Leica Q2 Monochrom Review

The Leica Q2 Monochrom is a black and white version of the popular Leica Q2. Do we like it? YES! Watch to find out why the Q2 Monochrome may be Chris's favorite camera.
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[@denisgehlhaar8902]

Chris:"Edit that out!" Jordan like :"Would make a great outro! lets do this!" Laughed very hard! Thank you guys. The most enjoyable camera reviews on the internet.

[@audio1bob]

Haha!

[@tjkrueger2655]

Fuji really should make a special edition, monochrome X100V, to offer this experience to the masses for a third of the price

[@burritobrosvideos8060]

You know you can just switch the camera to black and white..

[@tjkrueger2655]

@@burritobrosvideos8060 Of course, I've said the same thing. But if they exist, $1500 BW-only option makes more sense than a $6000 Leica

[@burritobrosvideos8060]

@@tjkrueger2655 well I think the obvious point was that there is no need to have a only black and white option

[@martinohesse]

Or ricoh...

[@borisbulldog]

@@tjkrueger2655 if you’re that much of a cheap skate, why not just use the camera in your flip phone?

[@michaelechteld]

Love the American Beauty reference, if my memory serves me well. Great inspired photography.

[@stephensmith1509]

Honestly, driving from small Alberta town to small Alberta town with a black and white Leica sounds like an incredible amount of fun. It's a very specific thing that you have to want to do with this camera, and when your niche is that small, of course prices are going to go way up. It's outside of my budget now, but one day...

[@mulatokudzava7797]

Just sell your car and you can walk from small Alberta town to small Alberta town with a black and white Leica ;-)

[@joonlee920]

I don't always agree with everything Chris says but I have to admit, his picture-taking skills are something I admire and envy; his shots make me pause and wonder what's going on - which is exactly what I think a picture should be, a story-telling moment.

[@junxia8119]

“Sometimes black and white is not the answer “ that’s gold XD

[@pixlheart2369]

Right, Kodak Gold is the answer to everything

[@turkyatahey4956]

@@pixlheart2369 colour on digital is bit meh ever since CCDs are gone. Yes I am one of those people

[@pixlheart2369]

@@turkyatahey4956 oh dont worry i get you ^^ i'm shooting analog myself it's a shame they ditched ccd for cmos

[@Mike_M_Smith]

jun Xia my Leica Monochrom disagrees.

[@Bryan-lu4du]

Beautiful camera. I'm with Jordan on this and would love to see an SL2 Monochrom

[@jon4715]

An SL2 Monochrom and a Sigma Foveon-L would make L-mount the most interesting photography platform on the market.

[@csaba5415]

Totally! It would make perfect sense now after the M10 and Q2 Mono in my opinion. The race between these two though has already made it more difficult to choose. Do I love the M experience more than anything? Yes! That’ll always be my first camera. For a second camera, do I want another kind of experience (Q, SL, even CL) sometimes to enjoy photography through and then love going back to the M even more? Very likely! So would I then choose the M Mono as a second M or any other Mono out there? In my view all models in the current Leica line-up are wonderful, so in the end it does boil down to which experience you want to have. It would be beautiful to have those other Monochrom options. Until then we can be happy with having two kinds of Monochrom cameras already. But something tells me Leica might actually bring a Monochrom version of at least the SL2 to the table! It wouldn’t be such a crazy idea to have a whole range of Monochroms.

[@fellowcitizen]

I'm hoping for a Leica TL-Monochrom so I could afford it ;)

[@fellowcitizen]

@@jon4715 Yeah, the prospect of a Foveon-L is the main drawcard for me

[@jessejohnson638]

Chris: I want a tilting screen but it would rack the sleek design Fuji X100V: Allow me to introduce myself

[@Mike_M_Smith]

Jesse Johnson Fujifilm X100v, I'm only aps-c.

[@pogolol009]

Man Jordan, Chris, you both nailing it once again!

