Leica Q Typ 116 Review

Main Features

24MP - Full frame CMOS Sensor

ISO 100 - 50000

28 mm f1.70 Prime Lens

Yes Image Stabilization

3" Fixed Type Screen

3680k dot Electronic viewfinder

10.0 fps continuous shooting

Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video

Built-in Wireless

640g. 130 x 80 x 93 mm

Also known as Typ 116

Replaced by Leica Q2

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Leica Q Overview

First introduced in June 2015 , Leica Q is a 24.0MP Large Sensor Compact camera with a Full frame (36 x 24 mm ) sized CMOS sensor. Q Typ 116 is also sold as Typ 116 in some of the countries. Leica later replaced Q Typ 116 with Q2. Follow the link to read our in-depth comparison of these cameras:
Compare Leica Q (Typ 116) vs Leica Q2

Leica Q Review - Click for Table of Contents

Overview
Pros and Cons
Sensor and Photography Features
Physical Specs
LCD and Viewfinder
Connectivity, Storage and Battery
Video
Other Features
Lens
Photography Type Scores
Alternatives
Popular Comparisons
Frequently Asked Questions
Detailed Specifications

Leica Q is a member of Leica's Q series of cameras. Below you can see the latest models in this series and how their main specs have changed with each new version.

Leica Q Series History

Model	Release Date	Sensor	Max FPS	Dimensions	Weight
Leica Q2 Compare	2019	47.0MP - Full frame	20.0 fps	130 x 80 x 92mm	718g
Leica Q-P Compare	2018	24.0MP - Full frame	10.0 fps	130 x 80 x 93mm	640g
Leica Q	2015	24.0MP - Full frame	10.0 fps	130 x 80 x 93mm	640g

Check the link below to compare specs of the latest cameras in this series:
Leica Q2 vs Q-P vs Q Typ 116

Leica Q has an Overall Score of 77/100 and ranked #4 out of 60 in Large Sensor Compact cameras (Top 10 Compact), and ranked #59 out of 1212 in all Cameras (Top 10 Overall).

Leica Q Type Scores

Imaging

Features

Value for Money

Portability

Overall Score

Check our Smart Finder Tool to filter, sort and compare all digital cameras

Leica Q Compared to other Compact Cameras

Now let's get in to more details of our Leica Q review by analysing its specs and features and listing out its pros and cons compared to average competitor cameras in its class.

PROs

Built-in Wireless (Wi-fi)

Image Stabilization

External Flash Shoe

Full HD Video

Touch Screen

Electronic Built-in Viewfinder

RAW Shooting

Face Detection Focusing

24.0MP - High Resolution Sensor

50.000 Max ISO

1.040k dots LCD Resolution

1/16000s Electronic Shutter Speed

10.0fps Shooting w/ Mechanical Shutter

Manual Focusing

Manual Exposure

Timelapse Recording

Fast 1.70 Lens at Wide

Fast 1.70 Lens at Tele

3680kdot Viewfinder Resolution

Good Low Light ISO - 2221

AE Bracketing

Remote control with a smartphone

UHS-I Memory Card Support

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Buy Leica Q from AMAZON or B&H PHOTO

CONs

No Articulating Screen

Heavy Body: 640

No Environmental Sealing

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Leica Q Sensor and Photography Features

Leica Q has a 24.0MP Full frame (36 x 24 mm ) sized CMOS sensor and features Maestro II processor. You can shoot at maximum resolution of 6000 x 4000 pixels with aspect ratios of and 3:2. Q Typ 116 has a native ISO range of 100 - 50000 and it can save files in RAW format which gives you a wider room for post processing.

Leica Q is not the highest resolution Full frame camera. Sony A7R IV with its 61.0MP sensor is leading in this class. Check the comparison of Leica Q vs Sony A7R IV or take a look at Highest resolution Compact cameras list.

Leica Q DxOMark Sensor Scores

DxOMark is a benchmark that scientifically assesses image quality of camera sensors. Leica Q sensor has been tested by DxO Mark and got an overall score of 85 for its image quality. You can find the details of their analysis of Leica Q here.

Let's look at how the size of the Leica Q's Full frame sensor compares with other standard sensor sizes.

Leica Q Physical Specs

Leica Q weighs 640 g (1.41 lb / 22.58 oz) and has external dimensions of 130 x 80 x 93 mm (5.12 x 3.15 x 3.66″). Considering that the average weight of Large Sensor Compact type cameras is 395g, Leica Q is a significantly heavy camera for its class. With a thickness of 93mm, it is not small either, 37mm thicker than the average of its class.

