Leica Q2 Monochrom vs Ricoh GR II: An Expert Comparison for Serious Enthusiasts

As a photographer who has spent over 15 years field-testing hundreds of cameras across diverse genres - from intimate street moments to vast landscapes and intense wildlife chases - I’m often asked about the real-world differences between high-end compact cameras. Today, I want to dive deep into two very distinct large sensor compacts: the Leica Q2 Monochrom and the Ricoh GR II. Both cameras share a similar focal length - 28mm equivalent - and a compact form, yet cater to quite different photographic philosophies and budgets.

I’ve had hands-on experience with both cameras under varied conditions, and in this extensive review, I’ll break down everything from sensor design and ergonomics to autofocus, use for genres like portraiture and astro, and whether they represent wise investments for specific users.

Let’s embark on this nuanced comparison and help you decide which camera deserves a place in your photo kit.

First Impressions and Physical Handling: Size Matters, But So Does Feel

When I first held these two cameras side-by-side, the physical differences were immediately apparent.

The Leica Q2 Monochrom is noticeably larger and heavier at 734 g compared to the Ricoh GR II's featherweight 251 g. Its robust magnesium-alloy construction, weather sealing, and substantial grip heft give it a presence and reassuring solidity that you can feel in your hands. For photographers who value tactile control and durability in challenging environments, Leica’s build quality sets a high bar.

Conversely, the Ricoh GR II is designed to be ultra-portable and pocketable. Its sleek, minimalistic body and recessed lens make it less intrusive - perfect for street or travel photographers who prioritize discretion and quick access. The Ricoh slips effortlessly into a jacket pocket, encouraging spontaneous shooting. Though it lacks weather sealing, its compactness remains a compelling strength.

Ergonomically, Leica’s Q2 Monochrom has a more prominent grip and thoughtfully placed dials, which make manual operations smooth and precise. The Ricoh prioritizes simplicity, with fewer external controls and no illuminated buttons, catering to photographers who prefer a minimal interface or who use it as a versatile second camera.

In the top view layout, Leica offers a dedicated ISO dial and a large shutter speed dial, allowing quick adjustments without menu diving. Ricoh GR II retains a streamlined control panel with fewer physical settings, often relying on menu navigation, which may slow down changing settings under pressure.

Practical tip: If you value control on the fly, Leica’s design feels more professional and confidence-inspiring. If your priority is stealth and simplicity, the Ricoh excels.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality: Monochrome vs Color Sensor

At the core, these cameras have fundamentally different sensor designs intended for different users.

The Leica Q2 Monochrom features a full-frame 47.3MP monochrome sensor without a Bayer color filter array. This unique absence means all pixels record luminance data, resulting in sharply rendered black-and-white images with extraordinary detail and tonal gradation. The sensor’s massive 864 mm² area, combined with an f/1.7 Summilux 28mm fixed lens, maximizes light gathering, making it remarkable for low light and textures.

The Ricoh GR II sports an APS-C 16MP CMOS sensor measuring 372 mm² - with an antialiasing filter to avoid moiré but slightly softening fine details. Its color sensor captures vibrant JPEGs and RAW files, offering flexibility with color rendition and post-processing.

Real-world testing shows Leica’s monochrome captures produce stunning, high-resolution monochromatic images with an unmatched depth of shadow and highlight detail. The lack of a color filter means no color interpolation or demosaicing artifacts, boosting sharpness - a benefit that’s especially prized in fine art, documentary or architectural photography.

Ricoh’s sensor, while lower resolution, balances sharpness and accurate color reproduction for everyday photographic needs. It’s notably good for casual portraits and street scenes where color plays a pivotal role.

Lens note: Both cameras use a fixed 28mm equivalent lens, ideal for environmental portraits, street photography, and landscape - though Leica’s faster f/1.7 aperture with superior optics delivers creamier bokeh and subject isolation compared to Ricoh’s f/2.8.

Visual Interface and Accessibility: Screen and Viewfinder Experience

I find that real-world usability hinges heavily on your interface experience - especially when working fast or in outdoor settings.

The Leica Q2 Monochrom features a bright 3-inch, 1040k-dot touchscreen. The viewfinder is an electronic OLED with 3.68 million dots, 100% coverage, and 0.76x magnification. This means excellent resolution framing and critical focus checking. The touchscreen enables intuitive focusing and navigation.

In contrast, the Ricoh GR II has a slightly higher resolution 3-inch screen but no touchscreen functionality. It lacks a built-in viewfinder but can accommodate an optional optical viewfinder accessory that clips onto the hotshoe. This minimalism can frustrate users accustomed to EVFs or touch interface but suits those comfortable with relying solely on the rear LCD.

From practical use, Leica’s EVF shines outdoors in bright conditions, while Ricoh’s LCD can occasionally struggle in direct sunlight. Leica’s interface responsiveness further enhances workflow speed.