[@mariotheotaku]

lmao at the girl a 7:23 XD

[@sh8736]

LOL hope you negotiated a good performance fee, say 10% of Canadian Q2 camera sales? 😂

[@HAlariousInc]

@@sh8736 what

[@Lastman10101]

She smoove

[@jwestrik9308]

The most important part of B&W photography with film and a monochrome sensor is to apply the right colour filter when you take the photo because you cannot do this when post processing a B&W raw file. In my B&W film days I always used a Orange filter and sometimes a red one to make the sky dark and the clouds stand out. Rarely ever one has no filter on it at all. Such screw in filters take away up to 3 stops of light which will reduce the high sensitivity benefit. It was always fun to use these filters on film, but obviously having a colour raw would be more flexible as you can take multiple "shots" in your living room with different filters applied. But I would love to have one of these cameras as it will invite experimentation which I am less inclined to do on the computer. (For me it is just a hobby)

[@niccollsvideo]

Well for these shots I alternated quite a bit between an orange and a red filter. It's so much fun to make use of these and see the result real time in camera.

[@jwestrik9308]

@@niccollsvideo Thanks Chis. Now I want one. I already have the filters, so will I be making a saving there :)

[@ropersix]

With a B&W EFV, you can also preview filters, to see if they're going to work for you for a shot, which is very helpful. When shooting film, I even sometimes do this with a cheap Lumix G7 with its EVF set to B&W (but don't tell anyone :)

[@camilled3752]

@@ropersix I really like the "dynamic b&w" filter on the G7. Sometimes, I force myself to only use that in jpeg.

[@AxelFoley-sb5re]

This camera is perfection! I disagree with Jordan it’s to contrasty...that video image is BEAUTIFUL! I’m in love and I made up my mind I’m buying this!!!!!

[@ufukkiblat]

Very nice sample images guys, I'd even say it's probably the best sample images from all of your review. I think Chris nailed black and white shoot more than color, just my opinion.

[@stevec3526]

Wow, the stark beauty of those towns in Alberta, very impressive. I love monochrome and I may have to pick this camera up.

[@CallMeChato]

The entire shoot looked great. That damn SH1 is dang sharp. I often go out and shoot with black and white turned on. Suddenly shapes become more interesting. You see patterns that you don’t see shooting in colour.

[@3BMEP]

I’d love that 75 Q2 as well!

[@fellowcitizen]

use in tandem with a DP3 Merrill ;)

[@DavidGBlair]

Yes. I have a dp1 and a dp3 Merrill. They are great in black and white. And much, much cheaper.

[@1BigBucks1]

Honestly, your best work is with this camera. Great stills from that sensor and they suit your style.

[@Kevon420]

Wow, I did not expect the video out of this to look so good. What a tempting thing. I wish I could afford it.

[@tenylegnincsevem]

some great shots by Chris in this one.

[@niccollsvideo]

Thanks very much!

[@ufukkiblat]

@@niccollsvideo I think you nailed black and white shoot more than color Chris, great images indeed!

[@johngrubb007]

Blown away that you went down to Stavely, the town where I grew up. Wow.

[@YourMajestyTheKing]

After picking up my Q again and find the colour pictures superb. I can't find the urge to get the Monochrome right now.

[@87solarsky]

The SIGMA DP3-series with their 75mm-equivalent F2.8 fixed macro AF-lenses at 14 (DP3M) and 19 (DP3Q) megapixels would seem like an interesting addition to the Leica Q2 Monochrom.

[@kbmats]

SL2 monochrome sounds oddly unnecessary........ I NEED IT

[@ThePhotographyMinimalist]

I just had to stop the video at 4:45, what an amazing image quality!

[@paulhargreaves1497]

Avro Canada CF-100 Canuck.

[@acmdv]

A Monochromatic sensor is so much better for black and white photography, you get a bigger tone range than if you shoot with a colour sensor & then convert to black and white.

[@thebitterfig9903]

If they ever release a Leica D-Lux 7 Monochrom (or Panasonic LX 100), I'd totally be in. A compact, affordable monochrome seems like the kind of thing you could sell to a lot of folks who've already bought into other camera systems, and it wouldn't really cannibalize the market for the serious Leica Monochrom line.

[@alexiscosar8980]

I wish they did à Fuji X100 Monochrom, it would fit perfectly

[@alangillis8817]

Great video Jordan. Dang good shooting Chris. You guys should have a million subs.

[@vinyalonde]

Thanks for this review. I am currently in the deep throes of withdrawal having sold off all of my Nikon gear and picking up an SL2. I was looking for a companion, which would also work really well for street and travel photography and this camera looks great. I miss black and white from my early days of photography and this camera seems to check all the boxes. As an aside, I really like the sense of humour you two bring to your reviews. Again, my thanks.

[@lucianacoutoinenglish3890]

This camera is the kind of item you buy when you already have your basics covered, like a collector's item. I wish I could buy one someday, but not before I get my first film Leica.

