Leica Q3 Review & Image Gallery

Leica simply launched the Leica Q3, the third era Q, and Shutterbug was capable of spend a fortnight with a manufacturing pattern. In comparison with its predecessor, practically each main specification and have has been enhanced—considerably. To not tip our hand, however the Leica Q3 seems to be one of the best compact digital camera out there at present.  

Overview
We just like the Leica Q2 so much—it’s nonetheless out there so we state within the current tense. You possibly can learn our assessment from 2019 right here. The Leica Q3 retains the form, styling and elementary performance of the Leica Q2, however the brand new mannequin has been improved in virtually each doable manner.

The complete-frame sensor now delivers 60 megapixels and may downshift to 36 or 18 megapixels. The picture sign processor has been upgraded to Leica Maestro IV stage. ISO has grown to 100,000, up from 50,000 (and these are actual numbers, as you’ll quickly see, not somebody’s creativeness). Video goes to 8K and provides different codecs. The rear touchscreen monitor can now be tilted, and the decision of the EVF has elevated 57%, from 3.68 to five.76 million pixels.

There’s even an adjunct induction charger that works in unison with the brand new non-compulsory grip. And there are new equipment that permit you to pimp-out your Leica Q3 with a gold-colored lens hood, delicate launch button and thumb grip if that is the way you roll.

There are a selection of under-the-radar enhancements as effectively. For instance, Leica has added HDMI and USB-C (3.1) interfaces. (Tethered capturing with Seize One or the Adobe Lightroom

plug-in is supported through the USB-C cable connection.) And the milliamperage of the battery has elevated about 18% as much as 2200mAh. Plus the AF pace has been elevated barely and AF functionality has been improved typically.

Fortuitously for us all, the 28mm f/1.7 Summilux ASPH prime (non-zoom) lens is identical as discovered on the Leica Q2. The lens is an impressive performer and its built-in macro functionality an actual plus.

Key Options
• 60 Megapixel Full-Body CMOS BSI Sensor
• Triple Decision (60 / 36 / 18 Megapixel) Selectable
• Leica Maestro IV Image Sign Processor
• RGB Coloration Filter, UV / IR filter; No Low-Cross Filter
• 28mm f/1.7 Summilux ASPH Prime (Non-Zoom) Lens
• Built-in Macro to 17cm (6.7 inches)
• Most Decision 9520 x 6336 Pixels (60.3 Megapixels)
• Magnesium Diecast Physique Development
• IP52 Mud / Moisture Safety
• 28, 35, 50, 75 & 90mm Digital Zoom (Body Crop Sort)
• 3-inch TFT Tiltable Touchscreen Monitor (1.84 Million Pixels)
• ISO Vary 50 to 100,000
• Hybrid Distinction Detection Autofocus, Plus DFD & PDAF
• 140 Millisecond AF Pace
• DNG, JPEG & DNG + JPEG Choices
• Small, Medium and Giant Uncooked DNG
• FHD, 4K, C4K, 8K, MP4 + MOV & ProRes (1080p) Video
• Stereo Microphone
• OLED Digital Viewfinder with 5.76 Million Pixels
• HDMI (Sort D) & USB-C (3.1) Interfaces
• 8GB Buffer Reminiscence
• Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and Made for iPhone & iPad Certification
• Elective Inductive Charging (Requires Handgrip)
• 2200mAh Battery (Mannequin BP-SCL6)
• Prompt Retail Worth $5,995

In comparison with Leica Q2

Cropability
For you purists who declare you “shoot for composition and by no means crop” I say this: suppose once more. The 9520 x 6336 pixel photos produced by the Leica Q3 now permit you to train your compositional expertise in Photoshop as a substitute of the viewfinder. You possibly can discover the nooks and crannies of your photos for gems blurred out by lesser cameras.

Partially with this in thoughts, the Leica Q3’s digital zoom now provides a 90mm body along with the 28, 35, 50 and 75mm crops discovered on the Leica Q2. This function might really feel unfamiliar to casehardened DSLR shooters, however with slightly follow it is wonderful.

