Leica Q3 43 Review
We've aggregated 9 high-signal reviews and 2 live retailer prices below.
Our editorial take on the Leica Q3 43
The Leica Q3 43 is not an upgrade or a replacement for the standard Q3, but rather a specialized sibling with a distinct personality. Its entire existence hinges on one component: the new 43mm f/2 APO-Summicron lens. This camera takes the already proven, high-resolution Q3 platform and tailors it for photographers who find the traditional 28mm focal length too wide. The new lens offers a tighter, more 'normal' perspective that harks back to the classic 50mm street photography experience, delivering a field of view that feels both natural and intimate.
Every other aspect of the camera, from its excellent sensor to its minimalist ergonomics, remains familiar to anyone who has handled a Q3. Therefore, the decision to purchase a Q3 43 is refreshingly simple. It is a question of creative preference, not technical superiority. If you desire the Leica Q experience but with a lens that isolates subjects more effectively and renders scenes with a classic standard-lens character, this is the camera you have been waiting for. The price is, of course, substantial, positioning it as a luxury tool for a very specific user, but the optical performance and unique shooting experience make a compelling case for those who fit its narrow, well-defined profile.
- New 43mm f/2 APO-Summicron lens provides exceptional optical quality.
- Classic 'normal' focal length is ideal for street and travel photography.
- Inherits the excellent high-resolution full-frame sensor from the Q3.
- Streamlined, minimalist user experience with premium build quality.
- Offers a distinct creative alternative to the standard 28mm Q3.
- Extremely high price point limits its audience.
- Fixed focal length is inherently inflexible.
- A highly niche product with very specific appeal.
Synthesized by Geared editors from early expert reviews.
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My honest review of the Leica Q3 43 Digital Camera
This page collects articles and discussions related to the Leica Q3 43 digital camera, including comparisons with other cameras like the Sony RX1R III.
Sony has released the third-generation RX1R III, a flagship high-end point-and-shoot camera that comes with a hefty price tag of $5,099 USD. The full-frame 61-megapixel camera features a fixed-lens ZEISS Sonnar T* 35mm F2 lens.
Leica has just unleashed a mass wave of firmware updates for many of its cameras, including the SL2, SL2-S, Q3, M11, M11 Monochrom, and M11-P.
Is this the Q update that you have always wanted?
Leica has taken a page from Ricoh’s book and made a version of the much-loved Q3 with a newly developed, longer focal length 43mm f/2 APO-Summicron lens, and it brings me right back to a nostalgic place and time when I would wander the streets with nothing but a fixed 50mm.
I didn’t find the Q3 super compelling in comparison to my personal Q2... But the Q3 43 and its new lens may offer something special and unique enough to make futzing with those drawbacks worthwhile.
The RX1R III is an incredible camera, capable of capturing stunning photos. However, for something Sony waited nearly a decade to update and is charging $5,100 for, it also feels like a missed opportunity.
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About this product
The Leica Q3 43 is a powerful and portable digital camera featuring a 60MP full-frame BSI CMOS sensor and an APO-Summicron 43mm f/2 ASPH. lens. It supports 8K30 video recording and includes a hybrid AF system with phase detection and optical image stabilization. This camera is designed for portrait photographers and everyday shooters seeking a natural perspective.
Specs
- Usb
- USB-C 3.1 Gen 2
- Wireless
- Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) / Bluetooth 5.0
- Card Slot
- Single Slot: SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-II)
- Battery
- 1x BP-SCL6 Rechargeable Lithium-Ion, 7.2 VDC, 2200 mAh
- Waterproof
- IP52-rated
- Battery Life
- Approx. 350 Shots
- Weight Grams
- 772 g (With Battery)
- Dimensions Mm
- 130 x 80.3 x 97.6 mm
- Aperture Range
- f/2 to f/16
- Focal Length Equiv
- 43mm
- Min Focus Distance
- 10.4 inches
- Bit Depth
- 10-Bit
- Max Frame Rate 4k
- 60 fps
- Max Frame Rate Hd
- 120 fps
- Max Video Bitrate
- 600 Mb/s
- Max Video Resolution
- 8192 x 4320
- Color
- Black / Grey leatherette
- Digital Zoom
- 3.5x Maximum
- Evf Resolution
- 5,760,000 Dot
- Continuous Shooting
- Up to 15 fps
- Video Output Bit Depth
- 8-Bit (External) / 10-Bit (Internal)
- Sensor Size
- Full-Frame (35.8 x 23.9 mm)
- Sensor Type
- CMOS
- Effective Megapixels
- 60.3 Megapixel
- Rear Screen
- Tilting 3" 1.84m-dot LCD
- Touchscreen
- Yes
- Launch Price Usd
- 7,950.00
- Stabilization
- Optical in Integrated Lens
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