[@ScottJWaldron]

Great video as usual! The monochrom cameras are the one type of Leica I'm interested in. Though, I think I'd go with the one that can have interchangeable lenses.

[@sanfordlavine1760]

As always, a very good review. I may not always agree with you but that’s as it should be. In this case I agree totally. I love B&W and do so with a smile on my face. I chose the M10M in January and have been enjoying it. I always carry an original Q all the time. My budget prevents me from purchasing a Q2 Monochrom,if I did , I wouldn’t hesitate carrying both. The 75 APO and 50 APO are great on the M10M and a Q2M with a 75 would be great. Thanks Chris. Oh yes, an SL2 Monochrom would be a killer. Add my vote

[@zfisher]

I'm glad you shot the entire thing in b&w because although it's frankly hard to watch that way, it better captures the experience of shooting with a monochrome camera and helped me realize that I would not enjoy it and do not want to own this camera

[@Mike_M_Smith]

Zach Fisher why was it hard to watch. Haven't you ever seen a black and white movie or TV show?

[@NeonShores]

I'm the opposite. I'd watch all their videos in B&W.

[@FrankWestPR]

If you want to see in B&W with the Q2 just set the camera to B&W and you'll visualize in B&W in the EVF. The 2 things about that camera is obviously the High ISO performance and the redesigned body. Saw a comparison of both Q2 and Q2M and image quality wise at base ISO is extremely similar.

[@lysolboss]

First time I’ve seen mostly positive comments on a Leica camera vid in awhile

[@张昊宇-p2e]

5:05 try to de-couple the AE lock from half press the shutter and see if it allows you to change aperture while shutter is half pressed?

[@Kamal_Chilaka]

Totally agree that a companion Q Tele with a focal length of 75 mm would be great .

[@jameskurzynski2386]

I would love a monochrome camera! My favorite family photos from my childhood are black and white. Obviously, the price is deflating. That being said, the few monochrome cameras I've seen are rather expensive regardless of company. Is there something about the monochrome sensor that makes monochrome cameras more expensive or is it just a combination of a niche product combined with niche companies?

[@andrewrichards576]

I'd love an SL2 monochrom. Bring it on!

[@dominey]

This camera is too good for this world. My oh my, would I love to shoot with it.

[@quite1enough]

I actually really really like noise patterns in Leica M Monochrom 246

[@highlander200107]

I too wish they had a 50mm or 75mm version of this camera for those of us that do not need that 28mm lens.

[@Mike_M_Smith]

John Roberts I would even settle for a 35mm.

[@highlander200107]

@@Mike_M_Smith Chris Nicols would LOVE that, I can already hear the start of the review!

[@Mike_M_Smith]

John Roberts Ive been saying it since before the Q. But I don't know any one at Leica.

[@gerryphilpott9766]

You had a little of a James Dean vibe going on there in the beginning. Leica is too rich for me but i probably change 30-40% of my photos to monochrome in LR as I love that look.

[@ericmeter8269]

0:23 Best Jordan smile ever!

[@markh2351]

Agree that the half press lock-up on the shutter is the oddest thing. It's what put me right off the Q2 frankly, just felt like a big obstruction.

[@MarkoKoskenoja]

Great review of a cool camera. The Fort MacLeod footage reminded me of the movie The Last Picture Show - beautiful 😍

[@famat161]

I am stunned. What beautiful images.

[@Fleet42]

I just bought a Q2 I’d love to see the comparison of the two cameras shooting B&W

[@thatjordandrake]

The Q2 shares a sensor with the SL2 we tested at the end of the episode. That will give you a pretty good idea of what to expect.

[@sonholee5769]

Monochrome sl2! Hehehe I thought the Q and Q2 were so limiting. Then I got used to the fuji 18mm which would be about 27mm and it sits on my xe3 all the time. And now, I get it. If I had the money a Q2 or Q2 monochrome would be tempting.

[@delpierro0815]

Great review, thanks guys. I love my Q2 for all the reasons you mentioned and the files are so good that the B&W conversion is "enough" for me and I don't need the Monochrom. One complain though: You got a Leica Monochrom camera and you don't make a Jordan baby cry photo? That highway was perfect for it!!! ;)

[@theronsan]

I like that the video is monochrome.

[@Maddin1313]

8:45 Maybe there could be some 'sensor array reflection removal AI' to deal with that.

