Wondering if the Q2 is any good at shooting flowers and insects? In this article we will look at Leica Q2 macro photography for everything you need to know.
Introduction
The Q2 is one of Leica’s best cameras of recent years, with the affordability being the icing on the cake. It’s great for street photography, portraits and travel. But what about macro photography? Let’s find out.
Leica Q2 Macro photography
It’s one of the best Leicas for the task
Long story short, this is one of the best Leicas for macro photography by a long shot. There are a few macro lenses and adapters for Leica M cameras but by and large this is not Leica’s primary focus.
With the Q2 you have the macro lens built-in on a large sensor. That lens is a beauty too at a maximum aperture of f2.8. Yes it’s a f1.7 camera but in macro them maximum is f2.8.
Beautiful Bokeh
When it comes to macro, even small phone sensors can Bokeh well, imagine what happens when you couple that with a full frame and you have yourself a Bokeh monster when you go macro.
Macro features
Let’s get into the details, this camera can shoot REALLY close, as close as 6.7 inches or 17cm. This makes it easy to fill the frame with your subject. Purists macro photographers will point out that the Leica is not a TRUE 1:1 macro but who cares when you can make such great images?
There is no mention of the exact macro magnification in the Q2 manual but it is most likely 4.25:1.
Q2 Features
Besides the actual macro features, there’s two things that helps this be a killer macro kit. First of all this is optically stabilized making those hard to get shots easier to shoot.
This is wonderful because when you have your camera in front of you, it’s heavier making it prone to shake, and having stabilization cancels out unintentional camera shake. Some of the best light for macro is in the morning or evening or in the shade so the optical stabilization really helps.
Second thing is, while the Q2 is a 28mm with digital zoom, you can go all the way to 75mm and get a usable image. So it’s almost like having a sort of Tri-Elmar “zoom” at your disposal. You still get about a 7 megapixel image at 75mm but the caveat here is that this is JPG only. But you can always use the normal 28mm lens and crop afterwards.
The biggest issue with Leica Q2 Macro
While the macro features of the Leica Q2 is nothing short of breathtaking if you are a dedicated macro shooter there is one issue: There is no flip screen.
That means the only way to actually see what you are shooting is to actually go down there and shoot. There is a reason for htis: Durability. Flip screens are usually a camera’s weakest links, so while the Q2 doesn’t have it, it makes it a more durable camer with weather resistance.
Using the macro mode on a Leica Q2
If you want to put your Leica Q2 in macro mode simply twist the closes dial to the lens and that’s it. The camera will be at f2.8 because that is the maximum. And then, simply get down and shoot. Like I said the one issue with the camera is the lack of flip screen so if you want an interesting angle you have to go down.
The workaround is to make full use of technology and use your phone as a dedicated viewfinder with the app. A bit bothersome but worth it if you are the dedicated macro shooter.
The images are what you expect them to be. Beautiful and tack sharp. Because of the optical stabilization and high resolution screen you never really have nasty surprises when you get back home. I mention this because with low resolution screens some things might look sharp but when viewed on a large screen you realize they aren’t.
Using the camera is a joy and it’s easy to make images that feel the frame that makes the viewer immersed into the world of macro.
If you like to shoot insects like bees, not only does the stabilization help but so does the autofocus. It’s snappy and it picks up exactly what you want it to shoot and it’s also capable of tracking the insect as it moves around. If you’ve ever tried that on an M camera, it’s a recipe for frustration.
Because of the way the Q2 the designed, even if you are into manual mode, better leave it in aperture priority as it’s on the cumbersome side to change the shutter speed while trying to get a shot at an odd angle.
Conclusion
I hope you have enjoyed this article about Leica Q2 macro photography. It’s one of the best Leicas for macro for a reason. Sure it might not be the 1:1 that purists love to have but the portability and quality are so stellar it’s hard not to fall in love. Highly recommended. Get yours here.