the Leica Q2 Monochrom & Day of the Dead
By Dennis Berti
(bottom) Daytime cemetery visit in Patzcuaro, Michoacán. 1/2500 at f/11, ISO 200. (top) Bernal's peak/monolith, Queretaro. 1/2000 at f/8, ISO 200.
It's all LHSA's fault :-) I was lucky enough to be part of their last conference and annual meeting in Seattle. First time in Washington state, my first time attending any kind of Leica event, and more than anything, my first time visiting a Leica Store! Can you imagine my happiness? I felt like a boy in Disneyland for a day, and I can assure you I enjoyed every moment of the few hours I was there. I entered the Leica world in 2018, and I'm a proud owner of an M10 plus some M lenses, including multiple 35's. Yes, this has always been my favorite and most-used focal length: the quintessence of a Leica system. I believe the magic in the Leica rangefinders happens between 28mm and 50mm. The 35mm is my reference focal length (the normal), my best storytelling, and desert island lens. If I want a more intimate and closer look at the world and frame a smaller portion of the scene, I switch to a 50mm (my version of a telephoto). But if I need more context, more information, and details of a given scene, I will use a 28mm. I consider it the perfect wide-angle lens. Because of its very low distortion, it’s wide enough for profound storytelling, and it is ideal for environmental portraits - but not too wide as a 21 or a 24 lens would be. I often shoot in color, and most of the time it is just what I need.
But I have always loved black & white. I firmly believe some pictures are meant to be (and to exist) in B&W only. Many people think it is 'smarter' to shoot in color because you can always convert the images to B&W during post-production, right? And if you shoot in B&W, you can't have a picture in color. It makes sense logically, but the truth is beyond this. Shooting the world in monochrome requires a different approach and vision. I always felt comfortable seeing the world in grayscale: I particularly love layering, complex compositions, high contrast moods, drama, the immediacy and the easiness of a picture. And B&W, I believe, checks all the (my) boxes. So, taking advantage of being in a Leica Store, I decided to pull the trigger and buy a monochrome camera. The choice was between an M10 Monochrom and a Q2 Monochrom. Already having a few M lenses, the rational choice was to go with another M body, but after trying and shooting with both, I finally ended with the Q2M. Why?
There are many reasons, and I will try to resume them in a few points, in no particular order.
1.) All in one solution. The camera, with the fast and outstanding Summilux lens and battery, weighs less than 750 grams, making it a super light but powerful combo. It's a also super compact considering its high potential
2.) Having an actual monochrome sensor, it lacks the Bayer color array and low pass filter, which gives me about two stops advantage in low light ISO performance and more crisp details. The files are so rich, really impressive.
3.) The Menu operation, settings, and modus operandi are modern and life-changing. Intelligent, fast, and straight to the point. There are only three main buttons, and the custom wheels' flexibility really makes the difference. I can do whatever I want without removing my face from the viewfinder. Of course, after one gets used to the buttons and decides on a proper configuration.
4.) You can switch from MF to AF with just a click, and the same happens for macro. With the Q2M, it looks like you can do whatever you want because everything is effortless to access. As long as your vision and goals are clear in your mind, there is nothing you can't do with this gem of a camera. The sky is the limit once one embraces the beauty and simplicity of a fixed lens camera and the "restriction" of a monochrome sensor.
Now comes the best part. The exciting plan was to fly back from Seattle to Mexico and meet my wife in Queretaro, stay a few days there with the family, and then travel to the state of Michoacan. Then, spend at least a night (on Nov. 1st) at one of the most beautiful, touching, and iconic nights of the year of the Mexican culture: the Day of the Dead celebration. In a cemetery.
"Shooting the world in monochrome requires a different approach & vision." My wife and I have never fully witnessed the actual experience in such a unique place. We have seen photos and heard stories, but it's not the same as being there, living, breathing, listening, and smelling the magic atmosphere of this transcendental adventure. It was the perfect plan, and with a new camera to play with, even better. I had a few days along the way to try out the Q2M for some genuine street photography and get used to my new camera. Let me tell you a secret: my Raw files are usually in color, but when I shoot street photography exclusively, it doesn't matter what camera I'm using, I set it up for monochrome DNG. No matter if the final picture will be in B&W or color, I've always preferred to 'read' and see the light in grayscale. Color, in some way, is distracting to me. Coming from my DSLR and with a preference for B&W, I was very excited to discover this new way to preview the world and shoot monochrome with the EVF.
Let's come back to the best part: The Day of the Dead. For people who don't know what the celebration is about, let me try to explain it to you in a few words.
