The Q3 43mm and Q3(2,1) 28mm - an ideal combo?

[Guest]

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I‘m going to add the new 43mm option to my existing 28mm Q3. For me this might be a nearly perfect combination for travel, landscape and portraits. Had a large M kit with two bodies which I recently sold and still own an SL2-s with focal lengths from 14 to 70 mm through several primes (sigma) and zooms (leica). On a recent trip I realized how easy photography life can be with just the q3 28 on hand. Adding 43mm seems ideal for me. 
Anyone having similar thoughts?

cheers

Nils

[stephenmick]

I'm combining the Q3 43mm with my Q2 Monochrom. I had the Q2 previously, but I like having a longer focal length for color work, and more wide-angle for monochrome. But that's just me.

[Cogito]

3 hours ago, wellknown said:

I‘m going to add the new 43mm option to my existing 28mm Q3. For me this might be a nearly perfect combination for travel, landscape and portraits. Had a large M kit with two bodies which I recently sold and still own an SL2-s with focal lengths from 14 to 70 mm through several primes (sigma) and zooms (leica). On a recent trip I realized how easy photography life can be with just the q3 28 on hand. Adding 43mm seems ideal for me. 
Anyone having similar thoughts?

cheers

Nils

When I work professionally, I have multiple bodies and lenses, but for personal use the Q3 43 will be it for now, supplemented by a recent iPhone Pro. If I brought a second camera, I'd want a longer lens and/or a great video shooter. I kind of like the idea of working within the limitations a single body/lens. With ILC's there's always the temptation for another lens. for you, the gray body on the 43 should be helpful.

[nemendes]

4 hours ago, wellknown said:

I‘m going to add the new 43mm option to my existing 28mm Q3. For me this might be a nearly perfect combination for travel, landscape and portraits. Had a large M kit with two bodies which I recently sold and still own an SL2-s with focal lengths from 14 to 70 mm through several primes (sigma) and zooms (leica). On a recent trip I realized how easy photography life can be with just the q3 28 on hand. Adding 43mm seems ideal for me. 
Anyone having similar thoughts?

cheers

Nils

It would be great if you have money to spend  Both cameras will cover almost all of your needs i think. 

Just suggestion, you can keep your sl2-s while you are using both cameras. 

[Dr. G]

For me it's not the ideal combo.  That's not to say that a 28 and 43 wouldn't be great together, but I very rarely shoot wider than 35.  Yes, I have my SL3/21 APO - but for the amount of times I'd use it as a daily carry, the size and weight don't make much sense.  I'm slowly leaning towards grabbing a GR iii or GR iv once it's released because of the form factor.  I'd also be open to stitching wider than 43, but Leica needs to give us the option of removing AF lock from the shutter half press and implementing proper back button focus on the Q series.

Edited September 28, 2024 by Dr. G

[bobtodrick]

Personally I don’t get it…an M11 (or SL3) and a couple lenses (M) or zoom (SL) would do the same without the extra weight of two bodies.

[Dr. G]

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9 minutes ago, bobtodrick said:

Personally I don’t get it…an M11 (or SL3) and a couple lenses (M) or zoom (SL) would do the same without the extra weight of two bodies.

It depends on how you shoot.  I have the SL3 and like to shoot candid, relatively shallow depth of field images.  Personally, I don't think a rangefinder would work for me. 

I usually carry my SL3 with the 21/35/50/75 APO Summicron-SL lenses or just the 21/35/75.  Two Q bodies is probably lighter than that kit.  Yes, I lose the ability to shoot 21mm, but I also always have two cameras ready to go.  If Leica made an APO f2 zoom, then maybe that would work - but that wouldn't exactly be a small lens.  Who knows, maybe they'll rebrand the Sigma 28-45.

Edited September 28, 2024 by Dr. G

[BWColor]

47 minutes ago, Dr. G said:

I usually carry my SL3 with the 21/35/50/75 APO Summicron-SL lenses or just the 21/35/75.

