The new Leica Q3 43 - Review by Jonathan Slack

[jonoslack]

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On 9/29/2024 at 6:27 PM, SrMi said:

Thank you for the review @jonoslack. Do you know whether Leica still recommends turning off OIS to get the most out of Q's lens? Have you set OIS to Auto or "Always On?"

Does Auto OIS turn OIS on/off at a shutter speed different than 28?

Hi there

i asked and this was the quick and perfect reply/

“

I don’t know why we should recommend to turn off OIS. The Q lenses are designed to work with their system, and OIS is part of it.

The Auto OIS turns of the OIS at different speeds… OIS is ON:

28mm -> 1/60^th or slower

43mm -> 1/100^th or slower “

good to know

all the best

Jono

[SrMi]

8 hours ago, jonoslack said:

Hi there

i asked and this was the quick and perfect reply/

“

I don’t know why we should recommend to turn off OIS. The Q lenses are designed to work with their system, and OIS is part of it.

The Auto OIS turns of the OIS at different speeds… OIS is ON:

28mm -> 1/60^th or slower

43mm -> 1/100^th or slower “

good to know

all the best

Jono

Thank you, Jono.

I have noticed with Q and other cameras that IBIS/OIS can blur corners with wide-angle lenses (physics). That may be why Leica recommended using Auto instead of Always-On at some point when Q was launched. With 43mm, I may leave it on all the time.

Here is the link where Leica recommends turning off OIS to get the best out of the lens:

https://web.archive.org/web/20150724053645/http://www.digitalversus.com/digital-camera/meet-designers-behind-leica-q-typ-116-a2231.html

"... the OIS optical stabilization (which Leica recommends deactivating to get the best from the German-assembled lens) ..."

Edit:

Also, as far as I know, Leica is the only manufacturer with an auto stabilization mode. I wish the shutter speed cutoff were customizable.

Edited October 1, 2024 by SrMi

[Jeff S]

Jono, in case you missed my question re: BBF.

Jeff

[hoolyproductions]

11 hours ago, Jeff S said:

Jono, in case you missed my question re: BBF.

IIRC Leica updated the Q2 firmware after it had been out for a few years to implement a 'passable' BBF. When the Q3 came out it was gone (Leica seems to revert to some kind of 'base' feature set whn updating their cameras, adding missing features later on - I have seen this before with the SL cameras). So far no sign that they are prioritising this for the Q3...

[mcqinternational]

hi Jono the 43mm Q arriving today  yes I have the cheaper hood lol seems a lot of talk about filters ,hoods and chargers many thanks for your photography reviews   excellent indeed  in sunny N Ireland think a Donegal  trip in coming anyway cheers .

[chrismuc]

On 9/29/2024 at 11:45 AM, FlashGordonPhotography said:

So what? Does the X100VI out resolve the Q3? Nope. About six people bought the Zeiss and they're basically gone as an entity.

We get it. You don't like the modern correction software on mirrorless cameras. So there's no need for you to take your horse and buggy from the Amish community down to the local Leica store. Please move on so we can enjoy our new cameras without this droll boring constant whinging about a camera you aren't going to buy.

Gordon

And for the record. ALL M lenses have corrections baked into the DNG files for digital M's and NONE of the film M's can out resolve a current digital M. And if Leica didn't need to make M lenses to work on cameras from 60 years ago I guarantee you'd not see these optical designs. The APO M's cost AUD 15 GRAND! And do not outperform the SL APO's at half the price.

https://asobinet.com/patent-application-for-an-optical-system-that-is-very-similar-to-the-lens-on-the-panasonic-leica-q3-43/#google_vignette

interestingly ... the one to discuss the lens design might be Panasonic, not Leica 😉 

 

[FlashGordonPhotography]

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11 hours ago, chrismuc said:

https://asobinet.com/patent-application-for-an-optical-system-that-is-very-similar-to-the-lens-on-the-panasonic-leica-q3-43/#google_vignette

interestingly ... the one to discuss the lens design might be Panasonic, not Leica 😉 

 

All companies do this. Leica is no exception.

Gordon

[chrismuc]

2 hours ago, FlashGordonPhotography said:

All companies do this. Leica is no exception.

