Leica has announced the Q2 Monochrom, a 47.3-megapixel full-frame mirrorless camera with a 28 mm f1.7 ASPH fixed lens, is available now for $8,990.
Leica’s press release triumphantly proclaims this is the only full-frame compact camera with a dedicated monochrome sensor. But, obviously, only Leica has the kind-of elite customer base who make such a camera feasible.
Anyway, down to the serious stuff. The Leica Q2 Monochrom can capture 4K video at ISO sensitivities up to 100,000. Video recordings come in frame rates of 30 or 24fps, or alternatively, in Full HD format with 120, 60, 30 or 24 fps.
The monochrome sensor is capable of capturing two additional stops of dynamic range, at 13EV, compared with the Bayer sensor. The autofocus system can lock on a subject in less than 0.15 seconds, and an improved Maestro processor can capture 10fps.
An OLED viewfinder has a 3.68-megapixel resolution, the same as the Q2. However, Leica states that despite the high resolution, the power consumption remains low. The viewfinder activates immediately when the eye is brought to it, ‘without any perceptible delay at all times’.
The Summilux 28 mm f1.7 ASPH lens is also the same as the Q2. It features a locking element between manual and auto focus, and can be switched to macro mode with a close focus distance of 17cm. The lens has a ‘digital zoom’ function of up to 75mm. Users can also choose a crop factor ‘to simulate exposures made with focal lengths of 35, 50 or 75 millimetres’.
‘The selected crop is displayed as a bright-line frame in the viewfinder and on the rear display panel. The cropped image from the framing selected is saved in JPEG format with correspondingly reduced resolutions of 47.3, 30, 14.7, or 6.6 megapixels. The uncropped image is always saved simultaneously as a DNG file with the full resolution of 47.3 megapixel.’
Other features include:
– Bluetooth LE (Low Energy) and integrated Wi-Fi;
– Protective sealing against dust and water, complying to IP52 Standard;
– Leatherette finish and no iconic red dot!;
– Weighs 734 grams.
Click here to read the press release.
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