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Leica Q3 43 Compact Camera Launches

7 min. read

The Leica Q3 43 Compact Camera launches with a new 43mm lens, taking what photographers love about the original Q3 and adjusting it with a 43mm APO-Summicron instead. While the original model comes with a 28mm wide angle of view, the 43mm focal length offers a closer match to human vision. This creates a natural field of view that’s just as ideal for street photography and portraiture, as it is for everyday snapshots.

This subtle shift in focal length gives photographers a versatile tool for storytelling with minimal distortion, capturing scenes just as they appear, which will appeal to a wide range of users.

Let’s start our first look review with the launch date and price of the new Q3 43mm from legendary Leica.

Leica Q3 43 launch date and price

In line with the existing Q3, the Leica Q3 43 is priced at £5900.00, and was released on September 26, 2024. It launches with a new 43mm lens that includes built-in macro mode, expanding its versatility for close-up shots and offering even more creative control.

Leica Q3 With A Brand New Lens (Leica Q3 43 First Look Video)

What is the new fixed 43mm APO-Summicron lens?

Leica’s signature APO lens design is key to the Q3 43, with the APO-Summicron 43 f/2 ASPH minimising chromatic aberrations and delivering stunning sharpness and colour accuracy from the centre to the edges of each frame. It’s also complemented by a digital zoom function, allowing photographers to get closer to their subjects, right up to 150mm.

For those who are familiar with other Leica compacts like the D-Lux 8, which features a zoom lens, or the Q2 with its 28mm prime, the Q3 43 presents an interesting alternative. It doesn’t replace the Q3, but rather complements it, offering a different tool for those who prefer a focal length closer to the classic 50mm.

Leica 43mm APO-Summicron lens key features

• 43mm APO-Summicron f/2 ASPH. lens with built-in macro mode
• Apochromatic design to control aberrations and artefacts
• Natural field of view, ideal for street, travel, and portrait photography
• Low distortion and minimal vignetting
• Digital zoom 43-150mm without losing lots of detail
• 49mm filter thread

Camera design and aesthetics

The Leica Q3 43 retains the compact, robust build of the Q3, albeit with new grey leatherette finish. I love this colour, which is subtle and not dissimilar to classic Leica styling. The finish is especially high quality, with a full metal housing using a magnesium die-cast body, ensuring rigidity and strength.

There’s a discreet little inscription on the top plate reminding you that you're holding the Q3 43. And, just in case there was any doubt, Leica made sure to add plenty of Wetzlar engravings on the body and lens to remind you exactly where and by whom this beautiful camera was made.

Key camera features include:

• New grey leatherette
• ISO range from 50 to 100,000
• Full-frame BSI-CMOS-Sensor with Triple Resolution Technology (60MP / 36MP / 18MP)
• Hybrid Autofocus System (Phase Detection AF + Contrast AF + Depth from Defocus + AI)
• Tilting 3” display and 5.67MP OLED viewfinder
• Easy connectivity with the Leica FOTOS app
• USB-C and HDMI ports
• Up to 8K-Video and multiple formats including .H265 and ProRes
• Seamless connectivity with the Leica FOTOS app and integration with Apple products
• IP52 protection

By expanding the Q3 line, Leica offers photographers more creative freedom, whether they’re shooting wide, close-up, or anything in between.

28mm vs 43mm what's the difference?

When comparing the 28mm and 43mm lenses on these two compact cameras, each offers distinct advantages based on the subject and shooting style. The 28mm lens is wide-angle and excels at street photography, landscapes, and architecture, providing a broader field of view.

The 43mm lens on the Q3 43 delivers a more natural perspective, closer to human vision, with minimal distortion. It’s ideal for portraits, travel, and everyday use. Both lenses feature digital zoom, with the 28mm extending to 75mm and the 43mm reaching up to 150mm.

There is some crossover between the two for subjects like street photography and travel. The choice largely comes down to your preferred framing and style of shooting. Some will prefer the classic 28mm of the Q3, while others may enjoy the newer standard lens model. It's worth reviewing your own photos to identify which focal lengths you most frequently use.

It should be noted that both include an integrated macro mode, which allows for close focusing and frame-filling subjects, extending the versatility of the lens. The 43mm lens will focus between 26.5 cm to 60 cm in macro mode.

