Baby Q vs Full Frame

Intro:

For any photographer, the temptation to upgrade to the latest, most powerful gear is a constant pull—especially when something as enticing as a full-frame camera like the Lumix S5 is within reach. Yet, after a lot of thought, I realized that more doesn’t always mean better. Sometimes, finding the right tool is less about technical specs and more about understanding what truly complements your shooting style and creative needs. In this article, I’ll take you through the thought process that led me to an unexpected choice—a camera that’s earned its own cult following and fits perfectly into my lineup, even if it isn’t the latest or greatest on paper.

My Decision Making Process:

A few weeks ago, I found myself seriously considering the full-frame Lumix S5. The temptation was strong, fueled by a little “GAS” (Gear Acquisition Syndrome) — we’ve all been there! But after some careful thought, I decided it’s just not the right path for me. Don’t get me wrong, the S5 is a fantastic camera with a great price point, but full-frame isn’t really where my focus lies right now.

My current setup already brings me a lot of satisfaction, especially for my main subjects: birds and wildlife. My Olympus/OM System cameras provide everything I need on that front, while my two Leica T cameras, with their slightly larger APS-C sensors and signature Leica color profiles (both in color and black & white), are perfect for landscapes, architecture, and street photography.

The one gap in my setup is a premium everyday compact camera—something more or less pocketable. I enjoy my Olympus TG models for their portability, but their small sensors (1/2.3″) limit image quality, especially compared to a Micro Four Thirds sensor, which is around 8-9 times larger. It’s not a big issue, as the TG delivers acceptable results for my uses, but a compact camera with a higher-resolution sensor would be a welcome addition, especially for day trips or travel when I’d rather not carry a full setup with extra lenses.

Compact cameras with larger sensors are scarce, and most have limitations, like fixed lenses. I’ve owned the original Fuji X100 with a fixed lens, and I don’t want to go that route again. Another drawback with many compact cameras is motorized zooms, which I’m hesitant about due to reliability issues. I’ve had compact cameras with motorized zooms that developed problems over time—an all-too-common issue, as evidenced by the many defective models sold for parts on resale sites.

So, what are my options? There’s the Ricoh GR, the Fuji X100, Panasonic LX100, Sony RX100, and a few others. So, whichever way I looked at it, it was either living with a fixed lens or setting aside my biases against motorized lenses. There seemed to be little other choice, but which camera would be reliable enough ? Recently, in my extensive reading and research, I came across the “Baby Q,” also known as the Leica D-Lux Type 109. Many articles and reviews refer to it as a “rebadged” Lumix LX100. This camera, though an older model released in 2014, gained popularity quickly and has now achieved a cult status, both in Leica and Lumix version.

Cult classic or not, the Leica Type 109 is indeed made in Japan rather than Germany, but I also found out that the Lumix LX100 did not came from the same production line, apparently it was made in China. So, maybe the 109 is a little bit better made. Either way, it does have a Leica-tuned engine under the hood, which makes a difference in JPEG output quality compared to the Lumix. Having had such a positive experience with my Leica T, and knowing that this “rebadged” Type 109 would offer the true Leica JPEG look, I was instantly intrigued.

Earlier reviews often recommended the Lumix LX100 over the Leica version due to its lower price, however, because of its “cult” status, the LX100’s price has now nearly caught up with the Leica D-Lux Type 109. With the differences in image output, I found myself leaning toward the Leica – and I set aside my prejudices about motorized zooms one more time for the Baby Q.

By chance, I met a professional photographer who was looking to sell one of his two “Baby Qs” for a good price—an offer I couldn’t pass up. So, to cut a long story short, I’m now eagerly awaiting the arrival of my very own “Baby Q” and can’t wait to start shooting with it !

Back to the Future: A Classic Camera Reborn for the Digital Age :

Just a quick note about yesterday’s poll—on whether you’d consider buying a classic camera that works digitally instead of with film. Really, it’s about whether you’re satisfied with the way cameras are made nowadays.

Unfortunately, I haven’t had many visitors yet, but the preliminary results are:

• YES: 57.14%
• NO: 28.57%
• Undecided: 14.29%

I’ll keep an eye on it over the weekend and share the final result on Monday..