Do you regularly use all four lenses during a day’s shoot?  Modern ‘M’ bodies and fast lenses work great together and when they don’t the Visoflex 2 can help. Of course, their advantage and downside is the manual focusing.   I’ve come to value low weight and reduced size.  Funny, because I never travel with more than two lenses.  I say funny because I recently sold more than a dozen lenses and half that number of camera bodies and have an equal number left to liquidate.  I found it challenging and quite enjoyable limiting my options.  I think that the Q3 cameras are a great photographic endpoint.. assuming that we don’t go birding, or shoot sports.

Edited September 28, 2024 by BWColor

[Likaleica]

If I'm not shooting the M10M, I usually carry two M10P bodies fixed with a 35 and 50, and a 24 and a 75 in the bag, and maybe a M7 or FE2.  That's pretty precious cargo acquired over a long time, so I'm a helicopter mom with it all the time.  I've never been a Q shooter, but I'm going to see how well the Q2M and Q3 43 kit suits me.  Definitely a lighter and smaller kit.

[Jeff S]

2 hours ago, bobtodrick said:

Personally I don’t get it…an M11 (or SL3) and a couple lenses (M) or zoom (SL) would do the same without the extra weight of two bodies.

The SL3 (with battery) and the SL24-90 would weigh near 4.5 lb., while two Q3-43 (with battery) would be under 3.5 lb.  The SL 24-70 would only shave about .5 lb.

Jeff

[PaulJohn]

My combo this year has been a Q3 and an M11 + 50 lux. This has felt the wrong way around. I would prefer a 28 on my M11 and a 50 (or 43) Q because focusing a 28 wide open using a rangefinder is much easier than a 50. My Q3 43 arrives in one hour. I then need to decide whether the Q3 goes or the M11 goes. Do I get a 28 cron/elmarit for my M11 or keep the Q3 28 and sell the M11? Some experimentation should give me the answer. 

[LocalHero1953]

8 hours ago, bobtodrick said:

Personally I don’t get it…an M11 (or SL3) and a couple lenses (M) or zoom (SL) would do the same without the extra weight of two bodies.

 

5 hours ago, Jeff S said:

The SL3 (with battery) and the SL24-90 would weigh near 4.5 lb., while two Q3-43 (with battery) would be under 3.5 lb.  The SL 24-70 would only shave about .5 lb.

Jeff

Add a wish to shoot with AF, occasional video, close up, and a 2-Q carry makes sense.

[bobtodrick]

1 hour ago, LocalHero1953 said:

 

Add a wish to shoot with AF, occasional video, close up, and a 2-Q carry makes sense.

I guess I’m just that kinda guy.

I have one digital camera, one film camera, one car, one wife…but somehow I ended up with two kids 😂

[Kim Dahl]

5 hours ago, PaulJohn said:

Min combo i år har været en Q3 og en M11 + 50 lux. Dette har føltes den forkerte vej rundt. Jeg ville foretrække en 28'er på min M11 og en 50 (eller 43) Q, fordi det er meget nemmere at fokusere en 28'er ved at bruge en afstandsmåler end en 50. Min Q3 43 ankommer om en time. Jeg skal så beslutte, om Q3 går eller M11 går. Får jeg en 28 cron/elmarit til min M11 eller beholder jeg Q3 28 og sælger M11? Nogle eksperimenter burde give mig svaret. 

Hi,

I'd really like to hear what you're doing. I am in the same "dilemma". I also have the Q3 28 and an MD with various lenses. A Q3 43 and an M11-D are "unopened" ready for me:

[egrossman]

11 hours ago, Jeff S said:

The SL3 (with battery) and the SL24-90 would weigh near 4.5 lb., while two Q3-43 (with battery) would be under 3.5 lb.  The SL 24-70 would only shave about .5 lb.

Jeff

I took the SL2S together with 35mm and 75mm APO lenses to Japan a few months ago, together with my Q3. The weight difference in practical terms was so extreme that the SL system got very little use and most of the trip was shot with the Q3. The 100 degree weather with 80%+ humidity certainly played a role but, when I got home, I sold the SL system that I had acquired used just before the trip.

