Everything that's wrong with Leica today can be summed up fairly simply, as seen in the "Father’s Day Photography Gift List 2015" over on the L.A. Times site. It's great that the new Leica Q (Type 116) camera made the list, except that its inclusion is a bit dubious. First and foremost, it's not described as an awesome performer (which it is) but rather, "the ultimate photography status symbol" that's "the perfect camera to carry around town on your shoulder." That's the first half - the second half complains of the $4,250 USD price tag. Oh well.
Leica Q — The new full-frame sensor compact camera from Leica is the perfect camera to carry around town on your shoulder. It’s the ultimate photography status symbol with a price tag of $4,250. It’s pretty much out of the price range for most of us. The Leica features a fixed Summilux 28mm f/1.7, 24.4 megapixel sensor, 3-inch touchscreen LCD monitor and built-in Wi-Fi.
Also worth mentioning is that if you have any chance of getting one for Father's Day, it might take a small miracle. We've received reports that some retailers have updated availability of the new camera to "months." Best to check your Leica Q pre-order options carefully - and consider getting on at least a couple of waiting lists.
Update (06/19/15):
Of course, TIME had to get in on the action with "5 Great Cameras For Capturing Your Summer Fun" and writes of the Leica Q:
If you’re as much about the tool as you are the artwork, Leica’s latest compact is going to make you feel like a painter playing with Vincent van Gogh’s brushes — and for $4,250, it ought to. A full-frame, fixed lens digital camera, the Leica Q was designed with speed in mind, with a fastest-in-class Summilux 28mm f/1.7 ASPH lens and 24 megapixel CMOS sensor. An integrated 3.68 megapixel viewfinder pops up as soon as you bring the camera to your eye, snapping in the autofocus and shooting up to 10 full-resolution frames per second, with JPEGs instantly ready for reviewing.
With full manual controls, seasoned shutterbugs can make the most of their shots and even get some assistance from “focus peaking” and “live view zoom” features. And with modern networking chops through Wi-Fi, the images can be streamed over to the Leica app for viewing, saving and sharing.