Leica Q2

Gorgeous design and solid build ; Excellent electronic viewfinder ; Sharp, highly detailed images, even at f/1.7 ; Very nice bokeh and out-of-focus characteristics ; Lovely colours in images

Awkwardly placed command dial ; Slight corner softness at f/1.7 ; No integrated grip can make for awkward handling ; Very expensive ; Limitations to video capture

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, but if you’re just focused on stills and...

Full-frame 47.3MP sensor Fast f/1.7 maximum aperture Beautiful design and excellent build

That price tag Only shoots black-and-white Fixed 28mm wide-angle lens

There's no doubt that the Q2 Monochrom is extremely expensive for a compact camera, albeit one with a 47.3MP full-frame sensor. And even by Leica standards, it's monochrome-only sensor makes it extremely niche. But it does give photographers who'd like...

Gorgeous wide-angle lens ; 47MP full-frame sensor ; Built for black-and-white images ; 4K DCI video ; IP52 durability rating

Expensive ; Omits in-camera charging ; Traditional glass filters recommended for color balance

The Leica Q2 Monochrom is a speciality version of the Q2, made just for black-and-white imaging. It's not quite as versatile as the color edition, but it will make monochrome specialists happy—for a price.

The Leica Q2 is Leica's best camera. Or, at least, it's the easiest to justify. It's objectively very good at what it's trying to do, and doesn't have the kinds of omissions or shortcomings - such as the

High-resolution full-frame image sensor. Quick, accurate autofocus. Bright, sharp lens. Optical stabilization. IP52 weather protection. Big, sharp EVF. Up to 20fps capture. 4K video. Wi-Fi.

Expensive. Doesn't track subjects at top burst rate. No flash.

Bottom Line: 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.

full-frame sensor ; Fantastic handling ; 4K video

very expensive ; Very niche ; Limited battery life

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. If you want something reasonably similar in operation and style, take a look at the...