Gordon

Oh, I wasn’t aware of. Please educate me and be more specific:

Which Canon EF- and RF-mount lenses are not Canon designs? 

Which Panasonic L-mount lenses are not Panasonic designs?

Which Fujifilm GX- and XF- and GF-mount lenses are not Fujifilm designs? 

Which Zeiss Contax RF, Contarex, Contax CY, ZM, ZE, Milvus and Otus lenses are not Zeiss designs? 

Which Sigma EF-mount Art and L-mount lenses are not Sigma designs?

[davidnvh]

So petty.

[SrMi]

4 hours ago, chrismuc said:

 

Oh, I wasn’t aware of. Please educate me and be more specific:

Which Canon EF- and RF-mount lenses are not Canon designs? 

Which Panasonic L-mount lenses are not Panasonic designs?

Which Fujifilm GX- and XF- and GF-mount lenses are not Fujifilm designs? 

Which Zeiss Contax RF, Contarex, Contax CY, ZM, ZE, Milvus and Otus lenses are not Zeiss designs? 

Which Sigma EF-mount Art and L-mount lenses are not Sigma designs?

I think you missed a couple of manufacturers 🤣.

AFAIK, Hasselblad also produces lenses that are patented by others. 

[chrismuc]

2 hours ago, SrMi said:

I think you missed a couple of manufacturers 🤣.

AFAIK, Hasselblad also produces lenses that are patented by others. 

I know, of course I made a <selection> 😝.

[jonoslack]

11 hours ago, chrismuc said:

 

Oh, I wasn’t aware of. Please educate me and be more specific:

Which Canon EF- and RF-mount lenses are not Canon designs? 

Which Panasonic L-mount lenses are not Panasonic designs?

Which Fujifilm GX- and XF- and GF-mount lenses are not Fujifilm designs? 

Which Zeiss Contax RF, Contarex, Contax CY, ZM, ZE, Milvus and Otus lenses are not Zeiss designs? 

Which Sigma EF-mount Art and L-mount lenses are not Sigma designs?

I think quite a lot of all of them are Sigma designs (and all the better for it!)

[Cogito]

As promised report, received Alphagvrd black grip yesterday. It *is* darker and I think they've done as good a job as they could have, but not as grippy as original leatherette. My local Leica store, Los Angeles, is in the process of gearing up to do first party leatherette replacements and should be ready to go in about six weeks, I'll have standard Q3 black grip installed then.

Alphagvrd, $10 shipped:

https://alphagvrd.com/products/leica-q3-protection-skin-cover-wrap?srsltid=AfmBOoqifCSMrpGbrQlxwWDUEofhaC3W8XVIHCHhmAgOuxj9TAd9NQ70

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

[Likaleica]

1 hour ago, Cogito said:

As promised report, received Alphagvrd black grip yesterday. It *is* darker and I think they've done as good a job as they could have, but not as grippy as original leatherette. My local Leica store, Los Angeles, is in the process of gearing up to do first party leatherette replacements and should be ready to go in about six weeks, I'll have standard Q3 black grip installed then.

Alphagvrd, $10 shipped:

https://alphagvrd.com/products/leica-q3-protection-skin-cover-wrap?srsltid=AfmBOoqifCSMrpGbrQlxwWDUEofhaC3W8XVIHCHhmAgOuxj9TAd9NQ70

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

On your recommendation I ordered one (black) and am very pleased so far.  I posted it on the thread, "I Love my Q Any Model."  It does what I wanted, protect that metal from dings that leave exposed aluminum.  

[Dr. G]

7 hours ago, Likaleica said:

On your recommendation I ordered one (black) and am very pleased so far.  I posted it on the thread, "I Love my Q Any Model."  It does what I wanted, protect that metal from dings that leave exposed aluminum.  

I ordered one in the classic silver with the black matrix to cover the grey on the camera.  I'm using the smallrig grip and, for some reason, they made the top and the bottom a dark silver/titanium color.  So as of now I have a grip that is a reverse of what's on the camera - grey on top and bottom and black in the middle on the grip.  

