COMPACT TEST
LEIC A Q3
EXPERT OPINION ON THE LATEST KIT
Beautiful, simple to use and takes incredible photos www.leica-camera.com £5,300/$5,995
There aren’t many new
fixed-lens full-frame cameras around nowadays, especially premium cameras. Since Sony binned off its RX range, this has effectively left Leica with an open goal for its Q series of cameras. However, Leica being Leica, it was still going to showboat for a while before kicking the ball into the net.
Leica launched the Q series in 2015, with the aim of making a full-frame compact camera that balanced exceptional image quality and intuitive controls. The Leica Q’s 28mm f/1.7 lens also garnered significant praise, with many commentators likening it to Leica’s finest M-series lenses.
Building on this success, Leica introduced the Leica Q2 in 2019, with the camera featuring a higher-resolution sensor, weather sealing and all-round improved usability.
Leica is now back with the third iteration of the Q series, the Q3. The new camera aims to take everything that was loved about the previous two versions, including the same renowned fixed 28mm lens, but build upon its strengths with new cutting-edge technology. However, as the Q3 forges ahead into the future, can Leica still preserve the magic of the earlier versions?
Key features
The camera incorporates Leica’s new back-illuminated CMOS sensor with Triple-Resolution-Technology,
providing users with three resolution options: 60, 36, or 18 megapixels, all using the full sensor width. The 60-megapixel setting captures the finest details, while the lowerresolution options offer faster operation, longer image sequences, smaller file sizes and a slight increase in dynamic range. Powering the camera is the latest Maestro Series processor with L2 Technology.
The Leica Q3 caters for content creators by offering 8K video recording and support for codecs such as H.265 and Apple’s ProRes. The camera can be connected to external devices including gimbals, power banks and display recorders via its USB-C and HDMI ports. Tethered shooting is also supported using the USB-C cable connection.
1 There’s no grip, so Q3 users will require the reassurance of a strap when shooting.
2 The fixed focal length Summilux 28mm f/1.7 offers autofocus and image stabilisation.
3 With its black finish, the Q3 is subtle enough for street shooting – and it includes the red badge.
4 Unlike its Q1 and Q2 forebears, the Leica Q3 brings the many benefits of a folding LCD screen.
5 The rear display is a 3-inch TFT unit which offers approximately 1.84m dots of resolution.
6 Button placement favours right-handers, with Play and Menu top and tailing the control wheel.
7 Old-school features such as an aperture ring and a distance scale hark back to more tactile times.
8 The flash hot shoe cover keeps the top plate profile sleek and protects the electrical contacts.
9 Many of the controls are unlabelled, but you’ll soon learn and remember what they all do.