Food, Siesta, and Tradition. 1/1000 at f/8, ISO 200
Calavera costume doggy-body-painting. 1/125 at f/2, ISO 6400
El "Día de Muertos" (as it’s called in Spanish) is a holiday tradition happening around all of Mexico, from October 31st to November 6th, with November 1st being its peak. Family and friends gather together in homage and celebrate their relatives and friends who are no longer with us. It's common to remember them with a humorous approach, funny anecdotes, and unique stories. There is no place for sadness. According to tradition, everyone decorates their relatives' graves with candles, Aztec marigold flowers (known as cempazúchitl), and build small (and even monumental) altars to honor them. They bring the dead's favorites; food and drink, gifts, candies, and whatever they appreciated most when they were alive. Family and friends gather around the graves, having a really good time. It's a celebration, a time for joy and to pay their respects with happiness. On November 1st and the following days, it's expected to see the cemeteries full of people. One has to live the experience to capture the whole essence. And even for a stranger, it's an experience you must have. The cemetery entrance is, of course, open for everyone.
The night of November 1st is an incredibly colorful atmosphere to photograph: full of candles and orange flowers are absolutely everywhere. Literally, people must be careful where they step.
So the dilemma comes up. To be or not to be? Color or B&W? I had my M10 with some 35-50 lenses, and I guess it was the more logical choice to shoot in color, right? Well, I'm not always rational, lol. I do believe in the authenticity and the uniqueness of the moment. I love minimalism. And I like challenges, so…I decided to tell the story in my own way, as I have never seen before. I had a new camera, with just a few hundred pictures already taken and a few days of experience, so what better opportunity to believe in my Q2M and tell the story of the Day of the Dead celebration with a monochrome approach and POV? Why not! So, my
wife Pily and I refined the details of our road trip: leaving Queretaro on October 30th, spending Halloween on October 31st in the capital Morelia, and the night of November 1st in a cemetery for the "Día de los Muertos." As I said before, it occurs all over Mexico, but Michoacán is definitely the cradle. And in this state, two of the most visited cemeteries are Pátzcuaro and Tzurumútaro. And for the twists of fate, we ended in the latter.
(top) Night of the dead, Tzurumútaro, Michoacán. 1/125 at f/2, ISO 4000.
(bottom) Baby Venom poses for a snapshot. 1/125 at f/1.7, ISO 4000.
Halloween night celebration, Morelia, Michoacán. 1/125 at f/2, ISO 12500.
Chats during a cemetery candlelight ceremony. 1/60 at f/1.7, ISO 3200.
Our priority and desire were to spend the night living the cemetery's unique experience, and for me, it was to shoot many fascinating and unforgettable monochrome memories along the way. We were not really interested in Halloween shots. Still, when we realized that a few hundred thousand people were celebrating in the city of Morelia downtown, with costumes, and a lot of music (and alcohol), we thought it was an excellent addition to the trip. I had a new camera to try (and set up), and Halloween night was the perfect excuse for it. I was aware that the night of November 1st's shooting conditions was challenging: consider that all the available light was by candles light ONLY. But after shooting some Halloween night shots at 12500 and 25600 ISO that looked like my M10 at 3200 and 6400 ISO, I was confident and sure that my new Q2M wouldn't have any issues for the following critical day.
I'm an OVF (Optical Viewfinder) advocate. I always shoot in manual, and I don't care what the camera exposure meter says. Because with a lot of practice and experience, I know how my photographs will look, I don't need a preview. That's why I enjoy shooting with my M10. I tried mirrorless cameras, and to be honest, I didn't like the EVF (Electronic Viewfinder). I thought it was not for me. Well, until I found the Q2M :-) For monochrome shooters, previewing in B&W is a true advantage. Especially if one uses color filters to add more contrast or bias more towards high-contrast scenes with deep shadows, as I do and like. To be honest, I'm happy I chose the Q2M over the M10M. For my work, storytelling, and documenting daily life (sometimes for weddings), I use my M10, and I shoot in color. Until I want to see the world in B&W, that is where I take my Q2M. And the good thing is that I don't need to pick up a particular lens, clean the sensor, or use some accessories. I just carry the camera, and this is all I need. It already includes it all. So, the M10 became my color camera, while the Q2M is my standard for B&W.
Some final technicalities: for the Day of the Dead shots pictured in this article, my average exposure was 1/60 (with image stabilization) and 6400 ISO. Except for a few shots where we can appreciate more DoF (depth of field), the chosen average aperture was f/1.7-2.8. I was amazed by the image quality (IQ) of the 28 Summilux and how well it performed wide open, even in challenging situations. Absolutely no complaints about the lens too. The Q2M is definitely the best all-in-one solution I have ever tried. I really hope they don't make a Q3M variation with a 50mm Summilux because it would be dangerous for my bank account, but a must-have companion for the Q2M :-)