Decision tools · Compare

M11 Monochrom vs Q

Quick take: The M11 Monochrom has the highest resolution at 60MP; the Q is the most affordable; only the M11 Monochrom is weather sealed.

Where the M11 Monochrom wins

  • Resolution: 60.3MP
  • Battery Life: ~700 shots (CIPA)
  • Weight: 530g (body only)
  • Weather Sealed: Yes
  • Landscape: 7.2 vs 4.7

Where the Q wins

  • Cheaper new: £1,264 vs £8,500
  • Burst Rate: 10fps
  • Travel: 4.5 vs 3.6
  • Wedding & Events: 3.7 vs 2.0
  • Casual: 3.2 vs 1.6

16 specs side by side·13 genres scored·UK prices from Wex Photo Video, Clifton Cameras, MPB, eBay and Amazon UK

How to read this page. Highlighted cells win that row on the spec alone. Genre scores are the engine's base scores (enthusiast, photo and video); Camera Match re-weights them for your level and priorities. Price buttons are affiliate links; the price you pay is the same.

Price buttons are affiliate links — GearFrame may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It never affects a score. Learn more

Size comparedbody only, no lens · drawn to one scale
0 25 50 75 100 Q 130 mm 94 mm M11 Monochrom 139 mm 80 mm
  • M11 Monochrom 139 × 80 × 38 mm · 530 g
  • Q 130 × 94 × 80 mm · 640 g

The M11 Monochrom is 9 mm wider, 14 mm shorter, 42 mm slimmer and 110 g lighter than the Q.

Drawn to scale from the makers' dimensions (W × H × D). Front shown, depth on the slanted edge.

Verdictwhich should you buy?

M11 Monochrom — Black & White Photography: 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.

Q — Street, Travel & Fine Art Photography: 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)
is the right camera for you if…
  • 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)
is the right camera for you if…
  • 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
Full specificationsthe better value in each row is highlighted
Specification M11 MonochromLeica · 2023QLeica · 2015
Price £8,500£1,264 usedBest
Sensor 60.3MP Full-Frame Monochrome BSI CMOS (no colour filter array)24.2MP Full-Frame CMOS
Resolution 60.3MPBest24.2MP
Video No video1080p/60p
Autofocus Manual focus rangefinder (no autofocus)Contrast-detect AF, 49 AF fields, face detection
Stabilisation —No stabilisation
Burst Rate 5fps10fpsBest
Battery Life ~700 shots (CIPA)Best~270 shots (CIPA)
Weight 530g (body only)Best640g (with battery and card)
Dimensions 138.6 × 80.0 × 38.5mm130.0 × 80.0 × 93.5mm
Weather Sealed YesBestNot weather sealed
Viewfinder Optical rangefinder, 0.73× magnificationEVF, 3.68M dots, 0.68× magnification
Screen 2.3" touchscreen LCD, 2.33M dots3.0" fixed touchscreen, 1.04M dots
Mount Leica M-mountFixed Leica Summilux 28mm f/1.7 ASPH
Memory Cards Single SD UHS-II slot + 64GB internal storageSingle SD UHS-I slot
Connectivity USB-C, Wi-Fi, BluetoothWi-Fi

Wins the row — price, resolution, burst, battery, weight and sealing are compared; text specs aren't ranked.

How they score by genreengine base scores out of 10
Genre
M11 Monochrom
Q
Portrait
3.2/10
3.2/10
Street
6.2/10
6.2/10
Travel
3.6/10
4.5/10
Wedding & Events
2.0/10
3.7/10
Documentary
2.9/10
2.9/10
Sports & Action
2.4/10
—
Landscape
7.2/10
4.7/10
Wildlife
1.5/10
—
Casual
1.6/10
3.2/10
Food
3.0/10
3.8/10
Macro
3.8/10
2.3/10
Architecture
6.7/10
4.7/10
Astrophotography
5.9/10
5.5/10

Scores come from the same engine as Camera Match: verified specifications weighted by what each genre needs, with documented adjustments. The product page and this table show the enthusiast base score. See how scores are calculated →

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