Leica is well known for its impressive, attractive, and expensive cameras. Queen Elizabeth II was even a big fan of Leica cameras and was frequently spotted with her M3. And while the company makes various interchangeable lens options, its Q line of compact, fixed-lens cameras has been extremely popular. Leica even released multiple special editions of the Q2, including a James Bond-themed camera, Monochrom ‘Reporter’ edition, and an all-white “Ghost” by Hodinkee edition. And now, the company has announced the Q3, which brings quite a few pretty significant upgrades to the table. Most notably, it offers a better viewfinder, faster shutter speed, and a jump from 47.3 to 60 megapixels and 4K to 8K video when compared to the Q2. Despite all the improvements, the $5,995 price tag is only $200 more than the Q2, so we anticipate this replaces the Q2 as one of our favorite Leica compacts.

Leica Q3 at a glance

• 60-megapixel full-frame sensor
• 28mm f/1.7 Summilux lens
• Digital zoom to 35, 50, 70 and 90mm
• 3-inch tilt touchscreen LCD
• 50-100,000 native ISO range
• DCI 8K 30p video
• ProRes 422 HQ recording
• Hybrid autofocus with subject recognition
• 15 frames per second burst shooting
• IP52-rated for dust and water resistant
• Wireless charging via optional hand grip

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Leica Q3 sensor and processor

Perhaps the most significant upgrade in the Q3 is the new 60-megapixel BSI CMOS sensor. That’s quite the jump from the Q2’s 47.3-megapixel sensor. It’s the same sensor as Leica’s flagship rangefinder, the M11. The 60-megapixel resolution may seem like overkill at first, but it does allow for improved digital zoom compared to the Q2. The Q3 offers 35, 50, 75, and 90mm equivalent crops, which result in 39, 19, 8, and 6-megapixel images, respectively. The Q2 topped out at a 75mm equivalent crop, so you’ll get more reach with the Q3.

Leica also opted for a new, faster processor. Going from the Maestro II of the Q2 to the Maestro IV in the Q3—which is a step above the M11 even—allows for 15 frames per second of burst shooting and a higher native ISO range of 50-100000. The new processor and sensor allow for the addition of phase detection autofocus, resulting in a hybrid autofocus system. It now relies on phase detection focusing along with contrast detection and depth from defocus (DFD) AF. That should result in faster and more accurate autofocus, even with moving subjects or tricky light.

On top of higher-quality stills and autofocus abilities, Leica also upgraded the video quality substantially in the new camera, making it a more well-rounded hybrid option. The Q3 is capable of 8K 30p video with 4:2:0 10-bit color when recording internally or 8-bit when recording externally. Or, you can record 4K 60p with 4:2:2 10-bit color. And it offers ProRes 422 HQ internal recording.

Leica Q3 build and handling

Overall, the body of the Q3 is almost exactly the same as its predecessor. The magnesium alloy body still features an IP52-rated design for protection against the elements. And the 28mm f/11.7 Summilux lens remains consistent. And there is still a single SD UHS-II memory card slot. But, the Q3 gets the addition of some handy ports, which the Q2 lacked. You’ll now have access to a USB-C (3.1 Gen 2 10Gbit/s) port and a micro-HDMI port on the side of the camera. The USB-C port can charge the camera when it’s on or off, as well as tethered shooting. The micro-HDMI port supports an external display.

Another new addition to the Q3 is a tilting rear screen. The Q2 featured a fixed display, but now it supports a tilt of up to 90 degrees. It is the same three-inch size but does get a bump in resolution from 1.04 to 1.84M dot. The viewfinder also gets increased resolution from 3.68M dot to 5.76M dot.

Additional new features

If the above upgrades aren’t enough for you, there’s more. The Leica Q3 gets the advantage of an M11 feature for automatically correcting perspective. The Perspective Control system reads the scene and detects converging or diverging vertical lines, and then automatically adjusts to create a perspective-corrected image. It saves the files as jpegs, but also saves the information in DNG files and automatically applies the adjustments when opening the field in Adobe Camera Raw or Lightroom. Once in those editing programs, you can turn it off or make additional changes as well.

Another new feature that adds convenience is the ability to wirelessly charge the camera. It requires the optional HG-DC1 Wireless Charging Handgrip and a Qi-compatible charging mat, but then you can simply put your camera down to charge it instead of fussing with cables. The camera also offers improved wireless connectivity via Wi-Fi 2.4 & 5 GHz and Bluetooth 5.0, and an upgraded Leica FOTOS app. Leica says that this allows for wireless transfer speeds up to 10 times faster than the previous generation, with transfer speeds up to 35MB/s.

Pricing & availability

As we would expect, the Leica Q3 is a pricey camera with a $5,995 price tag. That said, it’s only $200 more than the Q2. With the number of upgrades found in this new version, it would be difficult to suggest that anyone purchase the Q2 over this for that price difference. The camera is available for purchase now, though it is already on backorder and isn’t estimated to ship until December.

