2020 will probably be the year of the monochrome. Camera manufacturers have discovered the advantages of developing a dedicated monochrome sensor. Now it’s Leica’s turn, by unveiling its Q2 Monochrom, which is a full-frame 47.3MP black & white compact camera. However, the video capabilities are limited. Read below.
2020: The year of the monochrome sensors
Recently, we’ve reported on the beautiful imagery of the film Mank, which is defined as “David Fincher’s best film yet”. Mank was shot by cinematographer Erik Messerschmidt on the RED Monstrochrome (Monstro 8K + Monochrome). Why shooting on a dedicated monochrome sensor and not just eliminating the saturation in the post? The answer to that is simple. A monochrome sensor is a naked sensor designed without the color filter (Bayer Pattern). Lacking the Bayer Pattern allows the privilege of getting the raw resolution of the pixel array. What you will get is a real, pure, stunning, accurate black, and white artistic image. Leica understood that and thus the Q2 Monochrom was born.
Leica Q2 Monochrom
The Q2 Monochrome is a full-frame 47.3MP compact camera that shoots black and white only. As explained, this is due to the new specialized sensor developed exclusively for this camera. Unlike its chromatic counterparts, the monochrome sensor features no color filter array – with no interpolation required, only the pure light levels are captured and rendered sharper. According to Leica this unique sensor also boasts significantly broader dynamic range and extremely low image noise, even at high ISOs up to 100,000. The Q2 is sturdily built packed with full magnesium with dust and splash protection. The camera offers 4K and Cine4K modes with respective frame rates of 30 and 24 fps. Videos can also be recorded in a full-HD format at 120, 60, 30, or 24 frames per second.
Filters
Three new, specially developed E49 color filters complement the Leica Q2 Monochrom. The yellow, green, and orange screw-on lens filters open up new possibilities for the creative exploration of contrast and light. Each filter modifies and tweaks the colors and contrast of our visible light spectrum when recorded as grayscale values on the sensor. As a result, landscape and portrait shots can be imbued with unique visual aesthetics for more punchy or subdued contrast from the moment the shutter button is pressed. The multilayer coating of these specialized filters reduces reflections and ensures high light transmission without vignetting, for maximum image quality.
Tech specification (focused on the video capabilities)
- Sensor: 47.3MP full-frame B&W CMOS sensor. 50.4/47.3 million pixels (total/effective),
- Lens: Leica Summilux 28 f/1.7 ASPH., 11 elements in 9 groups, 3 aspherical elements
- Video recording format: MP4 (C4K / 4K / FullHD), MP4: H.264/MPEG-4 AVC (Audio Format: 2ch 48 kHz/16-Bit,AAC)
- Video resolution/ frame rate: 4K: 30, C4K: 24 B/s, Full-HD: 24, 30, 60- 120 B/s
- Storage media: SD/SDHC/SDXC memory cards. Recommendation: UHS-II memory cards
- ISO range: Automatic, ISO 100, ISO 200, ISO 400, ISO 800, ISO 1600, ISO 3200, ISO 6400, ISO 12500, ISO 25000, ISO 50000, ISO 100000
- Autofocus system: Contrast-based autofocus system
Price and availability
The Leica Q2 Monochrom costs $5,995 and can be preordered on the B&H website.
Final insights
More and more camera manufacturers are getting exposed (literally) to the uniqueness of the monochromatic naked sensor (without the Bayer pattern) and develop a dedicated camera that is aimed to shoot pure blacks and whites. The Leica Q2 Monochrom is no doubt a special piece of gear for monochrome enthusiasts. However, the video capabilities are limited. Yes, you will get impressive 4K results, but with a low bit-depth which is not good enough for professional grading. Moreover, the fixed lens will not get you far. But again, it’s a product for the enthusiasts.
