Leica Q3 Waitlist/Stock/Shipment

[FlashBazbo]

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2 hours ago, WaitListed said:

After decades of using Nikons, Sonys & mostly Canon cameras, I rented a Q2 in May to see if the Leica look & experience was all it was marketed to be. I did enjoy the experience and output enough to put in an order for the Q3, but I have to say, my enthusiasm is quickly waning after a few months of waiting for the camera, with no delivery ETA in sight. Not a very auspicious start to my Leica "experience". 😞

I'm just one week into my wait. Is there a consensus as to how long the wait will be? (If we're six months out, it would be easier to handle if I knew it were the case.)

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

[jaapv]

2 hours ago, CalStanford said:

Otherwise we'd all have bought the same-sensor Sony four years ago.

Not really.  Most of us bought the Leica cameras for the UI, handling, results (sensors of the same make perform differently in different cameras), general quality, feel, etc. In other words. because we prefer the Leica way of taking  photographs. Jewels and prestige are a long way down the list. 

[Torontoamateur]

My wife ordered from B&H for my 70th birthday  She had to pay full price up front with no idea of when it would arrive. We simply gave up on Canadian suppliers who had no idea at all. Most would not even take a deposit. But B&H took the full price.  This is ridiculous.

[LarsOtium]

3 hours ago, WaitListed said:

After decades of using Nikons, Sonys & mostly Canon cameras, I rented a Q2 in May to see if the Leica look & experience was all it was marketed to be. I did enjoy the experience and output enough to put in an order for the Q3, but I have to say, my enthusiasm is quickly waning after a few months of waiting for the camera, with no delivery ETA in sight. Not a very auspicious start to my Leica "experience". 😞

How long was the wait for a Z9 when it was first introduced (rhetorical question)? Or Z8?

[WaitListed]

1 hour ago, FlashBazbo said:

I'm just one week into my wait. Is there a consensus as to how long the wait will be? (If we're six months out, it would be easier to handle if I knew it were the case.)

From everything that I am hearing, it will be at least 6 months.  What I am not able to find out is if Leica is able to increase their production rates, or if they are already at max production. This is my first Leica, so I have zero experience here, but I get the sense that (unlike some of the other brands), Leica just pumps out a certain number of cameras a month, so the higher the demand, the longer the wait.  Someone please correct me if they know differently. The guy at the local Leica shop says he was hoping to see more production/deliveries, but he was not expecting it. B&H also commented on getting a lot less deliveries than they expected - they were not sure if there were supply chain, manufacturing or just demand issues. It is clear though that they currently are not happy with Leica. 

[WaitListed]

44 minutes ago, LarsOtium said:

How long was the wait for a Z9 when it was first introduced (rhetorical question)? Or Z8?

Luckily I had already moved onto Canon, which seems to be able to dial-up their production capabilities for cameras pretty quickly. (Not so much for printers though.)

[WaitListed]

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53 minutes ago, Torontoamateur said:

My wife ordered from B&H for my 70th birthday  She had to pay full price up front with no idea of when it would arrive. We simply gave up on Canadian suppliers who had no idea at all. Most would not even take a deposit. But B&H took the full price.  This is ridiculous.

Depends on the payment method used. B&H doesn't charge credit cards until the product ships, but debit/PayPal was charged up front.  Nice present though!  Happy Birthday!

[Miltz]

59 minutes ago, WaitListed said:

From everything that I am hearing, it will be at least 6 months.  What I am not able to find out is if Leica is able to increase their production rates, or if they are already at max production. This is my first Leica, so I have zero experience here, but I get the sense that (unlike some of the other brands), Leica just pumps out a certain number of cameras a month, so the higher the demand, the longer the wait.  Someone please correct me if they know differently. The guy at the local Leica shop says he was hoping to see more production/deliveries, but he was not expecting it. B&H also commented on getting a lot less deliveries than they expected - they were not sure if there were supply chain, manufacturing or just demand issues. It is clear though that they currently are not happy with Leica. 

From what I was told by a Leica Rep, Leica is already building as many Q3 cameras as possible and there isn’t a going to be an increase since they are already at full capacity. Obviously things can change but as of now things will take a long time. It’s now officially over 3 months since launch day and B&H is only up to around 12PM on launch day orders. And they have zero updates. Adorama has been listing 10/23 for about two months now which is impossible as that’s 1 month away so I’m confident that will change soon. Their original estimate of 1/2024 was more honest. People probably stopped ordering so they changed the date, just like B&H did a few weeks ago. The lack of transparency from Leica and all the companies involved for such a premium product is very unfortunate. B&H should be able to gauge based on how many cameras they get and how many preorders they have approximately when an order will be filled. It’s simple. 

