Leica Q (Typ 116)
Notable
The Q was the camera that opened the Leica system to a new generation of photographers. Its fixed 28mm Summilux f/1.7, autofocus, and full-frame sensor at a relatively accessible price point made it the most broadly appealing camera Leica had made in decades.
Famous for
- A fixed-lens full-frame compact that made a serious case for the one-camera street photographer
- 28mm f/1.7 Summilux lens in a weather-sealed body — the point-and-shoot for Leica M refugees
Introduced in June 2015, the Leica Q (Typ 116) was a departure: a fixed-lens, full-frame compact with autofocus. There is no interchangeable mount — the lens is permanently attached. In exchange, you get a Summilux 28mm f/1.7 ASPH designed specifically for this sensor, an outstanding OLED electronic viewfinder, and a camera that is genuinely fast to use. At $4,250, it was not inexpensive, but it was dramatically more affordable than a digital M with a 28mm lens.
The Q became Leica's gateway product. For photographers who had always been curious about Leica but balked at the rangefinder learning curve or the M system's cost, the Q offered the optical quality, the build, the brand, and the shooting experience without demanding that you abandon autofocus or master zone focusing. Many Q shooters later moved to the M system; others stayed with the Q because 28mm is their focal length of choice and the camera does it supremely well. The Q3, introduced in 2023, continues the line.
Key specs
- type
- full-frame fixed-lens compact
- lens
- Summilux 28mm f/1.7 ASPH (fixed)
- sensor
- 24MP CMOS, 24×36mm
- autofocus
- contrast-detect AF
- viewfinder
- 3.68MP OLED EVF
- mount
- none (fixed lens)
Variants & finishes
The original Q — the fixed-lens full-frame compact that proved Leica could make a serious autofocus camera. A 28mm Summilux f/1.7 on a 24MP sensor; still capable but superseded by the Q2 and Q3.
Market value
Launch price: $4,250 (2015)
Used-market price (USD, estimated median)
Estimates from auction and dealer records — condition and completeness vary.
View data
| Date | Price | Source | Condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017-01 | $2,800 | curated-estimate | user |
| 2018-01 | $2,700 | curated-estimate | user |
| 2019-01 | $2,600 | curated-estimate | user |
| 2020-01 | $2,200 | curated-estimate | user |
| 2021-01 | $2,000 | curated-estimate | user |
| 2022-01 | $1,900 | curated-estimate | user |
| 2023-01 | $1,850 | curated-estimate | user |
| 2024-01 | $1,800 | curated-estimate | user |
| 2025-01 | $1,800 | curated-estimate | user |
| 2026-01 | $1,800 | curated-estimate | user |
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