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Best mirrorless		Leica Q2		SEE IT	Style and performance at a price.
Best overall		Fujifilm XPro3		SEE IT	Analog styling with a unique viewfinder.
Best compact		Sony RX100 VII		SEE IT	Ultra-compact with an impressive zoom lens.

Street photography is all about thinking on your feet, being discreet, and keeping your eyes open. When it comes to picking the best street photography cameras, you will want something that has quick autofocus, a fast shutter speed, and most importantly, a low profile.

The best street photographers are known for capturing the amusing details of the world around them, so it’s helpful to carry a camera and lens that will draw the least amount of attention—leave the long telephoto at home! The last thing you want to do is alter the scene because a subject realizes you are out there shooting. You’ll also want to look for something lightweight. A big part of street photography is standing around and waiting for those special moments to happen, and you don’t want to wreck your shoulders in the process.

• Best overall: Fujifilm XPro3
• Best upgrade compact: Leica Q2
• Best compact: Sony RX100 VII
• Best fixed-lens digital compact: Ricoh GR IIIx
• Best DSLR: Canon EOS 6D Mark II
• Best rangefinder: Leica M11
• Best budget film compact: Olympus XA2

How we picked the best street photography cameras

When selecting the products featured in this guide, we considered features like autofocus capabilities, camera body design, image quality, and of course, price. 

Although any camera can technically be used for street photography, in our experience it’s best to have something with an understated profile that will allow the photographer to blend into the crowd and capture the world as it goes by. It’s a major reason why most of the picks are mirrorless cameras or high-end compacts. We also wanted to represent products that could fit into any photographer’s budget, from the high-end Leica Q2 to the affordable Fujifilm XA-7. 

The final consideration when writing this guide on the best street photography cameras was picking products that we’ve actually used in the field. Each of the cameras that are featured in this buying guide are ones we have tested over the years, used on jobs, or spent an afternoon demoing in the field.

The best street photography cameras: Reviews & Recmomendations

Best overall: Fujifilm XPro3

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Why it made the cut: The XPro3 is a digital, mirrorless camera with an analog vibe. The hidden LCD touchscreen allows the photographer to focus on composing through the camera’s viewfinder. It might feel antiquated, but it doesn’t get better than this for a focused street shooter.  

Specs: 

• 26.1 MP sensor
• Hybrid 0.5x OVF, 3.69M-dot OLED EVF
• Hidden tilting touchsceen

Pros

• Same tech specs as the X-T3
• Hidden touchscreen 
• Attractive built-in film presets 
• 4K video capabilities

Cons 

The Fujifilm XPro3 was designed to appeal to street photographers making it our choice for the best street photography camera overall. The hidden flip-down touchscreen is inherently divisive. But, if you are the kind of shooter who loves to keep your eye to the viewfinder, this is the camera for you. It’s one of the few digital cameras on the market that requires you to think like a film shooter. It also has mega-style points. 

The XPro3 has titanium top and bottom plates and tactile accents reminiscent of a film camera. The film-stock monitor is also undeniably cool. In addition, the unique viewfinder gives you the ability to see outside of the frame, an excellent tool for planning when to hit the shutter while keeping an eye on the action around you. 

When paired with a prime lens, this mirrorless option is quite compact. It can convert RAW files to TIFFs in-camera, and most importantly, is a joy to shoot with. Of course, the XPro3 isn’t going to be the best camera for every genre of photography, but for street photography, we think it’s perfect.

Best upgrade compact: Leica Q2

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Why it made the cut: The Leica Q2 is a well-built mirrorless fixed-lens camera, capable of creating beautiful RAW photos at ISO as low as 50, thanks to the 47 MP sensor. Although it’s undoubtedly pricy, this camera is highly capable. It feels good in your hands, and it’s undeniable that Leica has long been a favorite of street photographers. 

Specs: 

• 47 MP sensor
• 28mm fixed lens 
• Fixed 3” LCD screen 

Pros 

• Weather sealed body 
• Shoots beautiful RAW photos
• Fast, fixed F/1.7 lens

Cons 

• Expensive 

The Leica Q2 is a full-frame camera with a 28mm fixed lens built around a 47.3 megapixel sensor. It has a similar look and feel as Leica’s M rangefinder cameras. In addition, it can shoot 4K UHD video, has a dust and water-resistant build, and features Bluetooth for easier image sharing on the fly. 

The ISO range is 50-50,000 (thanks to that massive sensor), and it has a beautiful EVF that makes this ideal for street shooting. The Q2 is a brilliant camera and a worthy investment for any street photographer if your budget allows it.

Best compact: Sony RX100 VII

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Why it made the cut: The ultra-compact Sony RX100 is on its 7th iteration, and every version just keeps getting better. Built around a 20 MP 1” sensor with an impressive 24-200mm lens, the RX100 features a ton of manual controls typically found in larger mirrorless cameras. This is one powerful pocket-sized camera. 

