The LEICA Q series has been widely praised since its launch in 2015. It has experienced Q2 in 2019 and then Q3 in 2023, the protagonist of this review. The specifications have undoubtedly evolved significantly. As for what features are worth paying attention to? And what was it like shooting? Please read the actual test report in this article.
Manufacturer information:
Leica, 02-2391-2593, leica-camera.com/zh-Hant
Product specifications:
Photosensitive element: full-frame CMOS
Processor: Maestro IV
Pixels: 60.3 million
Sensitivity: ISO 50-100000
Lens: Summilux 28mm f/1.7 ASPH.
Focus system: auto focus
Mechanical shutter: 1/2000-120s
Electronic shutter: 1/16000-1s
Flash sync: 1/2000s
Continuous shooting: 15fps
Image size: L (60MP), M (36MP), S (18MP)
Video recording: C8K 30p, C4K 60p, FHD 120p
Video format: MP4, H.265, ProRes
Screen: 3 inches, 1.84 million dots, touch-sensitive and flippable
Viewing window: 5.76 million dots
Memory card: SD, SDHC, SDXC (supports UHS-II)
Battery: BP-SCL6
Dimensions: 130×80.3×92.6mm
Weight: 743 (including battery and memory card)
Recommended selling price:
215,000 yuan (single body)
Feelings about upgrading after four years
Speaking of LEICA Q series, if you are paying attention to LEICA cameras, you will definitely be familiar with this series. I still remember that after the first generation LEICA Q was released in 2015, I have maintained a high degree of interest in it. The main reason is that it is a full-frame camera equipped with a 28mm F1.7 large aperture fixed focus lens. The practical focal length, F1.7 maximum aperture, full-frame sensor, and portable design all make LEICA Q an excellent tool for recording every moment of life, especially when I discovered that a photography friend bought it in October of the same year. This is a dream product, and I upload real photos of it from time to time, which further deepens my love for LEICA Q.
The second generation of LEICA Q came out in 2019. The biggest evolution is that the sensor has jumped from 24 million pixels to 47.3 million pixels. In addition to nearly doubling the pixels, the recording specifications have also been upgraded from FHD 60p to C4K / 4K 30p. Four years later, LEICA Q3 was released, with pixels increased to 60.3 million, video recording specifications upgraded to C8K/8K 30p, and a more advanced autofocus system, all of which gave LEICA Q3 more flexibility in creative creation.
The power of high-resolution image details
LEICA Q3 is equipped with a 60.3 million full-frame back-illuminated sensor, which is hard not to think of the LEICA M11. Although the author has not come into contact with the LEICA M11, I have only reviewed the LEICA M11 Monochrom not long ago, and the imaging power of LEICA’s own 60.3 million full-frame back-illuminated sensor is still fresh in my mind. Although the LEICA M11 Monochrom can only shoot black and white images, it does not affect people’s judgment of the strength of the monochromatic sensor. When the image is 100% cropped and enlarged, the image details and textures are preserved very well. When evaluating LEICA Q3, the author also got the same feeling. In addition, it also provides four zoom shots of 35mm, 50mm, 75mm, and 90mm, all of which are obtained through 60.3 million pixel cropping. Together with the native 28mm focal length, LEICA Q3 transforms into a lens with five focal lengths. Portable machine.
▲ The appearance of LEICA Q3 still maintains the consistent style design of the series. It can be said that from the first generation to the third generation, it looks exactly the same. The family characteristics are very obvious, with only slight changes in the size and weight figures.
▲ The Q3 viewing window has a resolution of 5.76 million dots, and the experience of taking pictures and viewing photos is first-class.
▲ The screen of Q3 finally has a flip function, which can bring more convenience for high and low angle viewing.
▲ The memory card slot is also located at the bottom, and the Q3 has USB Type-C and Micro HDMI ports.
▲ Q3 is equipped with a new BP-SCL6 battery, which has improved capacity and endurance compared to Q2’s BP-SCL4.
LEICA Summilux 28 f/1.7 ASPH. Still awesome
Some players may criticize the fact that LEICA Q3 is still equipped with the Summilux 28 f/1.7 ASPH. lens of the original LEICA Q. However, after actual testing, it was found that even if the LEICA Q3 has a pixel count of 60.3 million, the Summilux 28 f/1.7 ASPH. can still withstand it. It’s squeezing. In order to know how powerful this lens is at 60.3 million pixels, I deliberately used the maximum aperture of F1.7 to take several photos in different environments. Judging from the results, whether it is street photography, buildings, portraits or night scenes, all You can clearly see the image details in the picture through 100% cropping, and the textures are quite solid and sharp, which makes people admire LEICA’s optical strength. Moreover, this lens also has a Macro mode, with a minimum focusing distance of 17cm, which is very convenient for taking close-ups of food, flowers or ecology.
▲ Photographed by LEICA Q3. Aperture F1.7, shutter 1/1600 second, ISO 100, A-stop priority, automatic white balance, RAW to JPG.
▲ It can be clearly seen from the 100% crop of the above picture that the LEICA Summilux 28 f/1.7 ASPH. lens used from the first generation can indeed withstand the test of the 60.3 million pixels of the LEICA Q3. Even with the F1.7 aperture fully open, the eye focus is still very sharp.
