Upgrade Guide
Leica Leica M6→Leica Q
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
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Situational
One clear hardware improvement over the Leica M6. Worth it if that specific upgrade aligns with what you shoot.
What's new in the Q
-
Battery life~270 shots (CIPA) vs Single 3V battery (light meter only — mechanical shutter needs no power)
Suitability by genre
Base scores — computed from verified specs for an enthusiast shooting photo and video. The Upgrade Checker adjusts them for your skill level.
| Genre | Leica M6 | Q | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | — | ||
| Street | — | ||
| Travel | — | ||
| Wedding & Events | — | ||
| Documentary | — | ||
| Landscape | — | ||
| Casual | — | ||
| Food | — | ||
| Macro | — | ||
| Architecture | — | ||
| Astrophotography | — |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | Leica M6 | Q | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £5,200 | £1,999 | |
| Released | — | 2015 | |
| Sensor | 35mm film (no digital sensor) | 24.2MP Full-Frame CMOS | |
| Resolution | — | 24MP | |
| Video | None (film camera) | 1080p/60p | |
| Autofocus | Manual focus, coupled rangefinder (0.72x) | Contrast-detect AF, 49 AF fields, face detection | |
| Stabilisation | No stabilisation | No stabilisation | |
| Burst Rate | Manual film advance | 10fps | |
| Battery Life | Single 3V battery (light meter only — mechanical shutter needs no power) | ~270 shots (CIPA) | ↑ |
| Weight | 585g | 640g (with battery and card) | ↓ |
| Weather Sealed | Not weather sealed | Not weather sealed | |
| Viewfinder | Optical rangefinder, 0.72x magnification | EVF, 3.68M dots, 0.68× magnification | |
| Screen | None (film camera) | 3.0" fixed touchscreen, 1.04M dots | |
| Mount | Leica M-mount | Fixed Leica Summilux 28mm f/1.7 ASPH | |
| Memory Cards | None (35mm film) | Single SD UHS-I slot |
Compare side-by-side
⚖️ Compare these cameras
See Leica M6 and Q next to each other with our interactive comparison tool.
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