Weight Comparison

Large Sensor Compact Cameras

Leica Q

Min

Average

Max

Thickness Comparison

Large Sensor Compact Cameras

Leica Q

Min

Average

Max

Here is the front and top view image of Leica Q with the dimensions:

Now lets compare the weight and thickness of Leica Q with its main competitors:

Leica Q Size Compared to Main Competitors

Model	Weight	vs Q Typ 116	Thickness	vs Q Typ 116
Leica Q2 Compare	718g	78g heavier	92mm	1mm thinner
Leica Q-P Compare	640g	equal weight	93mm	equal thickness
Fujifilm X100V Compare	478g	162g lighter	53mm	40mm thinner
Fujifilm X100F Compare	469g	171g lighter	52mm	41mm thinner
Sony RX1R II Compare	507g	133g lighter	72mm	21mm thinner
Ricoh GR III Compare	257g	383g lighter	33mm	60mm thinner
Fujifilm X-Pro3 Compare	497g	143g lighter	46mm	47mm thinner
Leica D-Lux 7 Compare	403g	237g lighter	64mm	29mm thinner

Weather Sealing

Leica Q doesn't have any environmental sealings on its body so you got to be extra careful to protect it against water and dust. If you shoot under these conditions very often, consider checking Top Compact Cameras with Weather Sealing page.

Leica Q Lens

Leica Q features a 28 mm F1.7 Prime lens. This prime lens makes Q Typ 116 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.

Wide Coverage

Large Sensor Compact Cameras

Q Typ 116

Widest - Sony ZV-1

Average

Telezoom

Large Sensor Compact Cameras

Q Typ 116

Longest - Panasonic ZS200

Average

Max Aperture at Wide

Large Sensor Compact Cameras

Q Typ 116

Fastest - Panasonic LX10

Average

Max Aperture at Tele

Large Sensor Compact Cameras

Q Typ 116

Fastest - Leica Q

Average

Q Typ 116 is also equipped with Yes image stabilization system which is very handy especially at lower shutter speeds. Leica Q's lens also has a Manual Focus Mode.

Leica Q LCD and Viewfinder

Leica Q has a Fixed Type 3" LCD screen with a resolution of 1,040k dots. Both the screen size and the screen resolution is up to the standards of this class.

LCD is Touch screen type, so you can change the settings and set the focus point with your fingertips.

Q Typ 116 has a built-in Electronic viewfinder. The viewfinder has a resolution of 3,680kdots and coverage of 100%. 100% coverage ensures that what you see in the viewfinder while shooting matches exactly what you will get later in your image, helping accurate framing your shots and minimizes the need for cropping images later. The magnification ratio of the viewfinder is 0.76x (35mm equivalent).

Leica Q Connectivity, Storage and Battery

Leica Q features built-in wireless (Wi-Fi) connectivity ( 802.11b/g/n) which lets you transfer your photos directly to compatible devices without any physical connection.One other feature that we like is the ability to use our smartphone as a remote to control our Q Typ 116. You can change camera settings, release shutter, view LCD screen and tranfer files using remote control app.

You can connect Q Typ 116 to compatible devices via its HDMI port or USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) port.

Leica Q Features Compared to Main Competitors

Model	Max Video	Battery Life	Wi-fi	Bluetooth	NFC
Leica Q2 Compare	3840 x 2160	370shots	Yes	Yes	No
Leica Q-P Compare	1920 x 1080	shots	Yes	No	Yes
Fujifilm X100V Compare	4096 x 2160	420shots	Yes	Yes	No
Fujifilm X100F Compare	1920 x 1080	390shots	Yes	No	No
Sony RX1R II Compare	1920 x 1080	220shots	Yes	No	Yes
Ricoh GR III Compare	1920 x 1080	shots	Yes	No	No
Fujifilm X-Pro3 Compare	4096 x 2160	shots	Yes	Yes	No
Leica D-Lux 7 Compare	3840 x 2160	340shots	Yes	Yes	No

Leica Q Video Features

With Leica Q, you can record your videos at a highest resolution of 1920 x 1080 at 60p,30p fps and save in and MPEG-4 formats. Full HD resolution of Leica Q will be adequate in most of the situations. But if you are after the highest resolution videos available, see our list of Top Cameras with 4K (Ultra-HD) Video.
You can also consider its successor, the Leica Q2 which features 4K video recording.

Q Typ 116 has a built-in Stereo microphone and a Mono speaker.
Leica Q doesn't have any connections for external microphones and headphones. If you need a Large Sensor Compact camera with external microphone connectivity, consider or in a similar price range.

Leica Q Other Features

Max Shutter speed

Leica Q can shoot continuously at max speed of 10.0 fps and has max shutter speed of 1/2000 sec. Q Typ 116 also has an electronic shutter which can shoot silently at max speed of 1/16000s. One thing to keep in mind is that electronic shutter may cause rolling shutter / jello effects, and also banding issues under artificial light on your images.

Flash

Unfortunately Q Typ 116 doesn't have a built-in flash but it has a flash shoe for mounting external flashes.

Focusing

Leica Q features a Contrast Detection autofocusing system.

Leica Q also features Face detection AF where it intelligently detects the faces in the frame and locks the focus automatically.

What type of Photography is Leica Q Good for?

In this section, we review and score Leica Q in 5 different photography areas.

Leica Q for Portrait Photography

Leica Q has a score of 75 for Portrait Photography which makes it a GOOD candidate for this type of photography. If you are looking for a camera that is better suited to Portrait Photography, we recommend you to check our Top 10 Compact Cameras for Portrait Photography list.

