Pentax K-1 II vs Leica Q2

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Pentax K-1 II vs Leica Q2

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35mm 861.6mm²
36.4 megapixels
ISO 100 - 819,200

Go in depth with our full Pentax K-1 II Review.
How does it shoot? Pentax K-1 II in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the K-1 II.
Compare Pentax K-1 II image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Pentax K-1 II conclusion.

35mm 864.0mm²
47.3 megapixels
28.00mm (35mm eq.)

Go in depth with our full Leica Q2 Review.

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Differences

Pentax K-1 II advantages over Leica Q2

Less expensive
$1997 vs $5198*
Save money for lenses or accessories
Tiltable Screen
Tiltable vs Fixed
Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
High resolution composite
Yes vs No
Combine multiple shots to form a super hi-res version
Built-in GPS
GPS vs None
Geotag your photos
Longer stills battery life
More info

Longer stills battery life

Cameras with longer battery life can take more photos before exhausting their batteries.

Special note: The measurement standard for battery life stipulates that if a camera has an internal flash, it must be used for 50% of photos taken. For this reason, comparisons of one camera with an internal flash to another without will not be comparable

670 vs 370 shots
Capture more photos
Top deck display
Yes vs No
Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
External Mic Jack
Jack vs No jack
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
HDMI out
HDMI out vs None
Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
Dual card slots
Yes vs No
Gives you more storage flexibility
Headphone jack
Yes vs No
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
Optional anti-aliasing filter
Optional vs None
Lets you choose sharper photos or reduced moiré
Bigger JPEG buffer
77 vs 25 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
Higher extended ISO
819200 vs 50000 ISO
Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Leica Q2 advantages over Pentax K-1 II

Shoot 4K video
4K (DCI) vs 1080p
Make sure you have a fast computer
Touchscreen
Touch vs No touch
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
In-camera panoramas
Yes vs No
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
Built-in Bluetooth
Yes vs No
Always-on wireless connectivity
Higher max flash sync
1/500 vs 1/200 sec
Reduce the effect of ambient light in flash shots
Lighter weight
718g vs 1010g
Lighter weight
More viewfinder magnification
0.76x vs 0.70x
Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
More pixels
47.3 vs 36.4 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
Longer exposure
120 vs 30 sec
Long exposures for night shots
Faster JPEG shooting
20.0 fps vs 4.5 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Faster RAW shooting
20.0 fps vs 4.6 fps
Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
Slow-motion videos
Yes vs No
Shoot slow-motion videos
Faster shutter
1/40000 vs 1/8000 sec
Shoot wide open in bright light

Similarities

Common Strengths

Rear display
Both provide
Review photos on the back of the camera
Focus peaking
Both provide
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
Eye-level viewfinder
Both provide
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
In-Camera Image Stabilization
Both provide
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
RAW file ability
Both provide
Gives you more flexibility to develop your photos later
Built-in Wi-Fi
Both provide
Share your photos wirelessly
Manual focus
Both provide
AF is for the weak. Real photographers focus manually.
Hot shoe
Both provide
Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
Bulb shutter
Both provide
Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Common Weaknesses

Tilt-swivel screen
Neither provide
Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
NFC
Neither provide
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
On-sensor phase detect
Neither provide
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
Internal flash
Neither provide
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
Integrated ND filter
Neither provide
Shoot in daylight with a large aperture or slow shutter

User reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read K-1 II User Reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read Q2 User Reviews

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Leica Q2 (Black)

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Review Excerpt

Excellent build and comfortable handling; Bright, roomy viewfinder and articulated LCD; Great image quality; Good performance for the class; In-camera stabilization, GPS and Wi-Fi; Incredibly feature-rich design.
Bulkier than APS-C DSLRs; Top ISOs are for the spec sheet, not the real world; JPEGs are a bit punchy by default; Slow startup; Below-average battery life; Only a relatively modest update to the K-1.
Read our Pentax K-1 II Review

We haven’t reviewed the Leica Q2.
Read our Leica Q2 Hands-On Preview

The Competition

Compared to Leica Q

Pentax K-1 II

Leica Q

$1747
35mm

Less expensive
Tiltable Screen

$3695
35mm

Bigger pixels
Touchscreen

Compare Pentax K-1 II vs Leica Q

Leica Q2

Leica Q

$5559
35mm

Shoot 4K video
Built-in Bluetooth

$3695
35mm

Less expensive
Bigger pixels

Compare Leica Q2 vs Leica Q

Compared to Pentax K-1

Pentax K-1 II

Pentax K-1

$1747
35mm

Higher extended ISO

$1800
35mm

Compare Pentax K-1 II vs Pentax K-1

Leica Q2

Pentax K-1

$5559
35mm

Shoot 4K video
Touchscreen

$1800
35mm

Tiltable Screen
High resolution composite

Compare Leica Q2 vs Pentax K-1

Compared to Canon 5D Mark IV

Pentax K-1 II

Canon 5D Mark IV

$1747
35mm

Less expensive
Focus peaking

$2249
35mm

Shoot 4K video
Touchscreen

Compare Pentax K-1 II vs Canon 5D Mark IV

Leica Q2

Canon 5D Mark IV

$5559
35mm

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$2249
35mm

Less expensive
Bigger pixels

Compare Leica Q2 vs Canon 5D Mark IV

Compared to Nikon D850

Pentax K-1 II

Nikon D850

$1747
35mm

In-Camera Image Stabilization
High resolution composite

$2464
35mm

Shoot 4K video
Touchscreen

Compare Pentax K-1 II vs Nikon D850

Leica Q2

Nikon D850

$5559
35mm

In-Camera Image Stabilization
In-camera panoramas

$2464
35mm

Less expensive
Tiltable Screen

Compare Leica Q2 vs Nikon D850

Compared to Zeiss ZX1

Pentax K-1 II

Zeiss ZX1

$1747
35mm

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$6000
35mm

Shoot 4K video
Touchscreen

Compare Pentax K-1 II vs Zeiss ZX1

Leica Q2

Zeiss ZX1

$5559
35mm

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$6000
35mm

NFC
More telephoto lens reach

Compare Leica Q2 vs Zeiss ZX1

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