Specs: 

• 24-200mm lens 
• 20 MP 1” sensor 
• 3” tilting LCD screen 

Pros

• Pocket sized compact
• Pop-up OLED viewfinder
• Built-in mic input for video 

Cons 

• Not great in low light
• No mic mount

The Sony RX100 VII is one of the most capable compact cameras on the market. It has excellent autofocus, a lens with an impressive zoom range, and tons of customizable options. This gives users way more control than a typical compact camera. In addition, since it’s so small, it’s easy to take anywhere and remain inconspicuous, an important thing to consider when shopping for a street photography camera. 

The clever pop-up viewfinder lets you compose images with your eye to the camera, a rare luxury in the world of compact cameras. It also features Sony’s impressive real-time tracking tech, which is excellent for holding focus on your subjects as they walk through the streets. Although its low-light capabilities are limited, this is a great pocket-sized companion for shooting during the daytime.

Best fixed-lens digital compact: Ricoh GR IIIx

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Why it made the cut: Based on a classic film camera, this fixed-lens compact has a super-sharp lens and a very inconspicuous body.

Specs:

• 40mm fixed lens
• Compact body
• 24.2-megapixel APS-C sensor

Pros

• Large sensor inside makes for excellent image quality
• Sharp, versatile 40mm lens
• Extremely pocket-friendly

Cons:

• No zoom
• Just OK autofocus

The original Ricoh GR film cameras attained cult status in the film photography world for their small, inconspicuous bodies and their extremely sharp lenses. The GR IIIx follows in that tradition. Instead of the typical 28mm lens you’d expect from previous models, it employs a more versatile 40mm lens, which makes it more capable when it comes to tighter portraits or detail shots where you want to keep the focus on a single subject. Its APS-C sensor allows it to pull of some actual shallow depth of field. It’s something you’ll want to use relatively sparingly in street photography where you typically want to keep most of the scene in focus, but it’s great to have as an option. Its magnesium alloy body makes it tough enough that it can survive while shoved in a pocket or a bag as an everyday carry. It looks and feels like the original and that’s a great thing in this instance.

Best DSLR: Canon EOS 6D Mark II

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Why it made the cut: This entry-level DSLR has a relatively lightweight body while still offering a full-frame 26 MP CMOS sensor. It has responsive autofocus, an optical viewfinder with 45-point all-cross-type AF options, and can shoot up to 6.5 fps.

Specs:

• 26 MP CMOS sensor
• Mid-size DSLR 
• 3” full-articulating LCD screen 

Pros

• Large, bright LCD screen
• Compact size 
• Good autofocus 

Cons

• No viewfinder 

Although it’s not the most exciting camera on the list, the Canon EOS 6D Mark II is a highly capable DSLR with a reasonable price tag compared to higher-end full-frame DSLRs. 

Its image quality is impeccable, and it’s a more versatile option than some of the other options on this list. Although we wouldn’t typically recommend a DSLR for street shooting, the 6D has a small enough profile when paired with a nice pancake lens or a nifty-fifty to make it suitable for the genre. 

This well-built choice is easy to use and has an impressive autofocus system for nailing your shots.

Best rangefinder: Leica M11

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Why it made the cut: Leica hasn’t done much to change the M-series design since it debuted back in the ’50s, which is a good thing. It’s quiet, inconspicuous, and produces absurdly beautiful photos.

Specs:

• 60-megapixel sensor
• Rangefinder
• Uses M-mount lenses

Pros

• Cool triple resolution sensor lets shooter prioritize resolution or dynamic range
• Perfect handling as with most Leica M cameras
• Sturdy build
• Uses iconic M-mount lenses

Cons

• Extremely pricy
• No autofocus

If you want to shoot like a classic street photographer, you can’t go wrong with a Leica M-series rangefinder. The new M11 has decidedly modern guts that can churn out 60-megapixel raw files in the easy-to-edit DNG format. The new M11, however, also offers 33- and 18-megapixel settings that still use the whole sensor and emphasize dynamic range over pure resolution. Even with the fancy electronics inside, the M11 stays true to the M legacy which started back in the 1950s. The M11 looks like the rangefinders that came before it and handles like one, too. The shutter is nearly silent and the manual focus lenses allow for zone focusing, which is as pure as it gets when it comes to shooting on the streets. Of course, you’ll need to set aside some considerable cash to get one, and even then, you’ll still need room in the budget for a lens. But, if you’ve recently sold some NFTs of hipster cats or whatever and you’re flush with cash, this camera is hard to beat. – Stan Horaczek

Best budget film compact: Olympus XA2

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Why it made the cut: This manual-focusing film camera costs considerably less than some of its AF competition. Plus, it’s tiny, inconspicuous, and produces truly impressive image quality.