Excessive ISO Efficiency
Boosting ISO from 50,000 to 100,000 isn’t any small feat. Typically camera producers declare exceptionally excessive ISOs however fail as a result of their high ISO yields photos that seem to have been shot by means of a unclean display door.

The ISO 100,000 setting on the Leica Q3 renders photos which are sharp and useable straight from the camera. The instance you see right here is an unedited 100% crop. The inset exhibits the total body. With slightly postprocessing from any of at present’s trendy denoising apps, anybody may make this seem like it was shot at ISO 1600 as a result of the grain is tight and common as a substitute of random and scattered.

Leica Fotos
Leica additionally enhanced their Fotos smartphone app. Switch pace is now as much as 10X quicker and you may switch Leica Seems to be to your Leica Q3. Leica Seems to be embrace Modern, Traditional, Blue, Selenium and Sepia with extra to come back.

Deal with Video
The improved electronics allowed Leica engineers to enhance video efficiency to 8K. Different modes embrace 4K, Cinema 4K and ProRes (1080p).

Development
Like nearly each different Leica camera physique, the Leica Q3 is the literal personification of precision and sturdiness. The physique is constructed of diecast magnesium and the climate seals are rated at IP52. On the IP matrix, the primary quantity displays resistance to mud infiltration and the second to water. Most IP ranking is IP68. If I owned a Leica Q3 I’d not take it out within the rain. For a deep-dive clarification of the IP classification system, click on right here for an earlier Shutterbug article. Sorry, however I could not resist the pun.

Operation
Even with the brand new options, operation of the Leica Q3 is actually the identical because the Leica Q2, so we cannot rehash the small print right here. As a substitute, learn our in depth assessment of the Leica Q2. We’ll, nevertheless, self-plagiarize this passage: “Leica house owners will perceive this. The dealing with and capturing expertise of utilizing a real Leica is satisfying. The grip, the texture, the heft—all the small nuances—should add as much as a satisfying, fulfilled expertise. The Leica Q3, just like the Q2 and Q earlier than it, gives this sensation.”

Image High quality
There are only a few adjectives that may adequately describe the top quality of the pictures captured with the Leica Q3. Think about your self having been reared on patty melts and unseasoned lima beans after which sooner or later being provided an 8-ounce medium uncommon fillet mignon and asparagus topped with Bearnaise sauce. That is roughly the way it feels to shoot with the Leica Q3 after utilizing typical cameras. It is actually that good.

Conclusion
When a world-renowned camera producer takes a preferred, established product such because the Leica Q2 and enhances practically each single function, there’s so much to unpack. Anybody can learn a specs chart and spot the quantitative variations, however after utilizing the Leica Q3 for 2 weeks, for me there are three key takeaways.

Cropability tops the checklist for me. The Leica Q3’s 60-megapixel sensor data a lot data and produces such a big (9520 x 6336 pixels) high-acutance picture that it is easy and efficient to crop a smaller (however nonetheless giant) picture from a full-res DNG. This is not the way in which I realized pictures, however it’s the manner I’m keen to relearn it.

Beautiful picture high quality on the ridiculously excessive ISO of 100,000 is available in a detailed second. Is there noise? In fact, however the grain construction is constant and never disagreeable. And whereas different cameras boast extraordinarily excessive ISO functionality, in my expertise few ship. The Leica Q3 produces the kind of excessive ISO picture that trendy denoising packages can readily ameliorate.

Third takeaway? For some it will likely be the enhancements in video seize. Others will reward the flexibility to downshift decision from 60 to 36 or 18 megapixels—and possibly the selection of three Uncooked DNG file sizes. For me personally it is the improved, greater decision (5.76 million pixel) OLED Digital Viewfinder mixed with the tiltable rear-mounted monitor. The enhancements to those two viewing choices make it simpler for me to make use of the Leica Q3.

Availability & Worth
The Leica Q3 is obtainable now at Authorized Leica Dealers and at Leica stores together with the online Leica store for $5,995. Restrict one per buyer. Rattling.

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Extra Q3 Pictures