Photos & Story by Lance Phillips
Pilatus dubs its PC-24 the Super Versatile Jet. Similarly, my Leica Q earns the title of a super versatile camera. It boasts a unique fusion of a full-frame sensor and ultra-sharp Summilux 28 mm lens, all neatly packed into an elegant, compact, and lightweight body. The Q, resembling my Leica rangefinders, surprises with its contrast-detecting autofocus system through an electronic viewfinder (EVF). The EVF, sharp and fast, enhances the autofocus experience, locking on and sticking quickly. Even manual focusing is a delight with the EVF’s colored focus peaking and selectable focus assist magnification. And just like a Leica rangefinder, the Q offers seamless manual focusing and snappy aperture selection right on the lens. ISO selection is a breeze with the incredibly simple menu system, and the shutter speed dial is conveniently located on top of the camera.
“Everyday carry” has evidently become a hashtag on Instagram, and the Q is the quintessential everyday carry. I have had my Q since it hit the market around 2016, and almost all of my favorite photos come from it. It’s just so easy to carry around. Throw it in a bag with its heavy-duty lens cover, and don’t worry about it getting knocked around. It’s tough.
The 28 mm lens might appear to be a constraint, but with its 24-megapixel full-frame sensor, the image can be cropped to mimic a 35 mm or even a 50 mm frame. The Q even offers selectable frame lines in the EVF, empowering the photographer to compose in all three focal lengths. This opens up a world of creative possibilities, allowing you to capture the scene exactly as you envision it.
Our Editor’s Pic photo this month provides an early morning sunrise over the mountains at the Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport. The Challengers at left are being serviced by the fine folks at Cutter Aviation. This uncropped image was taken with my Leica Q.
