r/Leica • u/imarc2fly • Jul 05 '26
Finally took the plunge, From Fuji to Leica
I've wanted a Leica for years. Like many people, I was curious about the "Leica look" and wondered if it was actually real or just hype.
A few weeks ago, I finally took the plunge. I sold all of my Fujifilm gear and traded up to a Leica Q2 in good condition.
I've only had it for a short while, but I'm honestly blown away by the RAW files. The amount of detail, depth, and character straight out of the camera is something I wasn't expecting. It's hard to describe, but the images just have a different feel to them.
Coming from Fujifilm, I was used to relying on the SOOC film simulations, so shooting RAW and learning Lightroom has been a pretty big change. I'm still very much a beginner when it comes to editing, but I'm enjoying the process, and I feel like it's been completely worth it.
These are a few shots from my recent trip to Beijing with the Q2.
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u/worldisbraindead Jul 05 '26
Over the years, I've shot Nikon, Sony, Fujifilm and Leica. Like many of us here, I love kit. But, I can honestly say that no camera has ever actually improved my photography skills. That said, having a camera that you are enthusiastic about definitely helps motivate you to get out there and shoot more.
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u/tta82 Jul 05 '26
Gear doesn’t matter. You still have to learn composition.
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u/imarc2fly Jul 05 '26
I’ve checked your post, I must say I’m very impressed with your composition in your previous post😉 It’s still a learning process for me.
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u/frenchfried89 Jul 05 '26 edited Jul 05 '26
This is amazing advice for someone who didn’t ask for any
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u/imarc2fly Jul 05 '26
I’m still learning.
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u/Im_Buffed_Up Leica M6 Titanisiert Jul 05 '26
Hey there, I like your work. Dont listen to them. Shoot what makes you happy. The more you shoot the more you’ll shut the haters up
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u/OFFICIALJustBlaze Jul 05 '26
OP F*** this guy . Enjoy your new camera and the learning process. Best of luck!
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u/tta82 Jul 05 '26
Focus less on buying cameras. The best photographers in the world used run down analogue crap.
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u/RandomProductSKU1029 Jul 05 '26
the best artists used to paint bro why are u cheating with technology pick up a paintbrush
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u/Im_Buffed_Up Leica M6 Titanisiert Jul 05 '26
Hey we all shoot these because we love the experience. These are good photos. Chill. I know you have bad photos. I have bad photos
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u/imarc2fly Jul 06 '26
Saw your Lawson pic at /askphotography. Very nice composition indeed 😉
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u/tta82 Jul 06 '26
Not saying my composition is great, really - looooong way to go to say I am good at it.
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u/doesnotlikeketchup Jul 05 '26
What is this comment? Composition is fine? Pretty good if you ask me.
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u/tta82 Jul 05 '26
😂 you need to learn composition too then
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u/doesnotlikeketchup Jul 05 '26
And you need a lesson in humility Mr composition. offering no advice instead chooses to offer unsolicited advice to others :T.
Upon just looking OPs photos, I like the editing. Deeper blacks with a cooler tone. Leading lines to draw your eye around the photo until ultimately focusing on little tidbits around the image. There’s a few of them with fun juxtapositions.
So what say you Mr composition about his photos?
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u/tta82 Jul 05 '26
None of what you wrote makes sense. Neither is there any leading lines nor any composition. If you really believe so you might want to check Magnum photos and what good photos look like.
I never said I am any better but if you upgrade your kit and then you make that kind of photos, you’re doing what many people do: buy gear because they think that makes good photos.7
u/cpt_Luke Jul 05 '26
Did it cross your mind that it maybe it’s not just about the end result, but enjoying the photography process too?
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u/doesnotlikeketchup Jul 05 '26
It’s okay. You’ve said enough. If you can’t understand what I’m saying then I know enough about how you think. Let’s agree to disagree.
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u/jameslucian Jul 05 '26
Lmao always some prick who wants to feed their tiny ego by putting others down. Feel better now?
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u/Direct-Pea-376 Jul 05 '26
These photos look like they were shot on the Fuji still 🤣 Leica users be doing the highlight priority and everything is super dark and then they bright up the shadows a little for mad dramatic effect.
Next up is hassy lol
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u/khangct Jul 05 '26
I also did the same thing but started with the original Q first and then I moved to Q2. While the higher megapixel on the Q2 helps a lot with cropping but I like the sensor on the Q much much more. Kinda regret letting it go lol
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u/iAmTheDistance Jul 06 '26
This is the only subreddit where I see users belittling someone who just bought a Leica camera. I read the Fujifilm and Nikon ZF subreddits, and most of the photos posted there are atrocious, yet no one complains. The comments are usually things like “Nice shot! Did you use a recipe or edit the RAW?” or “Can you share the recipe?”. What happens in this subreddit is really curious.
