Is the Leica Q still worth it? In this article we will find out if the original Q is worth the money, with pros, cons and sample images to show what the camera capable of.
Introduction
The Leica Q Typ 116 is a fixed lens, full-frame digital camera by Leica. Since it has a release date of 2015, one might wonder is the Leica Q still worth it. Let’s find out if it is, with one drawback you must know.
Is the Leica Q still worth it?
1. A good camera doesn’t stop being good
It is a weird psychological thing. You have your camera, and out comes another improved version, and in your mind it feels like the one you have stops being good. But like I said is it’s in your mind. Forgetting that there’s a Leica Q2 out there, the Q standing by itself is a very good camera to start with, full frame, fast 28mm f1.7 Summilux lens, it’s been shooting excellent images to begin with and will continue to do so for years.
2. Still jaw dropping quality
The Leica Q shoots some images that because the lens is highly optimized for the sensor, makes the subjects pop. There’s something you can only get on full frame Leicas and the Q has it.
That Summilux f1.7 provides some stunning Bokeh, especially if you don’t mind cropping to 50mm, you would never know if it was digital zoom. The image quality still rivals cameras to this day, so the Leica Q still worth it for image quality.
3. More versatile then it looks
One of the OTHER reservations about the Q is the fixed 28mm. Well this is where both the large megapixel count and the fast aperture come into play. While digital zooms are essentially cropping the image, in this case there’s so many megapixels to go around that you can go ahead and cut away.
Instead of seeing the as a fixed lens compact you should see it as a fixed lens Tri-Elmar full frame camera. Indeed you can have 28, 35 and 50mm focal lengths at your disposal. The 50mm gives you a 8 megapixel file which is plenty to print large with and the Bokeh is about an equivalent of 50mm f2, and yes the portraits are excellent.
So don’t worry if 28mm is not your fancy, there’s power in the lens, megapixels and digital zoom. And if you are into macros, it is one of the best Leicas for macros.
4. The one thing you need to live with
So far the Leica Q is still worth it. It does however have one caveat that is easily fixed. One of the biggest flaws of the Q is the fact that it is prone to dust. Some photographers sent their cameras back to Leica, had it clean and then dust issue again.
What to do? Well you will have to take some black tape and tape the microphone and speaker holes. This is what most original Q owners do and it has eliminated the dust issue for them.
This is practically a non issue if you can live with some tape over your camera, but it won’t record sound well if you are into video. You should have an external recorder anyways, so this really isn’t an issue for most.
Even better, because so many are afraid of the dust issue and don’t know the tape solution, you can get the Q for a pretty outstanding price.
5. What you need to know about price
One of the hidden questions behind “Is the Leica Q still worth it” is is it better to get the newer camera or is the original still good. The original is still good, but what is the price difference between the Leica Q vs Q2? About $2000.
So definitely the price is substantial enough to bring a pause. You can get the Leica Q for about $3000. While that might sound like a lot, it isn’t. Apples to apples the other full frame fixed compact camera you can get is the Sony RX1 and this is $3200. So if you are wondering if the Leica Q is still worth it, the price alone makes it a YES.
If you really wanted a kit to do what the Q does, you would need an M camera with a tri-Elmar, both would run you upwards of $10,000 making the Q a steal.
Conclusion
Is the Leica Q still worth it? Take an excellent full frame sensor, add sharp lens and Leica magic and you have one of the best cameras you can get. Sure it is prone to dust but if you simply tape the holes of the camera, you have a McGuyver type solution that will prevent dust from entering. The price is simply icing on the cake. Click here to check for best price.