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Leica Q2 vs Olympus E-M1 II

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Leica Q2

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

Leica Q2
$4995.00

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Olympus E-M1 II

20 MP | Four Thirds (17.4 x 13 mm) CMOS Sensor

Olympus E-M1 II
$1399.00

CHECK TODAY's PRICE
Leica Q2 vs Olympus E-M1 II Comparison Overview

Here we are comparing two cameras with different body types: Leica Q2, which was introduced in March 2019 is a Large Sensor Compact camera with a 47.0MP Full frame sensor whereas Olympus E-M1 II, which was introduced in September 2016 is a Pro Mirrorless camera with a 20.0MP Four Thirds sensor. As you can see, E-M1 II is 3 years older than Q2. Let's see if this age difference between two cameras makes a big difference.

Comparing an interchangeble lens camera to a fixed lens camera is a bit tricky but we will do our best to make this a fair comparison.

Let's have a brief look at the main features of Leica Q2 and Olympus E-M1 II before getting into our more detailed comparison.

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" Fixed Type Screen
  • 3680k dot Electronic viewfinder
  • 20.0 fps continuous shooting
  • 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

Olympus E-M1 II Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2016-09-19
  • 20MP - Four Thirds CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 200 - 25600 ( expands to 64)
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • 2360k dot Electronic viewfinder
  • 15.0 fps continuous shooting
  • 4096 x 2160 video resolution
  • Built-in Wireless
  • 574g. 134 x 91 x 67 mm
  • Weather Sealed Body
  • Replaced Olympus OM-D E-M1 Compare

Olympus E-M1 II was replaced by Olympus OM-D E-M1X. You may also be interested in these comparisons:
Olympus OM-D E-M1X vs Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II
Olympus OM-D E-M1X vs Leica Q2

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Leica Q2 and Olympus E-M1 II compares and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.

Reasons to choose Leica Q2 over Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II
Max Sensor Resolution 47 MP vs 20 MP 135% more pixels
Max ISO 50.000 vs 25.600 95% higher Max ISO
Max Electronic Shutter 1/40000s vs 1/32000s faster electronic shutter
Continuous Shooting 20.0fps vs 15.0fps 5 fps faster
Battery Life 370 shots vs 350 shots 20 more frames with a single charge
Viewfinder Resolution 3680k dot vs 2360k dot 55% higher resolution
Color Depth 26.4 vs 23.7 higher color depth
Dynamic Range 13.5 vs 12.8 higher dynamic range
Low Light ISO 2491 vs 1312 better High ISO performance
Sensor Pixel Area 18.49µm2 vs 11.22µm2 64% larger pixel area
Bluetooth Yes vs No Connect your camera to other devices via Blueetooth
Reasons to choose Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II over Leica Q2
Articulating Screen Yes vs No Flexible shooting positions
Number of Focus Points 121 vs 49 72 more focus points
Max Mechanical Shutter 1/8000s vs 1/2000s faster mechanical shutter
Weight 574 g vs 718 g 144 g lighter
Microphone Port Yes vs No High quality audio recording option
Headphone Port Yes vs No better video control
Max Video Resolution 4096 x 2160 vs 3840 x 2160 Higher Resolution Video
AE Bracketing Range ±5 EV vs ±3 EV Wide Bracketing range is useful for HDR
Flash Sync Port Yes vs No Connect off-camera flash
Selfie Friendly LCD Yes vs No Rotate LCD for taking Selfies
Pixel Shift High Resolution Mode Yes (50.0MP) vs No Increased resolution with pixel shift
Focus Bracketing Yes vs No Take multiple photos shifting focus point
Focus Stacking Yes vs No Stacks photos in-camera to maximize depth of field
Storage Slot 2 vs 1 Extra storage slot
Common Strengths of Leica Q2 and Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II
Wireless Connection Yes vs Yes Better connectivity
Image Stabilization Optical vs Sensor-shift All the lenses are stabilized
External Flash Shoe Yes vs Yes Better for flash photography
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 47 MP vs 20 MP Bigger prints and more details
LCD Screen Resolution 1.040k dots vs 1.037k dots Higher resolution screens
Continuous Shooting 20.0fps vs 15.0fps Fast shooting speeds
Environmental Sealing Yes vs Yes shoot at tough conditions
Timelapse Recording Yes vs Yes creative shooting
AE Bracketing Yes vs Yes Useful for tough lighting conditions and HDR
Smartphone Remote Control Yes vs Yes Remote control your camera with a smartphone
Support for UHS Memory Cards UHS-II vs UHS-II Read/Write in Ultra High Speeds
Common Weaknesses of Leica Q2 and Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II
Built-in Flash No vs No Require external flash
Leica Q2 vs Olympus E-M1 II: 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 Q2 and Olympus E-M1 II side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions.

