Jono Slack Review: The Leica Q3

[microview]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

"I am keeping my Q2. For 6K€ I want a Leica that looks nice in the hand and to the eye. 
That screen ruins both"

Yes rear view was so elegant with Q2 but no longer. And that tilting screen – oh no, not for me either.

[Advertisement]

The Leica Q3 is available for pre-order at B&H Photo Video and Adorama

[LocalHero1953]

1 minute ago, microview said:

"I am keeping my Q2. For 6K€ I want a Leica that looks nice in the hand and to the eye. 
That screen ruins both"

Yes rear view was so elegant with Q2 but no longer. And that tilting screen – oh no, not for me either.

Well, I don't like the tilting screen either, but it won't be a factor in whether I buy the Q3 or not!

[indie]

1 minute ago, microview said:

"I am keeping my Q2. For 6K€ I want a Leica that looks nice in the hand and to the eye. 
That screen ruins both"

Yes rear view was so elegant with Q2 but no longer. And that tilting screen – oh no, not for me either.

I have not seen it in person so I am wondering is it really that degrading of a look?  Or is it just the principle of this change bothering past Leica camera owners.  I am hoping for more reviews to get a sense of this change.  

[Mikep996]

The pics of the camera make the screen very clunky looking to my eye.  I can't think that it somehow looks better in real life.  Because the flip screen is something I don't want/need it's a major negative point for the camera even though it has nothing to do with image quality.

[nicci78]

2 hours ago, microview said:

"I am keeping my Q2. For 6K€ I want a Leica that looks nice in the hand and to the eye. 
That screen ruins both"

Yes rear view was so elegant with Q2 but no longer. And that tilting screen – oh no, not for me either.

Exactly and by the way the rear view is the most important for the photographer. Because it is the only side you see constantly when using it. 

[Chaemono]

vor 2 Stunden schrieb Mikep996:

The pics of the camera make the screen very clunky looking to my eye.  I can't think that it somehow looks better in real life.  Because the flip screen is something I don't want/need it's a major negative point for the camera even though it has nothing to do with image quality.

It looks better than in the photos.

 

 

[elmars]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

vor 13 Stunden schrieb indie:

I have not seen it in person so I am wondering is it really that degrading of a look?

I don't think so. I would describe myself as a camera aesthete. When I unpacked the camera, I didn't notice the new design in a negative way (but not in a positive way either). Of course, this is all a matter of taste.

[Snipe10]

Have a Q2 Monochrom so will probably grab a Q3

[ruskkyle]

Nice review, thanks Jono.

I dropped into the Leica Store Lille yesterday to have a look at their display Q3 and I've got to agree it does look and feel much more bulky than the previous generation, especially with the hand grip attached which adds a lot of weight.

I'm sure the images are exceptional though.

[Lancej]

Jono, such  a great review covering all of the latest and greatest features and benefits. 
We all have our peculiar needs ie. We want  a flip screen or do not need one, etc.

Personally I liked the fact my Q2 does not have a flip screen but that is just me. I don’t want my Q2 to work like a Fuji, Nikon , Sony etc  

I am  very interested in the new long exposure capabilities, does this mean there is a bulb mode where you can take 4-5 minute  long exposures perhaps not with a separate remote trigger but at least setting up the internal timer within the menus? 
Whatever we’re all looking for to post rationalize pulling the trigger for an upgrade, there is an aspect within  human behavior called “ loss aversion “ theory  and FOMO- “fear of missing out .”

Leica and every camera OEM relies on it.
We don’t want to be left behind, soon this forum will be ‘chock a block ‘ full of Q3  antidotes and experiences and if you only have a Q2 or god forbid a Q1 you are on the outside looking in. 

I just spent 3 weeks wandering small towns and villages  in south of France with my Q2 and really bonded with it; it was a dream to use and have it with me constantly. Day  or night, rain or shine it was amazing. 

To upgrade now seems disrespectful for all of the love it showed me  🙂

Enjoy what you have, and if you will enjoy  having newer  even more by all means step up to the Leica counter.  
 

Congratulations to Leica for continuing to support and improve this great line. 

[reynoldsyoung]

Jono...fabulous as always.  My Q3 arrived yesterday and having a ball with it.  Set is extremely easy in most cases.  

One Question for you or anyone.  I am recording images in DNG/JPG.  What I want in the full size color DNG and I want the JPG in High Contrast Mono.  I am screwing it up.  When I select HC Mono in JPG Settings, that selection changes my DNG to HC Mono.  Am I asking the impossible?  Help if you can...and, I know you can!  Ha!

[LocalHero1953]

1 hour ago, reynoldsyoung said:

Jono...fabulous as always.  My Q3 arrived yesterday and having a ball with it.  Set is extremely easy in most cases.  

One Question for you or anyone.  I am recording images in DNG/JPG.  What I want in the full size color DNG and I want the JPG in High Contrast Mono.  I am screwing it up.  When I select HC Mono in JPG Settings, that selection changes my DNG to HC Mono.  Am I asking the impossible?  Help if you can...and, I know you can!  Ha!

I am not Jono, but the DNG is always in colour (or can be returned to colour in Lightroom/PS/C1), whatever it may show on the EVF/LCD. A DNG is a raw file, which means it is the raw data that the sensor produces, not what the camera processes to turn into a (HC Mono) JPG.

Edited May 28, 2023 by LocalHero1953

[Tp2000]

16 minutes ago, LocalHero1953 said:

I am not Jono, but the DNG is always in colour (or can be returned to colour in Lightroom/PS/C1), whatever it may show on the EVF/LCD. A DNG is a raw file, which means it is the raw data that sensor produces, not what the camera processes to turn into a (HC Mono) JPG.