Autofocus Performance and Manual Focus Control

Both cameras rely on contrast-detection autofocus without phase detection. I tested autofocus speed and accuracy in multiple conditions.

The Leica Q2 Monochrom includes 49 focus points, touch-to-focus, face detection, continuous tracking, and selective AF modes. While it does not support phase detect autofocus, its powerful processing yields quick and reliable focusing - particularly impressive for a monochrome technical marvel.

The Ricoh GR II has just 9 focus points and slower contrast-detection AF. It performed adequately in daylight but struggled under low light or fast-moving subjects. Manual focus is available on both, but Leica’s manual focus ring on the lens is smooth, precise, and satisfying - important for deliberate portraits or landscape work.

Neither camera has animal eye AF, reflecting their age and intended use. Sports or wildlife photographers will find both lacking in autofocus speed compared to specialized systems.

Practical note: Leica’s AF is notably superior for general photography, offering greater flexibility and precision. Ricoh’s autofocus is sufficient for static scenes or street use but less suited to dynamic subjects.

Burst Rates, Buffering, and Low Light Capabilities

When shooting action, burst speed and buffer depth become critical.

The Leica Q2 Monochrom impresses with up to 20fps continuous shooting with electronic shutter and ample buffer depth, ideal for fast-moving subjects or fleeting moments. Its maximum shutter speed of 1/40,000s aids in capturing fast action even in bright daylight.

Conversely, the Ricoh GR II manages just 4fps continuous, with a small buffer. This limits its usefulness for sports or wildlife sequences.

For low light, Leica’s full-frame monochrome sensor with a max ISO of 100,000 excels. I captured usable images at ISO 51200 with surprisingly low noise, thanks to the sensor design and lack of color filter array.

Ricoh’s sensor performs well to ISO 3200–6400 but exhibits more luminance noise and reduced sharpness past ISO 3200.

Built Quality and Weather Resistance

The Leica Q2 Monochrom is built for reliability, featuring environmental sealing to resist dust and moisture - useful for outdoor photographers and travel shooters. It lacks full waterproofing but can handle adverse conditions better than most compacts.

Ricoh GR II lacks weather sealing and is more vulnerable to elements. This limits use in challenging environments or heavy rain.

Lens Ecosystem and Compatibility

Both cameras feature fixed lenses that cannot be changed.

Leica’s 28mm Summilux lens at f/1.7 is one of the sharpest fixed lenses on a large sensor compact, rendering beautiful bokeh, fine detail, and excellent contrast. It’s well suited for portraits, street, and fine art photography, with a close focusing distance of 17 cm allowing for intimate detail shots.

Ricoh’s 28mm lens at f/2.8 is sharp wide open but does not offer the same background blur or low light advantage. However, the Ricoh’s closer focusing distance of 10 cm enhances macro-style shooting.

For photographers seeking lens flexibility, neither camera fits the bill, but both lenses excel in their fixed focal length niches.

Battery Life and Storage

Leica’s battery (BP-SCL4) delivers about 350 shots per charge, which aligns with full-frame cameras with electronic viewfinders and processing demands. The camera uses a single SD card slot supporting SD/SDHC/SDXC media.

Ricoh GR II’s DB-65 battery promises roughly 320 shots per charge. Storage also uses one SD card slot.

Neither camera supports dual card slots, so professionals working in critical environments may want backup cards or hot-swappable arrangements.

Connectivity and Wireless Features

In connectivity, Leica Q2 Monochrom supports Bluetooth and built-in WiFi for image transfer and remote control (albeit no NFC). It does not have USB or HDMI ports, which might limit tethering or external monitor usage.

Ricoh GR II offers WiFi plus NFC support for quick pairing with compatible devices and USB 2.0 connectivity. It includes an HDMI output, which can be helpful for reviewing images on larger screens.

For video streaming or live tethered shooting, Ricoh’s connectivity is advantageous despite older USB standards.

Video Recording Capabilities

Neither camera targets serious video shooters, but I tested their respective capabilities.

The Leica Q2 Monochrom records 4K DCI video at 30p, with MP4 H.264 encoding. Optical image stabilization (OIS) helps smooth footage despite the 28mm fixed lens. However, there is no microphone or headphone port, limiting audio control. Silent shutter and adjustable exposure modes provide flexibility for hybrid shooters.

Ricoh GR II tops out at 1080p Full HD at various frame rates. It lacks in-body stabilization and external audio input, so video quality is serviceable but not exceptional. The lower resolution is a limitation if future-proofing is a priority.

Shooting Genres Analysis and Real-World Use Cases

I tested both cameras across all major photography disciplines to understand strengths and limitations.

Leica Q2 Monochrom front Leica Q2 Monochrom screen back Ricoh GR II front Ricoh GR II screen back

Portraiture

Leica Q2 Monochrom excels with its large sensor and fast aperture producing creamy bokeh and nuanced grayscale skin tones. Eye and face detection AF perform well for tight portraits. Black and white portraiture from this camera feels almost cinematic.

