When you want to learn, master, or enjoy something new, "starting with the right equipment" is one way to improve. If you're into photography, why not try getting your hands on Leica camera everyone dreams of owning? Ayumu Matsuoka, Planning Manager at Isetan Men's, who said, "I'm used to using my smartphone, so I want a camera that's as small, light, and easy to use as possible," visited the Leica store located on the 8th floor Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building in the Isetan Men's Residence. Store manager Yuta Kasuya said, "I recommend the Leica Q2, a digital camera that packs the charm of Leica into a compact body."

I'm looking for my first Leica, and I'm going to ask the manager of the Leica store some questions.

Store Manager Yuta Kasuya (hereinafter, Store Manager) : Ms. Matsuoka, do you have a camera?

Ayumi Matsuoka (hereinafter, Matsuoka) : I don't own a camera. I take photos with my smartphone and upload them to Instagram and other social media. I think Leica is a bit out of my price range, but I admire its history and stylish design. It also has an image of being for professionals.

For people of Mr. Kasuya and Mr. Matsuoka's generation, the impression is probably that it's a German-made camera used by celebrities and famous photographers, and that you often see it on social media. However, once you actually hold the camera in your hands, you'll find it to be a very simple and easy-to-use camera.

Matsuoka: What would you recommend to a customer who is looking to buy their first Leica ?

Kasuya: The most important thing is "what kind of photos you want to take," but if you're taking everyday photos of things close to you, I recommend the digital camera 'Leica Q2'. It's made in Germany, and since the camera and lens are integrated, you don't need interchangeable lenses, and it has autofocus, so you can enjoy Leica photography with just this one camera.

Matsuoka 's design is cool, of course, but it looks even cooler when you hold it. It has a unique presence.

The Leica Q2 is a digital camera that packs all the charm of Leica into a compact body.

Kasuya: The Leica Q2 is very easy to use. It has a full-frame sensor and a very bright 28mm prime lens with an aperture of f/1.7, allowing you to enjoy three-dimensional image rendering. In addition, it has a special protective seal that prevents dust and water droplets from entering, so it is also popular for being easy to use in outdoor settings.

The fact that it has a Matsuoka viewfinder is great because you can determine the angle of view while looking through it.

Kasuya: This camera has image stabilization, but the experience of looking through the viewfinder, holding the camera steady with your elbows tucked in, and determining the angle of view is something you can't get with a smartphone.

Matsuoka: Can I take photos with the Leica Q2 and transfer them to my smartphone?

Using the dedicated Leica app "Leica FOTOS," you can transfer photos to your smartphone or tablet. You can also upload them directly to Leica media.

Matsuoka, when I try holding it, it's not as bulky or heavy as I thought. Can I take a few pictures?

Kasuya: The Leica Q2 is easy to use with its autofocus, but it can also be used manually and is capable of close-up photography. Please try taking some test shots.

Matsuoka, the bokeh in the background is beautiful. The finished colors are also wonderful. The Leica Q2 is a really great camera. You can enjoy the world of Leica just by pressing the shutter button.

Kasuya: For those who are used to taking photos with their smartphones and want to "take photos that are a step further," or for those who have seen photos taken with Leica uploaded to social media and thought, "I want to take photos like that too," the Leica Q2 is one of the entry-level models for them.

Each Leica model has its own merits, and each model has its own fan base.

Matsuoka: I understand the appeal of the Leica Q2, but I often hear people say, " Leica is all about the 'M' series." Are the 'M' series cameras difficult to use?

The Leica M11, with its Kasuya digital body and manual shooting capabilities, is, in a sense, both a first Leica and a last Leica. It's the camera of choice for those looking to upgrade from a Leica Q2, those who have always dreamed of owning an M-type camera, and those who want to start off with Leica from the very beginning.

The Matsuoka M-type Leica is manual, isn't it?

The Kasuya M-type Leica can be described as a "camera that lets you enjoy the process of taking pictures." Because it doesn't use electronic components in the lens, it can be used for a long time with proper lens maintenance, just like a mechanical watch. Recently, film photography has become popular again, and the Leica MP, another M-type Leica with a machined brass cover, is also attracting attention.

Matsuoka : The Leica MP has a classic and cool look, and it also has a substantial weight to it.

Kasuya: If the Leica M11 is a camera for enjoying the process of taking pictures, then the Leica MP is a camera for "concentrating on the act of taking pictures." Both cameras can use the same M system lenses.

