Leica has announced an upgrade to its 24.2Mp full-frame compact camera. Called the Leica Q2 (Type 4889), the new camera has a total pixel count of 50.4Mp and an effective count of 47.3Mp.
The new sensor is paired with an updated version of Leica’s Maestro processing engine. This combination enables a sensitivity range of ISO 50-50,000 and a maximum shooting speed of 20fps (frames per second) with the electronic shutter. Switching to the mechanical shutter reduces the top rate to 10fps.
In another change from the Q, the Q2 is weather and dust-resistant.
Leica has also upgraded the Q2’s video capability in comparison with the Q’s. It can record 4K (3840 x2160) video at 24/30fps or C4K 4096x 2160 at 24p. Audio is recorded via the built-in mic.
In addition, there’s optical image stabilisation which works when shooting stills and video.
Leica has given the Q2 both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity. This eases pairing a smartphone with Leica’s Fotos app for image transfer and remote control and wake-up.
Leica Summilux 28mm f/1.7 ASPH. Lens
Although the Leica Q2 has the same Summilux 28 mm f/1.7 ASPH lens as the Q, Leica has adjusted it to match the higher resolution sensor.
Along with the native 28mm focal length, the Q has modes that crop the images to create framing equivalent to using a 35mm, 50mm and 75mm lenses. This cropping reduces the size of the images to 30.0Mp, 14.7Mp and 6.6Mp respectively.
Leica has kept with the same autofocus system as the Q for the Q2, this has a claimed acquisition speed of 0.15sec.
Images may be recorded as DNG raw files or Jpegs, or both simultaneously. There’s a collection of Film Style settings (Standard, Vivid, Natural, Natural, monochrome and High-contrast monochrome) for use with Jpegs.
Viewfinder and Screen
Like the Q, the Leica Q2 has a 3,680,000-pixel electronic viewfinder (EVF). However, it has been upgraded to an OLED device.
Leica has stuck with the fixed 3-inch 1,040,000-dot TFT touchscreen for the Q2, however, the button arrangement alongside it has changed. Instead of 5 round buttons, there are now 3 square buttons.
Key Features
| Camera type | 35 mm digital compact camera |
| Lens | Leica Summilux 28 mm f/1.7 ASPH. |
| Lens construction | 11 elements in 9 groups, 3 aspherical elements |
| Digital Zoom | 28mm, 35mm and 50mm |
| Aperture range | f/1.7 to f/16 in 1⁄3EV steps |
| Sensor | Full-frame CMOS sensor with 50.4Mp (total), 47.3Mp (effective) |
| Dynamic range | 13Ev |
| Colour depth | 14-bit |
| File format | DNG, DNG + JPEG or JPEG |
| Video Resolution | 4K: 30 or 24 fps. C4K: 24 fps. Full HD 24, 30, 60 or 120 fps |
| Video format | MP4 |
| Storage | SD/SDHC/SDXC memory cards Recommended: UHS II memory cards |
| Sensitivity | Automatic, ISO 50 50000 |
| JPG settings | Natural, monochrome, high-contrast monochrome, all with further settings for contrast, saturation and sharpness in 5 steps |
| Focusing | Manual or Automatic (Single or continuous) |
| Focus range | 30cm to infinity, 17cm in Macro mode |
| Metering | Single field (moveable metering point), multi-field (49 fields), face recognition, subject tracking, optional setting/shutter release by touching the monitor screen |
| Exposure modes | Aperture priority, shutter speed priority and manual setting Scene modes: Automatic, sport, portrait, landscape, night portrait, snow/beach, fireworks, candlelight, sunset, digiscoping, miniature effect, panorama and HDR |
| Exposure metering modes | Multi-segment, centre-weighted, spot |
| Exposure compensation | ± 3 EV in 1/3-EV steps |
| Shutter type | Choice of mechanical, electronic or hybrid |
| Shutter speed | 60 s to 1⁄2000 s with mechanical shutter, 1 s to 1⁄40000 s with electronic shutter, in 1/3 steps |
| Max Continuous shooting rate | 10fps with mechanical shutter, 20fps with electronic shutter |
| Viewfinder | OLED with 1280 x 960 pixels x 3 colours (= 3.68Mp). 4:3 ratio 100% with 21 mm eye relief. |
| Screen | Fixed 3-inch 1,040,000-dot TFT touchscreen |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi and Bluetooth |
| Battery | Leica BP-SCL4 lithium-ion battery, rated voltage: 7.2V, capacity: 1860 mAh |
| Battery life | 370 images |
| Dimensions (W x H x D | 130 x 80 x 91.9 mm |
| Weight | 718g / 637g (with / without battery) |
Leica Q2 Price and Release Date
The Leica Q2 is set to retail for £4,250 (approximately $5,520) and goes on sale immediately.
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