Fast hybrid AF system

Leica's hybrid autofocus system in the Q3 43 combines Phase Detection AF, Contrast AF, Depth from Defocus (DFD), and AI-based subject detection. This ensures fast, accurate focus for both stills and video, even in complex scenes with moving subjects.

Compared to other Leica models like the interchangeable lens SL3 and the original Q3, which use similar hybrid AF systems, the Q3 43 excels in subject tracking and precision, especially when combined with its APO 43mm lens.

The AI-driven subject detection is particularly effective for face, body, and animal recognition, making it versatile across different photography genres, broadening the appeal of this compact camera even further.

What is Q3 43 image quality like for photography?

The Leica Q3 43 delivers outstanding image quality thanks to its full-frame BSI-CMOS sensor with Triple Resolution Technology (60MP, 36MP, 18MP), paired with the Maestro IV processor and the high-performance APO-Summicron 43mm f/2 ASPH lens. This combination results in sharp, detailed images with minimal distortion and beautifully natural colours.

The sensor’s ISO performance is exceptional, allowing for clean, noise-free images even in moderately low light. Whether shooting at 60MP or scaling down for faster processing, detail retention remains impressive across all resolutions, and provides a means of capturing excellent quality while saving on file sizes and storage requirements.

Compared to interchangeable lens cameras, the Q3 43 is very versatile while maintaining compact proportions. Despite its fixed lens, it rivals systems like Leica’s SL series in terms of resolution and colour reproduction, thanks to its carefully designed optics and the APO lens quality.

Photographers will appreciate the impressive levels of detail this camera is able to capture, making it a serious tool for professionals and enthusiasts who value depth, clarity, and true-to-life colour rendering. This means that the Q3 43 excels in challenging subjects such as landscapes and portraits, while also handling macro shots beautifully.

With the APO lens correcting chromatic aberrations and providing edge-to-edge sharpness, the Q3 43 truly stands out as a photographer’s camera, with high-end performance from a portable all-in-one design.

Is it good for hybrid stills and video content?

The Leica Q3 43 continues its hybrid tradition by offering strong video capabilities that mirror the original Q3 model. It supports internal recording in resolutions up to 8K at 30p, offering detailed, high-resolution footage with plenty of editing potential.

For external recording, an HDMI connection allows for transfer to an external recorder in various formats, including 10-bit colour profiles and 4:2:2 subsampling, providing more advanced control over processing and colour accuracy.

Further flexibility in video formats includes 4K 60p and Full HD at 120p, making it perfect for slow-motion recording or higher frame-rate footage. The Q3 43’s ability to shoot with L-Log profile ensures a flat colour profile for enhanced post-production, delivering better dynamic range and the freedom to colour-grade your footage on a scene by scene basis.

While its compact size might suggest otherwise, the Q3 43 holds its own against larger, more specialised video cameras. With bitrates up to 400 Mbps, professional-level video is available for creators who need of both stills and moving images, from a hybrid system suited to vlogging, documentary, and street photography in a camera that can do it all.

Shooting speed

The Leica Q3 43 maintains the fast, responsive performance that Leica users expect, and includes silent electronic shutter for discreet shooting. Its mechanical shutter can shoot at up to 1/2000s, while the electronic shutter reaches an impressive 1/16000s. The camera’s burst speeds are equally impressive, with up to 15 fps in continuous shooting mode, ensuring you capture every moment.

A large 8 GB buffer capacity complements these speeds, allowing you to shoot uninterrupted, even in high-resolution 60MP mode, which make the Q3 43 an impressive camera even for faster paced, action-packed photography.

Connectivity and ease of use

The Leica Q3 43 offers advanced connectivity options, making it highly convenient for photographers and videographers who shoot on the go. Built-in Bluetooth and Wi-Fi enable pairing with the Leica FOTOS app, which offers wireless image transfer, remote shooting, and easy sharing of content.

For Apple users, the Q3 43 provides seamless integration with iPad, iPhone and computers, including support for fast charging via USB-C, and wireless charging is supported via an optional Q3 Wireless Charging Handgrip HG-DC1, enhancing its versatility.

The camera includes a variety of ports for different workflows, such as an HDMI output for external video recording and monitoring, which is perfect for creators needing to review footage on larger screens. The inclusion of audio in and out ports also enables direct microphone and headphone connections, offering better sound control for moviemaking.

Combined with USB-C connectivity, this means you can use the camera for tethered shooting (with Capture One or the Adobe Lightroom plug-in), charging, or data transfer, all while maintaining portability and convenience.

