Reviews |Leica Q2 specs, price, release date announced

Leica Q2 specs, price, release date announced

News

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.

Leica Q2 specs, price, release date announced

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.

Leica Q2 specs, price, release date announced

Key Features

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Leica Q2 Price and Release Date

The Leica Q2 is set to retail for £4,250 (approximately $5,520) and goes on sale immediately.