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Leica Q2 and Olympus E-M1 II. Leica Q2 is 4mm narrower and 11mm shorter than Olympus E-M1 II but it is also 25mm thicker. As you can tell, actually this is not a fair size comparison since Leica Q2 has a built-in lens but Olympus E-M1 II doesn't. Once you put a lens on E-M1 II, its thickness will increase significantly.

Leica Q2 vs Olympus E-M1 II Camera Size Comparison - Front View


Here is the back view size comparison of Leica Q2 and Olympus E-M1 II.


Now lets look at the top view comparison of Leica Q2 and Olympus E-M1 II.
Leica Q2 vs Olympus E-M1 II Camera Size Comparison - Top View

Leica Q2 vs Olympus E-M1 II Detailed Size Comparison

Weight is another important factor especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Olympus E-M1 II is significantly lighter (144g ) than the Leica Q2 which may become a big advantage especially on long walking trips.

Again, this comparison may not be very useful in real life as we are comparing the weight of a camera with a built-in lens to the body-only weight of an interchangeable lens camera. Once you put a lens on E-M1 II, the total kit will weigh much higher.

Weather Sealing

Both Q2 and E-M1 II have weather sealings in their body, making them resistant to water and dust.

LCD Screen Size and Features

Leica Q2 and Olympus E-M1 II's LCD screens has the same diagonal size of 3".

Leica Q2 vs Olympus E-M1 II: Sensor Comparison

Leica Q2 has a 47.0MP Full frame (36 x 24 mm ) sized CMOS sensor . On the other hand, Olympus E-M1 II has a 20.0MP Four Thirds (17.4 x 13 mm ) sized CMOS sensor and features TruePic VIII processor.

Leica Q2's sensor provides 27MP more than Olympus E-M1 II'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.

Another difference between these two cameras is that Leica Q2's sensor lacks 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 Q2 and E-M1 II sensor size comparison.

Leica Q2 vs Olympus E-M1 II Sensor Size Comparison


As seen above, Leica Q2 has a 3.8x Larger sensor area than Olympus E-M1 II. 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.

DxOMark Sensor Scores

Both Leica Q2 and Olympus E-M1 II sensors have been tested by DxoMark. DxoMark scores camera sensors for color depth (DXO Portrait), dynamic range (DXO Landscape) and low-light sensitivity (DXO Sports), and also gives them an overall score. Of the two cameras that we are comparing, Q2 has scored 96, 16 points higher than E-M1 II.

What types of Photography are Leica Q2 and Olympus E-M1 II Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Leica Q2 and Olympus E-M1 II 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 Q2 for Portrait Photography

GOOD

Olympus E-M1 II for Portrait Photography

AVERAGE
Large Full frame (36 x 24 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 47.0MP
Image Stabilization
External Flash Shoe
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details
Large Four Thirds (17.4 x 13 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 20.0MP
Image Stabilization
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details

Leica Q2 for Street Photography

EXCELLENT

Olympus E-M1 II for Street Photography

EXCELLENT
Large Full frame (36 x 24 mm) sensor
Image Stabilization
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Small Body
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Fast Lens at Wide: f1.70
28 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Read the details
Large Four Thirds (17.4 x 13 mm) sensor
Image Stabilization
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Fully Articulated LCD Screen
Medium sized Body
Read the details

