EXCERPT page containing first few paragraphs. 2024-04-19 04:30:22
UA_SEARCH_BOT_compatible_botmozilla/5.0 applewebkit/537.36 (khtml, like gecko; compatible; claudebot/1.0; +claudebot@anthropic.com) @ 18.221.15.15
For full access, subscribe here. Or click title to login. 
Leica Q Usability Comments
This page has usability and operational notes that may very important to some users, and not important to others depending on usage and shooting style. See Perspective and Applicability of the Leica Q as well as the Focusing page.
Buttons and dials
In general your author (fairly large hands) finds that the buttons are not at all friendly:
- The tiny button on the lens tab for manual/AF/zoom focus is problematic.
- The buttons at left are very small and all the same shape and size; no quick way to distinguish by feel except by counting braille-like or developing a feel by long time usage. The tight spacing and small size makes gloves troublesome.
- The Delete button deserves its own placement above and somewhat separate from the other buttons, as on camera like the Nikon D810. Instead it mixed in between the Play and Fn buttons. As a destructive button this is bad design, period. The Q offers no option for a delete - delete option to delete (press delete twice) as on some cameras.
Article continues for subscribers...
Diglloyd Guide to Leica is by yearly subscription. Subscribe now for about 25 cents a day ($90/year).
BEST DEAL: get full access to ALL 8 PUBLICATIONS for about 75 cents a day!
Diglloyd Guide to LEICA contains in-depth coverage of Leica M system cameras and lenses, with additional coverage of Leica M Monochrom, Leica Q.
Special emphasis is placed on Leica M lenses and certain Zeiss ZM lenses.
- Make better images by learning how to get the best results right away.
- Save money by choosing the right lens for your needs the first time, particularly the Summilux/Summicron/Elmarit choice and/or Zeiss ZM.
- Make better images, a sort of “cheat sheet” saving yourself months or years of ad-hoc learning. Processing parameters are discussed and shown.
- Jaw-dropping image quality found nowhere else utilizing Retina-grade images up to full camera resolution, plus large crops [past 2 years or so].
- Real world examples with insights found nowhere else. Make sharper images just by understanding lens behavior you won’t read about elsewhere.
- Aperture series from wide open through stopped down, showing the full range of lens performance and bokeh.
- Optical quality analysis of field curvature, focus shift, sharpness, flare, distortion, and performance in the field.
Want a preview? Click on any page below to see an excerpt as well as extensive blog coverage, for example on Leica.