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Leica C-Lux vs Leica Q2 Comparison

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Leica C-Lux

20 MP | 1 CMOS Sensor

Leica C-Lux
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Leica Q2

47 MP | Full frame (36 x 24 mm) CMOS Sensor

Leica Q2
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Leica C-Lux vs Leica Q2 Comparison Overview

Here we are comparing C-Lux and Q2, two Compact cameras by Leica. Leica C-Lux is a Large sensor compact class camera and Leica Q2 is a Large Sensor Compact class camera.

Leica C-Lux was introduced to market in June 2018 and Leica Q2 was launched in March 2019. There is only 9 months difference between C-Lux and Q2 so we are expecting this to be a fair comparison regarding age and technology level.

Here is a brief look at the main features of Leica C-Lux and Leica Q2 before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Leica C-Lux Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2018-06-10
  • 20MP - CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 125 - 12800 ( expands to 80 - 25600)
  • 24-360 mm F3.3-6.4 Zoom Lens
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3.00" Fixed Type Screen
  • 2330k dot Electronic viewfinder
  • 10.0fps continuous shooting
  • 4K (UHD) - 3840 x 2160 video resolution
  • Built-in Wireless
  • 340g. 113 x 67 x 46 mm

Leica Q2 Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2019-03-07
  • 47MP - Full frame CMOS Sensor
  • No Anti-aliasing (AA) filter
  • ISO 50 - 50000
  • 28 mm f1.70 Prime Lens
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3.00" Fixed Type Screen
  • 3680k dot Electronic viewfinder
  • 20.0fps continuous shooting
  • 4K (UHD) - 3840 x 2160 video resolution
  • Built-in Wireless
  • 718g. 130 x 80 x 92 mm
  • Weather Sealed Body
  • Also known as Type No. 4889
  • Replaced Leica Q Compare

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Leica C-Lux and Leica Q2 compares and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.


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Reasons to choose Leica C-Lux over Leica Q2
Built-in Flash
Yes vs No Useful in low-light
LCD Screen Resolution
1.240k dots vs 1.040k dots 19% higher resolution screen
Weight
340 g vs 718 g 378 g lighter
Focal Length - Wide
24mm vs 28mm 4 mm wider coverage
Focal Length - Tele
360mm vs 28mm 332 mm longer tele reach
Optical Zoom
15x vs 1x more flexible focal coverage
AE Bracketing Range
±5 EV vs ±3 EV Wide Bracketing range is useful for HDR
CHECK C-Lux PRICE


Reasons to choose Leica Q2 over Leica C-Lux
External Flash Shoe
Yes vs No Better for flash photography
Max Sensor Resolution
47 MP vs 20 MP 135% more pixels
Max ISO
50.000 vs 12.800 290% higher Max ISO
Max Elect. Shutter
1/40000s vs 1/16000s faster electronic shutter
Continuous Shooting
20.0fps vs 10.0fps 10 fps faster
Environmental Sealing
Yes vs No shoot at tough conditions
Max Aperture - Wide
1.70 vs 3.30 faster lens at wide
Max Aperture - Tele
1.70 vs 6.40 faster lens at tele
Viewfinder Resolution
3680k dot vs 2330k dot 57% higher resolution
Sensor Pixel Area
18.49µm2 vs 5.82µm2 217% larger pixel area
UHS Card Support
UHS-II vs none Read/Write in High Speeds
CHECK Q2 PRICE

Common Strengths of Leica C-Lux and Leica Q2
Wireless Connection
Yes vs Yes Better connectivity
Bluetooth Connection
Yes vs Yes Connect to other devices via Bluetooth
Image Stabilization
Optical vs Optical Sharper images at longer focal lengths and long exposures
Touch Screen
Yes vs Yes Easy control of camera functions
Viewfinder
Yes (Electronic) vs Yes (Electronic) Better framing and control
RAW Support
Yes vs Yes Better image quality
Face Detection Focus
Yes vs Yes very handy for portraits
Max Resolution
20 MP vs 47 MP Bigger prints and more details
Manual Focusing
Yes vs Yes both have manual focusing modes
Manual Exposure
Yes vs Yes better exposure control
Timelapse Recording
Yes vs Yes creative shooting
AE Bracketing
Yes vs Yes Useful for tough lighting conditions and HDR
Smartphone Remote
Yes vs Yes Remote control your camera with a smartphone
Common Weaknesses of Leica C-Lux and Leica Q2
Fixed Screen
Fixed Type vs No No flexible viewing angles
Leica C-Lux vs Leica Q2: Physical Specs and Body features Comparison

Size and weight is a big decision factor when you are trying to find the ideal camera for your needs. In this section, We are going to illustrate Leica C-Lux and Leica Q2 side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions. Leica C-Lux has external dimensions of 113 x 67 x 46 mm (4.45 x 2.64 x 1.81″) and weighs 340 g (0.75 lb / 11.99 oz) (including batteries). Leica Q2 has external dimensions of 130 x 80 x 92 mm (5.12 x 3.15 x 3.62″) and weighs 718 g (1.58 lb / 25.33 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Leica C-Lux and Leica Q2. Leica C-Lux is clearly the smaller of the two cameras. Its body is 17mm narrower, 13mm shorter and 46mm thinner than Leica Q2.