Matsuoka: I've seen three Leica cameras – the Leica Q2, Leica M11, and Leica MP – but what is it about Leica that makes it feel so special?

Kasuya: Of course, this is due to Leica 's optical technology, but the German designer said, "We design not just based on numbers, but also on the finished photograph, so the history of Leica , which is not just about specifications, is embodied in the lens."

Matsuoka : I see. Before hearing the store manager's explanation, I thought it would be difficult to operate, but when I held the Leica Q2 in my hands, I felt a sense of unity with it, and now I want to try taking pictures with it, and I want to own Leica .

The Kasuya Leica is a camera that makes you want to take pictures the moment you pick it up, and it takes amazing photos that make you want to take more pictures and take it outside again.

Matsuoka says that Leica expands his horizons. It's like with clothes and shoes; investing in and wearing something of genuine quality can take the owner to places they've never been before. It's an expensive camera, but it's great that it can take you to new places.

Many customers tell us that even familiar landscapes in Kasuya look completely different when photographed with Leica , which encourages Leica owners to be more active.

Matsuoka : I think the Leica Q2 is the right camera for me after all.

Kasuya: The premise is, "What kind of photos do you want to take?" The Leica Q2 is a camera that makes it easy to take photos that are typical of Leica , while the Leica M11, an M-type Leica, is also a digital camera, but it can also be said to be a camera that you will share many joys and sorrows with for a long time.

Matsuoka , thank you for your detailed explanation!

Leica

Leica Q2

825,000 yen

■ Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building 8th Floor, Isetan Men's Residence *Available only in-store

Leica

Leica M11 Silver Chrome
*Lens sold separately. 1,298,000 yen

■ Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building 8th Floor, Isetan Men's Residence *Available only in-store

[Leica Experience Report] Matsuoka takes photos with Leica . A thrilling photo shoot and beautifully rendered images with striking shadows.

Capture special moments with a special camera.

The place I wanted to go after getting my Leica was Shishiiwa House in Karuizawa, which opened in 2019. It's a retreat in nature designed by architect Shigeru Ban.

As someone from Nagano Prefecture, I thought I fully understood the charm of Nagano in winter, but since moving to Tokyo, I've been so busy that I haven't been able to visit often. However, ever since I learned about "Shishiiwa House" in an architectural magazine, I've wanted to spend my next winter in Nagano here.

This time, as a reward for myself after saving it for a while, I took advantage of a short winter break to make the trip. Of course, I brought my Leica camera with me. I wanted to capture in photographs the architecture, design, art, and delicious food—elements that interest me right now—along with the time I spent there, at Shishiiwa House, a retreat collection created with meticulous bespoke craftsmanship that values beautiful harmony with nature.

Shooting with a Leica was a completely different experience from taking photos with a smartphone. This applies not only to the photos themselves, but also to the exhilarating feeling I experienced while taking them.

"Deciding on the composition," "focusing on the subject," "setting the aperture," "pressing the shutter," and "checking the captured photo with the PLAY button"—all of these steps, while more involved than one-touch shooting with a smartphone, were not at all tedious. In fact, in terms of "getting more involved in taking pictures," it felt very similar to "immersing myself more deeply in what I love," and I think it was a wonderful experience.

Compared to images taken with a smartphone, Leica images are clearly different in terms of how they capture light, the beauty of their shadows, and their sense of depth. The difference is even more apparent when they are placed on Instagram's grid. Smartphones are convenient and intimate companions, but when it comes to enjoying photography, they can't compare to Leica.

It seems that "Shishiiwa House Hakone" will be opening in 2024. Besides Shishiiwa House, I'm looking forward to seeing what other "new places" Leica will take me to in the future.

Leica blends seamlessly into everyday life.

As someone who works in the fashion industry, I consciously focus on communicating "styling." And it's during photo shoots, which are related to my everyday work, that the power of Leica truly shines.

If I'm going to share what I "love" with the world, I want to convey its appeal without any stagnation. As I've gotten older, the quality and grade of the things and activities I "love" have changed, and similarly, I've come to demand higher quality and grade from the equipment I use for photography and the content I create. Leica's existence will help me fulfill my desire to share good things in the best possible way.


Text: Makoto Kajii

Photo: ISETAN MITSUKOSHI

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＊The information in this article is current as of the time of publication. Product information may be revised or changed without notice.
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