Leica Q2 for Sports Photography

GOOD

Olympus E-M1 II for Sports Photography

EXCELLENT
Image Stabilization
External Flash Shoe
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
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
Image Stabilization
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Fast Continuous Shooting: 15.0fps
Environmental Sealings
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/8000s
121 Focus Points
Good Low Light ISO
Wireless Connection
Read the details

Leica Q2 for Daily Photography

EXCELLENT

Olympus E-M1 II for Daily Photography

GOOD
Large Full frame (36 x 24 mm) sensor
Compact Body
Environmental Sealings
718g
Body Thickness 92mm
Read the details
Large Four Thirds (17.4 x 13 mm) sensor
Environmental Sealings
Medium size Body
574g
Body Thickness 67mm
Read the details

Leica Q2 for Landscape Photography

GOOD

Olympus E-M1 II for Landscape Photography

AVERAGE
Large Full frame (36 x 24 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 47.0MP
28 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Environmental Sealings
Read the details
Large Four Thirds (17.4 x 13 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 20.0MP
Environmental Sealings
Live-view
Read the details


Leica Q2 vs Olympus E-M1 II: 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 Q2 and Olympus E-M1 II, below you can find their scores in five different aspects. Our Decision Algorithm dynamically scores cameras using 63 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 Q2 and Olympus E-M1 II scores compare:

Leica Q2
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #1 out of 58 in Large sensor compact cameras
Ranked #20 out of 1190 in all Cameras
Olympus E-M1 II
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #15 out of 68 in SLR-style mirrorless cameras
Ranked #27 out of 1190 in all Cameras

Leica Q2 scores higher than the Olympus E-M1 II in Overall. It has better image quality and better value than Olympus E-M1 II. On the other hand, Olympus E-M1 II 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, Olympus E-M1 II is the right choice for you.

Leica Q2
Leica Q2
$4995.00

Olympus E-M1 II
Olympus E-M1 II
$1399.00

Olympus E-M1 II vs Leica Q2 Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Leica Q2 Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II
Brand Leica Olympus
Announced 2019-03-07 2016-09-19
Body Type Large sensor compact SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor
Type CMOS CMOS
Size Full frame Four Thirds
Dimensions 36 x 24 mm 17.4 x 13 mm
Area 864.00mm2 226.20mm2
Megapixels 47 megapixels 20 megapixels
Max Resolution 8368 x 5584 5184 x 3888
Max Native Light sensitivity 50,000 ISO 25,600 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity 50 ISO 200 ISO
Min Boosted Light Sensitivity - 64 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 49 121
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount fixed lens Micro Four Thirds
Number of Available Lenses n/a 101
Lens Focal Range 28 mm (1x) no lens
Max Aperture F1.7 no lens
Macro Focus Range 17cm no lens
Screen
Type Fixed type Fully Articulated
Size 3" 3"
Resolution 1,040k dots 1,037k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder Resolution 3,680k dots 2,360k dots
Viewfinder Coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder Magnification 0.76 0.74
Photography Features
Max Shutter Speed 1/2000s 1/8000s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Image Stabilization Optical Sensor-shift
Built-in Flash
Flash Range no built-in flash 9.10 m (at ISO 100)
Max Flash Sync 1/500s no built-in flash
External Flash
Continuous Shooting 20.0 fps 15.0 fps
Multi-Segment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF-Area
Center Weighted
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Video Features
Max Video Resolution 3840 x 2160 4096 x 2160
Video Formats MPEG-4 MOV, H.264
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity Built-In Built-In
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 718g 574g
Dimensions 130 x 80 x 92mm 134 x 91 x 67mm
Battery Life 370 shots 350 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS None None
DxO Sensor Scores
DxO Overall Score 96 80
DxO Color Depth 26.4 23.7
DxO Dynamic Range 13.5 12.8
DxO Low Light ISO 2491 1312
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