Skip to main content

Leica Q2 doubles down on resolution in fast, weather-sealed full-frame compact

Leica’s compact, full-frame street shooter just got a serious boost in resolution. On Thursday, March 7, Leica unveiled the Q2, a fixed lens camera packing in a 47.3-megapixel full frame sensor (likely similar to the one in the Panasonic Lumix S1R), updated processor, new viewfinder, and new weather-sealing.

Recommended Videos

Like its predecessor, the Leica Q2 is a full-frame camera with a Summilux 28mm f/1.7 ASPH lens permanently fixed to the front in a design the company promotes as ideal for street photography, architecture, and travel. The second generation moves from a 24-megapixel sensor up to 47.3 megapixels. The resolution boost also carries over to video, with the Q2 capable of capturing Ultra HD 4K (3,840 x 2,160) at 30 frames per second and DCI 4K (4,096 x 2,160) at 24 fps. Full HD is still available, with framerates up to 120 fps for slow-motion.

Despite the increase in resolution, the Leica Q2 keeps the same 10 fps continuous shooting speed, thanks in part to a new processor. The previous generation boasted the fastest autofocus in the full-frame compact category, and Leica continues that same thread with claims of “lightning-fast autofocus” in the Q2. (The full-frame compact category is quite small; the only other real competitor is the Sony RX1R II announced in 2015.) The mechanical shutter maxes out at 1/2,000th of a second while the electronic heads up to 1/4,000th of a second. The flash sync speed is a high 1/500th of a second.

The Summilux 28mm f/1.7 lens affixed to the front offers a wide-angle perspective but promises minimal distortion. The bright lens also has a macro mode available for close-up work.

The Leica Q2 maintains a similar feel to its predecessor, with an all-black body and red Leica logo. It weighs in at 22.6 ounces which, considering it has a built-in lens, is quite light. Unlike the original Q, the Q2 body sports weather-sealing throughout, and a refined layout for the buttons on the back of the camera. A new 3.68-million-dot OLED electronic viewfinder is joined by a three-inch, 1.04-million-dot LCD monitor. The top of the camera houses a shutter speed dial, control dial, shutter release, and hot shoe.

We spent a very brief time with the Leica Q2 at a launch event and it felt solid in the hands. In the few minutes we were able to spend with the camera, we were impressed by the low-light quality and the macro mode. Image quality, in as much as we could judge it by zooming in to pictures on the LCD screen, looked very good.

The original Leica Q launched in 2015, while Leica followed up with special edition models like the Q-P, which uses an even more minimalist design without the red logo.

The Leica Q2 is set to go on sale beginning today, for a list price of $4,995, above the original Q’s price of $4,250.

Hillary K. Grigonis
Hillary never planned on becoming a photographer—and then she was handed a camera at her first writing job and she's been…
The best camera phones in 2024: our top 9 photography picks
A person holding the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra and Xiaomi 14 Ultra.

In the past decade or so, cameras on smartphones have evolved so much that they can pretty much replace a standalone digital camera for most people. The results you can get on some of the best smartphones these days are just so impressive, and being able to be with you at all times means you'll never miss a moment.

But what if you want the best possible camera phone money can buy? A camera that won't let you down no matter what you're taking a picture of? You've come to the right place. Here are the very best camera phones you can buy in 2024.

Read more
An ace photographer is about to leave the ISS. Here are his best shots
The moon and Earth as seen from the ISS.

NASA astronaut Matthew Dominick is preparing to return to Earth after spending seven months living and working aboard the International Space Station (ISS).

After arriving at the orbital outpost, Dominick -- who is on his first mission to space -- quickly earned a reputation for being an ace photographer. He's been using the facility’s plethora of high-end cameras and lenses to capture amazing shots from his unique vantage point some 250 miles above Earth. Sharing his content on social media, the American astronaut has always been happy to reveal how he captured the imagery and offer extra insight for folks interested to know more.

Read more
Filter-free and fun, the Fujifilm Instax Mini 11 Instant Camera is on sale Right Now for Prime Day
fujifilm instax mini 11 camera prime big deal days

It's 2024, and you’re considering a point-and-shoot camera. Zero judgment here. I miss the good ol’ days of flipping through actual photo albums instead of doom-scrolling on Instagram. You can get back to those days by snagging a (in the ice white color), and it’s the perfect time because it’s on sale. Get it for 24% off during Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days, but hurry while inventory is going strong.
There’s something magical about having a physical photo right in your hand seconds after snapping the shot, and it adds a fun, retro vibe to moments you want to capture and keep. Plus, having an actual picture to hold and display can be so much more satisfying than just another digital file on your phone. I picked one up two years ago for my eight-year-old daughter, and it’s been an instant hit in our household. And now, at its $59 sale price, I'm definitely going to be stocking up on a few to gift ahead of the holiday season.

How the Fujifilm Instax Mini 11 works
The delightful throwback comes with a FUJINON 60mm lens and an automatic exposure feature that adjusts the shutter speed for the best shot, even in low light. While the picture quality won’t be as crisp as what your smartphone can capture, it’ll still produce a quality image worthy of slapping on a refrigerator.
If selfies are your thing, this camera has a dedicated Selfie Mode (with a mirror). We set up a DIY photo booth for my daughter's birthday party with sticker frames so each kid could go home with a photo souvenir, and it was a total hit.
You can opt to make it a set with a range of accessories to buy separately, like a carrying case, a handy strap, those sticker borders I mentioned, and photo albums to hold the memories.

Read more