The Q3 was almost always used in crop mode (35 and 50); it's just how I see the world. So, when the Q3 43 was anounced, I sold the Q3 and replaced it with the 43mm variant which is perfect for my needs.

Now, my kit consists of an M11D, M10M and Q3 43. I'm very happy with this setup.

Erik

Edited September 28, 2024 by egrossman

[RMF]

If carrying both a Q3 28 and a Q3 43, perhaps you could use the famous Schwalberg strap that’s been recently reproduced by Strapateer in the UK; one strap, two cameras, and detachable to one if desired. I have no affiliation here with Strapateer, just a user…but it’s great that they have brought the design back from the obscure and for those that are interested or ‘in the know” about these these 🙂   

https://thestrapateer.co.uk/pages/the-strapateer-hall-of-fame

https://thestrapateer.co.uk

 

[BWColor]

So many ways to approach the day.  For me, I think that it depends upon what I will photograph and if I will be taking a plane, or driving.  I can see going on a few week trip to Japan with just the Q3 43.  I recently spent a few weeks in Korea and my best images came from my M11M with 21, or 35mm.  I really like @Dr. Gs idea of implementing a proper “back button focus”.  What constitutes a good combination of cameras has so many answers.  I can say that my options are running out as my funds are almost depleted.

[Guest]

1 hour ago, LocalHero1953 said:

 

Add a wish to shoot with AF, occasional video, close up, and a 2-Q carry makes sense.

Absolutely. With the M10/11 I realized, that my photography had a lack of creativity over the last years. Close ups, tilted screen shots, sometimes AF I missed - and you’re never really sure to get the right exposure in difficult lightning, without chimping at the rear screen checking it (which i hate doing). Also I found it more and more absurd to carry a 20k kit on trips, mostly in a campervan. So I sold all M equipment and focused on my SL. That thing is bulky and burden to carry over hours, hiking, walking or riding a bike. At least for me. 
So i got a Q3 two months ago, used. Had to force myself using the SL since that day. With an additional 43mm one can cover 28 - 70 with just minor cropping. Maybe that’s the end of a long search for me and maybe others too? Lightweight, unobtrusive, doesn’t limit your creativity. 

[PaulJohn]

7 hours ago, wellknown said:

Absolutely. With the M10/11 I realized, that my photography had a lack of creativity over the last years. Close ups, tilted screen shots, sometimes AF I missed - and you’re never really sure to get the right exposure in difficult lightning, without chimping at the rear screen checking it (which i hate doing). Also I found it more and more absurd to carry a 20k kit on trips, mostly in a campervan. So I sold all M equipment and focused on my SL. That thing is bulky and burden to carry over hours, hiking, walking or riding a bike. At least for me. 
So i got a Q3 two months ago, used. Had to force myself using the SL since that day. With an additional 43mm one can cover 28 - 70 with just minor cropping. Maybe that’s the end of a long search for me and maybe others too? Lightweight, unobtrusive, doesn’t limit your creativity. 

With 2 Q3's covering 28+ and 43+ I can't help but feel these focal lengths are too close together. For the two to be partners I would have preferred a 28 and a 75. Maybe Leica are planning a Q3 tele to complement there wide and standard Q3s. For 2 Q3's covering travel I think 28 and 75 would be perfect but for 2 Q3's covering low light scenarios 28 and 43 makes a lot more sense. Of course, everyone has a different tolerance for cropping and different usage scenarios.

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[PaulJohn]

9 hours ago, Kim Dahl said:

Hi,

I'd really like to hear what you're doing. I am in the same "dilemma". I also have the Q3 28 and an MD with various lenses. A Q3 43 and an M11-D are "unopened" ready for me:

Interesting. Do you already have a 28 for your Ms? For my testing, it's not just about versatility. It's also about enjoyment. I had a 28 elmarit years ago on an M240P and it was a very enjoyable lens on account of its tiny size and stunning results.