Leica C-Lux vs Leica Q2 Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of Leica C-Lux and Leica Q2 Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Here is the back view size comparison of Leica C-Lux and Leica Q2.

Leica C-Lux vs Leica Q2 Camera Size Comparison - Back View
Comparison image of Leica C-Lux and Leica Q2 Size and Weight - Back View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Leica C-Lux and Leica Q2.
Leica C-Lux vs Leica Q2 Camera Size Comparison - Top View
Top View Comparison image of Leica C-Lux and Leica Q2 Size

Weight is another important factor especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Leica C-Lux is significantly lighter (378g ) than the Leica Q2 which may become a big advantage especially on long walking trips.

Weight Comparison

Compact Cameras

C-Lux
Q2
Min
Average
Max
Thickness Comparison

Compact Cameras

C-Lux
Q2
Min
Average
Max

Weather Sealing

Thanks to the weather sealed body of Q2, you can use this camera with more confidence under conditions where there is risk of exposure to water and dust compared to C-Lux.

LCD Screen Size and Features

Leica C-Lux and Leica Q2's LCD screens has the same diagonal size of 3.00".

Unfortunately, both cameras has fixed screens so they don't tilt or flip in directions.
Leica C-Lux vs Leica Q2: Sensor Comparison

Leica C-Lux has a 20.0MP (1 ) sized CMOS sensor . On the other hand, Leica Q2 has a 47.0MP Full frame (36 x 24 mm ) sized CMOS sensor .

Leica Q2's sensor provides 27MP more than Leica C-Lux's sensor, which gives a significant advantage in real life. You can print your images larger or crop more freely. On the other hand, please keep in mind that Max sensor resolution is not the only determinant of resolving power. Factors such as the optical elements, low pass filter, pixel size and sensor technology also affects the final resolution of the captured image.

One other difference between these two cameras that is worth mentioning is that Leica Q2's sensor doesn't have an anti-alias (Low-Pass) filter. Removing anti-alias filter increases the sharpness and level of detail but at the same time, it increases the chance of moire occurring in certain scenes.

Below you can see the C-Lux and Q2 sensor size comparison.

Leica C-Lux vs Leica Q2 Sensor Size Comparison
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Leica C-Lux and Leica Q2 Cameras


As seen above, Leica Q2 has a 0.0x Larger sensor area than Leica C-Lux. Larger sensors give photographer more control on the depth of field and blurry background compared to smaller sensor when shot in same focal length and aperture.

Leica C-Lux vs Leica Q2 Lens Specs Comparison

Leica C-Lux features a 24-360 mm F3.3-6.4 15x zoom lens whereas Leica Q2 features a 28 mm F1.7 Prime lens.

It is not easy to compare a prime lens with a zoom lens. Leica C-Lux's zoom lens provides a great flexibility compared to Leica Q2's 28mm fixed focal length lens. On the other hand, Q2's prime lens makes it a specialized camera. You compromise the flexibility of a zoom in order to enjoy the high image quality and unique rendering of this fast lens. On the tele end, Leica C-Lux has 332mm longer reach than the Leica Q2. However, with a max aperture of f1.70, Leica Q2 is faster at tele end.

Wide Coverage

Large Sensor Compact Cameras

C-Lux
Q2
Widest - Canon G1 X II
Average
Telezoom

Large Sensor Compact Cameras

C-Lux
Q2
Longest - Panasonic ZS200
Average
Max Aperture at Tele

Large Sensor Compact Cameras

C-Lux
Q2
Fastest - Leica X (Typ 113)
Average
Max Aperture at Wide

Large Sensor Compact Cameras

C-Lux
Q2
Fastest - Panasonic LX10
Average
What types of Photography are Leica C-Lux and Leica Q2 Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Leica C-Lux and Leica Q2 for five different photography types in order to make your decision process easier in case you are specifically interested in one or more of these areas.

