Qvs Z5
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.
Entry-Level Full-Frame & Dslr Switchers — Z5 (2020): The most affordable route into full-frame Z — dual card slots, IBIS, and a capable sensor at an accessible price.
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
Z5 (2020)
- DSLR photographers switching to full-frame mirrorless for the first time
- Enthusiasts who want full-frame image quality on a tighter budget
- Photographers stepping up from APS-C who don't need fast burst or 4K
- Z5 II shoppers on a budget — the original Z5 is now excellent value used
Quick take: The z5 has the highest resolution at 24mp; the z5 is the most affordable; only the z5 is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Q (2015) | Z5 (2020) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,999 | £999 |
| Sensor | 24.2MP Full-Frame CMOS | 24.3MP Full-Frame BSI CMOS |
| Resolution | 24.2MP | 24.3MP |
| Video | 1080p/60p | 4K/30p (with crop), 1080p/60p |
| Autofocus | Contrast-detect AF, 49 AF fields, face detection | Hybrid AF — 273 phase-detect points, eye/subject detection |
| Stabilisation | None | IBIS — up to 5 stops |
| Burst Rate | 10fps | 4.5fps |
| Battery Life | ~270 shots (CIPA) | ~470 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 640g (with battery and card) | 590g (with battery) |
| Dimensions | 130.0 × 80.0 × 93.5mm | 134 × 100.5 × 69.5mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 3.68M dots, 0.68× magnification | EVF, 3.69M dots, 0.8× magnification |
| Screen | 3.0" fixed touchscreen, 1.04M dots | 3.2" tilting touchscreen |
| Mount | Fixed Leica Summilux 28mm f/1.7 ASPH | Nikon Z mount |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-I slot | Dual SD UHS-II slots |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi | USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Q | Z5 |
|---|---|---|
| Street | — | |
| Travel | ||
| Portrait | ||
| Landscape | ||
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Wildlife | — | |
| Everyday | — | |
| Sports | — |
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