Qvs G85
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
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.
Travel & Video — G85 (2016): The G85 is the definitive enthusiast MFT package — combining 4K/30p, Dual I.S. 2 stabilisation, and weather sealing in an affordable, well-built body. It lacks phase-detect AF (contrast-detect only) but covers travel, landscape, and casual video effectively. One of the best-value used-market MFT cameras available — a practical, capable companion for photographers who want reliability over cutting-edge specs.
Who should buy what
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
G85 (2016)
- Travel photographers who want weather sealing on a budget
- Vloggers and hybrid shooters
- MFT system users stepping up from entry-level
Quick take: The q has the highest resolution at 24mp; the g85 is the most affordable; only the g85 is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Q (2015) | G85 (2016) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,999 | £350 |
| Sensor | 24.2MP Full-Frame CMOS | 16MP Micro Four Thirds CMOS (no low-pass filter) |
| Resolution | 24.2MP | 16.0MP |
| Video | 1080p/60p | 4K/30p, 1080p/60p |
| Autofocus | Contrast-detect AF, 49 AF fields, face detection | Contrast-detect AF, DFD technology |
| Stabilisation | None | 5-axis Dual I.S. 2 (body + lens) |
| Burst Rate | 10fps | 9fps |
| Battery Life | ~270 shots (CIPA) | ~330 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 640g (with battery and card) | 426g (body only) |
| Dimensions | 130.0 × 80.0 × 93.5mm | 128.4 × 89.2 × 74.3mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 3.68M dots, 0.68× magnification | Electronic, 2.36M dots, 0.74× magnification |
| Screen | 3.0" fixed touchscreen, 1.04M dots | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen, 1.04M dots |
| Mount | Fixed Leica Summilux 28mm f/1.7 ASPH | Micro Four Thirds |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-I slot | Single SD UHS-I slot |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi | USB 2.0, Wi-Fi, NFC |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Q | G85 |
|---|---|---|
| Street | ||
| Travel | ||
| Portrait | ||
| Landscape | ||
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Wildlife | ||
| Sports & Action | — |
GearScore™ suitability scores are based on aggregated purchaser reviews weighted by photography genre. See how scores are calculated →
More comparisons with Q
Camera family history