Specs:

• 35mm film
• Manual focus
• Attached 35mm f/3.5 lens

Pros

• Tiny enough to fit in a pocket
• Very sharp lens
• Sliding design protects the lens
• Mostly mechanical

Cons

• No autofocus
• Can be tough on big hands
• Flash is an external add-on

At first glance, the XA2 almost looks like a toy camera. In reality, it’s an impressive little camera with surprising street photography. chops. It doesn’t autofocus, but it does have an easy-to-use zone focusing scale, which allows for easy shooting from the hip. Rather than relying on the camera’s AF sensor to find and focus on the subject, you simple set the focus distance and get your subject to fall into that range. It’s an old school technique that’s fun and satisfying when you nail it. It has a tiny optical viewfinder and a 35mm f/3.5 lens that’s extremely sharp when you nail the focus. The flash comes as an additional component that attaches to the side of the camera rather than the top. This is a true classic and it will only set you back a fraction of the price when compared to trendier and more popular models like the Olympus Stylus Epic (MJU II) or the astronomically priced Contax T2. – Stan Horaczek

Things to consider when looking for the best street photography cameras

When shooting out on the street, it’s important to be quick. Street photography is about capturing those fleeting moments in life, so you will want a camera with speedy autofocus and a fast shutter speed. Intuitive controls for switching settings without having to remove your eye from the camera’s viewfinder are also very important. A camera with a fast burst mode can be useful if you are just starting with street photography. The best street photography cameras will allow you to capture multiple images from the same scene, giving you the opportunity to choose your best shot during the editing process.  

Although we live in an era where everyone has a camera in their pocket, and it’s not unusual to see people whip out their smartphones and snap a picture, a true street photographer does their best work by being discreet. A lightweight camera will allow you to blend in without being noticed. Plus, it will keep your shoulders from aching after a long day of shooting. So look for something with a low-profile body and short lens. For this reason, mirrorless cameras or high-end compacts can be great options for street photographers. 

A mid-range lens will serve you well for shooting street photography. While 35mm is considered the classic for street photographers, something slightly wider or tighter can provide a unique perspective for this shooting style. Ideally, though, you want to stay within the 24mm-50mm range. Many street photographers love a fixed lens for this genre. It keeps them focused on composing and forces them to zoom with their feet. Generally speaking, a fixed focal length will also have a wider aperture range, allowing you to shoot fast, even in darker lighting conditions.

FAQs

Final thoughts on the best street photography cameras

When selecting the best street photography cameras, it’s important to consider things like weight and autofocus capabilities. Ultimately you want to go with something that you can use discreetly and intuitively, but also something that is fun to work with. Street photography is all about seeing the world and you want a camera that will help you do that by acting as an extension of your eyes. The cameras in this guide certainly do just that. 

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It’s no secret that Leica loves its limited edition releases, and that’s especially true of its popular full-frame compact Q2 camera. Only a few months ago, it dropped the Leica Q2 “Dawn” by Seal, and just over a year ago, it released the Leica Q2 ‘007’ edition. This time, Leica has teamed up–for the second time–with the popular watch and horology site, Hodinkee.

The first collaboration between Leica and Hodinkee dates back to 2019 when the pair released the M10-P “Ghost Edition” for Hodinkee. That design went so well that it is releasing a “Ghost” version of the Q2. Hodinkee explained that the light coloring refers to the “ghostly faded bezels of some of our favorite well-loved dive watches.” But you don’t have to be a watch enthusiast to appreciate the beautifully sleek styling of this special edition Q2.

Leica Q2 “Ghost” by Hodinkee styling

Leica cameras are traditionally black with the signature red Leica dot. But this limited edition flips that on its head but a light colorway. It still uses the same magnesium alloy body as the standard Q2, but it is painted a light gray and wrapped in smooth gray leather. And the leather features a special coating to protect it from the elements. You won’t need to worry about babying this thing too much if you don’t care about maintaining collector-worthy condition.

The lens has been coated with an anodized silver finish, which Hodinkee says references the “steel case of a sturdy dive watch.” In order to keep a full monochromatic palette, the classic red Leica logo is nowhere to be found. Instead, Leica’s vintage signature is on the top plate of the camera. The camera also features a silver aluminum thumb grip and a gray rope strap. For collector purposes, there is a subtle “GHOST SET BY HODINKEE” engraving above the display, with the specific limited edition number of the set below.

Leica Q2 “Ghost” camera specifications

Behind the light, monochrome finishes, the Leica Q2 “Ghost” is a typical Q2 camera. It is built around a 47.3-megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor and Maestro II image processor. It provides 13 stops of dynamic range and overall good noise handling at higher ISOs.

The lens is a wide-angle prime Summilux 28mm f/1.7 ASPH. The wide f/1.7 aperture makes this great in low-light conditions, and the lens provides sharp, detailed results. It also has fast, accurate, and reliable autofocus.