Overall, the Leica Q3 43 delivers a mix of connectivity options that make it flexible for everyday photography, professional shoots, and hybrid workflows with video. This ensures that photographers have the tools they need for creating and sharing content easily and efficiently, although most importantly it’s an enjoyable camera to use, which we discover next.

The Q3 43 retains the same single memory card configuration as the Q3, utilising a UHS-II SD card slot for flexibility and fast writing speeds for both stills and video.

User experience

Leica Q3 43 offers tactile, analogue dials similar to the original Q3, allowing photographers to physically control key settings like aperture, shutter speed, and ISO. This approach can be incredibly immersive, connecting photographers more directly with their craft. Using physical dials not only speeds up operation but also gives a more intuitive feel, especially during spontaneous shots.

For those used to modern touchscreen controls, the Q3 43’s combination of old-school dials with modern tech can provide a satisfying balance, making the process more engaging and fun, while still ensuring precision results.

Leica’s menu system is known for its clear graphic design and intuitive layout, making it easy to navigate even for those new to the brand. The straightforward structure ensures that settings are logically grouped, helping users find adjustments quickly without diving into complex submenus.

Icons are also simple and easy to understand, while the interface prioritises efficiency and ease of use. For photographers, this design allows quick customisation of shooting parameters, speeding up the workflow and creating a more enjoyable, user-friendly experience overall, which contributes to the camera's well-rounded user experience.

Build quality and reliability

The Leica Q3 43 continues Leica’s tradition of premium build quality, featuring a durable metal housing with a new grey leatherette finish that adds to its chic aesthetic. The body is weather-sealed to IP52 standards, offering resistance to dust and water splashes, making it reliable for shooting in diverse environments.

The tried-and-tested electronic viewfinder (EVF) boasts a high-resolution 5.76 million-dot OLED display, providing sharp, clear visibility. There’s a rear LCD is a 3-inch tilting touchscreen with 1.84 million dots, which is bright enough for content creation in daylight. Overall, it’s a robust and practical camera, which is designed to endure everyday use.

They may look pretty, but Leica cameras are tough as old boots.

Best accessories

All Leica Q3 43 accessories are the same as existing Q3 accessories, and work with the original Q3 and the newer model. Each is made with Leica’s renowned build quality, designed for durability and to enhance the user experience. From high-performance straps and grips to customisable buttons, these not only protect your gear but improve functionality, while allowing users to personalise their setup.

Here are five of our favourite accessories for the Leica Q3 43:

1. BP-SCL6 Battery – This 2200 mAh high-capacity rechargeable lithium-ion battery ensures longer shooting sessions, perfect for extended photoshoots or video recording.
2. The Leica Q3 Halfcase Leather Olive Green combines protection and elegance, in a case which snugly fits the Q3 and Q3 43, while providing easy access to controls.
3. A new Leica Q3 Multifunctional Protector Leather Black offers a combination of protection, improved ergonomics with a grip, and Arca-type compatibility for tripod mounting. Of course it’s also elegant, enhancing handling and aesthetics at once.
4. The Leica Rope Strap 100cm Grey By COOPH is a durable, comfortable strap made from high-quality German-made rope Italian-made leather end pieces. It provides comfortable carrying, ensuring the camera is always ready to capture moments while complementing the sleek design.
5. Leica Q3 Soft Release Button Brass. I love this accessory, which enhances shooting precision and adds a personalised touch to the Q3 series. Available in other finishes too, it allows photographers to adjust their shooting experience while embellishing the camera’s design.

Leica compact cameras, like the Q3 43, offer an exceptional shooting experience, combining portability with professional-grade image quality. While it may come with a premium price tag, the Q3 43 camera is built to last, providing incredible image quality and countless hours of creative satisfaction.

Leica's meticulous craftsmanship, intuitive usability, and reliable performance ensure that your investment in one of these cameras delivers years of enjoyment, whether you simply capture everyday moments or are busy exploring new creative pursuits.

If you're ready to experience the joy of photography with a camera that delivers stunning results, a Leica compact is an excellent choice. Explore the Leica Q3 43 Compact Digital Camera today, and see how it can take your creative journey in a new direction.

For those selling an older camera in order to upgrade, take a moment to get a free quotation with our hassle-free trade-in service, and we’ll collect the old, and deliver the new, all for free!

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By Nick Dautlich on 23/10/2024