At one of the Panasonic Lumix S events, a reader mounted a Leica TL lens (Leica Summicron-T 23mm f/2 ASPH lens) on the Panasonic S1R camera and the result was a 20MP image file. The Leica TL lens worked without a problem on the Panasonic S1R camera even though the camera did no have the final firmware.
I’m really grateful to Leica Camera for issuing me the first Q2 in China last Thursday night (they had someone deliver it to me at 10pm local time – I guess to match the global launch events). Leica releases new “full” models (as opposed to their “P”, and many custom finish and packaging versions) only every 4-5 years, so it’s always a major event in the photography world, and something I’d been looking forward ever since hearing about it at Leica Rumors. I’ve used a Q (and recently a Q-P) as part of my regular setup along with my M’s since it was launched back in June 2015, as it is a great backup/complement to an M. Although cheaper than a Summilux-M 28mm lens, it still has a great f/1.7 lens, a light but solid magnesium-alloy body, fast auto-focus, and macro functionality. The EVF and real focus ring also allow for precise manual focusing.The Q2 now improves on the original in many ways: higher sensor resolution (47.3 megapixels vs the original 24) – which allows for “digital focal length” (in-body crop) options of 35mm, 50mm, & 75mm, a much longer battery life (it uses the same very nice quick-release battery as the SL), weather-proofing (though my Q survived 45 deg C in the Afar Desert to minus 25 deg C in Vladivostok even without this), ISO 50-50000 (the Q had a base of 100), 10 fps, and a much clearer OLED EVF. My favorite fix is the removal of the C-Continuous shooting mode from the power-on/shutter release – I can’t tell you the number of times on the Q I accidentally had it set to C instead of S-Single mode, and ended up with numerous duplicate shots! Another great fix is the diopter-correction knob next to the EVF is now recessed, so that it won’t easily be accidentally nudged – which happened a lot with the Q in my case, requiring almost daily adjustments.
The new Leica M Monochrom Typ 246 “Your Mark” limited edition camera with Summicron-M 35mm f/2 ASPH lens is now available for pre-order at Leica Store Miami (the set is available for sale only in US Leica stores). Here is the full press release:
A reader (thanks @aljawad) sent me two photos demonstrating the dynamic range of the new 47MP sensor inside the Leica Q2 camera – the first picture was taken after sunset (f/1.7, ISO 100). The camera reported a shutter speed of 1/4 second, but it was shot at 1/60:
Here is the same image with boosted exposure (~3.3) in Lightroom:
Update – here are various enlargements of parts of the same image to judge the enhanced resolution at low light (only the exposure was enhanced to +3.7 this time):