Pricing & availability

The Leica Q2 “Ghost” Set by Hodinkee is available for purchase now, exclusively at Hodinkee, for $5,995. The set includes the special engravings, a silvered aluminum thumb grip, and a gray rope strap. If you want the camera only, there will be 2,000 Leica Q2 “Ghost” by Hodinkee cameras available starting on December 8th at Leica stores and on Leica’s website, as well as authorized dealers, including Adorama.

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Leica has just announced another limited edition camera, this time in celebration of the world’s most famous secret agent: James Bond. Bond first arrived on the scene in 1962, just over 60 years ago, in the inaugural Bond movie Dr. No. Leica is celebrating the occasion by releasing a special edition D-Lux 7 007 Edition. The image-making company is also hosting a ‘Photographs from the James Bond Archive’ photography exhibition at the Leica Gallery London through March 23, 2023.

The D-Lux 7 007 Edition is actually the second 007 collaboration for Leica. In 2021, the company released a very limited edition (only 250 cameras) Leica Q2 007 Edition. Luckily the D-Lux 7 camera is much more affordable than the Q2. And this time, it is producing 1,962 cameras in honor of the first film release in 1962. 

Leica D-Lux 7 007 Edition styling

The Leica D-Lux 7 007 Edition pulls from the elegant and sophisticated styling of the James Bond character for its design. The trim and handgrip of the camera utilize a high-performance, rhombus-textured material, which makes it look rather similar to the standard Q2 camera. The look is subtle with its all-black colorway, but it provides a better hold on the camera.

The top of the camera features the classic 007 logo to match the one found on the included leather wrist strap. And the camera’s automatic lens cap gets the ‘gun barrel’ design made famous by its use in the opening sequences of the Bond films. The camera comes with a leather case styled like a holster. And it all comes in a specially designed box.

Leica D-Lux 7 007 Edition camera specifications

Inside the special edition are the same guts as the original Leica D-Lux 7 camera. Leica built the camera around a 17-megapixel Four Thirds MOS sensor. It features a highly versatile 10.9 to 34mm lens, which offers a full-frame equivalent view of 24 to 75mm. The lens is relatively fast, offering a maximum aperture of f/1.7 to 2.8. And it’s capable of recording 4K30p video.

It’s a small camera, weighing just 14.22 ounces. The compact design, in combination with the 24 to 75mm equivalent lens, makes it a great travel companion.

Pricing & availability

The Leica D-Lux 7 007 Edition is available for preorder now for $1,995.00, which is $600 more than the standard D-Lux 7. And remember, there are only 1,962 cameras available, so if you have your eye on one, you’ll need to order soon.

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Leica stopped making the original M6 rangefinder film camera back in 2002 when it introduced the follow-up, the M7. It was a big moment for the company because the M7 introduced a new electronic shutter, which offered some technical advantages (like faster flash sync compared to the M6’s paltry 1/50th setting) over the purely mechanical M6. Many purists still consider the M6 the pinnacle of camera design, and now Leica will once again sell you a brand new one for $5,295.

The last original M6 rolled off the line two decades ago, and since then, it has become both a meme and an icon in the photography world. A solid used copy will currently cost well over $3,000, especially if it has had a recent service. Most of its value stems from its elegant design, super-quiet shutter, spectacular lenses, and repairability. Leica can still service an M6, and parts are readily available, so people keep them forever. But there’s also a healthy bit of hype figured into that price. Photography influencers have sung the praises of the M6 since the early days of the #filmisnotdead hashtag. I specifically remember passing up on an M6 for $1,000 some years back before every film YouTuber made this trusty rangefinder the “it” camera to have.

The best of the best

Leica produced several versions of the M6 during its nearly two-decade production run. The re-released model includes the most desirable features from that span. For instance, the new M6 offers TTL flash metering, which wasn’t available in earlier versions of the camera.

The viewfinder offers a 0.72 magnification, which represents a nice compromise between the 0.58 and 0.85 versions that were also originally available. Those numbers may seem hard to parse for people outside of the rangefinder world, but they essentially indicate the viewfinder’s angle of view. Unlike SLRs, rangefinders don’t show exactly what the lens sees through their viewfinders. Instead, rangefinders include frame lines specific to different lens focal lengths in order to give photographers an idea of what the final frame will look like while still giving them a chance to see what falls outside of their shot.

The new M6’s 0.72 magnification is robust enough to allow photographers to see small elements in the frame, but it’s not so much magnification that wide-angle lenses will require an external viewfinder like the 0.85 models sometimes do. You’ll find frame lines arranged in pairs when you look through the new M6. They cover most of the popular focal lengths, including 28 and 90 mm, 35 and 135 mm, as well as 50 and 75 mm.

New and old

While the design stays mostly accurate to its predecessor, Leica has included some modern features. The company says it includes “modern electronics” inside, and the light meter indicator has also been redesigned with a new low-battery indicator. It also now sports a modern ISO dial, which is more in line with Leica’s current cameras. Despite the updates, it will still undoubtedly feel like just about every other M-series rangefinder the company has ever made.