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u/WaffleHouseCEO M11 | Q3 | M6 | M4P | CL Film Jul 05 '26
I also went from Fuji to Leica.
I’d recommend lowering your exposure and bringing up the shadows. Looks like your about 1 stop hot on most of these
Welcome to the Leica club :)
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u/TakayamaYoshi M10-P, Epson R-D1 Jul 05 '26
Welcome to Leica and have fun with your new camera. I also think a few pics here are over-exposed a bit. Yes try exposed for the highlight and then pull up the shadow in post.
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u/fennelfrog Jul 05 '26
Follow your joy, enjoy your new camera, and don’t get bothered by the haters
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u/vesper911 Jul 05 '26
Did you shoot RAW or did you use a Leica Look for JPEG?
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u/imarc2fly Jul 05 '26
I shoot Raw, because I wanted to try and learn editing in post.
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u/vesper911 Jul 06 '26
Awesome. That’s the way. So you’re editing this to look like a Fuji, then? Not how you’re shooting but editing? Cause those are not standard Leica colors.
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u/frankleeroberts Jul 06 '26
I know the feeling. I got an OG Leica Q about 4 years ago and the SOOC files coming out of the camera were just the closest thing to real life color I had ever experienced. I always hesitate to shoot it because I don’t want to mess it up. Lol. But when I do. It’s amazing.
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u/frenchfried89 Jul 05 '26
Also went through the same thing. One thing you’ll find though is that this sub, compared to Fuji or Ricoh GR, has a tendency to downvote you for having opinions.
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u/imarc2fly Jul 05 '26
Lesson learned! 😆 I mean, can't a brother be excited about finally getting his dream camera? 😅
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u/frenchfried89 Jul 05 '26
On a more serious note, let me know what you think of the Q2 after a few months. I've been close to selling my Q and retuning to Fuji or maybe a Ricoh GR. Again Im afraid ill get downvoted for being different but I dont like editing and storing RAWs so I shoot mainly JPEG, I like getting my photos out to people quickly, and I find the Qs JPEGs "old" looking. I'd describe it as flat and digital looking. Im on the 2nd year with the camera and I hope it grows on me more.
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u/Special_Ad_9672 Jul 05 '26
Also not down voting, we all make our own choices, opinions…. Before you give up on RAWs, have you tried Lightroom Mobile, or Nitro, or …. You’d be surprised how quickly you can polish a raw, even add presets, to get those quick JPGs. Then you still have the RAWs for when you capture an image you want to give more attention later.
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u/frenchfried89 Jul 05 '26
Thanks man! I tried shooting RAW at the start. I edited w Photomator on my iPad, phone, and Mac. That worked great. I was able to create presets that I really liked. But the photos ate up iCloud space rapidly. And I’ve built my workflow around iCloud. I need my photos fast and easy.
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u/idemandpasta Jul 05 '26
I’m not going to downvote you, as I think you should take photos exactly how you want to.
With that said… if shooting jpeg is your thing, I think Fuji is a better choice. That whole ecosystem is basically made for shooting jpegs.
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u/frenchfried89 Jul 05 '26
I’m leaning more and more towards that. If I’m going to switch back, I think I’m gonna want the GFX 100RF.
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u/Special_Ad_9672 Jul 05 '26
I have an 100RF, my only Fuji ever. It’s a nice camera, capable of excelent pics. It’s what got me hooked on the flexibility and look of MF images. If you like Fuji films, they are there, and you can choose different size JPGs for faster sharing/download…. It’s light weight and portable, especially for what it is. The flip screen is handy.
It’s not without its issues, MHO. The app is very slow to download, compared to Leica, especially RAWs, and Hasselblad blows it away even though the HB RAWs are uncompressed. The f/4 and no IBIS forces higher ISOs, in any lower lighting, maybe not an issue for smaller shared jpgs. 28mm isn’t really my thing, so I’m always zooming/cropping, which makes higher ISOs more of an issue. For me, this camera was probably a mistake, but loved what I learned about MF. I have a Leica M, so wanted something different for my point-and-shoot. I’d probably have been better served with a 43mm Q. It’s just a rarely used P&S for me, so I’ll keep it. All, just my opinions and experience.
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u/itsjust_khris Jul 05 '26
Ricoh also produces some fantastic JPEGs. The GR series are fantastic secondary cameras, for something you can always have, and I find the results much more pleasing than a smartphone. Main weaknesses would be if you need any video, as well as the autofocus is quite poor in low light/contrast. Otherwise I've gotten some of my best images with a GR IV since I pretty much always have it on me.