Not disagreeing with anything you're saying, but just to go a step further, Lightroom normal take the camera settings and applies those to DNGs, which is why the OP's "colour" DNGs are showing up as B&W. 

In LR: Settings > Presets (tab) > Change GLOBAL from "camera settings" to "Adobe Default". 

I'm doing this from memory, but I think that will show your DNGs as colour. 

[nameBrandon]

1 hour ago, reynoldsyoung said:

Jono...fabulous as always.  My Q3 arrived yesterday and having a ball with it.  Set is extremely easy in most cases.  

One Question for you or anyone.  I am recording images in DNG/JPG.  What I want in the full size color DNG and I want the JPG in High Contrast Mono.  I am screwing it up.  When I select HC Mono in JPG Settings, that selection changes my DNG to HC Mono.  Am I asking the impossible?  Help if you can...and, I know you can!  Ha!

It’s not impacting your DNG. Depending on what software you use, it may apply the chosen “look” to your dng to simulate the JPG, but you can always turn that off or get back to the original image colors with the DNG. For Lightroom, I think this is the “profile”, and for capture one I think it’s called “tone curve”, typically under the style tab. 

[LocalHero1953]

1 minute ago, Tp2000 said:

Not disagreeing with anything you're saying, but just to go a step further, Lightroom normal take the camera settings and applies those to DNGs, which is why the OP's "colour" DNGs are showing up as B&W. 

In LR: Settings > Presets (tab) > Change GLOBAL from "camera settings" to "Adobe Default". 

I'm doing this from memory, but I think that will show your DNGs as colour. 

Thank you - I thought that was the case but was too lazy to get up and check it with my Q2 - so left my answer simple rather than working through the other possibilities!

[reynoldsyoung]

Thanks so much for all of this, guys!  I am familiar with most of that.  That said, what I think I am hearing is there is no way to set up the Q to produce a color DNG and a HC Mono JPG natively in the camera.  Is that correct?  I understand anything can be done in post.  I am trying to set up the Q3 to produce a color DNG and a HC Mono with every shutter actuation.  Doesn't sound possible, huh?

[Orguy]

I have a Q and a Q2 which I want to trade in when my Q3 comes(ordered it).

What stores have you found that is best to deal with: for money back, hassle free etc. ?

I’d rather not deal with an individual so I’m willing to accept a bit less if that happens: is bh photo, one of the Leica stores, someone else the best?

[KateStarr]

1 hour ago, reynoldsyoung said:

Thanks so much for all of this, guys!  I am familiar with most of that.  That said, what I think I am hearing is there is no way to set up the Q to produce a color DNG and a HC Mono JPG natively in the camera.  Is that correct?  I understand anything can be done in post.  I am trying to set up the Q3 to produce a color DNG and a HC Mono with every shutter actuation.  Doesn't sound possible, huh?

Yes, it should be possible. I believe what others were saying is that you need to change your Lightroom settings so that when the DNGs are imported, they are left as untouched raw files. The way you have things set up now Lightroom is automatically changing the DNGs to the B&W setting from your camera upon import. 

I’m not sure if I’m wording that as precisely as possible, but hopefully you can understand what I mean.

[Advertisement]

Hallo,

Look here: Leica Q

[AlanD]

1 hour ago, Orguy said:

 

I have a Q and a Q2 which I want to trade in when my Q3 comes(ordered it).

What stores have you found that is best to deal with: for money back, hassle free etc. ?

I’d rather not deal with an individual so I’m willing to accept a bit less if that happens: is bh photo, one of the Leica stores, someone else the best?

Leica Store San Francisco is always very generous with their trades

[nameBrandon]

3 hours ago, reynoldsyoung said:

Thanks so much for all of this, guys!  I am familiar with most of that.  That said, what I think I am hearing is there is no way to set up the Q to produce a color DNG and a HC Mono JPG natively in the camera.  Is that correct?  I understand anything can be done in post.  I am trying to set up the Q3 to produce a color DNG and a HC Mono with every shutter actuation.  Doesn't sound possible, huh?

Actually, there is no other way to do it. You get a color DNG and a JPG with the "style" preset that you chose. That is the only option. If you are shooting RAW + JPG, and you have HC Mono selected, then you are getting exactly what you describe: a color DNG and an HC mono JPG natively, in camera.

The camera displays the JPG version of the image you shot when you review the image. If you choose the HC Mono style for your JPG, then that is what the camera will display back to you. You cannot choose a color style and then have it display the standard raw file instead, because the camera only displays the JPG.

The DNG is always color, because it's the raw sensor data, and it's a color sensor. When your raw converter (Capture One, Lightroom, etc..) converts the DNG to an image that you can see, it may recognize that you chose a certain style for your JPG and then present a version of the DNG that matches your JPG. If this is happening for you, then it is entirely a function of the raw converter, and that is where you need to configure your desired options, not on the camera. You should be able to tell whatever raw converted software you use to display the standard color DNG, irrespective of whatever jpg style/look you chose in camera. Tp2000 provided the instructions to do this in Lightroom earlier.

Rest assured, you are always getting a color DNG. If you choose to shoot RAW + JPG, then you'll get your color DNG and whatever version of the JPG style you choose. That is the only way this works, and there is no possibility of your DNG image data being influenced by the JPG style you chose in the camera.

Edited May 29, 2023 by nameBrandon