Bring money

Leicas literally never come cheap, so the new M6’s $5,295 price tag shouldn’t come as much of a surprise. This camera is still hand-made from more than 100 different parts in a German factory. But it’s good to know the company is still making all the parts needed to service the camera, so it should last for decades unless something truly catastrophic happens. Just remember that the $5,295 price doesn’t include a lens. And while you could go with something practical like the $999 Zeiss 50mm f/2 Planar, you could just finalize that second mortgage and drop a cool $12,995 on a Leica 50mm f/0.95 Noctilux.

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The flagship Leica M11 rangefinder launched earlier this year boasting a host of upgrades, most notably, a higher-resolution sensor and a more powerful processor. And yet, the camera sports the same basic design as its ancestors, dating back to the 1950s. But it’s precisely this combination of new and old that makes a Leica, well, a Leica.

We’ve had the pleasure of shooting around with the new camera for a little while now. And with a complete review on the horizon, we wanted to share some initial samples and impressions to get you pumped. All of these photos were captured with the Leica Summicron-M 35mm f/1.4 ASPH lens. Exposure information and edits are noted in the captions.

Related: Leica redesigns one of its most popular lenses (and makes it more affordable)

Leica M11 sample photos

With its state-of-the-art, custom-made 60-megapixel sensor and updated “Maestro III” image processor, one has high expectations about the M11’s image quality, and gosh does it deliver. From color to sharpness (due mainly to the quality of Leica’s lenses) to dynamic range, the M11 does not disappoint.

Many cameras don’t capture the color of amazing sunsets like this one, usually being too flat. (Smartphones, on the other hand, are over-the-top.) Here, the exposure is well-balanced. And if you want to brighten up the foreground a bit, the M11 is fully capable.

It may look like the foreground couldn’t possibly be so lush and green but that’s how the M11 rendered it in this converted DNG file (with no color adjustments applied). If for some reason, you wanted this scene to be even punchier, there’s a “vivid” color profile in the menu. The detail on the mountain is also impressive: you can easily make out the edge of the glaciers.

Again you can see the vibrant color in the flowers and foliage, this time in an out-of-camera JPEG.

Details, details. At full resolution, you can see the individual cables on the elevator as well as every piece of the platform at the top of the Needle. There isn’t any moiré on the platform, which is nice to see, given that the camera doesn’t have an “optical low pass filter.”

The Summicron-M 35mm f/1.4 ASPH lens has quite a bit of vignetting when wide-open (or close, in this case). While the camera doesn’t offer the ability to correct this automatically, popping the DNG file into your favorite Raw processor will allow you to reduce or eliminate it.

In this photo, there’s a balanced exposure with no blown highlights from the windows. Note the lack of distortion, as well.

Color again impresses, and there’s a nice smooth transition from the sharp foreground to the blurred background.

You can easily make out individual pieces of grass on this somewhat hazy day.

The original image was a little “warm” and the foreground was darker than I would’ve liked. But two easy adjustments to the DNG file in Adobe Camera Raw produced a more realistic image.

The M11 again captured the reds, oranges, and yellows of a beautiful sunset.

The Summicron-M 35mm f/1.4 lens struts its stuff in this photo, with excellent sharpness on the lamp and a smooth roll off to the wall and sign in the background.

It’s easy to find the peeling and bubbling paint in the foreground of this photo.

The original version of this photo had some mild vignetting, which was easy to fix in Adobe Camera Raw. You can see each individual leave on the shrubs both near and far away.

In the original version of this photo, the highlights on the mountain were blown out, dramatically reducing detail. By editing the DNG file I was able to dial back the highlights while boosting the shadows to closely match what I saw with my eyes.

Lastly, the carvings on and above the arch look almost too real in this photo. While it looks like there is some moiré distortion to the left of the doors, it is just the pattern in the concrete.

That’s all for now, stay tuned for our full Leica M11 review, coming soon!

The post Leica M11 sample photos: 60 megapixels sure looks good appeared first on Popular Photography.

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The Leica Q2 is one of the brand’s best-selling cameras. It’s easy to see why, with its fixed 28mm f/1.7 lens, rugged design, and full-frame image quality, it’s a great companion to take anywhere. Since its launch in 2019, there have been a number of limited edition variations, most recently the Leica Q2 “007” model and the Leica Q2 Monochrom “Reporter” edition (which I personally love). Now the Wetzlar brand is back with another fresh variant; we present to you, the Leica Q2 “Dawn” by Seal.

Related: Leica just had its best financial year ever. Wait, what?