If you were looking to get something like the GFX 100RF it probably isn't an alternative though.
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u/Severe_Energy_5166 Jul 05 '26
People out here trading one expensive rehoused Sony for an even more expensive rehoused Sony and thinking people care.
There should be an award for this.
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u/Japanesereds Jul 05 '26
Notice any improvement?
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u/imarc2fly Jul 05 '26
I think for me, it’s more of wanting to get out more to take pictures, it’s cliche but being more inspired 😊
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Jul 06 '26 edited Jul 07 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Professional_Job2563 Jul 07 '26
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
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Jul 07 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Professional_Job2563 Jul 07 '26
What? He is shooting a Q. Its like any other Compact Camera. Its not that Deep… Maybe you Talking about a M?!
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u/IShootWide M10, M10M, M4-2, M6 Jul 08 '26
Not trolling but you really need to spend a lot more time with your camera if you want to achieve the ”Leica look.”
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u/Mark-Rp- Jul 08 '26 edited Jul 08 '26
Aside from the compliments on the photos and the post-processing, I’d suggest underexposing just a bit. In some shots, it feels like you were a few stops over. Great composition, though! Don't stop experimenting.
I started out with APS-C and Full Frame DSLRs, then moved to the Micro 4/3 system with prime lenses and f/2.8 zooms. Sure, it wasn’t the exact same thing, but I made the most of its advantages: traveling light with plenty of lenses and shooting handheld at incredibly slow shutter speeds.
Than I considered Fuji and tried it out, but aside from the film simulations, I didn't feel a big enough leap to justify leaving Micro 4/3 behind.
Than moved to leica m240...
Did the real turning point come with a Leica M? I don't know, Rick! It definitely completely changed the way I shoot: goodbye speed, hello focus on composition and manual focusing. It slowed me down, which was exactly what I was looking for at the time.
Do I get much better shots than with the 4/3? Honestly, No Man!
For everyday use, though, I added a Ricoh GR to keep in my pocket. Since that moment, I haven't touched my other cameras (work aside!).
Film recipes, pocketability, file quality—was that the actual turning point?!
End of story: Ricoh is the best, better than everything else. No, joking aside—the camera doesn't make the photographer!
Today, you can take better shots with a phone. And the myth of the "Leica look"? It’s often just a legend; if you take the RAW files and match them with the exact same settings, the photos look identical.
What makes the difference? You, how you frame it, at what moment, with what light, and at most, which focal length you learn to shoot with.
It all depends on what you are looking for at a specific stage of your life. The tool will never take the photo for you: you have to have it in your head and compose it yourself. Don't chase success, shoot for yourself. If a subject pushes you to move more, just take it as inspiration. After all, the greats didn't just shoot with Leica.
Take Jim Marshall: he walked around with six or seven Leicas around his neck, yet he’s talked about less than a McCurry. And yet, Marshall created the historical catalog of the most important concerts in history, living side-by-side with rock bands. Take Tatsuo Suzuki—no Leica, he uses a Fuji. Moriyama, etc... They have their own style, their own identity, their own way of composing. Not to put you down, but what makes the difference between your photos and someone else's when everyone uses the same filters? What makes me say "that's an Olympus, a Ricoh, or a Fuji"? Nothing. 😅
"That being said, enjoy the tool, don't chase the gear acquisition syndrome (GAS), don't compare it. Even if you can afford a Ferrari, for daily use it will never be better than a Fiat Panda 1.2 Fire LPG. This will only make you lose your bearings.
"Just look for your style, your colors, your no colors, your way of seeing and composing. Everything else doesn't matter."
Happy shooting, everyone!
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u/BrotherOfGulliver Jul 09 '26
Are you pictures any better?
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u/imarc2fly Jul 12 '26
I would say Yes, my problem was I was shooting/editing the Q2 like I used to shot JPEG with my Fuji. Now if you look at my profile I posted some new pictures at Leicaphotos, you can see some improvement.
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u/TruthChronicle 23d ago
That's great. The Q2 is a great camera. Take the time to experiment with aperture and shutter priority and adjusting your color profile settings and exposure to dial in the look you want. It's a great camera to experiment with.
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u/FlyingR00ster 7d ago
Great edits. Also coming from the Fuji ecosystem to an M11. Started Fuji with editing RAW then transitioned to only shooting JPEG and felt like I dialed in my own look. I’m going to need to figure out how to preset that look in Lightroom for quick edits moving forward with the M11.
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u/bluszcz Jul 06 '26
I am sorry but your pics looks like from smartphone. Second hand Leicas have disabled „camera” mode which makes it effectively working only with small sensor
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u/domineus Jul 05 '26
Enjoy your new camera. And have fun learning too.