I love my Q3

[snooper]

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I had the “luck” to find a Leica store who could supply a Q3 on the day it came out. As much I loved the Q2, this new iteration is really mind blowing because it’s the first “non-M” camera I can imagine being the only camera I want to carry on a daily basis. Seriously, this is a real step-up Leica is offering. I never hesitated to give a negative opinion on new products for my personal usage, but I feel like giving more than thumbs up to the Q3. 

As per contract I cannot publish any pictures taken in my daily job (flying Mr. B. Springsteen at the moment), but I can testify the Q3 does the job. Up to a point I’m ready to sell the M equipment and place a deposit on a Q3M… The Q3 seems to be the almost perfect camera, thanks to the Leica people.

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

[Igster]

Awesome! Glad you like it, hopefully I wont be waiting too long to get mine. 

[Daniel C.1975]

Hi Snooper,

 

thanks for your shout out for the Q3 and I really envy your current contract

Still, would share your thoughts why the Q3 is such a step up from the Q2 for you? 
 

Thanks and have great time

Daniek

[snooper]

So far the best camera for inflight pictures was… an iPhone ! Tried everything with the SL2 but IBIS was really an issue, and manual focus was not usable. Then came the Q2. But the EVF was a bit fuzzy up there. Then came the Q3. I’ll share some cockpit view as soon as I can. Really a nice camera. 

[KateStarr]

I'm also curious to hear more about why you think the Q2 is a huge improvement over the Q3 (and why it might tempt you to sell all your M gear). Thanks!

 

[snooper]

9 hours ago, KateStarr said:

I'm also curious to hear more about why you think the Q2 is a huge improvement over the Q3 (and why it might tempt you to sell all your M gear). Thanks!

 

The way around! 😉

I’ve never ever used autofocus on any camera except the SL2. With the improved EVF on the Q3, focus peaking set to medium, it feels like you really master the focus point, much more than what is available on the Q2. Very subjective of course. The DR seems also better (to my opinion of course) and when you take shots in a very bright light like we have in a cockpit, you can save a bit more lower light while perfectly exposing the highlights. Once again, stupid thing is that so far the best results in these conditions were obtained with an iPhone 13 or 14 pro, but these phones use HDR processing - not my cup of tea.

As always, the best camera is the one you actually carry with you. Not the « perfect one » left on the shelf at home. The Q is the optimal traveling gear (weight, space, relative weather protection, etc), and the cropping capabilities are really offering a new horizon with 60 mp...

Just waiting for the Q3M.

[dpitt]

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2 hours ago, snooper said:

The way around! 😉

I’ve never ever used autofocus on any camera except the SL2. With the improved EVF on the Q3, focus peaking set to medium, it feels like you really master the focus point, much more than what is available on the Q2. Very subjective of course. The DR seems also better (to my opinion of course) and when you take shots in a very bright light like we have in a cockpit, you can save a bit more lower light while perfectly exposing the highlights. Once again, stupid thing is that so far the best results in these conditions were obtained with an iPhone 13 or 14 pro, but these phones use HDR processing - not my cup of tea.

As always, the best camera is the one you actually carry with you. Not the « perfect one » left on the shelf at home. The Q is the optimal traveling gear (weight, space, relative weather protection, etc), and the cropping capabilities are really offering a new horizon with 60 mp...

Just waiting for the Q3M.

It still does not explain why you would want to trade the M11 with e.g. Leica 35 summilux or Leica Elmarit 28 for the Q3. In both cases the M11 is significantly easier to carry with you because of the smaller lens.

[ken_tanaka]

Good for you!  Hey, can I borrow it?  I promise I’ll bring it right back in good shape.  Please! 🙏 

[snooper]

3 hours ago, dpitt said:

It still does not explain why you would want to trade the M11 with e.g. Leica 35 summilux or Leica Elmarit 28 for the Q3. In both cases the M11 is significantly easier to carry with you because of the smaller lens.

I sold the M11. Started with a M4P in 1981, used to take sharp pictures at 1/30th of sec, sometimes lower, wide open. Had about the same feeling until the M10, while the 1/250th replaced the 1/15th. Then realizing you need (and count on) the next gen sensor just to be able to raise the ISO just to be able to lower shutter speed or keep it at 1/250th with a 35mm… Not sure it’s relevant.

The Q (any Q) used as a M (manual focus & ISO and aperture priority) feels like a very nice M with no RF. By « nice feeling » I mean being happy of the pictures you’ve taken with no frustration or disappointment when you look at the files, most probably thanks to the stabilization. But you also have the option to use all or part of the auto features. And it comes now with a very decent crop capability. All this disregarding the price of the set that I carry all over: M + APO 35 or APO 50, there is serious money in the flight bag… I could live with a Q, loved the Q2 for the exact same reasons.