My First Experiences with the Q2 Monochrom
This camera does not disappoint. It is small and handy. Without a thumb grip, I actually prefer carrying it on a strap around my neck. The M-style body and the thumb rest simply feel good in the hand. Up front—where a rangefinder window would typically be—there is a minimalist expanse of open space. The Summilux lens produces groundbreaking images that are incredibly sharp. Focusing via focus peaking—combined with the zoom function that utilizes a small magnified crop—makes this possible. 47 megapixels will remain more than sufficient for a very long time to come. The original square lens hood gives the camera a less aggressive, more understated look. All in all, the Q2M is a camera that does not seek to draw attention to itself. This allows you to capture excellent images while remaining in the background.
"The Leica Q Experience." Yes, the Q2M was expensive. However, for me, it has been one of the best investments I’ve ever made—even if I were to acquire an M-series camera at some point in the future. Thanks to its weather-sealing, the Q will always be right there with me.
One feature—which the M-EV1 also offers—is Live View via the OLED electronic viewfinder (EVF). It allows you to see your exposure instantly, without having to take a few test shots just to check how the image is exposed. It enables you to capture a "proper" image—immediately. No "spray and pray." Just a single, deliberate shot. And you can really feel the difference. You take pictures more calmly. More thoughtfully. Creating "one right shot" rather than just a series of images.
The monochrome sensor hasn't really made a huge difference for me yet. Yes, taking pictures in the dark is certainly easier. However, once you hit ISO 12,000, you start to see some graininess. The images do have a bit more contrast, but there isn't any jaw-dropping "magic" that is immediately apparent. True, the images look better than those from a color sensor—but only marginally so. What does look significantly better, however, are nature shots. In areas that previously appeared as nothing more than "gray mush," the images now look vastly superior. I am particularly fond of the Exposure Dial located on the top-right wheel. It allows you to adjust the exposure of the image exactly to your liking. Once you grasp that this feature works by dynamically adjusting the ISO value, it becomes an incredibly helpful tool—especially for my specific line of work, where deep, dark contrast is paramount. This is a feature I would sorely miss on a classic M-series camera. And as I’ve mentioned in another post: you save a considerable amount of money here, as you avoid having to spend a fortune on the various M-mount lenses—which are, after all, extremely expensive. If you happen to be wealthy, that’s obviously not an issue; but for the rest of us, it makes me appreciate the f/1.7 Summilux lens—and its cropped focal lengths—all the more. The 47-megapixel resolution makes cropping a viable option, allowing you to still produce high-resolution images even after trimming the frame. No, it’s not a 100-megapixel Hasselblad; but with the Q2M, you really shouldn't be cropping beyond the 50mm focal length equivalent anyway. For instance, I only use the 75mm setting for abstract compositions, where I can safely upscale the resolution in post-processing without compromising the integrity of the image. All in all, choosing the Q2M was absolutely the right decision. The Q2M does everything I need it to do—and actually offers even more functionality than an M-series camera. Its weather-sealing, in particular, is worth a special mention. Even if I could afford an M-series camera, that weather-resistance alone would be reason enough for me to always keep a Q-series camera in my kit.
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