▲ Photographed by LEICA Q3. Aperture F8, shutter 1/100 second, ISO 100, A aperture priority, automatic white balance, RAW to JPG. (Macro mode)
Continue the favorable operating experience
In terms of operating feel, although this is my first time using a LEICA Q series camera, the operating experience of the Q3 is honestly better than that of the M series. Although both have no grip design on the front of the fuselage, at least the Q3 has a groove on the upper right side of the back, allowing a place for the right thumb to rest, providing a better holding experience than the M series. As for the button layout on the back of the phone, there are minor changes compared to the previous model. In addition to moving the buttons originally located on the left side of the screen to the right, the number has also been reduced to two. However, the screen still supports touch operations, and lacks The Fn key has been moved to the top of the screen. Personally, I think the overall control is not affected at all, but it just takes some time to get used to.
▲ The top layout of the Q3 is exactly the same as the Q2, with only the shutter speed dial, shutter button and exposure compensation dial. For first- or second-generation old users, it can be upgraded almost painlessly; the model number is also engraved on the hot shoe.
▲ Q3 also maintains the consistent retro control feeling of the LEICA Q series, and the overall materials and feel are very good.
▲ All buttons have been moved to the right side of the screen, and with the addition of four-way keys and a touch screen, most operations are covered.
▲The lens is equipped with a focus scale, depth of field scale, aperture ring and a switching ring for the Marco macro function.
▲ There is a focus ring lock button under the lens, which can be pressed to switch between manual and automatic focus.
Thoughts on upgraded video recording specifications
Finally, I would like to share my experience in recording LEICA Q3. In addition to the M series, other series of LEICA cameras have video recording capabilities, and the improvement in video specifications of the LEICA Q series is obvious to all, from FHD 60p in the first generation to C4K/4K 30p in the second generation, to C8K/8K 30p in the third generation. Experience the Great Leap Forward every four years. If you look into the details, you can use the 4:2:2 10bit ALL-I format when recording videos below C4K 60p, which is a friendly setting for users with post-production needs; if you want to C8K 30p videos will be recorded with 4:2:0 10bit color sampling and bit depth. In addition, whether taking pictures or recording videos, Q3 supports zoom shooting and eye/face tracking. Especially the latter, the response is very fast and sensitive, and its practicality is incomparable.
The first choice for performance-focused LEICA fans
I still vaguely remember that I just finished reviewing the LEICA M11 Monochrom not long ago. I didn’t expect that I would soon have the opportunity to review the LEICA Q series that I have been longing for, and it is the latest Q3. I am really looking forward to it. Although the M11 Monochrom and Q3 are both LEICA cameras, they give me completely different feelings. If taking pictures with the M series is a bad experience, then taking pictures with the Q series is about enjoying the splendid fireworks brought about by the collision of technology and classics.
The reason why I say this is that in a body with such a classic design, LEICA Q3 has a 60.3 million high-pixel sensor, responsive and reliable eye/face recognition tracking, and C8K/8K 30p 4:2 :0 10bit, C4K / 4K 60p 4:2:2 10bit recording specifications, by the way! Don’t forget that it also supports ProRes format. These high technologies appear in the small body of Q3, which really makes me feel the sudden beauty of it! Maybe we all think that with a LEICA camera, we need to take pictures slowly and savor the beauty of photography in the process. But I believe that for some LEICA fans who pay attention to performance, it has advanced and reliable autofocus and human eyes/faces. LEICA cameras with identification and tracking functions are their first choice for life recording or creative equipment, and Q3 is undoubtedly the best choice at the moment.
More works shot with LEICA Q3
▲ Photographed by LEICA Q3. Aperture F1.7, shutter 1/250 second, ISO 100, A-stop priority, automatic white balance, RAW to JPG.
▲ Photographed by LEICA Q3. Aperture F2.8, shutter 1/40 second, ISO 100, P program first, automatic white balance, RAW to JPG.
▲ Photographed by LEICA Q3. Aperture F4.5, shutter 1/250 second, ISO 100, P program first, automatic white balance, RAW to JPG.
▲ Photographed by LEICA Q3. Aperture F4, shutter 1/160 second, ISO 100, P program first, automatic white balance, RAW to JPG.
▲ Photographed by LEICA Q3. Aperture F2.2, shutter 1/30 second, ISO 200, A-stop priority, automatic white balance, RAW to JPG.
▲ Photographed by LEICA Q3. Aperture F2.8, shutter 1/30 second, ISO 200, A-stop priority, automatic white balance, RAW to JPG.
▲ Photographed by LEICA Q3. Aperture F8, shutter 1/1600 second, ISO 100, A-stop priority, automatic white balance, RAW to JPG.
▲ Photographed by LEICA Q3. Aperture F5, shutter 1/640 second, ISO 100, P program first, automatic white balance, RAW to JPG.
▲ Photographed by LEICA Q3. Aperture F1.7, shutter 1/30 second, ISO 1000, A-stop priority, automatic white balance, RAW to JPG.
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