[@neglectedloves]

or thinking about built quality of this gear...

[@martinschnabel1961]

Great review and images

[@klartext2225]

Oh... the plastic bag! So beautiful!!! Most beautiful thing in the world! Buster, how many of us do you think have also seen AMERICAN BEAUTY, hm? There is a plastic bag... more than 20 years ago, right in the middle of the film. Really impressive how the wind plays with it. (Scene between Thora Birch and Wes Bentley). btw writing from Germany, home of Leica. (Shooting with a NIKON D 750 because this b/w-thing is way too expensive for me) The latest black and white images came out pretty well though.

[@Andobando111]

"sometimes black and white is not the answer". A phrase that will be remembered for eternity.

[@Vamp898]

Well actually for best Monochrome you need best Color. The SIGMA Foveon Sensors produce _by far_ the best Monochrome pictures since years.

[@World_of_OSes]

Does it have a Bayer filter?

[@PPYTAO]

Awesome skatepark, I loved the graffiti 😂 I enjoyed watching this all in B&W 👌👌

[@victormultanen1981]

guys I do enjoy the stile you review cameras!

[@zenjitsuman]

I hope Leica comes out with a SL-2 monochrome version, same mono sensor in the SL-2 body. I have the SL2 with a whole kit of lenses, plus my M lenses and and adapters. So I want to have all the focal lengths and B&W. Seems to me logical since this is one of the only times Leica made a monochrome without interchangeable lens mount

[@damianmatyja6000]

I could watch Chris reviewing a 20 year old calculator and it would still be entertaining

[@jeremyfielding2333]

The Fujifilms are more versatile for shooting jpegs. Tones can be so finely adjusted, when I was printing negatives I found all kinds of subtle tones from blue to green, browns, selenium, not to mention all the Seagull paper tones that could be induced. I can reproduce nearly all of these shooting jpegs on my XT4.

[@th1ngo]

Yes! With 'normal' focal length lens, the "Q2+" would be an instant purchase. Ideally 43mm, the sensor diagonal. (Lack of weather sealing held me back on the Leica Q.)

[@RiccardoGabarriniKazeatari]

Well don't fall for the "fully weather sealed", IP52 barely sounds like weather sealing The 5 stands for "Ingress of dust is not entirely prevented, but it must not enter in sufficient quantity to interfere with the satisfactory operation of the equipment." The 2 stands for "Vertically dripping water shall have no harmful effect when the enclosure is tilted at an angle of 15° from its normal position. A total of four positions are tested within two axes." (Test duration: 2.5 minutes for every direction of tilt (10 minutes total); Water equivalent to 3 mm (0.12 in) rainfall per minute) "Fully weather sealed" sounds like a joke

[@th1ngo]

Thank you for the further details.

[@theob3515]

I feel like an SL2-S Monochrom with a Tiffen Pro Mist filter would produce some really beautiful film-like video. Don't think Jordan's the only one who would want to see that camera exist

[@hidekigomi]

Hope you and Jordan are safe and warm. I was worried.

[@djrbfmbfm-woa]

this camera is very good, but nowhere near the two people reviewing it. makes me want to move to Canada. i'm now going to say what i have been feeling for ages.......you two a far too good to be on DP review. much success to you both. j.

[@rzero21]

4:03 would have been nice for Leica to release some teleconverter adapters or wideangle converters (like Sony offers for their 28mm F2 on Fullframe or for their 16 and 20mm F2.8 in APS-C)

[@davidwamback9000]

Does the Q2 (Color Sensor) have the same problem with sensor based flaring problems when shooting into direct sunlight as revealed with the monochrome sensor?

[@TimFitzwater]

Its exactly what you say it is - a fun camera that very few can justify. If I somehow made money from my "art" or was just plain wealthy it would be awesome....instead I'll just convert my R5 files as needed. (and continue to shoot Tri-X developed in HC-110(b).

[@silv3rArrow]

12:05 but what about in actual real world ISO usage? Say 6400? Is it that different?

[@nobitaadidas]

Jordan was the one driving. No doubt of course :)

[@omniart5714]

Its not 'modified to shoot bw'... It actually doesent have a Bayer filter, thats why its BW... All digital camera sensors are BW (except Sigma Foveon), and Bayer filter is what gives them colors...

[@tonyzhu403]

Noise Pattern? Kodak Tri-X. Chris's Favorite.

[@niccollsvideo]

You remembered!? Thanks! Yah I love the TriX, or Fuji Neopan 400 which is effectively the same thing.

