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Sony RX1 vs Leica Q2 Comparison

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Sony RX1

24 MP | Full frame (35.8 x 23.8 mm) CMOS Sensor

Sony RX1
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Leica Q2

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

Leica Q2
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Sony RX1 vs Leica Q2 Comparison Overview

In this review, we will be comparing RX1 and Q2, two Large Sensor Compact cameras from Sony and Leica. Both cameras have Full frame sensors but Sony RX1 has a 24.0 MP and Leica Q2 has a 47.0 MP resolution. Sony RX1 was introduced to market in February 2013 and Leica Q2 was launched in March 2019. As you can see, RX1 is 6 years older than Q2. Let's see if this age difference between two cameras makes a big difference.

We can expect this to be a close match up because both models are ranked amongst the best in Large Sensor Compact cameras. Out of 63 cameras in this class, Sony RX1 is ranked #8 with an overall score of 69 and Leica Q2 is ranked #1 with an overall score of 83.

Here is a brief look at the main features of Sony RX1 and Leica Q2 before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Sony RX1 Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2013-02-19
  • 24MP - Full frame CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 35 mm f2.00 Prime Lens
  • 3" Fixed Type Screen
  • 5 fps continuous shooting
  • Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution
  • 482g. 113 x 65 x 70 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" Fixed Type Screen
  • 3680k dot Electronic viewfinder
  • 20.0 fps continuous shooting
  • 4K (UHD) - 3840 x 2160 video resolution
  • Built-in Wireless
  • 718g. 130 x 80 x 92 mm 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 Sony RX1 and Leica Q2 compares and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.

Reasons to choose Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1 over Leica Q2
Built-in Flash
Yes vs No Useful in low-light
LCD Screen Resolution
1.229k dots vs 1.040k dots 18% higher resolution screen
Max Mech. Shutter
1/4000s vs 1/2000s faster mechanical shutter
Weight
482 g vs 718 g 236 g lighter
Microphone Port
Yes vs No High quality audio recording option
Focal Length - Tele
35mm vs 28mm 7 mm longer tele reach
Dynamic Range
14.3 vs 13.5 higher dynamic range
Low Light ISO
2534 vs 2491 better High ISO performance
Sensor Pixel Area
35.50µm2 vs 18.49µm2 91% larger pixel area


Reasons to choose Leica Q2 over Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1
Wireless Connection
Built-In vs Eye-Fi Connected Better connectivity
Image Stabilization
Optical vs None Sharper images at longer focal lengths and long exposures
Touch Screen
Yes vs No Easy control of camera functions
Viewfinder
Electronic vs Electronic (Optional) Better framing and control
Max Sensor Resolution
47 MP vs 24 MP 95% more pixels
Max ISO
50.000 vs 25.600 95% higher Max ISO
Number of Focus Points
49 vs 25 24 more focus points
Continuous Shooting
20.0fps vs 5.0fps 15 fps faster
Battery Life
370 shots vs 270 shots 100 more frames with a single charge
Environmental Sealing
Yes vs No shoot at tough conditions
Timelapse Recording
Yes vs No creative shooting
Focal Length - Wide
28mm vs 35mm 7 mm wider coverage
Max Aperture - Wide
1.70 vs 2.00 faster lens at wide
Max Aperture - Tele
1.70 vs 2.00 faster lens at tele
Color Depth
26.4 vs 25.1 higher color depth
Max Video Resolution
3840 x 2160 vs 1920 x 1080 Higher Resolution Video
Bluetooth
Yes vs No Connect your camera to other devices via Blueetooth
Smartphone Remote
Yes vs No Remote control your camera with a smartphone
UHS Card Support
UHS-II vs none Read/Write in Ultra High Speeds

Common Strengths of Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1 and Leica Q2
External Flash Shoe
Yes vs Yes Better for flash photography
RAW Support
Yes vs Yes Better image quality
Face Detection Focus
Yes vs Yes very handy for portraits
Max Resolution
24 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
Max Aperture - Tele
2.00 vs 1.70 Fast lenses at tele
AE Bracketing
Yes vs Yes Useful for tough lighting conditions and HDR
Common Weaknesses of Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1 and Leica Q2
Fixed Screen
Fixed Type vs No No flexible viewing angles
Focal Length - Tele
35mm vs 28mm No Tele reach
Sony RX1 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 Sony RX1 and Leica Q2 side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions. Sony RX1 has external dimensions of 113 x 65 x 70 mm (4.45 x 2.56 x 2.76″) and weighs 482 g (1.06 lb / 17.00 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 Sony RX1 and Leica Q2. Sony RX1 is clearly the smaller of the two cameras. Its body is 17mm narrower, 15mm shorter and 22mm thinner than Leica Q2.

Sony RX1 vs Leica Q2 Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of Sony RX1 and Leica Q2 Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Sony RX1 and Leica Q2.
Sony RX1 vs Leica Q2 Camera Size Comparison - Top View
Top View Comparison image of Sony RX1 and Leica Q2 Size

Weight is another important factor especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Sony RX1 is significantly lighter (236g ) than the Leica Q2 which may become a big advantage especially on long walking trips.

Weight Comparison

Compact Cameras

RX1
Q2
Min
Average
Max
Thickness Comparison

Compact Cameras

RX1
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 RX1.

LCD Screen Size and Features

Sony RX1 and Leica Q2's LCD screens has the same diagonal size of 3".

Unfortunately, both cameras has fixed screens so they don't tilt or flip in directions.
Sony RX1 vs Leica Q2: Sensor Comparison

Sony RX1 has a 24.0MP Full frame (35.8 x 23.8 mm ) 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 23MP more than Sony RX1'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 RX1 and Q2 sensor size comparison.

