Leica Q3 43 vs Leica SL3+Sigma 45 2.8

[Smogg]

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14 minutes ago, MrFriendly said:

I got the Sigma 45mm 2.8 DG DN couple weeks ago for my SL2-S, and IQ is mostly crap.  Wide open it is very soft, but it gets noticeably better at f/4.  It looks to me that it also reaches peak performance at f/4.  Two shots below, wide open and at f/4:

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I was going to get the Q3/43, but instead I got my first Sony (a7RV with GM 50mm 1.4, and the 40mm 2.5 G).  The Sony 40mm performs far better than the Sigma 45mm, both wide open and stopped down (wide open, the Sony 40mm performs better than the Sigma 45mm at f/4).  They're both very similar lens at similar prices, so I'm not sure why the Sigma performs so poorly.  Maybe I got a bad copy?  Anybody have the Sigma to post?

I had a Sony 40 2.5, it was sharp, but I really didn't like the bokeh pattern

[bobtodrick]

3 hours ago, Smogg said:

With age, GAS quite successfully replaces passion for women😂

Okay…turned 70 this year…hasn’t happened yet..,hope it never does 😂

[FlashGordonPhotography]

19 hours ago, Smogg said:

With age, GAS quite successfully replaces passion for women😂

Speak for yourself!!

And really you have yet to embrace you gas fully.

Gordon

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[Smogg]

9 minutes ago, FlashGordonPhotography said:

Speak for yourself!!

And really you have yet to embrace you gas fully.

Gordon

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I spoke exclusively for myself😅 Looking at your photo, I got stuck and tried to remember all the women in my life😂

[Dr. G]

21 hours ago, MrFriendly said:

I got the Sigma 45mm 2.8 DG DN couple weeks ago for my SL2-S, and IQ is mostly crap.  Wide open it is very soft, but it gets noticeably better at f/4.  It looks to me that it also reaches peak performance at f/4.  Two shots below, wide open and at f/4:

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I was going to get the Q3/43, but instead I got my first Sony (a7RV with GM 50mm 1.4, and the 40mm 2.5 G).  The Sony 40mm performs far better than the Sigma 45mm, both wide open and stopped down (wide open, the Sony 40mm performs better than the Sigma 45mm at f/4).  They're both very similar lens at similar prices, so I'm not sure why the Sigma performs so poorly.  Maybe I got a bad copy?  Anybody have the Sigma to post?

I don't think you got a bad copy.  There's a long thread about the Sigma 45 on Fred Miranda Forum and many people like the lens because it's not perfect, but it has character. 

[JTLeica]

22 hours ago, Dr. G said:

I don't think you got a bad copy.  There's a long thread about the Sigma 45 on Fred Miranda Forum and many people like the lens because it's not perfect, but it has character. 

Agreed. That is just a standard copy. It isnt one of the best iSeries lenses. Also, its known to be soft up close... one of the real issues with all these close up test chart 'tests', lots of these cheaper simple designs show poor close up performance when at large aperture.

The 45 is loved for the size and less so the wide open performance

[jdlaing]

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On 9/29/2024 at 8:41 AM, Smogg said:

With age, GAS quite successfully replaces passion for women😂

Oh hell no.

[gotium]

On 9/30/2024 at 2:38 AM, FlashGordonPhotography said:

Speak for yourself!!

And really you have yet to embrace you gas fully.

Gordon

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Thank you, I needed this to show to my wife.

[Erich6]

On 9/30/2024 at 5:38 AM, FlashGordonPhotography said:

Speak for yourself!!

And really you have yet to embrace you gas fully.

Gordon

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Wow, I thought I had a problem! Thats quite a collection Casanova 😂

[lencap]

Interesting discussion - thanks to everyone.  I don't mean to highjack the thread, but I too am about to buy a Q3 43, or at least I'm "on the wait list", and trying to decide if that's the right move.

I own a SL2-S 50mm Summicron ASPH bundle, bought last year.  I bought it because I prefer Leica to my Nikon Z setup, and find the camera haptics and "feel" are wonderful.

The issue is that the combo is relatively large and heavy, and I find that I leave it home more often than I take it with me.  I rely on my iPhone 14 Pro as my "daily carry", and while it does the job fairly well, there is no "joy" or "creativity" when I use it.  It's like a refrigerator- does what it's supposed to do, but not something I enjoy using.  I had the original Q 116, but I never bonded with the 28mm lens and sold it.  I'm a bit concerned that the Q43 will have the perspective limitations of the original Q, but even it does it shouldn't be as restrictive.  The majority of my images are 50mm, some wider, a few out to 75/90.

I'm also hoping that the Q3 43 will provide the enjoyment of a "quasi M", like the original Q did, as well as providing an "all in one, do anything, go anywhere" flexibility to replace the SL2-3 as a daily use camera.  I also plan to hold onto the SL2-S, but may eventually sell it if the Q3 43 does everything I hope it will do.

