The upcoming Leica QL Camera

To be clear, this is totally conjecture on my part…

I have fairly recently fallen to the Curse of Leica. First I purchased a used SL2-S. Then I got a Q2. I got the Dawn by Seal special edition, in fact. And I ordered it mere days before the release of the Q3. Various reasons.

Then I bought a Leica CL. Let’s blame Mr. Leica (Matt Osborne) and the RedDotForum guys for this.

I sent back the CL, but I still have the other 2 cameras. I really like the CL, but realized I was in danger of buying yet another set of lenses to use with it.

All that to say that I’m now at a point of wondering (like many other Leica users):

Where is the Leica CL2?

The Leica CL is a really good camera. It is definitely showing its age, but it still is a good camera. (I also have, and use, a Fujifilm X-E3, basically from the same era.)

From what I’ve gleaned, the Leica Q line took off way bigger than expected by Leica. And while the CL did OK, I suppose it was not as big a seller as expected.

The CL makes a lot of sense. It’s an excellent compromise. The problem is that people who buy Leica cameras don’t actually want compromise. That’s kind of the point of buying Leica. While it has been demonstrated that APS-C sensors can nearly replace full frame, people still want to buy full frame.

So, I can totally see Leica producing a CL2 with a full frame sensor. The only problem being that you could not use the old TL lenses, except when cropping back down to APS-C. (That would totally work, of course.)

But what I think will actually happen is that Leica will create a QL, being the same body/rough specs as the Q line, except with an L mount rather than built in lens.

This will leverage the current hotness of the Q line, and be the replacement for the CL. I.e. a small (smaller than SL) body mirrorless camera with rangefinder style EVF.

Personally, I actually do like the CL body, and would be happier if they just created a CL2 but threw in a higher res full frame sensor. This could support both the old smaller lenses, and whatever L-mount madness a person wanted to use.

I think they’ll drop the CL line and branch out from the Q line, instead. I don’t know what they will call it, but I call it the QL.

Honestly, I’d be happy with either. The SL2 line is just so frickin heavy.