[davestolz]

3 hours ago, LarsOtium said:

How long was the wait for a Z9 when it was first introduced (rhetorical question)? Or Z8?

I own both and ordered both on launch day.  Neither was anywhere near this long though we're still not into D850 territory yet.

[WaitListed]

Out of curiosity, I just called the Leica SF store to see how long their waitlist was.  They said anyone put on the list today should expect availability in early 2024. They are receiving a couple of shipments a month, but the numbers are very inconsistent (sometimes 3-4 cameras are delivered, other times they are getting 10-15 per shipment).  If this is how Leica is delivering to B&H, I can understand it being hard for them to estimate a delivery time to the consumer.  I'm also assuming Leica is giving some preferential treatment to their own retail stores. Leica's obviously trying to balance availability around the world, so don't sell your backup cameras just yet! 🤣

[SAronian]

9 hours ago, LarsOtium said:

How long was the wait for a Z9 when it was first introduced (rhetorical question)? Or Z8?

Ordered the Nikon Z8 from B&H the evening of May 27th and received it June 20th - Ordered the Leica Q3 from B&H May 25th at 4:21PM ET and just as I was typing this I got a shipping notice from B&H!

BTW - a friend ordered a Ford Bronco in November 2020 and the order was accepted for production in May 2022. By March 2023 the order still had not entered production so he canceled it.

Also - I ordered a 2019 Tesla Model 3 on April 4th 2019 and it was delivered to my house the following day.

This is the first time I've ordered a Leica Camera on launch day.

[Miltz]

Well… all I can say is finally. My launch day order of the Q3 just shipped from B&H. May 25th 2:15PM. I’m excited to get it in hand. I hope my old SD card works it’s only 150mb/s. I’m going to pick up a Sandisk 300mb/s as soon as I get the. Camera and it all checks out. 

[JTLeica]

3 hours ago, Miltz said:

Well… all I can say is finally. My launch day order of the Q3 just shipped from B&H. May 25th 2:15PM. I’m excited to get it in hand. I hope my old SD card works it’s only 150mb/s. I’m going to pick up a Sandisk 300mb/s as soon as I get the. Camera and it all checks out. 

You dont need 300mb/s. It has a large internal buffer so unless you are shooting sports with a 28 you'll be fine. 150 is fine. That said its always nice to download your images to the computer quicker.

Edited August 29, 2023 by JTLeica

[rayansb]

Congrats to those getting ship notices from B&H! I ordered in late June so at this pace I'll probably get it by Christmas 2024 LOL 

[MikePolo]

I placed my Q3 order with Leica Sydney two wks ago hopefully will receive it in early Nov.🤪 

[Fortemd]

I ordered about 1 PM on launch day. I’ve received an extra battery, charging base and handgrip weeks ago. Finally, I got notification that the Q3 has been shipped and will arrive Thursday. 

[JTLeica]

1 hour ago, Fortemd said:

I ordered about 1 PM on launch day. I’ve received an extra battery, charging base and handgrip weeks ago. Finally, I got notification that the Q3 has been shipped and will arrive Thursday. 

Niceeeeeee!

On eBay by Friday for 30% markup right?

Only joking.

Edited August 29, 2023 by JTLeica

[nariza7]

A7cii and A7cR was just announced! Wondering if people will shift from waiting for Leica Q3 to those instead

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica Q

[JTLeica]

11 minutes ago, nariza7 said:

A7cii and A7cR was just announced! Wondering if people will shift from waiting for Leica Q3 to those instead

Well if they do, it makes absolutely no sense at all. You really dont buy a Sony interchangeable lens camera instead of a Leica Q, they are so different. What 28mm or 35mm F1.7/1.8 lens can you paid with that Sony to get quality anywhere near?

Plus, in 5 years, your Q3 is worth 80-90% of what you paid, your Sony is worth 30-40%. It's just nothing alike. You buy a Leica generally for very different reasons than you do a Sony.

[brickftl]

1 hour ago, JTLeica said:

What 28mm or 35mm F1.7/1.8 lens can you pair with that Sony to get quality anywhere near?

 

I have a Sony A7rv (as well as Leica Q3). Answer to your question: the Sony 24/1.4 GM and Sony 35/1.4 GM (both of which I own) are absolutely equal in image quality to that of the fixed Q3 lens. Both of those lenses are superb.