Does it sound like I'm doing the right thing?  If not, what should I consider before making a decision?

 

Edited October 1, 2024 by lencap

[Dr. G]

I use the SL3 (after the SL2-S) and my three most used lenses are the 35/50/75 APO Summicron-SLs.  So far, I can see using the Q3 43 in place of the SL3 setup most of the time.    I would still want my 75 APO (and 21 APO) for certain situations, but I don’t feel like I’m giving up that much in image quality to the 35/50 APO.

[egrossman]

On 9/29/2024 at 12:53 AM, JohnathanLovm said:

The Sigma 45 is not as sharp as you think. 

I don't know about the 45mm but the Sigma 50mm F2 DG DN blows the socks off of the Leica 50mm non-APO SL lens. Sigma has come a long way.

Erik

[lencap]

Moderator:  Please delete my earlier post.  I don’t want to hijack the thread.  

Edited October 2, 2024 by lencap

[Dr. G]

3 hours ago, egrossman said:

I don't know about the 45mm but the Sigma 50mm F2 DG DN blows the socks off of the Leica 50mm non-APO SL lens. Sigma has come a long way.

Erik

They're two different animals.  The 45 isn't technically as good as some of the of the other i-series lenses, which are stellar performers.

[Kim Dahl]

Hi Lenscap

 I can certainly understand your decision.

I have made a living from photojournalism for 35 years. I have struggled with very large set ups - in Nikon and Canon - and I will say NEVER again.

I really hope that Leica will be very successful with their new initiative.

Imagine that the Leica Q3 45 can "replace" an SL with two or three APO lenses. But not least also Canon/Nikon - which I would prefer.

And not least do it almost as well as SL with 2-3 APO lenses.

And better than any Nikon/Canon set up !!

I think it can be done.

My camera set up will now be completely changed.

Please note that the post is written for MY use.

I can say that I have solved many photojournalistic tasks only with my Leica Q3 28.

Now it will be supplemented with the Q3 43.

Thank you Leica ❤️

 

#30 

Interesting discussion - thanks to everyone.  I don't mean to highjack the thread, but I too am about to buy a Q3 43, or at least I'm "on the wait list", and trying to decide if that's the right move.

I own a SL2-S 50mm Summicron ASPH bundle, bought last year.  I bought it because I prefer Leica to my Nikon Z setup, and find the camera haptics and "feel" are wonderful.

The issue is that the combo is relatively large and heavy, and I find that I leave it home more often than I take it with me.  I rely on my iPhone 14 Pro as my "daily carry", and while it does the job fairly well, there is no "joy" or "creativity" when I use it.  It's like a refrigerator- does what it's supposed to do, but not something I enjoy using.  I had the original Q 116, but I never bonded with the 28mm lens and sold it.  I'm a bit concerned that the Q43 will have the perspective limitations of the original Q, but even it does it shouldn't be as restrictive.  The majority of my images are 50mm, some wider, a few out to 75/90.

I'm also hoping that the Q3 43 will provide the enjoyment of a "quasi M", like the original Q did, as well as providing an "all in one, do anything, go anywhere" flexibility to replace the SL2-3 as a daily use camera.  I also plan to hold onto the SL2-S, but may eventually sell it if the Q3 43 does everything I hope it will do.

Does it sound like I'm doing the right thing?  If not, what should I consider before making a decision?”

Edited October 2, 2024 by Kim Dahl

[FlashGordonPhotography]

On 10/2/2024 at 6:12 AM, lencap said:

Interesting discussion - thanks to everyone.  I don't mean to highjack the thread, but I too am about to buy a Q3 43, or at least I'm "on the wait list", and trying to decide if that's the right move.

I own a SL2-S 50mm Summicron ASPH bundle, bought last year.  I bought it because I prefer Leica to my Nikon Z setup, and find the camera haptics and "feel" are wonderful.

The issue is that the combo is relatively large and heavy, and I find that I leave it home more often than I take it with me.  I rely on my iPhone 14 Pro as my "daily carry", and while it does the job fairly well, there is no "joy" or "creativity" when I use it.  It's like a refrigerator- does what it's supposed to do, but not something I enjoy using.  I had the original Q 116, but I never bonded with the 28mm lens and sold it.  I'm a bit concerned that the Q43 will have the perspective limitations of the original Q, but even it does it shouldn't be as restrictive.  The majority of my images are 50mm, some wider, a few out to 75/90.

I'm also hoping that the Q3 43 will provide the enjoyment of a "quasi M", like the original Q did, as well as providing an "all in one, do anything, go anywhere" flexibility to replace the SL2-3 as a daily use camera.  I also plan to hold onto the SL2-S, but may eventually sell it if the Q3 43 does everything I hope it will do.

Does it sound like I'm doing the right thing?  If not, what should I consider before making a decision?

 

I think you'll be quite happy. A 75mm crop will still have around the resolution of your SL2S. DoF of around f3 equiv.

Gordon