Leica Q2 vs. Fujifilm X100V | Which should you buy?

It has been more than a year since I talked about Leica Q2 on my blog. A lot happened in 2022. One notable change was that Fujifilm X100V became the hottest camera due to the exposure from social media influencers. As a result, I started to receive messages asking if they should buy a Leica Q2 or a Fujifilm X100V. We know this is a complex question. Therefore I will share my experience with you and show you some photos I took, and you can decide depending on your situation. The good news is I still own both cameras and use them as frequently as possible!

PRICE
If your deciding factor is the price, it will be easier since a Leica Q2 is significantly more expensive, sitting at $5000 when it is on sale on Amazon. Otherwise, you can get it on Leica's website or B&H for nearly $6000! Regarding Fujifilm X100V, the price is about 1/3 of what you would pay for a Leica Q2. Still, an almost $1400 compact camera is costly too. Especially it is not a direct comparison since Fujifilm X100V has an APSC sensor, and Leica Q2 has a larger Full-frame sensor. Moreover, Fujifilm X100V is currently on backorder, making the decision harder unless you want to pay double on Amazon. If the price is not an issue, get both and try them, you will enjoy both experiences.

HARDWARE
Like some of you, I am a photographer and not a scientist, so I won't go into details on how the metal body would affect your shooting experience. Instead, I will share my experience of how they feel in my hands. For Fujifilm X100V, the top and bottom plates are made of aluminum, and the middle is likely to be some hardened plastic material. I have had the camera for about three years and have minimal wear on the camera body. I use the camera regularly, traveled with it, and have had it knocked around with other stuff inside my bag; so far, it has been holding up and has no significant damage. I use a half case and a filter to protect the lens. Because the camera is part metal, it is not a heavy camera. I have no issues shooting with one hand or using it all day.

Leica Q2 is a full-frame camera, thus having a bigger body and lens. It is made with Magnesium Alloy, and the camera is definitely hefty compared to Fujifilm X100V. Even though the lens protrudes further out and the camera body is much heavier, the weight doesn't stop me from loving the camera or using it. When I held my Leica Q2 in my hands, I finally understood what quality means. If you have issues with your hands or shoulders and cannot hold a heavier camera, Leica Q2 is not suitable for you; otherwise, it is a solid, dependable camera. However, you need both hands to handle a Leica Q2, and it is not a one-hand, run-and-gun camera. Like my Fujifilm X100V, I have a half case and a filter to protect the lens. After having my Leica Q2 for three years, you don't see significant wear on the camera body either.

IMAGE QUALITY
Leica Q2 has a 47.3 mp sensor! It is probably overkilled to shoot 47.3 mp daily life images, but it is great when I use it for my trip. I can crop in and still get a reasonably large picture to share or print. Due to the Leica lens, the image sharpness is breathtaking! However, many photographers criticized its high ISO performance. Personally, I rarely have to use anything over ISO 2000 when shooting. Leica Q2 is not a fast-shooting camera for sport; you don't have to use high ISO even when capturing moments indoors. You see noise when taking pictures at high ISO, but most editing software like Adobe Lightroom can handle it beautifully, and the noise doesn't appear to be unpleasant or have a weird color cast. If you really do not want to see noise, consider using DXO PhotoLab 5; it has a noise reduction feature that works excellently with your raw files.

In terms of image quality for Fujifilm X100V, I don't think people worry too much about the noise since most of the time, we shoot JPG and choose to add digital to grain while using the infamous film simulation. However, I came from the RAW file generation; hence I still shoot RAW + JPG while taking pictures with X100V. That gives me opportunities to learn and compare both RAW and JPG files. So far, I haven't settled on shooting RAW or JPG. I am still doing both and have room to appreciate both options. I love the flexibility of RAW files, but at the same time, I am often amazed by the camera processor handling the files and giving us jaw-dropping JPG images! The magic of using film simulation indeed exists, and unless I am printing the images, JPG files are good enough to share with people or post online. That may be why this camera has blown up on social media, because you do not need extensive photography training to get an excellent result.

EXPERIENCE
For general purposes, Fujifilm X100V takes the cake if we are discussing user experience. For a serious photographer, you are likely to enjoy pixel-peeping and be in awe with the sharpness you see on your 4K screen. Moreover, Leica Q2 has great RAW files for you to work with in editing. You can recover a good amount of highlight as long as it is not completely blown out. Adjusting the shadow and the black in Adobe Lightroom is quite convenient since Leica Q2 files can be very contrasting and have deeper shadows. Therefore, you need to edit your Leica Q2 files before sharing them unless you love the high-contrast look. Also, Leica Q2 images have a cooler white balance. Sometimes, colors can be a bit blue, but you can quickly warm it up or shoot with a warmer white balance.

As I mentioned before, using Fujifilm X100V can be so much fun! With endless film simulations you can try, it is like having many different cameras or shooting with different films anytime you want. Fujifilm X100V is perfect for the younger generation, social media influencers who chase after imperfection and instant gratification. It is a camera that can simulate various vintage film looks without needing photo editing skills. At times, it could be satisfying to shoot and experience the moment and not worry about spending time editing.

ISSUES
Both camera bodies are coated with paint, and you will eventually see scratches and metal peeps through from underneath. Regardless of how well-made these cameras are, you can only keep the perfect look if you buy them for display only. Also, since the lenses are non-detachable when dust gets in, you will have to send them back for the company to do the maintenance instead of cleaning the sensor yourself. However, both have held up well for me after three years, even though I don't keep them in a dust-free environment. I would feel forced to come up with negative things to say because I genuinely enjoy using them and am lucky enough not to run into major problems. In terms of operating the cameras, as long as you learn the basics and learn the features inside out, you won't regret buying them.

CONCLUSION
You likely would have guessed; I would suggest you get both if you have the financial mean. Leica Q2 and Fujifilm X100V are both top-notch, and you will have so much fun experiencing life with them. But, having both cameras could be excessive, so I will try my best to summarize a few key points, and hopefully, you will be able to decide after reading this review. First, go with Fujifilm X100V if you are not into photo editing but like to create images that convey certain vibes and lifestyles. Only get a Leica Q2 if weight isn't your issue. Finally, get the Leica Q2 to appreciate the hardware craftsmanship, the stunning lens sharpness, and the flexibility of image cropping. They can't replace each other and can only perform with your creativity. So whatever camera you have, use it to document your life and convey your thoughts, feelings, and emotions; after all, life is much more than owning an expensive camera.

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