Leica Q3 ?

[beewee]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Leica has been pretty good with shipping limited quantities of new cameras upon announcement/release over the past few years. All that said, I expect demand for the Q3 will likely outstrip initial availability and it will take some time for Leica to catch up with demand.

For some reason, there’s been more and more interest in the Q2 recently. Looking at Google Trends, there’s been a lot anticipation for the Q3. Much more so than the Q2 before release. I think the interest spike after the official announcement could be indicative of initial demand for the Q3 compared to the Q and Q2.

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

[robb]

I put my dollars down on one today.  Less than $6k was welcome and realistic.  

main improvements to me is the better viewfinder resolution and 120 refresh rate matching my sl2 cameras.  Also faster AF.

I hope I can shoot in monochromatic viewfinder mode.  That’s what I set my SL2 cameras to.

using same sl2 battery is a huge plus to me.

higher resolution sensor with better dr is great.  
 

couldn’t care less about the flip screen.  Haven’t used it once on my Hassy x2d

couldn’t care less about video.  

The Q3 seems evolutionary rather than ground breaking.  Fine by me.

Now I hope they put out a longer lens Q3 after this one does well.  

but regardless, this is a perfect companion for the sl2 cameras.

Robb

[mjw3]

Maybe it’s just me, but the expectations of the Q3 to be this super-hybrid do everything camera are a bit over the top. 

• Auto focus speed will be better than the Q2, but it’s not going to be a Sony Alpha. Especially considering the lens mechanics are probably the same.
• For video, is OIS (three-ish stops) really going to cut it? And who is going to vlog with a $6K camera (other than to make one video for clicks)?
• A sensor with that much resolution will surely exhibit rolling shutter effects?

As noted earlier, the Q3 will be an incremental step up from the Q2. Leica isn’t exactly a technological powerhouse, and I’m fine with that.

[beewee]

I’m doubtful anyone is going to buy the Q3 as a vlogging camera. The lens is not wide enough. I don’t think I’ve read anything comments here where people are suggesting it’ll be a super hybrid do everything camera.

If I had to guess, focus speed might be on par with the Lumix S5ii if the lens motor can keep up and shutter lag will be on par with the A7Rv (not great).

[luetz]

A special edition that cannot shoot video....

Hoping for a Q4-S dedicated to stills only.  Not sure if I can wait but definitely a buyer.

[albert]

I’m Almost 77. Last fall I spent 6k plus for a Q2 Monochrom. I sold everything else but saved a DCM LX 1000 for color. I have stopped looking, and very happy. Good luck to all 🎶🎶😳😳😳😳😳😳😳🎶🎶

[Chaemono]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

vor 14 Stunden schrieb Simone_DF:

Definitely. To begin with, improved noise at high iso and better autofocus, which were the main reasons I got rid of the Q2 after 3 months. 

But, more importantly, the Q3 is not meant just as an upgrade from the Q2, but also as a new camera for other people that were not too impressed with the previous iteration or that are new to Leica.

It could be that the Q3 comes with CDAF. This would leave PDAF to be introduced in the SL3 first, plus some upside for the Q4. Better AF relative to the Q2 would still be achieved through the faster processor. 

[la1402]

2 hours ago, Chaemono said:

It could be that the Q3 comes with CDAF. This would leave PDAF to be introduced in the SL3 first, plus some upside for the Q4. Better AF relative to the Q2 would still be achieved through the faster processor. 

Per specifications, it will get the hybrid AF from the S5II, which is very good. Not as great as in Canon or Sony, but a big improvement.

[LocalHero1953]

8 hours ago, mjw3 said:

Maybe it’s just me, but the expectations of the Q3 to be this super-hybrid do everything camera are a bit over the top. 

• Auto focus speed will be better than the Q2, but it’s not going to be a Sony Alpha. Especially considering the lens mechanics are probably the same.
• For video, is OIS (three-ish stops) really going to cut it? And who is going to vlog with a $6K camera (other than to make one video for clicks)?
• A sensor with that much resolution will surely exhibit rolling shutter effects?

As noted earlier, the Q3 will be an incremental step up from the Q2. Leica isn’t exactly a technological powerhouse, and I’m fine with that.

Bullet 1: AF on the Q2 is poor. If AF on the Q3 has PDAF and is good and usable for face recognition, AFs and iAF like the SL2-S, then that will be a big improvement. It doesn't have to be a Sony A7r4.

Bullet 2: As others have commented, there's more to video than vlogging. The Q3 looks as if it will do excellent video output. The icing on the cake, for me, would be no 30min limit.