Sony RX1 vs Leica Q2 Sensor Size Comparison
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Sony RX1 and Leica Q2 Cameras


Sony RX1 and Leica Q2 have almost the same sensor size so none of them has any significant advantage over other in providing control over depth of field when used with same focal length and aperture.

DxOMark Sensor Scores

DxOMark is a benchmark that scientifically assesses image quality of camera sensors. It 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. Sony RX1 and Leica Q2 sensors have been tested by DxO and the results show that Q2 has a better overall score of 96, 3 points higher compared to RX1's score of 93.

Model Overall Color Depth Dynamic Range Low-light ISO
Sony RX1 93 25.1 bits 14.3 Evs 2534 ISO
Leica Q2 96 26.4 bits 13.5 Evs 2491 ISO
Sony RX1 vs Leica Q2 Lens Specs Comparison

Sony RX1 features a 35 mm F2.0-22.0 Prime lens whereas Leica Q2 features a 28 mm F1.7 Prime lens.

Leica Q2 has 7mm wider coverage than the Sony RX1. At f1.70, it is also faster at widest end. On the tele end, Sony RX1 has 7mm 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

RX1
Q2
Widest - Canon G1 X II
Average
Telezoom

Large Sensor Compact Cameras

RX1
Q2
Longest - Panasonic ZS200
Average
Max Aperture at Tele

Large Sensor Compact Cameras

RX1
Q2
Fastest - Leica Q
Average
Max Aperture at Wide

Large Sensor Compact Cameras

RX1
Q2
Fastest - Panasonic LX10
Average
What types of Photography are Sony RX1 and Leica Q2 Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Sony RX1 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.

Sony RX1 for Portrait Photography

GOOD

Leica Q2 for Portrait Photography

GOOD
Large Full frame (35.8 x 23.8 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 24.0MP
RAW shooting capability
External Flash Shoe
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Optional External Viewfinder
No Image Stabilization
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

Sony RX1 for Street Photography

GOOD

Leica Q2 for Street Photography

EXCELLENT
Large Full frame (35.8 x 23.8 mm) sensor
RAW shooting capability
Manual Focus Mode
Small Body
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Fast Lens at Wide: f2.00
Optional External Viewfinder
No Image Stabilization
35 mm - Poor Wide Angle Coverage
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

Sony RX1 for Sports Photography

AVERAGE

Leica Q2 for Sports Photography

AVERAGE
RAW shooting capability
External Flash Shoe
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/4000s
25 Focus Points
Good Low Light ISO
Optional External Viewfinder
Average Continuous Shooting: 5.0fps
No Image Stabilization
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Environmental Sealings
Poor Battery Life: 270 shots
35 mm Tele Lens
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

Sony RX1 for Daily Photography

EXCELLENT

Leica Q2 for Daily Photography

EXCELLENT
Large Full frame (35.8 x 23.8 mm) sensor
RAW shooting capability
Compact Body
482g
Body Thickness 70mm
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

Sony RX1 for Landscape Photography

AVERAGE

Leica Q2 for Landscape Photography

GOOD
Large Full frame (35.8 x 23.8 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 24.0MP
RAW shooting capability
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
35 mm - Poor Wide Angle Coverage
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details
Large Full frame (36 x 24 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 47.0MP
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Environmental Sealings
28 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Read the details

Sony RX1 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 Sony RX1 and Leica Q2, 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 Sony RX1 and Leica Q2 scores compare:

Sony RX1
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #9 out of 61 in Large sensor compact cameras
Ranked #174 out of 1225 in all Cameras
Leica Q2
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #1 out of 61 in Large sensor compact cameras
Ranked #36 out of 1225 in all Cameras

Leica Q2 is the overall winner of this comparison. It has a higher Overall Score and beats Sony RX1 in all criteria except one: Portability.
If small size and light body is a big priority for you, choose Sony RX1. Otherwise, Leica Q2 is the better camera overall.

Sony RX1
Sony RX1
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Leica Q2
Leica Q2
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Leica Q2 vs Sony RX1 Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1 Leica Q2
Brand Sony Leica
Announced 2013-02-19 2019-03-07
Body Type Large sensor compact Large sensor compact
Sensor
Type CMOS CMOS
Size Full frame Full frame
Dimensions 35.8 x 23.8 mm 36 x 24 mm
Area 852.04mm2 864.00mm2
Megapixels 24 megapixels 47 megapixels
Max Resolution 6000 x 4000 8368 x 5584
Max Native Light sensitivity 25,600 ISO 50,000 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity 100 ISO 50 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 25 49
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens Focal Range 35 mm (1x) 28 mm (1x)
Max Aperture F2.0-22.0 F1.7
Macro Focus Range n/a 17cm
Screen
Type Fixed type Fixed type
Size 3" 3"
Resolution 1,229k dots 1,040k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder Electronic and Optical (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder Resolution no electronic viewfinder 3,680k dots
Viewfinder Coverage n/a 100%
Viewfinder Magnification n/a 0.76x
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter 1/4000s 1/2000s
Max Electronic Shutter n/a 1/40000s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Image Stabilization No Optical
Built-in Flash
Flash Range 6.00 m no built-in flash
Max Flash Sync 1/4000s 1/500s
External Flash
Continuous Shooting 5.0 fps 20.0 fps
Multi-Segment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF-Area
Center Weighted
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Video Features
Max Video Resolution 1920 x 1080 3840 x 2160
Video Formats MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity Eye-Fi Connected Built-In
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 482g 718g
Dimensions 113 x 65 x 70mm 130 x 80 x 92 mmmm
Battery Life 270 shots 370 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS None None
DxO Sensor Scores
DxO Overall Score 93 96
DxO Color Depth 25.1 26.4
DxO Dynamic Range 14.3 13.5
DxO Low Light ISO 2534 2491
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