Leica Q2
Announced March 7, 2019
PixelMeter The PixelMeter is our 1–100 aggregate of reviewer scores from trusted publications and creators. Weighted by source tier — not a raw average, and not PetaPixel’s own review.
Reviewer Consensus
Strong
The Leica Q2 is a premium, weather-sealed compact camera that pairs a sharp 28mm f/1.7 prime lens with a high-resolution 47-megapixel full-frame sensor. While it offers a tactile, highly enjoyable shooting experience, it remains a luxury investment that lacks the versatility of interchangeable lenses and modern connectivity ports.
Weighted from 37 reviewer scores
Pros
- Exceptional image quality from the high-resolution sensor and sharp 28mm prime lens
- Rugged, weather-sealed build with premium metal construction
- Highly intuitive and enjoyable handling for street and everyday photography
- Clear, responsive OLED electronic viewfinder
- Quiet shutter and effective optical image stabilization
Cons
- Prohibitive luxury price point
- Absence of physical ports for charging, external microphones, or HDMI output
- Buffer limitations during high-speed burst shooting
- Fixed lens and lack of articulating screen limit versatility
- Ergonomic concerns including slippery body and awkward button placement
- Launch price $4,995 (USD)
- Sensor 47.3MP Full-Frame CMOS
- Video 4K
What the Reviewers Say
All 37 expert reviews, weighted into the PixelMeter score.
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- DPReview 84/100
The Leica Q2 is nearly as competent as a fixed-lens digital camera can be. It's built very well, it handles very well, it's capable of excellent image quality and it's a joy to use.
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Basically, this lens sensor combo is absolutely killer for high resolution imagery.
- WIRED 7/10
Leica's latest camera is a slick throwback with some impressive features and equally impressive drawbacks.
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The Leica Q2 is a unique camera that offers a simple, easy to use camera, with premium build quality, design, and high image quality. The 47mp full-frame sensor combines with a high-quality Leica 28mm f/1.7 prime lens, to offer extremely sharp results.
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As usual with Leica, it’s been hand crafted in Germany and the pitch this time is that with the Q2 its maker has got that little bit closer to perfection.
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The Q2 is a formidable camera, blessed with a bulletproof build, wonderful viewfinder and sterling image quality. Its handling won’t be for everyone, nor will the price tag or limitations of its video capture.
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Yes, the Leica Q2 is expensive – but if you want the absolute in luxury cameras, this is it. It is equally at home as a fully manual street camera, or as an automatic point-and-shoot.
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Leica's pricey Q2 camera marries a superb lens to a high-resolution image sensor and puts it all in a travel-friendly, weather-sealed package.
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There's a lot to like about the Leica Q2, but it's still not quite a complete home run. The body, although beautiful, isn't the most comfortable in the hand and the startup time is a little sluggish by modern standards.
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At the end of the day the Q2 is a lovely every day carry kind of camera. It has a fixed lens at 28mm with a fast aperture of f/1.7.
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For the average person, cameras like the Q2 are objects of lust that will almost likely never be seriously contemplated as a purchase, but if you’re here hoping to read that this is an expensive toy for those with too much money you’re only half right.
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A gorgeous design and build, with equally gorgeous pictures to boot. But it’s hard to justify the outlay for a camera like this unless you happen to be mega-wealthy.
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It's so much fun to shoot with.
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It feels wonderful in the hand.
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The Q2 manages to improve in just about every important area of what made the original Q special and Leica’s top-selling camera.
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The Q was a brave step for Leica, and was a well deserved success. The Q2 has built on that at every level:.
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So first and foremost, I would say it is probably one of the most awesome cameras that I personally shoot shot with.
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Just to create travel work, to create personal work kind of on the go, this is a fantastic tool.
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That's like the best value ever, and that's why this camera to me is the only Leica that makes sense for anyone who wants a value out there.
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I just wish I could give you answers, but at a practical level the net of all of it is this: that Q2 is an incredible package.
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The Q2 bridges the gap between the immortal M series and earthly cameras. The Q2 is an immortal MADE IN GERMANY full-frame LEICA, but priced so everyone can afford it.
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The Leica Q2 is an amazing camera and weeks after returning it to my friends at B&H, I still find myself attempting to talk myself into the purchase. It’s the most fun, engaging, and enticing digital camera I’ve ever used.
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The Q was my general price-no-object recommendation for a great camera for basically everyone. The Q2 takes that place no problem.
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In fact, for social events and family vacations it may very well be the only camera I need to carry!
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I can't really recommend a six thousand dollar camera to anyone, nor can I even recommend a fourteen hundred dollar fixed lens camera to everyone.
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There is a lot to love about the Q2. You have good autofocus, great battery life.
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To say I'm impressed is an understatement. I fell in love with the Leica Q when that came out.
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Now, ultimately, this camera is just amazing; it is such a joy to shoot with.
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If you want a small and beautifully made camera, a rewarding shooting experience and peerless results then there really isn’t anything to compete with the Q2.
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Now I feel like I've spent the bulk of this video complaining about the Leica Q2, but I really do love it. The most important thing to me is that I really enjoy shooting with it.
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I strongly recommend this camera, it's been fun to use, it's just maybe you want to take pictures, right? And that's what more can you ask for from a camera?
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That's how I see the Leica Q2, that's how I see the Leica Q system in general. This is a versatile little camera.
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Its predecessor, which had a similarly restricted format, was evidently a success worth replicating. And for all its idiosyncrasies, the Q2 is a delight to use, with an ultra-fast lens and advanced sensor that produce ethereally beautiful images.
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A bigger sensor and a few small upgrades make an already great camera incredible.
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[I]t’s fun, and it keeps me engaged in ways that other cameras haven’t.
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The other thing is that I found that the Leica Q2 falls into a very unique gap that I haven't been able to fill with other cameras, right? The first thing is the size.
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The incredible sharpness of the lens, together with the insane resolution makes of the Q2 one of the most exceptional camera ever produced.
