it is to pull a MacGyver and put some tape over the microphone and speaker holes on top. This is mostly where the dust enters and most photographers never had a problem afterwards.
Conclusion
I hope you enjoyed this Leica Q travel photography review. It is one of the best Leicas you can get for travels. You will need to patch the holes on top in order to protect it from dust, but besides this hiccup, the full frame, fast lens combo with the possibility of digital zoom makes it one of the best travel cameras you can get. Click here to launch price checker.