Hey everyone, just wanted to share something that genuinely surprised me. I’ve been shooting Leica for years M11, SL2-S, and of course the Q2. But recently, I picked up a used RX100 VII just to have a compact always with me, for casual shooting and maybe even as a second body while traveling with the Q2.

I wasn’t expecting much. I mean, we’re talking about a 1-inch sensor in a camera from 6 years ago.

But then I started doing real side-by-side tests. Same scenes, same ISO (400), and RAW files only, because that’s how I shoot and process everything. What shocked me is that, after applying my usual presets were shockingly close to the Q2.

No, they don’t have the same depth, micro-contrast, or that magical Summilux separation. But still… the look is there. The emotion is there. And I’m looking at 30x45 cm test prints right now. If I didn’t label the files, most people wouldn’t know which is which.

Handling-wise? I’m used to Leica dials, I love controlling shutter speed on the lens, physical aperture rings, etc. The RX100 surprised me again: I can still control shutter, ISO, and aperture quickly without diving into menus. It’s a brilliant little machine.

Sure, high ISO is a weakness, but with RAW and tools like Lightroom AI or Topaz, I can recover most shots easily. And for portraits, if you step back and zoom to 135mm with some distance from the background… you get real subject separation. Not Leica creaminess, but still very usable.

This camera fits in my jacket pocket, yet delivers results I wouldn’t expect from anything this small. Honestly, I’m stunned.

I’ll post a few comparison shots below, JPEG exports of the processed RAWs, not unedited SOOC files, because what matters to me is the final image, not the pure sensor science.

RX100 owners: don’t underestimate what you have in your pocket. With the right approach, it punches way above its weight.

[OC] Leica Q2 vs RX100 VII — Printed at 30x45cm. The RX100 blew my mind. Full story inside.