Is the Leica Q2 Still Good for Street Photography?

Introduction:

With the release of the Leica Q3 (review upcoming!) earlier this year, many photographers have taken the opportunity of a slightly cheaper price to snap up a Leica Q2 and add it to their collection. Ask many Leica shooters and they’ll say it’s a slippery slope to the M system, with the Q serving as a gateway to a world of interchangeable (and frighteningly expensive) lenses and manual focus. After a couple of particularly arduous street photography shoots with the Sony A7R5, I decided to take the plunge and purchased a Hodinkee Ghost Edition of the Leica Q2 - a decision that I spent a good couple of months weighing up. In this article, we’re going to look at the possible reasons for buying a Leica Q2 for street photography, the specs and features of the Q2, how it serves as a solo street photography camera, and whether or not it’s even worth considering upgrading to the Q3 if you have one. 

Reasons for Buying the Leica Q2

Here we go. Here’s a list of reasons prepared especially for you in advance, so that when you go and tell your wife/husband/partner/significant other why you want need to spend around $4-5K USD on a new bit of gear, you don’t have to struggle for reasons to come up with. It’s worth noting that for this price range, the Leica Q2 is definitely a luxury - no matter how much you convince yourself it’s the perfect camera for you, the reality is that there are many, many, cheaper alternatives that will also get outstanding results. We’ll get to those shortly. For now, let’s look at a comprehensive list of reasons why the Q2 is a fantastic camera to have on your person.

Incredible Build Quality

The Leica Q2 is still an absolute tank of a camera. With no USB ports and innovative designs for the SD card and battery slots, the camera is incredibly well weather sealed and very sturdy. It will survive bumps, scratches, and scrapes and, whilst the initial scratch will hurt, you’ll realise that the camera will survive pretty much any situation you put it in.

Great Resolution - 47.2 Megapixels

More than enough. Don’t listen to the M system advocates or Q3 cronies - a 47 megapixel camera is a ton of resolution to work with. It allows for enough resolution when cropping and can give you some leeway to work with the crop modes included as part of the Leica featureset. If you have a Q2 and you’re thinking about upgrading to the Q3 purely because you want the other 14 or so pixels, I suggest you save your money for an appointment with your local optician. The additional resolution is really negligible and 47 MP will do just fine for street work.

A Monster of a Lens

Using the Summiliux 28mm F1.7 Asph lens, the Q2 provides results of exceptional sharpness and quality. The F1.4 version of the lens sold separately costs more than the entire Q2 itself, so many have referred to both the Q2 and Q3 as a purchase ‘for the lens that comes with the camera attached.’ You’ll get stunning results with this lens and the faster aperture will serve you well for some of those night scenes where you’ll need to bump the ISO. The focal length of (around) 28mm is great for most street scenes, allowing you capture the broader context of the shot 

The Design Rules

Many prefer the design and ergonomics of the Q2 over the Q3. Sure, the Q3 has a nifty little flip screen that might help with shooting from the hip or getting certain angles, but the button layout and design of the Q2 has been praised as being one of the best that Leica have ever offered. I truly believe that this design stands the test of time. One slight downside is the loose lens cap. Oftentimes I’ll be walking around and hear a metallic clunk on the floor as my Q2 lens cap hits the ground behind me. I understand that this has been fixed in the Q3, but it’s a real pain on the Q2.

Portability

I’ve tacked this on to the end as it’s not a full reason in itself. In reality, the Q2 is pretty heavy - it’s just not as heavy as a Sony A7R5 or Nikon Z8. It also eliminates the choice of ‘what lens should I use’, something that I can struggle with before I go out on a photography session. Here your choice is made for you. ‘Take this incredible camera and beautiful lens combo and go forth’ is something I imagine Leica is telling users through this offering. No need to ponder, no need to hassle, just go out and shoot.

Shot on the Leica Q2 in Hong Kong

Reasons for not Buying the Q2 (or Q3)

It wouldn’t be a comprehensive article without looking at the reasons why you shouldn’t purchase a Q2. Here’s why you shouldn’t get one.

You don’t need it

This will always be the main argument for photographers not purchasing new gear. I know I didn’t my Q2 - I could have settled perfectly on a 24mm or 35mm GM for my Sony camera that would have produced more than adequate results. The new Sony A7CR costs almost half the price of a new Leica Q2/Q3, giving you the option of buying some first quality glass to go with it. If you’re unsure about it, take a few days to consider your current uses and really think it over. 

It Costs a Fortune

Despite the fact that the Leica Q3 has resulted in a price drop for the Leica Q2. Leica being Leica means that the cost is still high. Even if you can afford to purchase a Leica, the real question (as mentioned above) is should you? More often than not, no, you shouldn’t. Take a look at the viable alternatives listed below and save your hard earned money for a holiday or staycation.

Software is Still Clunky

Numerous (I think 5 by now) firmware updates have improved some of the deficiencies of Leica software, and the upgraded Q3 adds on a ton of speed to image sending and connection. However, flaws still exist. The power on time, for example, is a good few seconds longer than other cameras, meaning that you could end up missing that special moment when you’re out and about. Navigating the menus is simple enough, but the software can still lag and impact overall performance.

The Autofocus

I had to adjust my expectations for the autofocus, especially as my workhorse camera is the Sony A7R5, with an autofocus that barely ever misses. The Q2 and Q3 both miss the outstanding accuracy that makes Sony, Canon and Nikon the popular choices for pro photographers. That being said, the Q2 isn’t meant to be used in the same way. Sure, it makes a great option for photographers who want a second camera at weddings or events, but the limited focal length and autofocus mean that it serves a better purpose as a leisure camera, one that you can have on you as a high-resolution alternative to your phone.

Form and Function - The Leica Q2

Leica Q2 Alternatives:

The Sony A7C/A7CR: Both options are considerably cheaper than the Leica Q2 (even with the Q3 release) and, when combined with a good lens can also be the compact solution you’re looking for. Downsides are that it requires a separate lens purchase (interchangeable lenses are an advantage though) and is still a touch clunkier than the Q2.

The Fuji X100V: Sporting a 26MP X-Trans APS-C sensor, the Fuji X100V is still a great option for photographers to carry around with them. With its retro look, it’s both classy and functional, offering 23mm  (35mm full frame) F2 pancake lens that allows for some cropping for your street shots.

The Ricoh GRIII: A truly compact companion, the GR3 offers a 28mm full frame equivalent in a pocket-sized bundle. The recent release of the Diary version certainly sparked some interest online, and many photographers have got their hands on one to keep a portable solution on them when they’re out and about. It’s much cheaper than the Q2, so I’d advise that you consider a Ricoh if you’re on a budget.  

Thank you for reading. There will also be a Leica Q3 review coming out - watch this space to read it first.