Why the Original Leica Q Typ116 is Still Worth it in 2025

5 Reasons Why I Think the Original Leica Q Typ 116 Is Still Worth It in 2025

I’ve been shooting with the original Leica Q Typ 116 for a while now, and honestly — even in 2025, it still holds up. Here’s why:

1. The lens is still unbeatable.

That 28mm f/1.7 Summilux lens is razor-sharp, even wide open. It’s the exact same lens they used on the Q2 and Q3, which says a lot — Leica didn’t need to change it. The depth, rendering, and character you get straight out of camera still feels special. It’s pretty much a legendary lens with a free camera body. If you were to buy the M mount version of the same lens, you would be easily spending over $5,000.

2. Files are beautiful and easy to work with.

The 24MP full-frame sensor might not be the latest, but it delivers clean, punchy images with plenty of detail. Colors are classic Leica — slightly warm, filmic, and not overprocessed. I’ve never felt limited editing these RAWs.

3. Manual focus and zone focusing are a dream.

The Q makes it super easy to switch into manual focus. The lens has a physical focusing tab, and with the clear distance scale, zone focusing is fast and reliable — especially for street photography. It feels like using a rangefinder, but with focus peaking and digital assistance when you need it.

4. It’s still built like a tank.

This thing is solid. Magnesium body, metal dials, and a minimal design that hasn’t aged at all. It feels premium in the hand and inspires confidence every time you pick it up.

5. The price is finally reasonable.

Now that the Q2 and Q3 are out, the original Q has become more affordable — and that makes it one of the best value full-frame fixed lens cameras you can buy. If you don’t need 47MP or 8K video, this is more than enough.

Final thoughts:

If you’re looking for a simple, full-frame camera that just works — and makes you want to shoot — the Leica Q Typ 116 is still a killer choice. It may be 10 years old, but in use, it doesn’t feel like it.