Leica announced yesterday the Leica Q (Typ 116). It is their take on the Sony RX1 product segment: full-frame sensor fixed and fast wide angle lens camera, not in the lower price range either. Unlike the Sony, the Leica has a built-in viewfinder ; the 28mm lens is half a stop slower (f1.7 instead of f1.4) and it has a higher price tag. By ~$1k if you factor in the cost of the EVF for the RX1.
Size-wise it is bigger than the RX1 (no EVF) and smaller than the Leica M.
The camera include a fast autofocus system, that can be controlled from the rear touch screen, and proper manual focusing capabilities, as the lens has a know like on the M lenses and the EVF has focus peeking ; this will make rangefinder users happy. And the others will probably like that too.
The camera is “Made in Germany”.
Early reviews:
- Ming Thein: “I can’t help but wonder if the Q is the harbinger to the end of the M system in its current guise.”
- Jay Cassario: “…this one stands out and might be the first to end up staying in my bag.”
- Jonathan Slack: “The Q is a little larger [than the Sony Rx1r], but it seems to be superior in pretty much every other respect”
Note: This is just news and not a review as I haven’t had it in hand.