My new Leica Q3 and USB-C - Quick Question

[hcklr]

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I have the cable that came with the Q3 to transfer images to my phone (lightning on one end) but is there really NO way to transfer images to my Mac or iPad with USB-C? I dreamt of never having to take the handgrip off my camera, but I still have to take it off every single time I need to get the SD card out. I really thought the supplied USB-C to lightning meant that I could also use regular USB-C to transfer to my Mac or iPad....Any help/info?? Thanks!

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[Stephen_C]

See page 83 of the downloadable instruction manual:

Quote

DATA TRANSFER

Data can be conveniently transferred to mobile devices via Leica FOTOS. Alternatively, a card reader or USB cable can be used for the transfer.

As the manual clarifies that is not limited to transfer of images merely to "mobile devices”. You select in the camera the appropriate setting and:

Quote

PTP allows a data transfer to computers using MacOS or Windows with PTP-capable programs, as well as tethering to Capture One Pro and Lightroom Classic

Stephen

[rustyrus]

https://leica-camera.com/sites/default/files/pm-95826-Leica-Q3_EN_1.1.pdf

 

Of course you can use a USB cable, Fotos App, Iphone cable etc. Link to manual above

 

 

[WeiterWinkel]

USB-C is kind of black magic. Not every cable with a USB-C plug on each side is capable of data transfer, some are just for charging. And this is just the beginning of the mind boggling plentitude of USB-C/Thunderbolt-cables.

[Qwertynm]

Ideally use a 100W usb-c cable. If you have a new-ish macbook without magsafe use the charging cable of your laptop. Otherwise consider buying one as the download speed of usb-c charging cables will be slow

[hcklr]

Many thanks! I figured out where in the camera to change the setting to mass storage mode. Works perfectly! Thanks all!

[GaryWayne]

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On 6/18/2023 at 10:23 AM, hcklr said:

Many thanks! I figured out where in the camera to change the setting to mass storage mode. 

I came here specifically to ask how to do this and you've got the answer: Mass Storage Mode.  The manual says to use PTP but that sure didn't work.  I've done a number of google searches and even sent an email to Leica customer support.  They're all busy building Q3's and can't be bothered with questions.  I hadn't tried mass storage mode and that was the answer  Thank you so much!  No more removal of either the battery or SD card...life is good.

[LeitzcameraAG]

May I ask exactly where in the settings is this? Do I need to set Leica Q3 to 'mass storage mode' or my receiving device like iPad Pro?

[Aram Langhans]

5 hours ago, LeitzcameraAG said:

May I ask exactly where in the settings is this? Do I need to set Leica Q3 to 'mass storage mode' or my receiving device like iPad Pro?

Page 5 of the menus, Choose Camera Settings, then scroll down to USB-Mode and choose Mass storage.

[Denebola]

Sometimes I download using USB-C cable (PTP with windows,  Apple MFi for  iPad), other via wireless, so I set it as "Select on connection", and I choose the right one time after time depending by the device and connection type.

Den

PS: using USB-C cable and Apple MFi sometimes not all the images are shown in Leica Fotos. I've already opened a ticket with Leica Support. Maybe other experienced this same behavior?

[Qwertynm]

vor 57 Minuten schrieb Denebola:

PS: using USB-C cable and Apple MFi sometimes not all the images are shown in Leica Fotos. I've already opened a ticket with Leica Support. Maybe other experienced this same behavior?

try mass storage. what happens then? I use LR to import images directly from the camera and mass storage seems way faster than  Apple MFi too...

[jps1]

PTP mode is useful for controlling the device with Capture One or other. 

[Denebola]

On 9/26/2023 at 10:34 AM, Qwertynm said:

try mass storage. what happens then? I use LR to import images directly from the camera and mass storage seems way faster than  Apple MFi too...

With mass storage (with Windows, of course), you use a standard Explorer interface. With PTP, you can use some native application (i.e. Foto) to download, slightly more immediate to manage (and using this it is less easy for inexperienced users to make mistakes). Download performance depend by several factors, so the experience tells to everybody what is their best method to follow. Download performance depend by several factors, so the experience tell to anybody what is the best method to follow.

BTW Leica support answered my ticket specifying that the USB-C cable connection is still in beta and will be improved in the next.

Den

[LeitzcameraAG]

On 9/25/2023 at 8:38 PM, Aram Langhans said:

Page 5 of the menus, Choose Camera Settings, then scroll down to USB-Mode and choose Mass storage.

