Basic Specifications
Full model name: Leica Q (Typ 116)
Resolution: 24.00 Megapixels
Sensor size: 35mm
(36.0mm x 24.0mm)
Lens: Non-Zoom
(28mm eq.)
Viewfinder: EVF / LCD
Native ISO: 100 - 50,000
Extended ISO: 100 - 50,000
Shutter: 1/16000 - 30 sec
Max Aperture: 1.7
Dimensions: 5.1 x 3.1 x 3.7 in.
(130 x 80 x 93 mm)
Weight: 22.6 oz (640 g)
includes batteries
Availability: 06/2015
Manufacturer: Leica
Full specs: Leica Q specifications
24.00
Megapixels
Non-Zoom 35mm
size sensor
image of Leica Q (Typ 116)
Front side of Leica Q digital camera Front side of Leica Q digital camera Front side of Leica Q digital camera Front side of Leica Q digital camera Front side of Leica Q digital camera

Leica Q Review -- First Impressions

by Gannon Burgett
Preview posted: 06/10/2015

Leica Camera AG has unveiled the Leica Q (Typ 116), a fixed-lens "compact" camera that packs a 24-megapixel full-frame sensor and 28mm f/1.7 lens into a compact frame.

Despite its relatively small size and much more wallet-friendly price, the Leica Q (Typ 116) still dons the German manufacturer’s signature red dot and rigorous build quality, brought over from Leica’s M-series digital rangefinders.

Specifically, the Leica Q (Typ 116) utilizes a solid aluminum top plate and magnesium alloy body, the latter of which has become a staple in many premium camera designs for its strength-to-weight ratio.

At the heart of the camera lies a full-frame 24-megapixel CMOS sensor, and together with the newly developed Maestro II processor, the Q is capable of pumping out up to an incredible 10 frames per second at full resolution. The ISO range tops out at a respectable 50,000.

Leica claims both the autofocus and lens of the Leica Q (Typ 116) is the fastest among full-frame compact cameras. While we’re unable to confirm the speed of its autofocus, the Leica Q’s optically stabilized Summilux 28mm f/1.7 ASPH lens is indeed faster than that of the Sony RX1, which opts for a Carl Zeiss 35mm f/2 lens.

In addition to a 3-inch 1.04M-dot touchscreen rear LCD, which supports touch focus, the Leica Q (Typ 116) offers an electronic viewfinder for composing shots. The Q's viewfinder is a very high-resolution unit, based around a 1,280 x 960 pixel field-sequential LCoS display. That means every single pixel provides all three colors -- but only one color at any given time. By cycling through the colors quickly, your eye gets the impression of a sharp, full-color image. The downside with field-sequential finders is that they can sometimes show rainbow "sparkle" effects on edges of subjects in motion, or when you blink.

The 4:3 aspect ratio EVF offers 100% coverage, a +/-3 diopter adjustment as well as an eye sensor to automatically switch between the LCD and EVF. No word yet on magnification ratio, though.

A unique feature of the EVF (and LCD) is its "digital frame selection" mode, which lets you choose between 28mm, 35mm and 50mm fields of view when composing and capturing photographs. This feature lets you save the digitally cropped 35mm or 50mm image as a JPEG while simultaneously saving the full 28mm field of view RAW file (14-bit DNG) to the memory card.

The Leica Q features both a mechanical and electronic shutter, with the latter capable of shutter speeds up to 1/16,000 second (the mechanical shutter tops out at 1/2000 second). There's no built-in flash, but there is a hot shoe and flash synchronization is possible at up to 1/500 second.

Additional features of the Leica Q (Typ 116) include the ability to capture Full HD video at up to 60p with stereo audio, a dedicated macro mode for shooting objects as close as 17cm, support for SDHC and SDXC cards including UHS-I types, USB 2.0 and HDMI ports, and built-in Wi-Fi with NFC for sharing content with your mobile device.

To coincide with the release of the Q (Typ 116) camera, Leica has developed a camera-specific iOSapp that will let you remotely control camera settings.

The Leica Q is available immediately for US$4,250. As with all Leica cameras, the Q (Typ 116) comes with a free download of Adobe Lightroom 6.

 

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