Leica C-Lux for Portrait Photography

AVERAGE

Leica Q2 for Portrait Photography

GOOD
Very High Resolution Sensor: 20.0MP
Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Small 1 sensor
No External Flash Shoe
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details
Large Full frame (36 x 24 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 47.0MP
Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
External Flash Shoe
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details

Leica C-Lux for Street Photography

GOOD

Leica Q2 for Street Photography

EXCELLENT
Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Small Body
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
24 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Small 1 sensor
Read the details
Large Full frame (36 x 24 mm) sensor
Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Small Body
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Fast Lens at Wide: f1.70
28 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Read the details

Leica C-Lux for Sports Photography

AVERAGE

Leica Q2 for Sports Photography

AVERAGE
Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Fast Continuous Shooting: 10.0fps
49 Focus Points
Wireless Connection
360 mm Tele Lens
Average Max shutter speed: 1/2000s
No External Flash Shoe
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Environmental Sealings
Slow Lens at Tele: f6.40
Read the details
Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
External Flash Shoe
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Fast Continuous Shooting: 20.0fps
Environmental Sealings
49 Focus Points
Good Low Light ISO
Wireless Connection
Average Max shutter speed: 1/2000s
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
28 mm Tele Lens
Read the details

Leica C-Lux for Daily Photography

GOOD

Leica Q2 for Daily Photography

EXCELLENT
RAW shooting capability
Compact Body
15.0X Optical Zoom
Small 1 sensor
340g
Body Thickness 46mm
Read the details
Large Full frame (36 x 24 mm) sensor
RAW shooting capability
Compact Body
Environmental Sealings
718g
Body Thickness 92mm
Read the details

Leica C-Lux for Landscape Photography

AVERAGE

Leica Q2 for Landscape Photography

GOOD
Very High Resolution Sensor: 20.0MP
RAW shooting capability
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
24 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Small 1 sensor
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details
Large Full frame (36 x 24 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 47.0MP
RAW shooting capability
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Environmental Sealings
28 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Read the details

Leica C-Lux vs Leica Q2: OUR DECISION

You may have already made your decision about which camera suits better for your needs and your budget so far but in case you wonder how we rated Leica C-Lux and Leica Q2, below you can find their scores in five different aspects. Our Decision Algorithm dynamically scores cameras using 69 different specs, current price and DxO Mark scores (where possible) in order to make a more objective and consistent comparison.

Here is a summary of how Leica C-Lux and Leica Q2 scores compare:

Leica C-Lux
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #22 out of 61 in Large sensor compact cameras
Ranked #225 out of 1244 in all Cameras
Leica Q2
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #1 out of 61 in Large sensor compact cameras
Ranked #52 out of 1244 in all Cameras

Leica Q2 scores higher than the Leica C-Lux in Overall. It has better image quality and better value than Leica C-Lux. On the other hand, Leica C-Lux is more portable and has more features than Leica Q2.
If image quality is very important for you and you want to get the most bang for your bucks, choose the Leica Q2.
If you are looking for a small camera where you can take everywhere with you, and having more features are also important, Leica C-Lux is the right choice for you.

Leica C-Lux
Leica C-Lux
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Leica Q2
Leica Q2
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Leica Q2 vs Leica C-Lux Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Leica C-Lux Leica Q2
Brand Leica Leica
Announced 2018-06-10 2019-03-07
Body Type Large sensor compact Large sensor compact
Sensor
Type CMOS CMOS
Size Full frame
Dimensions 1 36 x 24 mm
Area 0.00mm2 864.00mm2
Megapixels 20 megapixels 47 megapixels
Max Resolution 5472 x 3648 8368 x 5584
Max Native Light sensitivity 12,800 ISO 50,000 ISO
Max Boosted Light Sensitivity 25600 ISO -
Min Native Light sensitivity 125 ISO 50 ISO
Min Boosted Light Sensitivity 80 ISO -
RAW Support
Autofocus
AF Touch
AF Continuous
AF Single
AF Tracking
AF Selective
AF Center
AF Multi Area
AF Live View
AF Face Detection
AF Contrast Detection
AF Phase Detection
Number of Focus Points 49 49
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens Focal Range 24-360 mm (15x) 28 mm (1x)
Max Aperture F3.3-6.4 F1.7
Macro Focus Range 5cm 17cm
Screen
Type Fixed type Fixed type
Size 3.00" 3.00"
Resolution 1,240k dots 1,040k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder Resolution 2,330k dots 3,680k dots
Viewfinder Coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder Magnification n/a 0.76x
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter 1/2000s 1/2000s
Max Electronic Shutter 1/16000s 1/40000s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Built-in Image Stabilization Optical Optical
Built-in Flash
Flash Range 6.80 m (at Auto ISO) no built-in flash
Max Flash Sync n/a 1/500s
External Flash
Continuous Shooting 10.0 fps 20.0 fps
Multi-Segment Metering
Average Metering
Spot Metering
Partial Metering
AF-Area Metering
Center Weighted Metering
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Video Features
Max Video Resolution 3840 x 2160 3840 x 2160
Video Formats MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264 MPEG-4
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity Built-In Built-In
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 340g 718g
Dimensions 113 x 67 x 46mm 130 x 80 x 92mm
Battery Life 370 shots 370 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS None None
DxO Sensor Scores
DxO Overall Score not tested 96
DxO Color Depth not tested 26.4
DxO Dynamic Range not tested 13.5
DxO Low Light ISO not tested 2491
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