Low clouds and tall buildings. Chicago.

I know, logically, that the Leica Q2 is capable of "better" image quality but one thing I really like about the Leica DLUX8, especially as a travel camera, is its ability to zoom to 75mm for those times when you really can't get any closer to your subject and really want a more compressed image. 

We don't often see low hanging cloud conditions in our part of Texas so as we were walking back from the Navy Pier in Chicago it was novel to see a cluster of clouds wrap around a tall building and linger there. I had my DLUX8 hanging around my neck so I pulled it up, zoomed to 75mm and snapped away merrily. 

I'm sure I could have grabbed my Q2, switched the crop setting in Jpeg to 75mm and soldiered on with a 6 megapixel file but it was more satisfying to capture the right angle of view in camera and to be able to pre-judge it as I shot. It's great to have the option to go wide (24mm equivalent) to short telephoto (75mm equivalent) in one compact package. 

Would the image have been "better" had I brought along an SL2 camera and the big, 24-90mm Elmarit zoom lens? Maybe so. Would I need whatever improvements the big, heavy lens and big heavy body provide? Not likely since most of the images I shot on vacation are destined for display on the web. Would I have enjoyed the extra exercise I'd get from carrying around four or five pounds more of gear?

Not likely. 

It's different selecting gear for vacation trips than selecting gear for work. Different requirements and, in some cases, no requirements at all...