Thank you!! I was able to change it and can now see the camera in Files on iPad Pro.

goodbye, SD card dongle 😂

[red_got]

Does anyone actually have success with Tethered Capture with Lightroom and Q3 when connecting using USB and PTP?

I couldn’t seem to get it to work at all.

[UliKK]

Yes, in my case it works. Also live-view. I "live"-connect the camera to the computer first (both are up and running) and then the setting needs to be changed to PTP.
I have one USB-C to USB-C cable which does not connect the two. All others work.
Using latest MacOS and Capture1 v23.

[JLS]

- I have many of the identical questions

- The only ‘Cable’ which came with the Q3 was a Multi-Ported adapter to an iOS “Lightning” Plug.  The “Lightning” Plug does not work with the iPad, only the iPhone.  Hence, if you download the Leica FOTOS App, you cannot connect “Cable To Cable” with an iPad.  [The iPhone is a “Phone”, and too small to utilize for “The End All, Be All” with many items, including a camera the quality of the Q3.  

- I also attempted to use a USB-C to USB-C Cable, plugging one into the Q3 & the other into the iPad.  THAT DOES NOT WORK!

- The only way I could use the iPad was through the FOTOS App, and connecting utilizing Bluetooth.  [Candidly, that’s NOT really what I wanted……My desire was a “Wired” connection.]

- Frustrating!  Moreover, if you use the Leica FOTOS App, you are ostensibly giving access to Leica.  If anything has been proven, it’s that nothing is secure.  Hence, I don’t wish anyone or any company to have access to any data.  (I attempted to connect & deny all access to Leica, & the App connection was ‘Disconnected’.  So, I had to start over, and give Leica “Partial Access”.  Why?

- It is “MY” Camera - The photographs I take are “MINE” - Yet, if you don’t allow access to Leica for use of the APP, you cannot utilize ‘Their’ App, nor the features of controlling or re-setting Q3 Settings.  Yet, the Customer has paid a premium for the Q3 & the potential transfer capabilities which Leica advertises.  Wow!  

- If I have missed, or incorrectly stated, my findings I’d appreciate being corrected.  Otherwise, it appears that Leica [Like So Many Other Companies, and Governments] have access to My Property, even thought I have paid for this property [i.e. the Q3].  I find this connection matter unacceptable.    

[SrMi]

18 minutes ago, JLS said:

 

- Frustrating!  Moreover, if you use the Leica FOTOS App, you are ostensibly giving access to Leica.  If anything has been proven, it’s that nothing is secure.  Hence, I don’t wish anyone or any company to have access to any data.  (I attempted to connect & deny all access to Leica, & the App connection was ‘Disconnected’.  So, I had to start over, and give Leica “Partial Access”.  Why?

- It is “MY” Camera - The photographs I take are “MINE” - Yet, if you don’t allow access to Leica for use of the APP, you cannot utilize ‘Their’ App, nor the features of controlling or re-setting Q3 Settings.  Yet, the Customer has paid a premium for the Q3 & the potential transfer capabilities which Leica advertises.  Wow!  

 

I think you are too paranoid. Unless you get an infected version of the FOTOS app, there is no chance the app will siphon your images to the Leica overlord. The app needs access to local storage to save pictures; otherwise, it does not work.  I assume you want to transfer images to your iPad. Aren't you worried that Apple will steal your images?

 

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[LocalHero1953]

Ignoring the second half of your post, have you tried the solutions explained earlier in the thread (e.g. #14), including selecting Mass Storage mode?

[Qwertynm]

On 8/27/2024 at 7:40 PM, JLS said:

Yet, if you don’t allow access to Leica for use of the APP, you cannot utilize ‘Their’ App, nor the features of controlling or re-setting Q3 Settings.  Yet, the Customer has paid a premium for the Q3 & the potential transfer capabilities which Leica advertises.  Wow!

I think you are misunderstanding the security settings of your iPhone.

hope you didn’t pay your Q3 with a credit or debit card. Otherwise they now have your banc info as well 😵

I agree that it’s a bit of an annoyance that Leica delivers the Q3 with a lightning cable. You need a USB-C data cable, not just a charging cable. And then set your cameras usb-connection to ‚mass storage‘. 
 

if you want to leave your camera grip on you either send the photos trough the Leica app or need a usb-c data cable. Both viable solutions and in my experience both seem to be comparable in terms of transfer speed due to the limiting read speed of uhs-ii cards. There is no conspiracy there and your rant is a bit unfounded.