Leica Q3 : which SD card should I choose ?

[David Wien]

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You dont say how large your cards are, but I find 64GB more than adequate. I keep going until one is nearly full, copying the most recent files to my computer after every session. Then it is a good time to reformat in camera anyway, and start over.

David

[Ray_M]

There is an interesting aspect in terms of the speed required for SD cards in the Leica Q3.

The camera internal buffer memory is 8 GB in size.

In other words: 60 L-DNG + L-JPG images that can be shot at 7 fps while being transferred from the buffer to the card.  Buffer does the job, the card can be slower (for photos).

I found this info on a US dpreview page, then compared it with the Q3 specsheet, makes sense. Who (like me) especially would like to take photos, obviously will be fine with a V30, at maximum V60 version.

 

Edited February 3, 2024 by Ray_M

[Ad Dieleman]

On 12/13/2023 at 5:10 PM, Chak said:

I heard from a YouTuber saying Sony Tough is a tiny bit bigger hence it is harder to be pushed into Q3. Is that true? 🤔

That is true for my Sony SD cards (Tough 64GB V90 300/299 MB/s read/write), I don't use them therefore with the Q3. I bought 2 Lexar 128GB 2000x cards specifically for the Q3.

[Shane Oneill]

hi

i was using a kingston card when i fiorst got my Q3 and was noticng that the battery life was very poor, even with all the power sapping features turned off, usually noit more than 100 shots on a full charge 

following two trips to leica for tests etc we then tried putting a high end sandisk card in and immediatley noticed a big improvement

hope this helps

[charles tay]

Does using Lexar SD Card 2000x over 1667x improves the battery life of Q3?

[ksrhee]

I have used the Lexar 128 and 256 cards and haven't had any issues.  I prefer higher capacity since I don't like to take out the cards that often.  In fact, with the FOTOS app, I rarely take out the SD card these days.  As far as I know, they have been reliable for an extended period of time.  I also went with the fastest speed (x2000).  It's not just the read speed; you have to pay attention to the write speed.  They are typically not the same (just compare x2000 (260 write) with X1666 (120 write).  

[JNK100]

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I use an Angel bird 256gb for stills only. This works perfectly.

[rich_]

I use the Lexar 1800x. I bought a 2 pack of the 128GB cards which work as fast as the 2000x versions which I also own, when I test between the two. 
I read somewhere (sorry I can’t find reference now) that both the M11 and Q3 max out around 100MB/S write speed. So both the 1800 and 2000 more than surpass that speed which aligns to my rough testing between both cameras and the two card speeds. 

Edited March 18, 2024 by rich_

[David Wien]

On 2/3/2024 at 9:53 PM, Shane Oneill said:

hi

i was using a kingston card when i fiorst got my Q3 and was noticng that the battery life was very poor, even with all the power sapping features turned off, usually noit more than 100 shots on a full charge 

following two trips to leica for tests etc we then tried putting a high end sandisk card in and immediatley noticed a big improvement

hope this helps

I now use a Kingston card and yesterday I got 100 shots (both largest size raw and jpg) from a less than 80% charged battery. This was just enough for me, but I will do a comparative experiment with San Disk.

David

[Pindy]

On 3/18/2024 at 1:42 AM, David Wien said:

I now use a Kingston card and yesterday I got 100 shots (both largest size raw and jpg) from a less than 80% charged battery. This was just enough for me, but I will do a comparative experiment with San Disk.

David

I'm interested in the outcome of this, as I just bought two Kingstons, based entirely on their high rating on THIS FORUM.

[David Wien]

On 3/18/2024 at 9:42 AM, David Wien said:

I now use a Kingston card and yesterday I got 100 shots (both largest size raw and jpg) from a less than 80% charged battery. This was just enough for me, but I will do a comparative experiment with San Disk.

David

Using the Kingston Canvas React Plus 128GB (SDR2 300MB/s, etc), from full charge to the gauge still indicating above halfway, I have taken 118 shots (JPG & RAW, full resolution) -- plus a lot of menu use. I will report again when the battery is flat.

[M Street Photographer]

I use the following cards from my inventory:

Sony tough 128 and 64 GB , 300 / 299

ProGrad 128 and 64 GB 300 / 250

With these four cards, I didn't notice any lag or limitation in any way. Does anyone know what speed the buffer write ?

Edited March 20, 2024 by M Street Photographer

[nuze]

On 3/20/2024 at 1:02 PM, AussieQ said:

128gb 300mb Sandisk, have two cards, no lockups of camera.

Same here. Battery was not good when the Q3 was new. But after a few 80% charges, the battery is not bad. I can get close to 300 shots DNG now compared to around 150. It is what others have been sharing as well.

[SLamb]

I used a Sandisk Extreme Pro 128GB when I got the Q3 and now have a Kingston Canvas React Plus 128GB in there.  The faster speeds of the Kingston are hardly noticeable to be honest.

[hydet]

You only need to have a card fail on you once, as I have, to be forever skittish about using cameras without dual card slots or internal memory.  I really like my Q3, but I don't use big cards.  I'd rather swap out 64gb cards more often than take a chance, and I certainly offload images at the end of every day.  

[algrove]

I choose between Sandisk 300 126GB cards and Lexar 128GB with highest speed they offer. I have had Sony Tough 128 cards problems on an old M10M and have not purchased that card since then.

[David Wien]

On 3/20/2024 at 2:24 PM, David Wien said:

Using the Kingston Canvas React Plus 128GB (SDR2 300MB/s, etc), from full charge to the gauge still indicating above halfway, I have taken 118 shots (JPG & RAW, full resolution) -- plus a lot of menu use. I will report again when the battery is flat.

Battery now flat and on charge. I got 189 shots out of it -- remember, both JPG & RAW, full resolution, plus a lot of menu use. I shall change to the San Disk Extreme Pro 128 GB and measure again.

David

[cookedart]

If it helps, I've used both a 64gb Sandisk 300MB/Sec Extreme Pro (rated as v90) and recently purchased a 128GB Lexar 1667x (rated as v60). I tested both by running a full burst until the buffer was full, then timed how long the write led took until it turned off.

The Sandisk V90 card was done writing to the card in 54.63 seconds, the Lexar V60 card was finished in 60.86 seconds. 

Also worth noting, both seem to be handle all 8K video modes recording to the SD card without any issues. 

For me, the extra cost of the v90 cards are not worth it on the Q3.

Edited March 23, 2024 by cookedart

[Qwertynm]

@cookedart thanks for confirming that V90 cards are a complete waste of money for the Q3. 

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica Q

[David Wien]

On 3/22/2024 at 5:47 PM, David Wien said:

Using the Kingston Canvas React Plus 128GB (SDR2 300MB/s, etc), from full charge to the gauge still indicating above halfway, I have taken 118 shots (JPG & RAW, full resolution) -- plus a lot of menu use. I will report again when the battery is flat.

later:

Battery now flat and on charge. I got 189 shots out of it -- remember, both JPG & RAW, full resolution, plus a lot of menu use. I shall change to the San Disk Extreme Pro 128 GB and measure again.

The San Disk made it to 248 photos, compared with 189 for the Kingston. I wouldnt call the experiments scientific, and I have no theory about the results, except that there was less menu use.

Make of this what you will!

David