Pros
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Excellent optics
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Sharp EVF and LCD
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Water-sealed for protection
Cons
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Pricey
As with all Leica cameras, you’re paying a premium price for a premium design. The photos will not objectively surpass what the best professional cameras can do, but the Q2 platform gets you a fantastic full-frame sensor, a wonderful built-in Summilux 28mm f/1.7 lens, and a shooting experience that is portable and approachable.
The Summilux 28mm f/1.7 lens provides sharp, detailed photos across the frame with beautiful out of focus areas.
About the Leica x Disney Q2
Under the hood, the Leica x Disney Q2 is the same as the regular Q2, so there are no surprised here. Here are the specs as provided by Leica:
- Sensor: 47-megapixel, 14-bit full-frame (24x36mm) sensor
- Lens: Leica Summilux 28 f/1.7 ASPH., 11 elements in 9 groups, 3 aspherical elements
- LCD: 3" TFT LCD touchscreen monitor (1,040k pixels)
- Viewfinder: OLED viewfinder, 1280x960 resolution
- Picture Format: 14-bit RAW (DNG), JPEG
- Image Stabilization: Optical compensation system
- Dynamic Range: 14 stops at ISO 100
- Video Formats: MP4, (4k 30fps, 1080p up to 60fps)
- Shutter Speed: 1/2000s mechanical shutter, 1/40000s electronic shutter, flash sync up to 1/500s
- ISO Range: ISO 50-50000
- Autofocus System: Contrast-detect autofocus, single-zone (225 fields) multi-field, subject tracking, face recognition
- Focusing Range: 30 cm to ∞, with macro setting from 17 cm
- Memory: SDXC memory card slot
- Connectivity: Wi-fi
- Battery Life: 350 Shots (CIPA)
- Dimensions: Approx. 130 × 80 × 91.9 mm (5.12 × 3.15 × 3.62 in)
- In The Box: Camera, rope carrying strap, special edition carrying bag, accessory shoe, lens cap, battery, charger, power cable
The only other major difference is the inclusion of the Mickey-themed carrying bag. It’s a nice accessory, but you’ll want a more substantial camera bag to go along with this—even if the camera does feel like it’ll survive a knock or two.
What We Like
The images are fantastic
The Q2 full-frame sensor in this collaboration is the same as the one in the regular Leica Q2, so there are not a lot of surprises here. This is a sensor that has proven itself more than capable, especially when paired with the fixed 28mm f/1.7 Summilux lens. It’s a proper 28mm, owing to the camera’s full-frame sensor and 1:1 crop factor.
The Leica Q2's sharp lens returns here, with a built-in macro setting that is always available and easy to use.
The lens is sharp across the frame, with minimal distortion (outside of a minor barrel due to the wide angle focal length) and chromatic aberration. It’s just a beautiful piece of glass that is ideal for the street-shooting form factor.
Even if you do want to get a little closer to your subject, the sensor’s nearly 48-megapixel resolution is more than enough to let you crop in to the sharpest part of the frame. It’s a combination that has proven itself on the standard Q2 already, but it’s worth singing its praises here again.
The ISO dial on the Q2 is a nice touch, letting you quickly switch between shutter speeds depending on what your subject is.
The camera has excellent control options for beginners and advanced shooters alike
Not everyone that loves the “Leica look” is an experienced photographer—especially with a conventional rangefinder. The Q2 is a more approachable platform with creature comforts like autofocus and automatic programs. I love the smooth, steady manual focus ring and more advanced options as well, but even for me it’s nice to just put it in Automatic and know I’m getting excellent images.
I’m especially fond of the built-in Film Style modes, which let you shoot right in your preferred style and get an idea of how it’ll look while you’re framing. It’s not something everyone will need, but it makes the experience more approachable while you shoot.