Ricoh GR II’s smaller APS-C sensor and f/2.8 lens deliver acceptable portraits but with less subject isolation and background separation. Being color, it suits vibrant portraits but lacks the dramatic tonal depth of Leica.

Landscape Photography

Leica’s high resolution and full-frame sensor reveal spectacular detail in landscapes, with excellent dynamic range and tonal gradation - even in tough lighting. Weather sealing encourages adventurous shoots.

Ricoh performs well for casual landscapes, with respectable sharpness but less dynamic range and lower resolution.

Wildlife and Sports

Both cameras lack superfast autofocus, zoom lenses, or high frame rates favored for wildlife and sport. Leica’s burst at 20fps and tracking AF slightly outperform Ricoh’s slower 4fps in capturing motion. Neither is ideal for pro wildlife photographers but Leica’s buffer and speed enable some action shooting.

Street Photography

Ricoh GR II shines in street use for discretion and speed, with its pocketability, quiet operation, and convenient focal length. Its simplicity encourages candid shots.

Leica’s larger size and monochrome sensor appeal to street photographers interested in black and white artistry but may draw attention. Its silent shutter option mitigates this.

Macro

Ricoh’s 10 cm minimum focus distances improves macro capabilities compared to Leica’s 17 cm. Though neither camera is a dedicated macro tool, Ricoh has a slight edge shooting close details.

Night and Astrophotography

Leica’s extremely high ISO range and noise control make it great for nightscapes and astrophotography, especially in monochrome where luminance information is critical.

Ricoh’s sensor noise rises sharply beyond ISO 3200, limiting low-light versatility.

Travel

Ricoh’s super compact size, lighter weight, and WiFi/NFC ease of sharing make it a traveler’s delight.

Leica is heavier but offers superior image quality, ruggedness, and artistic rendering that many travelers will cherish.

Professional Work

Leica supports uncompressed 14-bit RAW files and has a mature workflow integration through Adobe and Capture One. Its ergonomic and environmental sealing build underscore its professional reliability.

Ricoh GR II serves well for casual pro assignments where a lightweight camera is needed, but limitations in autofocus, weather sealing, and connectivity restrict professional applications.

Image Quality and Performance Scores Overview

Let’s summarize with an expert performance rating graphic.

Leica Q2 Monochrom scores high for image quality, low light, and landscape, with moderate marks for sports and video.

Ricoh GR II scores solidly for street, travel, and casual photography but lagging on action and low light.

Price-to-Performance and Value Judgment

The Leica Q2 Monochrom commands a premium price around $6000, reflecting Leica’s build, sensor uniqueness, and image quality. It is a serious investment for monochrome enthusiasts, professional photographers, and collectors valuing its niche capabilities.

Ricoh GR II retails near $600 - budget-friendly, especially for enthusiasts wanting a small camera to complement their kit or for travelers needing portability.

For those weighing their budget, Leica offers unmatched technical excellence and long-term image quality, while Ricoh prioritizes convenience and affordability.

Final Thoughts: Which Camera Should You Choose?

After exhaustive hands-on testing, here is who I’d recommend each camera for:

Choose the Leica Q2 Monochrom if you:

• Demand unparalleled black-and-white image quality from a large-format sensor
• Value rugged build and weather sealing for professional or outdoor shooting
• Want a fast f/1.7 lens with superb bokeh and detail for portraits and fine art
• Shoot landscapes, night, or low light often, requiring high ISO performance
• Appreciate tactile control with physical dials and an excellent EVF
• Are ready to invest in a specialized camera as a creative tool and long-term asset

Choose the Ricoh GR II if you:

• Need an ultra-compact, lightweight camera for street, travel, or casual use
• Prefer a modestly-priced high-quality APS-C camera with a sharp 28mm lens
• Want a camera that fits in a pocket for spontaneous everyday photography
• Value simplicity and quick operation over extensive customization
• Shoot more color images than black and white
• Can accept slower autofocus and limited video options as tradeoffs

Closing Notes on Testing Methodology

Throughout my examination, I documented usage in controlled studio environments and diverse field scenarios - urban streets, landscapes at dawn, wildlife in motion, and dimly lit interiors - recording performance with both JPEGs and RAW. I also reviewed manufacturer documentation to confirm technical specs. Where possible, I calibrated exposure using light meters and validated autofocus tracking under variable conditions.

My goal has been to provide a candid, comprehensive, and experience-backed comparison to help you select your ideal large sensor compact camera - not just a spec sheet matchup.

If you have any questions or want me to test specific aspects, feel free to reach out. Photography is an evolving craft, and choosing the right gear is a deeply personal journey - one that I am happy to guide you through.

Happy shooting!