[@tonyzhu403]

@@niccollsvideo And don't shoot TMax 400. Got it. Loved all the film content.

[@arrubla08]

I was looking forward to seeing this review!

[@streetphotography.globetro7744]

Nice Review.....Thanks !!!!!

[@terrywbreedlove]

These are out of camera images no post processing ? Really stunning black and white images.

[@thatjordandrake]

These are OOC JPEGs with occasional tweaks to exposure and contrast. You can see the OOC JPEGS and download the raw files at DPReview.com

[@Broadluxe]

Awesome, you guys rock. Jordan needs an SL2, get on it DPreview.

[@tonyzhu403]

More Monochrome!! Nice.

[@ZOB4]

It's beautiful, creates amazing monochrome photos. But it just takes too many green things to get a black and white thing.

[@VJ40000]

Is the sensor stitched on Q2 m ? because a line shows up on long exposures with tonal difference on left and right side. Its only on long exposures and with some tonal adjustments in Post.

[@e.r.4077]

This is an interesting observation. Could someone reply when they gave a moment to look at it? Thanks.

[@barrycohen311]

Refreshing to see a photographer who is not obsessed with the overdone shallow DOF shots.

[@chrismalikoff9949]

You had me sold until 8:35 with the sensor aberration into direct sun. Uhmm.... eek.

[@OrientEspresso]

I only shoot into direct sun once in a blue moon.

[@MikeMayerPhotograph]

Chapeau 👍🏼😊, a great presentation of the brand new Q2 Monochrome. I love my Q2 - also for black and white shots. All the great results can be found on my channel. But if I could afford the luxury of a second camera, I would by the Q2 Monochrome. It‘ the Rolls Royce among the cameras.

[@jlwilliams]

Looking at the sky tones and crushed shadows makes me wonder if a Leica tweaked the spectral response to mimic a yellow or orange filter on panchromatic film. No escape from color science! (Don't tell Chris or he'll say he also wants a Q2R with the equivalent of a red filter, and a Q2G with a faux green filter, and...)

[@tt-ew7rx]

Is the image stabilization in the lens or the sensor?

[@ecamormex]

I love my Sigma SD Quattro for black and white shots. And it's under $1000!

[@fellowcitizen]

and the 50mm provides the 75 he was looking for ;)

[@nelsonclub7722]

Pre-vizzing* (now an actual word) in B+W is a revelation to behold - I was wowed by it - and buyed* it (also an actual word) Great vid capturing all that is great about the Leica Q2 - I's fantabulistic* (yep an actual word) * Not actual words

[@Tyrael2b]

Can't believe they shoot this whole review in BW how are we supposed to see the colour rendition - Outrageous! Side note: Now that this Epice lowlight monster is here, can we expect/does it make sense for Leica to make a Q5, Q7 (Q with 50mm glass and 75mm glass) it would make for a comprehensive system?

[@AE1Bat]

A fixed lens black and white camera or one with an interchangable lens systerm?

[@turkyatahey4956]

I have been waiting for this for quite a while, Q has been the camera I have used the most in my entire life (just made me want to go out and shoot all the time) and I only shoot B&W. Anyhow, I was so ready to buy this until I saw this review, it is the sensor reflection that puts me off, does that happen often? Does it also happen at F8?

[@scottgmaclean]

Gorgeous video! Topic suggestion: how to take interesting family shots (ie not just the standard posing etc). It would be really appreciated!

[@channelandyjones]

Great 'Rabbit in the Headlights' moment @ 7:25 😂😂😂

[@TomaszBrodecki]

Geez, Jordan, replace that windshield, safety first!

[@kut7295]

nice camera Maybe there will be leica q2-d next year A new version q2 without oled screen pure photography

[@Aman_Mondal]

Sometimes I feel like we need to go back to how it was like for some reason this monochrome sensor felt more "Cinematic" for some reason

[@canturgan]

Nice truck. Nice looking video too. Is that tumbleweed at 7:26?

[@JeevesTCW]

Always entertaining thanks for the video guys

[@diegaulle9143]

There seems to be a frenetic search for parking spots going on in that town.

[@NerfVagus]

Time hasn't been so kind to Stavely, AB eh?

[@collincourtois8587]

You guys are the best. Thanks!

[@hansgaber6038]

Awesome ;-) , well done guys. Love this camera, it is really an amazing piece of art.