The Q platform also enables Leica to add features that you don’t get on most traditional Leica rangefinder cameras, like a video mode, the electronic viewfinder, and a touchscreen. It’s just a more modern approach that balances what makes Leica great with what a smartphone generation expects from a camera in 2023, building on everything Leica nailed with the original Q.
The highlight of the Leica Q2's design is this model sheet inlaid onto the grip of the Q2, giving it a unique feel that is unlike any other Leica.
The Disney styling sets it apart
On top of being excellent cameras, Leicas are treated like collectibles. An exclusive design of a great Leica camera is always going to turn heads—especially one that ties into another iconic brand. I like that there was a lot of thought put into this one.
While it’s understated, I’m particularly fond of the choice of design on the body. The Mickey graphic comes from the 1930s model sheets of Mickey Mouse, describing how the character should be drawn, his expressions, proportions, and small touches like his hands. It’d be easy to just stick a Mickey on the front and call it a day, but this choice speaks to the craft that goes into animation, tying perfectly into the Leica brand as well.
It's particularly notable because Leica and Disney go back to those days, with Leica optics being a critical component of Disney's original animation process. The message is clear: this is a camera for people who appreciate the craftsmanship that goes into creating images.
The weather-sealing is an excellent touch
Leica cameras are meant to be used, especially when traveling or on the street. And the reality is that if you have a very expensive camera out on the street, the elements can sometimes be a problem. The Q2 adds a very nice touch over the original Q: weather-sealing. It’s not going to be as robust as a professional DSLR in terms of surviving dust storms or anything, but its IP52 rating should allow it to survive in light precipitation. If I'm spending this much on a camera, the extra peace of mind goes a long way.
The Q2 also adds a nice little graphic of Mickey walking on top, it's very understated but a nice extra touch.
What We Don’t Like
The price is going to be a lot for most people
The Leica x Disney version of the Q2 will retail for $5,995, a premium price that is a bit of a hike over the conventional Q2. It’s a lot for a camera, but Leica cameras hold their value tremendously well and this is such a good camera under the hood that I expect it to hold up as a camera you want to bring with you everywhere for years as well.
The card slot and battery are both accessed on the bottom of the Q2, with separate weather-sealed slots.
Capturing action takes planning
The Leica Q2 can shoot quickly, up to 10fps with the electronic shutter. It also snaps to focus quickly, though its use of a contrast-detection system and its focus on shooting quickly and quietly does mean it's not the most responsive camera out there. It's better suited for people that want to take their time and pick their shot, instead of responding immediately to something unexpected.
The Leica Q2's special Disney carrying bag isn't super protective, but it's a nice extra to have.
Should You Buy It?
It is so choice…. If you have the means
The Q2 is the best Leica camera I’ve ever shot with, building on everything I loved about the original Leica Q with neat additions. The combination of features, video, weather-sealing, and a modern sensor and processor stack put it on a level that I could see shooting with it for a decade. It’s the rare digital camera that should age well.
It’s fast, it captures beautiful photos, it feels phenomenal to shoot with, and it is designed to suit a wide variety of photographers. Street photography, travel photography, macro work… other than sports or wildlife, whatever your jam is, the Leica Q2 can get it done. If the Disney styling doesn't float your boat, there's also the Leica Q2 Monochrom, which we also loved, that is the best black and white camera we've ever seen.
The Disney "100 Years of Wonder" edition of the Leica Q2 is just as good, of course, with that exclusive styling that will set it apart even from other Leica Qs. It’s expensive, sure, but it will likely hold its value quite well—especially a collector’s edition style like this. It’s not going to be for everyone—the price pre-empts that, and Leica is only making 500 of these—but if you can swing the expense, I highly recommend picking one up.
Meet the tester
TJ is the former Director of Content Development at Reviewed. He is a Massachusetts native and has covered electronics, cameras, TVs, smartphones, parenting, and more for Reviewed. He is from the self-styled "Cranberry Capitol of the World," which is, in fact, a real thing.
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