Large Full frame (36 x 24 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 24.0MP
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 of how we scored Leica Q for Portrait Photography

Leica Q for Street Photography

Leica Q has a score of 91 for Street Photography which makes it an EXCELLENT candidate for this type of photography.

Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Image Stabilization

Fast Lens at Wide: f1.70
28 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
RAW shooting capability
Small Body
Large Full frame (36 x 24 mm) sensor

Read the details of how we scored Leica Q for Street Photography

Leica Q for Sports Photography

Leica Q has a score of 54 for Sports Photography which makes it an AVERAGE candidate for this type of photography. If Sports is important for you, we recommend you to check our Top Compact Cameras for Sports Photography list.

Fast Continuous Shooting: 10.0fps
Good Low Light ISO
Wireless Connection
Manual Exposure Mode
Manual Focus Mode
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
External Flash Shoe

Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
Average Max shutter speed: 1/2000s
Environmental Sealings
Focus Points
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
28 mm Tele Lens

Read the details of how we scored Leica Q for Sports Photography

Leica Q for Daily Photography

Leica Q has a score of 89 for Daily Photography which makes it an EXCELLENT candidate for this type of photography.

Compact Body
Large Full frame (36 x 24 mm) sensor
RAW shooting capability

640g
Body Thickness 93mm

Read the details of how we scored Leica Q for Daily Photography

Leica Q for Landscape Photography

Leica Q has a score of 52 for Landscape Photography which makes it an AVERAGE candidate for this type of photography. If Landscape is important for you, we recommend you to check our Top Compact Cameras for Landscape Photography list.

Manual Exposure Mode
Manual Focus Mode
28 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
RAW shooting capability

Large Full frame (36 x 24 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 24.0MP
No Environmental Sealings

Read the details of how we scored Leica Q for Landscape Photography

Leica Q Alternatives

In this section, we analyse how Leica Q compares with other Large Sensor Compact cameras within a similar price range. In the Bubble chart below, you can see Overall Score vs Price comparison of Q Typ 116 and the top 10 contenders in the same range. Hover your mouse on the bubbles to see the details of the cameras.

Read a more detailed analysis of Leica Q alternatives.

Popular Comparisons of Leica Q

Here is the eight most popular comparisons of Leica Q amongst Camera Decision readers.

Leica Q2

Compare

Leica Q-P

Compare

Fujifilm X100V

Compare

Fujifilm X100F

Compare

Sony RX1R II

Compare

Ricoh GR III

Compare

Fujifilm X-Pro3

Compare

Leica D-Lux 7

Compare

Leica Q Alternatives in Cameras

It would also be interesting to compare Leica Q with Cameras. Below we have listed 4 highest ranked cameras in Leica Q's price range.

Frequently Asked Questions about Leica Q

Does the Leica Q have Image Stabilization?
Does the Leica Q have RAW support?
Does the Leica Q have Weather Sealing?
Does the Leica Q have built-in GPS?
What is the Max ISO of Leica Q?
What is the Sensor Size of Leica Q?
is the Leica Q a Full Frame (FF) camera?
Does the Leica Q have Touch Screen?
Does the Leica Q have built-in Wireless?
What is the Max Continuous Shooting Speed (fps) of Leica Q?

Leica Q Detailed Specifications

General
Brand	Leica
Model	Leica Q
Also known as	Typ 116
Announced	2015-06-10
Body Type	Large sensor compact
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount	fixed lens
Lens Focal Range	28 mm (1x)
Max Aperture	F1.7
Macro Focus Range	17cm
Screen
Screen Type	Fixed Type
Screen Size	3"
Screen Resolution	1,040k dots
Live View
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder	Electronic
Viewfinder Resolution	3,680k dots
Viewfinder Coverage	100%
Viewfinder Magnification	0.76
Photography Features
Min Shutter Speed	30s
Max Mechanical Shutter Speed	1/2000s
Max Electronic Shutter Speed	1/16000s
Continuous Shooting	10.0 fps
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Exposure Compensation	Yes
Custom White Balance
Image Stabilization
Built-in Flash
Flash Range	no built-in flash
Flash Modes	no built-in flash
External Flash
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Exposure Modes
Multi-Segment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF-Area
Center Weighted
DxO Sensor Scores
DxO Overall Score	85
DxO Color Depth	24.3
DxO Dynamic Range	12.7
DxO Low Light ISO	2221
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Sensor
Sensor Type	CMOS
Sensor Size	Full frame
Sensor Dimensions	36 x 24 mm
Sensor Area	864.00mm²
Sensor Resolution	24 megapixels
Max Image Resolution	6000 x 4000
Max Native ISO	50,000
Min Native ISO	100
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
Video Features
Video Resolutions	1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (30p)
Max Video Resolution	1920 x 1080
Video Formats	MPEG-4
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity	Built-In
HDMI
USB	USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Water Proof
Dust Proof
Shock Proof
Crush Proof
Freeze Proof
Weight	640g
Physical Dimensions	130 x 80 x 93mm
Battery Model	BP-DC12
Other Features
Self Timer	Yes (2 or 12 secs)
Timelapse Recording
GPS	None
Storage Type	SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage Slots	1