Top positive review
5.0 out of 5 starsThe camera I've been looking for
Reviewed in the United States on June 25, 2020
Update: Check the price before buying. This camera should be around $5000 but some resellers are selling for as much as $1000 more. Shop carefully.
Original: I have recently re-discovered photography.
Last year I picked up a Sony A6400 and a couple lenses. Although I certainly appreciated the Sony build and picture quality, the camera was too much for what I was looking for. I wanted something smaller and didn't want to have to carry multiple lenses and think about which I wanted to use for each photo.
I sold the a6400 and replaced it with a Sony RX100 VII which is (for my usage) the a6400 in a smaller package with a single zoom lens. The RX100 VII takes excellent photos, it's super small, very pocketable. Overall this is the perfect camera with the only exception being the 3 million settings in the 2 million menus. I found I was generally shooting in full auto mode more than not but I wanted to be able to get more artistic with my photography and longed for a more minimal menu system and user experience.
I looked around alot and the Q2 never really popped up on my radar right away but, once it did, I watched every video I could on it. It was certainly a risk for a $5000 camera but it seemed to me that the user experience was much more minimal, the controls on the camera seemed more immediate and to the point. I dove in - bought it here - and was amazed and knew I made the right choice from the first moment I held it.
The camera is absolutely solid. The photos are amazing. The user interface (software) is clean and minimal and there are no extraneous settings. Unlike the Sony, you actually have a chance of understanding what each setting does and it's quick to find things you're looking for. However, now that I've had the camera for a month it is pretty well setup for me, and I rarely have to go into any menu anymore. The camera is very fast to use. I have two user profiles setup that are mostly similar with the exception that one is color and one is high-contrast black-and-white. They are very easy to switch between as needed. There is just enough ability to customize buttons and dials on the body.
The best thing about the Q2 is that I don't have to pre-decide aperture priority or shutter priority - I just turn the dials as I want them and the camera does the right thing. If I want to change the aperture I simply do it - using a physical dial/ring - the camera knows what I'm doing. I equate this to, if I'm thirsty, I just get a drink. I don't have to tell the glass and the bourbon that I want a drink before I get a drink. I just get the drink! immediacy is key.
The tactile feedback of this camera simply makes photography more fun and inspiring than I've ever experienced before. It feels amazing. Would I be happier if it was a tiny bit smaller and a wee bit lighter? Yes. But you quickly get used to it.
I purchased the Leica thumb support (because I wanted an exact match for the design) and an extra battery. The strap that comes with it is pretty nice quality. I picked up a third-party leather wrist strap and titanium clips to make changing from neck to wrist straps easy. That's really all you need with this camera. I never shoot with a flash so no need for that. I never shoot with a tripod so no need for that.
This is the most compact camera kit I've ever had. The lack of ports actually makes it wonderful - no extra cables needed. The Lecia FOTOS app on iOS works really well. With the Sony I always have to fight to try to get the phone to connect to the camera. The Leica just connects and then allows me to transfer photos to my phone for instant backup/sharing, etc. Overall, the workflow of this camera is simple, clean, and doesn't get in the way of the art itself! THAT is KEY!
Regardless of the fact that "it's a Lecia" - this is the perfect camera for someone who enjoys the art of photography, wants to shoot digital, and not have to fight with the hardware and software. I'm very happy with the Q2 and can't wait to be un-locked-down so I can take it out further into the world.