[jonoslack]

On 9/28/2024 at 3:31 AM, Jeff S said:

Thanks, Jono, as usual. I haven’t used the Q system, but use the SL2 to complement my M bodies. My understanding is that the Q system, including the Q3 variants, do not provide for back button AF like the SL2, etc. I use BBF and, if needed, set manual focus turn to magnify the image, with light shutter button press to restore full view. (I hate focus peaking.)
 

Do you, or anyone else here, find lack of BBF (if this is the case) to be a frustrating or limiting operational issue?  
 

The 28mm lens on prior Q variants never appealed to me, but as a 35/50mm user for my M bodies, the Q3-43 might have appeal for some situations. But since it wouldn’t replace my SL2, I could imagine that different shooting/focusing techniques might be annoying.

Jeff

Hi There Jeff

Sorry to have missed this - you can set any button to AF-L or AE-L, You can't actually have the lens in MF mode, but if you have a back button set to AF-L, then it works as follows

1st press focuses and locks focus - locked focus remains until you press the button again

   ie you can take a number of pictures with the same focus lock.

2nd press releases focus lock - in which case half pressing the shutter does AF again as normal until you press the button again.

So I think that this effectively does what you want.

What do you reckon?

 

All the best

Jono

Edited October 7, 2024 by jonoslack

[SrMi]

1 hour ago, jonoslack said:

Hi There Jeff

Sorry to have missed this - you can set any button to AF-L or AE-L, You can't actually have the lens in MF mode, but if you have a back button set to AF-L, then it works as follows

1st press focuses and locks focus - locked focus remains until you press the button again

   ie you can take a number of pictures with the same focus lock.

2nd press releases focus lock - in which case half pressing the shutter does AF again as normal until you press the button again.

So I think that this effectively does what you want.

What do you reckon?

 

All the best

Jono

IIRC, a focus lock in Q3 is released after an image has been taken or any camera setting is changed. It does not stay locked until it is released manually. Also, BBF completely removes focus functionality from the shutter button and allows triggering focusing (AF-S or AF-C) via a button different from shutter button. BBF is more flexible and powerful than focus locking. 

[Smogg]

1 hour ago, jonoslack said:

Hi There Jeff

Sorry to have missed this - you can set any button to AF-L or AE-L, You can't actually have the lens in MF mode, but if you have a back button set to AF-L, then it works as follows

1st press focuses and locks focus - locked focus remains until you press the button again

   ie you can take a number of pictures with the same focus lock.

2nd press releases focus lock - in which case half pressing the shutter does AF again as normal until you press the button again.

So I think that this effectively does what you want.

What do you reckon?

 

All the best

Jono

This does not work properly on Q2, Q3 or Q3 43. The only normal implementation was on Q, after that Leica broke it and does not pay attention to user complaints

[jonoslack]

18 minutes ago, SrMi said:

IIRC, a focus lock in Q3 is released after an image has been taken or any camera setting is changed. It does not stay locked until it is released manually. Also, BBF completely removes focus functionality from the shutter button and allows triggering focusing (AF-S or AF-C) via a button different from shutter button. BBF is more flexible and powerful than focus locking. 

HI There

Well, I have the Q3 43 in front of me (although I might have a different firmware from that released). It also "completely removes focus functionality from the shutter button" and does not restore it until the button is pressed again - ie you can take multiple shots with that focus, it is not released after taking a shot.

 have it set to the function button 2 (the right hand of the pair of function buttons on the back at the top).

The only way it differs from your description above, is that if you want to refocus on a different spot then you need to press the function button twice (once for releasing the existing lock and again to gain a new one).

Of course it does not do AF-C - holding the button down allows you to change the function.

So is your version of BBF more flexible and powerful - not sure that it is except for pressing twice to acquire a new lock and not having AF-C (although I don't really see how that's useful).

best

Jono

Edited October 7, 2024 by jonoslack

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Hallo,

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[jonoslack]

5 minutes ago, Smogg said:

This does not work properly on Q2, Q3 or Q3 43. The only normal implementation was on Q, after that Leica broke it and does not pay attention to user complaints

Well - see my messages above - it seems to me to work properly to me on the Q3 43 (I don't have a Q3 or Q2 to test, but I'm sure you're right that it didn't)