M11 Monochromvs Q
Leica
M11 Monochrom (2023)
Starting from £8300 new
Best for Black & White Photography
View M11 Monochrom
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Black & White Photography — M11 Monochrom (2023): The M11 Monochrom is the finest black-and-white camera in the world. A 60MP sensor with no colour filter array produces sharpness and tonal depth no colour camera can match — combined with extended high-ISO performance. Manual focus, no video, and an extraordinary price make it a specialist instrument, but for dedicated B&W photographers it is unmatched.
Street, Travel & Fine Art Photography — Q (2015): The camera that redefined luxury compact photography — a full-frame sensor, the finest 28mm compact lens available, and a shooting feel that is uniquely Leica.
Who should buy what
M11 Monochrom (2023)
- Dedicated black-and-white photographers who demand the finest possible monochrome files
- Fine art and documentary photographers who work exclusively in B&W
- Leica M system users who want maximum monochrome image quality
- Astrophotographers — monochrome sensors excel at capturing fine star detail
Q (2015)
- Street and documentary photographers who want a full-frame fixed-lens camera with iconic character
- Travel photographers who want the finest compact image quality available
- Leica enthusiasts who want an autofocus alternative to the M system
- Photographers who value build quality and shooting experience as much as spec sheets
Quick take: The m11 monochrom has the highest resolution at 60mp; the q is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | M11 Monochrom (2023) | Q (2015) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £8,300 | £1,999 |
| Sensor | 60.3MP Full-Frame Monochrome BSI CMOS (no colour filter array) | 24.2MP Full-Frame CMOS |
| Resolution | 60.3MP | 24.2MP |
| Video | — | 1080p/60p |
| Autofocus | Manual focus rangefinder (no autofocus) | Contrast-detect AF, 49 AF fields, face detection |
| Stabilisation | — | None |
| Burst Rate | 5fps | 10fps |
| Battery Life | ~700 shots (CIPA) | ~270 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 530g (body only) | 640g (with battery and card) |
| Dimensions | 138.6 × 80.0 × 38.5mm | 130.0 × 80.0 × 93.5mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | No |
| Viewfinder | Optical rangefinder, 0.73× magnification | EVF, 3.68M dots, 0.68× magnification |
| Screen | 2.3" touchscreen LCD, 2.33M dots | 3.0" fixed touchscreen, 1.04M dots |
| Mount | Leica M-mount | Fixed Leica Summilux 28mm f/1.7 ASPH |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-II slot + 64GB internal storage | Single SD UHS-I slot |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | Wi-Fi |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | M11 Monochrom | Q |
|---|---|---|
| Street | ||
| Portrait | ||
| Landscape | ||
| Astrophotography | — | |
| Travel | ||
| Casual | — | |
| Sports & Action | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Wildlife | — |
GearScore™ suitability scores are based on aggregated purchaser reviews weighted by photography genre. See how scores are calculated →
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