Kissed by a Rose & bitten by the shutterbug

Seal, the British singer best known for his soulful, 90s smash hit, Kissed by a Rose, is apparently a big fan of photography. Meanwhile, the folks at Leica haven’t been shy about their passion for rock and roll. The brand has previously teamed up with Lenny Kravitz on several models, and even put out a model honoring the late music photographer, Jim Marshall. Which is to say, this mashup feels natural.

Leica Q2 ‘Dawn’ by Seal: camera details

So what makes the Seal camera special? The body itself is wrapped in a cool-looking “iridescent” woven fabric, sourced from the traditional Japanese brand, Hosoo. Leica says the fabric is a “milestone in the art of weaving, with an innovative process using black thread (93% polyester) and gold-colored Japanese paper (7% washi).” No word on how it feels in hand but each model appears to have a completely unique design.

The only other details that set the Q2 Seal edition apart from the standard model are the artist’s signature and the edition number, both engraved on the back, beneath the glass of the LCD. Other than that, this camera is just like any other Q2.

Leica Q2 ‘Dawn’ by Seal: other accessories

But wait, there’s more! In addition to the camera itself, the Q2 Seal edition comes with a rather nice-looking, limited-edition black rope strap with leather accents. Details on the strap include the hand-written lyrics, “You became the light on the dark side of me,” from the aforementioned smash hit. The Leica logo is also embossed onto the leather. No word on whether Seal himself handwrote the lyrics 500 times over. We’re guessing, no.

The package also includes a scarf designed by the multimedia artist Annina Roescheisen and manufactured by NYC fashion brand, Rag & Bone. It’s not my cup of tea, but hey, to each their own.

Price & availability

While some Leica limited edition releases come with dizzying price tags—I’m looking at you, Leica Q2 007 edition—the Dawn by Seal edition is only $200 more than the standard model. And considering it comes with a lovely rope strap and designer scarf, that’s not too bad!

Priced at $5,995.00, only 500 Leica Q2 Seal models will be made and sold. Presently, the camera is out of stock on the Leica website, but you can signup to be notified upon its return. We seriously doubt all 500 are already accounted for.

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Leica has announced an updated version of the Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 ASPH, one of the brand’s all-time most popular M-mount lenses. Best of all, the new version will retail for less than its predecessor and offers several key advantages.

What’s been updated?

The new Leica Summilux 35mm f/1.4 offers three key upgrades over its predecessor, two internal, and one external. Under the hood, the lens sports an 11-bladed aperture compared to a 9-bladed one in the older version. Generally speaking, the more blades an aperture diaphragm has, the better/more circular the bokeh. So we’ll definitely be curious to see how the out-of-focus renditions of this lens compare to that of its predecessor.

Next, the updated Leica can now focus as close as 15.8 inches, which is significantly closer than its predecessor’s 27-inch close focus distance. Leica engineers accomplished this by giving the new lens an in-house designed, patent-pending double cam focusing system.

Finally, the updated Summilux now sports a built-in, rounded, metal lens hood. The integrated hood can be pulled out and pushed in as needed.

What’s the same?

Related: Leica just had its best financial year ever. Wait, what?

Optically speaking, there are no changes. The new 35mm still uses the same nine elements arranged in five groups, including one aspherical element. And size-wise, the updated lens is just a hair or two wider (2mm) and a tiny bit shorter (also 2mm).

Price & availability

The new Leica Summilux 35mm f/1.4 is available in black and silver for a price of $5,395.00 and $5,595.00, respectively. That’s a solid discount compared to the $5,995.00 (black) and $6,195.00 (silver) retail price of its predecessor.

The post Leica redesigns one of its most popular lenses (and makes it more affordable) appeared first on Popular Photography.

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If you’re in the market for a super-trendy camera, Leica has you covered with its latest release. The Leica D-Lux 7 A BATHING APE (BAPE) x STASH collaboration combines streetwear, graffiti, and photography all into one admittedly dope-looking package, let’s dig in.

Related: You’ll need a goldfinger to afford the new Leica Q2 ‘007’ edition

What’s the deal with BAPE & STASH?

If you’re more a photo nerd than a fashionista, you might not be familiar with the Japanese streetwear brand, A BATHING APE (BAPE). Founded in 1993 in the heart of Tokyo, BAPE has grown from a cult brand to a major player in the fashion world, in just a few short decades. And today, you can find everyone from hip hop stars to athletes to contemporary artists rocking BAPE.

STASH, on the other hand—real name Josh Frankin—is one of NYC’s most iconic graffiti artists and designers, whose work dates back to the 1980s.

Why did Leica collab with BAPE & STASH?

Marketing, of course! The world loves limited edition “drops,” especially ones that manage to include multiple respected players. Furthermore, Leica has not been shy about its intentions to reach a younger audience. And these kinds of mashups are potentially the perfect way to entice younger photographers to go Leica. Also, it’s just plain cool.

“There is a very thin border between the pleasure of taking pictures with the camera and the pleasure of owning a beautiful object, the camera itself,” says Andrea Pacella, director of global marketing and communications at Leica Camera AG.