Bullet 3: If you're concerned about silent shooting, then the Q series has a near silent mechanical leaf shutter, which has no rolling shutter effect. For very fast exposure (faster than 1/2000) where you use the electronic shutter you are likely to get rolling shutter with most modern cameras. I doubt this will change much with the Q3 - after all, the increase in resolution is small.

Whether it is an incremental change or big improvement depends on whether its current limitations affect you. The Q2's limitations in AF and low light shooting affect me now. Removing the 30 min video limit would widen my use envelope of the Q and allow me to sell another camera.

[Simone_DF]

4 hours ago, Chaemono said:

It could be that the Q3 comes with CDAF. This would leave PDAF to be introduced in the SL3 first, plus some upside for the Q4. Better AF relative to the Q2 would still be achieved through the faster processor. 

Yes, but I find it quite unlikely. Developing a brand new PDAF implementation takes time. I bet both Panasonic and Leica, as L2, have been working on it for well over a year, if not two. Plenty of time to implement it on the Q3. 
Moreover, from a marketing perspective, a CDAF only Q3 would leave that camera as the black sheep of the current L mount generation

[LocalHero1953]

The specs on Leica Rumors say phase detect AF. They are comprehensive enough, and near enough to launch to be credible.

[Daniel C.1975]

It will have PDAF. How good it will be, we will see.

 

Regarding video: In my view the Q3 continues to be a stills focused camera. So video is secondary - for me. No for me it is less, as I give a dam.. about video. I understand, for others it is more important. Again for me: A Jack in all trades is seldomly really good in one disciplin, so I always view the high focus on video for stills cameras with some suspicions

 

Another week and we might know more.

[Simone_DF]

18 minutes ago, Daniel C.1975 said:

It will have PDAF. How good it will be, we will see.

Same level as S5II I assume. And let’s not forget this is the very first iteration of PDAF for both Panasonic and Leica. It will get even better in a couple of firmware updates. Remember the AF in the SL2 when it first came out in 2019? It was atrocious. Now it’s good, with some caveats. 

[LocalHero1953]

I have no trouble with those who don't want to use video in the Q. As long as we don't get to the situation with the M series, where long-time afficionados can't accept that something they don't want may be there, even if they can't see it. That approach to the M is holding back its development IMO. A camera is a tool, not a mystic object. (FTAOD I don't see anyone here advocating that for the Q series).

[Marc B-C]

Having looked at the Q3 possible / probable specs, with the exception of the Maestro 4 chip perhaps, I am seeing nothing here to make me open my wallet.  For my photography the Q2 current autofocus has caused me no issue, I have yet to yearn for a flippy screen and 47mp is more than sufficient for me as a non printing photographer. I do not shoot video but  I have tried in the past with various GoPros and Fuji cameras. I also have various bits of software to manipulate the Q2 shots if needed for high iso etc. 

Sorry Leica, there will be many buyers for the Q3 I am sure, just not me at this time. 

Edited May 20, 2023 by Marc B-C

[Carlsberg]

Has anyone seen rumours in regards to IP class for the Q3, same or better then Q2 with its IP52? 

[LocalHero1953]

13 minutes ago, Carlsberg said:

Has anyone seen rumours in regards to IP class for the Q3, same or better then Q2 with its IP52? 

IP52 according to the specs on Leica Rumors. Limited dust protection, water spray up to 15 deg from vertical.

[Simone_DF]

4 hours ago, LocalHero1953 said:

I have no trouble with those who don't want to use video in the Q. As long as we don't get to the situation with the M series, where long-time afficionados can't accept that something they don't want may be there, even if they can't see it. That approach to the M is holding back its development IMO. A camera is a tool, not a mystic object. (FTAOD I don't see anyone here advocating that for the Q series).

I would like to see a Q3 with no video too, but only to see the faces of the purists when they are faced with a 10k price for the kit, since Leica will have to make up for the lost sales to the video folks somehow. 

[costa43]

It seems like the price in the EU is going to be €5950. More than it should be but a fair bit less than I thought. That bodes well for the U.K price to be circa £5500.

[Advertisement]

Hallo,

Look here: Leica Q

[wlaidlaw]

1 minute ago, costa43 said:

It seems like the price in the EU is going to be €5950. More than it should be but a fair bit less than I thought. That bodes well for the U.K price to be circa £5500.

Pre or post tax? I very much hope you are correct about the £5500, as I have budgeted for £6000. 

Wilson