Fujifilm XF 18mm f/1.4 R LM WR vs. Leica Q
The Fujifilm X-Pro3 and XF 18mm f/1.4 R LM WR vs. Leica Q
Should You Get a Leica Q or is the X-Pro3 and XF 18mm f/1.4 R LM WR Good Enough?
I somewhat reluctantly admit that one of the cameras I have contemplated purchasing, ad nauseam, is the Leica Q. As a Fujifilm X-Pro3 shooter this perhaps is no coincidence. The two cameras share similar design philosophies and you often see X-Pro photographers gravitate toward the Leica Q and vice versa.
One of these photographers is my talented Danish friend, Mads Krabbe. Check him out at madskrabbe.com. When we traveled together to Photokina in 2016 he used the Leica Q as well as the X-Pro2.
Although neither of these cameras is a true range finder camera both share a retro design and have handling characteristics that appeal to me.
Robson Square, Vancouver, Leica Q, Summilux 28mm f/1.7 @ f/3.2
I Ordered the Leica Q
In 2015, just before we started our travel project I ordered the Leica Q from the Camera Store in Calgary but there was a long wait time and when they finally called me I had literally just sold my house, was about to move out, and had too many things going on. It would have been a leap of faith I was not comfortable with at the time.
Leica Q - A Quick Test Drive
My second encounter with the Leica Q occurred in August of 2021. I had researched the camera for a while, again, but had never really had hands-on time with it.
I responded to a Facebook market ad, and after a lengthy dialog, I asked the seller if they would be comfortable with me trying out the camera. This ended up being a fabulous experience where two couples met for coffee and talked more about travel than cameras. Great!
We went for a quick photo walk around Robson Square in Vancouver where I captured the sample images you will see in this post. This is obviously not enough time to become fully acquainted with a camera and yet it was nice to finally try it out.
Robson Square, Vancouver, Leica Q, Summilux 28mm f/1.7 @ f/3.2
First Impressions
The first impressions were good. The ergonomics and build quality of the Leica Q are something other manufacturers should strive for more so.
The chiseled edges give the Leica a refined appearance. The Leica Q is from 2015 and it felt somewhat noticeable, a tad dated, scrolling through menus, and the EVF was not as nice as on my X-Pro3.
Autofocus speed was not as responsive either. These were brief observations and neither felt like a major detriment to the overall experience.
Let’s Talk Price
I will be frank. I have contemplated Leica many times but always get stumped when I move closer to the cash register. At its release in 2015, the Leica Q retailed for $4,250.00 and you can probably find them used in the $2,800.00 to $3,000.00 range in 2022. I would argue that it has retained a good resale value after almost seven years.
A new Fujifilm X-Pro3 and XF 18mm f/1.4 R LM WR combo is $3,000.00 + taxes and can probably be sourced at around $2,500.00 pre-owned. The X-Pro3 is from late 2019 and the XF 18mm f/1.4 R LM WR is from 2021.
It is early to tell how well the X-Pro3 will retain its value but I predict the drop, percentage-wise, will be slightly steeper than for the Leica Q over the same period of time.
In regards to Leica, you could argue that if you can make it passed the cash register there is less to worry about as your gear will keep its value quite well.
Robson Square, Vancouver, Leica Q, Summilux 28mm f/1.7 @ f4
Image Quality Comparison
The Leica Q features the excellent Summilux 28mm f/1.7 and photos are rendered to a full-frame sensor whereas the Fujifilm X-Pro3 has a smaller APS-C sensor. The also excellent XF 18mm f/1.4 R LM WR yields a 27mm full-frame equivalent field of view.
Please see the two comparison photos below. It appears the depth of field is slightly shallower with the Summilux 28mm f/1.7 @ f/1.7 than with the XF 18mm f/1.4 at f/1.4. And so it should be due to the different sensor sizes. The Leica Q images are processed from RAW in Lightroom and the X-Pro3 from RAW in Capture One Express.
Please click to view larger images, up to 2500 pixels wide, depending on your monitor size.
Leica Q, Summilux 28mm f/1.7 @ f/1.7
Fujifilm XF 18mm f/1.4 R LM WR @ f/1.4
I have included several sample images from both cameras in this post. The comparison is, however, not completely fair. The Fujifilm images are captured over a longer period of time and in different settings. I do not have a clear favorite as I anticipate the Leica Q would excel with other scenarios.
The other issue is post-processing. I am very accustomed to processing my Fujifilm images and would have to explore the optimal route for processing the Leica Q photos.
Pros and Cons
A list of a few pros and cons with either setup, Leica, or Fujifilm. Surely there are more but these are some that first come to mind. Both cameras feature a 24-megapixel sensor.
Leica Q Pros
Full-frame sensor
Summilux 28mm f/1.7
Leaf-shutter
Good resale value
Leica Q Cons
Price
Fixed lens
Older tech, 2015
Not weather-resistant
Robson Square, Vancouver, Leica Q, Summilux 28mm f/1.7 @ f4
Fujifilm X-Pro3 and XF 18mm f/1.4 R LM WR Pros
ILC - Interchangeable lens camera
More affordable
Newer tech, 2019 and 2021
Fujifilm film simulations
Weather-resistant
Fujifilm X-Pro3 and XF 18mm f/1.4 R LM WR Cons
Smaller sensor
Depreciates faster
Leica Q - A Grown Up Fujifilm X100V or X-E4?