The Leica X BAPE x STASH

Under the hood, the Leica D-Lux 7 BAPE x STASH is just like any other Leica D-Lux 7, which itself is based on 2018’s Panasonic LX100 II. Priced at $2,190, the collaboration camera is just shy of $800 pricier than a standard D-Lux 7 and nearly $1200 more than the LX100 II. All three of these models are essentially identical in terms of spec, design, and capability, so what does the extra cash get you?

For one, bragging rights. Only 1000 Leica x BAPE x STASH cameras will be made, including 750 in black, to be sold at Leica stores, and 250 in silver, to be sold at BAPE stores. In addition, you get a camera decked out in an awesome green/tan/brown graffiti print, complete with STASH’s signature on the front, and BAPE’s famous monkey head logo on top, in addition to other limited-edition details.

The camera also ships with a really nice-looking, custom strap and carrying bag.

Is this even a good camera?

At four years old, it’s safe to say the D-Lux 7 is a tad long in the tooth. Still, the camera’s petite size, Four Thirds sensor, and 24-75mm equivalent zoom range make it an enticing option for daytime street photography. And there’s even a hotshoe, should you want to mount a flash. Ultimately, though, while it is a capable little camera, there are quite a few more capable options out there for the cash (though few as compact).

Availability

To get your hands on Leica D-Lux 7 BAPE x STASH collab, you’ll have to make your way to one of several select Leica and/or BAPE stores and spend a cool $2,190. The camera will not be available online.

The post Leica’s latest ‘drop’ may be the world’s trendiest camera appeared first on Popular Photography.

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Apparently, it’s wide-angle, crop-sensor mirrorless lens week and we didn’t get the memo. Having just finished telling you about Meike’s new 10mm f/2 lens for APS-C mirrorless cameras, we now have another crop-sensor 10mm prime to share with you. Yet, although it’s aimed at the exact same mounts (plus one extra), this time around the diminutive Laowa CF 10mm f/4 Cookie lens from Venus Optics is targeting a very different target customer.

Where Meike’s lens is big and bright, the Laowa—as alluded to in its quirky “Cookie” branding—is an exceptionally compact prime that trades off a brighter maximum aperture for much greater portability. Emphasis decidedly on the word *much*, as according to Laowa, this is the world’s widest rectilinear pancake lens.

Who’s the Laowa 10mm f/4 Cookie for?

Related: Meike’s new 10mm f/2 is a fast, wide-angle prime for crop-sensor cameras

The Laowa Cookie lens is aimed at photographers who want to shoot with an APS-C crop on Canon RF-, Fujifilm X-, Leica/Panasonic/Sigma L-, Nikon Z-, or Sony E-mount mirrorless bodies. These should yield roughly a 15mm equivalent focal length, after accounting for sensor crop factor.

With its wide field of view, trim dimensions, and a design said to yield “high image quality with minimal distortion,” the lens will be of particular interest to street photographers. It should also make a nice choice for landscapes, cityscapes, and architecture, as well as for some light macro work.

Build quality

The Laowa 10mm f/4 Cookie is quite an attention-grabber thanks to its compact proportions. Less than an inch deep from the front face of the lens mount, it’s just 2.4 inches across and weighs only 4.5 ounces. While lensmaker Venus Optics doesn’t state the material used for the lens barrel, the mount looks to be all-metal. There are no electrical or mechanical contacts to be found on the mount, indicating that you’ll need to control both aperture and focus entirely manually.

Focus

The mechanical focusing ring sits in front of the lens barrel and allows a working range from 3.9 inches to infinity. At the minimum focusing distance, the lens will yield a maximum magnification of 0.15x (1:6.7), enough to bring smaller subjects up close for background separation while retaining a sense of the overall scene.  Further back, you’ll find a mechanical aperture ring that can access a range from f/4 to f/22.

Optical design

Aiming to suppress distortion, aberrations, flare, and ghosting, the Laowa CF 10mm f/4 lens has quite a complex optical formula with 12 elements in eight groups, four of them crafted from extra-low dispersion glass. A five-sided aperture likely won’t yield the roundest bokeh balls when stopped down, but realistically, for such a wide-angle optic, you won’t get much background separation anyway, unless you’re shooting macro subjects.

The company’s sample images do suggest that you can expect fairly nice 10-pointed sunstars, though. And courtesy of 37mm threads up front, you’ll also be able to unleash your creativity with some filters.

Pricing & availability

Available immediately in the US market and with shipments also expected by the end of the month in Canada, the Laowa 10mm f/4 pancake is offered in silver or black versions for all available mounts.

Pricing is set at $299 in the US market or $444 in Canada, making the latter about 15% more expensive at current exchange rates.

Laowa 10mm f/4 Cookie sample images

The post The Laowa 10mm f/4 ‘Cookie’ lens looks mighty tasty appeared first on Popular Photography.

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