Q3 Monochrom ...Yes / NO

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[nameBrandon]

Just did some quick research, looks like the Q2 Mono was announced Nov 10, 2020. So assuming the expected upcoming announcement for the Q3 Mono, it would be almost 5 years to the day. Excited for this, hopefully it pans out! Got a fun Christmas trip out to Palm Desert, would love to use it for that trip. 

I'll also be up for the GR IV Mono whenever it gets announced, curious to see what an APSC mono sensor can do. Love the tiny size of those cameras.

[intermediatic]

Yes, the chicken littles crying and saying that Leica Rumors is always wrong are so weird. 
 

1/ it is almost always right
2/ I am told there are already dealers with lists
3/ its unimaginable that Leica would release it the same day as the M-EV, especially with the shutdown impacting FCC approval
 

that might be the only hitch, in fact, I wonder if they might wait until the FCC recovers. Could be a long wait.

[nameBrandon]

On 12/5/2024 at 5:10 PM, viramati said:

As it appears that phase detect AF is not possible with the monochrom sensor the only real benefit I can see in a Q3 version would be the tilting screen

That's just incorrect, and often repeated rumor without much substance. Yes, there are technical challenges in doing this, and an updated solution in the context of a monochrome sensor needs to be designed, but a very recent and relevant counterpoint to this is the announced Ricoh GRIV Monochrom which has hybrid AF (image-plane phase matching and contrast detection). So either Ricoh has simply out-engineered Leica, or this is less of an issue than many seem to assume it is. 

[Le Chef]

2 hours ago, nameBrandon said:

That's just incorrect, and often repeated rumor without much substance.

The substance is that you need micro lenses on the surface of the sensor to enable PDAF. This was an explanation given to me at the Q3 launch a couple of years ago by a Leica representative. He could have been wrong of course.

[SrMi]

1 hour ago, Le Chef said:

The substance is that you need micro lenses on the surface of the sensor to enable PDAF. This was an explanation given to me at the Q3 launch a couple of years ago by a Leica representative. He could have been wrong of course.

Yes, you need microlenses with special rows for PDAF. Google AI summary (original contains links to various publications):

On-sensor phase-detect autofocus (PDAF) uses microlenses to capture light from two different directions on specific pixels to determine focus. The microlenses direct light from opposite halves of the main camera lens to two separate photodiodes within a single PDAF pixel.

Every sensor, whether color or monochrome, has microlenses.

A monochrome sensor lacks the CFA of the color sensor. PDAF does not require CFA. 

 

[TT878]

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Apparently Nov 20th is the date the Q3M comes out. This is according to leicarumors.com this afternoon.

 

[SrMi]

Apparently, the monochrome version does not require a new FCC ID (it is the same in M11-P and M11). Therefore, the launch should not depend on the government shutdown being over.

[Le Chef]

5 hours ago, TT878 said:

Apparently Nov 20th is the date the Q3M comes out. This is according to leicarumors.com this afternoon.

 

From a business perspective this would seem a poor decision to launch less than a month after the EV1 which is still only receiving lukewarm response and apparently slow sales. Why split your marketing resources when you don't need to?

“As of today, I could not find any references in the FCC databases for a Leica Q3 Monochrom camera.” The most fact-based comment from Leica Rumours in a long time.

Not my money, but Spring 2026 would make much more sense to me.

Edited November 12 by Le Chef

[SrMi]

51 minutes ago, Le Chef said:

“As of today, I could not find any references in the FCC databases for a Leica Q3 Monochrom camera.” The most fact-based comment from Leica Rumours in a long time.

Apparently, monochrome cameras do not need a separate entry. Monochrom, M11, and M11-P have the same FCC ID N5A2416. M11-D has a different one (N5A2221). M-EV1 also requires a different one.

[Le Chef]

And apparently not everything LR claims is true is actually correct.

[Le Chef]

On 11/5/2025 at 10:55 AM, SrMi said:

Every sensor, whether color or monochrome, has microlenses.

Apparently not true. Which is why there’s an M11 Monochrom, but not an SL3 Monochrom, or a Q3 Monochrom. Yet…

[SrMi]

1 hour ago, Le Chef said:

Apparently not true. Which is why there’s an M11 Monochrom, but not an SL3 Monochrom, or a Q3 Monochrom. Yet…

I do not understand what you mean. Microlenses and CFA are two different things.

All sensor have microlenses, including M11 Monochrom and color, and Q2 Monochrom and color.

Sensors with OSPDAF have special rows of microlenses. Monochrome cameras can have them too. The difference between monochrome and color cameras is the absence of CFA, which is another layer on the sensor.

The SL series never had a monochrome version, that is why there is no SL3 Monochrom.

[Le Chef]

8 hours ago, SrMi said:

Sensors with OSPDAF have special rows of microlenses. Monochrome cameras can have them too.

My understanding from someone working for Leica was that they did not have a current sensor without the Bayer Array, that had these special microlenses and that they were waiting for Sony to deliver one.

[SrMi]

1 hour ago, Le Chef said:

My understanding from someone working for Leica was that they did not have a current sensor without the Bayer Array, that had these special microlenses and that they were waiting for Sony to deliver one.

That makes sense. Q3M would be the first camera to have such a sensor. The Sony 60MP sensor is customized to customers specifications. It is not the same one in all cameras. The same goes for the Sony 100MP medium format sensor.

[jacelech]

Have Leica now solved the phase detection/contrast AF detection issue for monochrome? Earlier it was mentioned that the hybrid sensor of the Q3 would limit a Q3 mono, as mono requires contrast detection,  found in the Q2. But this Q3M suggests that a 43mm lens mono should be possible. Any rumors out there? 

[SrMi]

14 minutes ago, jacelech said:

Have Leica now solved the phase detection/contrast AF detection issue for monochrome? Earlier it was mentioned that the hybrid sensor of the Q3 would limit a Q3 mono, as mono requires contrast detection,  found in the Q2. But this Q3M suggests that a 43mm lens mono should be possible. Any rumors out there? 

There was never an issue with manufacturing a monochrome sensor with PDAF. PDAF does not rely on the presence of CFA, which is a separate layer between the sensor's photodiodes and the microlenses.

[intermediatic]

14 hours ago, Le Chef said:

And apparently not everything LR claims is true is actually correct.

No, but most things are. 

On a related note, I am told that the Q3 Mono has just been officially announced, so it is not a rumor anymore. 

[Le Chef]

1 hour ago, intermediatic said:

No, but most things are. 

On a related note, I am told that the Q3 Mono has just been officially announced, so it is not a rumor anymore. 

Nobody questions Leica will release it. The question is when. Can you show us the press release that makes the date official?

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica Q

[intermediatic]

I wish I could, but I did not receive it. This is only what I heard. One assumes that I will not be the only one who has heard this for long.