The Fujifilm X-E4 is a close match to the Leica Q in the Fujifilm lineup when we speak of feature sets as both have just the EVF as a viewfinder and both have the rangefinder styling.
The X-Pro3 as well as the popular Fujifilm X100V has a hybrid viewfinder that allows for an optical as well as electronic viewfinder, EVF. Personally I almost always just use the EVF and missing the optical viewfinder would not be a great sacrifice.
In the Fujifilm lineup, the Leica Q is often compared to the Fujifilm X100V as they both have a fixed lens and a leaf shutter. At $1,399.00 the X100V, however, is more affordable and it is important to know that the X100V features a 23mm f/2 translating to 35mm in full-frame terms.
Robson Square, Vancouver, Leica Q, Summilux 28mm f/1.7 @ f4
There Is No Right or Wrong
I believe there is no right or wrong with either setup here. The Summilux 28mm f/1.7 is a big draw when it comes to the Leica Q. It renders beautiful organic, soft yet sharp images to a full-frame sensor and wide-angle images tend to look more natural on larger sensors.
If you go the Fujifilm route you are getting a lens from the latest, and best yet, line of f/1.4 Fujifilm lenses, which you can shoot wide open with confidence. The camera/lens combination is weather-resistant, and the XF 18mm f/1.4 has a linear fast autofocus motor.
The XF 18mm f/1.4 is no slouch and has its own signature and renders images with plenty of sharpness, good contrast, and color.
I would love to have a Leica Q but the all-important difference is the fact that the X-Pro3 is an ICL camera, meaning I can use it with a wide range of lenses. The Leica Q is indeed tempting but it is a niche camera with some limitations and even used, it comes at a considerable cost in my paradigm.
We all come from different photography backgrounds and have different setups before making a leap into gear decisions, such as either a Leica Q or XF 18mm f/1.4 R LM WR.
Robson Square, Vancouver, Leica Q, Summilux 28mm f/1.7 @ f/3.5
For some of us having both could also make sense and just this past weekend I had a nice online chat with an avid local X-Pro3 photographer, Julian Fok.
He has added the Leica Q to compliment his setup and I can absolutely see how that would be beneficial. My online chat with him in large prompted this post. Check out Julan’s work here: www.julianfok.com.
It would be great to hear from you in the comments below if you have had experience with a Leica Q or XF 18mm f/1.4 R LM WR or if you are contemplating which direction to go in with your gear choice. And with that said, we haven't even discussed the Leica Q2 :)
A Leica Q Travel Story
At a Lake Wanaka viewpoint in New Zealand, we met a nice Swiss couple. I noticed he had a Leica Q with its fixed lens. I asked him if he wanted to try one of my lenses well knowing he was not able to change lenses despite the fact that the camera is so nice.
He began explaining to me how his camera only had one lens etc. etc. until it dawned on him that I was pulling his leg and he looked up, all smiles, and we both had a good laugh :)
We swapped travel stories and talked about photography gear for a while.
For full reviews of X-Pro3 and more sample images from the Fujifilm XF 18mm f/14.R LM WR, please follow the links here:
Fujifilm X-Pro3 - Review
Fujifilm XF 18mm f/1.4 R LM WR - Review
Please see more sample images below.
Price / Availability
Thank you for reading my review. I hope you found it helpful. If you are planning a purchase and would like to support our site you can do so, at no additional cost, by using the affiliate links below.
Check availability and current price at B&H Photo
Fujifilm XF 18mm f/1.4 R LM WR - B&H Photo
Leica Q2 - B&H Photo
Thank you for your support.
Leica Q Sample Images
Please click to view larger images.
Robson Square, Vancouver, Leica Q, Summilux 28mm f/1.7 @ f/1.7
Hornby Street, Vancouver, Leica Q, Summilux 28mm f/1.7 @ f/1.7
Hornby Street, Vancouver, Leica Q, Summilux 28mm f/1.7 @ f/2
Robson Square, Vancouver, Leica Q, Summilux 28mm f/1.7 @ f/2.8
Fujifilm X-Pro3 and XF 18mm f/1.4 R LM WR Sample Images
Vancouver, Fujifilm X-Pro3, XF 18mm f/1.4 R LM WR @ f/1.4
Vancouver Art Gallery Plaza, Fujifilm X-Pro3, XF 18mm f/1.4 R LM WR @ f/8
TD Bank, Vancouver, Fujifilm X-Pro3, XF 18mm f/1.4 R LM WR @ f/8
English Bay Beach, Vancouver, Fujifilm X-Pro3, XF 18mm f/1.4 R LM WR @ f/1.4
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Leica Sl2-S - First Impressions
See all of my reviews at a glance: Camera Reviews - Archive
