Travel Cam : Leica Q3 vs. Nikon Z F

[Christianjwagner]

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Hello everyone,

in two days I will go to a 2-week vacation to South Korea and Taiwan. I have a Leica Q3 (recently acquired) and a Nikon Z F (some months but never on a vacation with me). Which of the two cameras should I bring with me? Leica Q3 or ZF with a 26mm and 40mm? I love both.

Please don't answer "both" - I just want to have one camera with me. 😉 I am torn, as Leica Q3 is arguably the simpler camera (haptics) with best photo quality, the NIkon Z f for me is an autofocus beast with gorgeous JPG rendering and has "something special" I can't describe. Quite a pickle, and maybe not the best question to ask in a Leica forum ...

Well, I have one full day to decide...

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[Monty242]

I have both. Bought the Zf about one year ago. Had it with me in France with the 14-30 S lens and the 24-120 S lens. Missed nothing, although I did not take noteworthy pictures with the wide angle. Took the Zf to Gdansk with the 28 mm and the 40 mm. Just fine. This year I bought the Q3 and took it with me to France as my only camera. Did not miss the Zf at all. I would not hesitate to travel with only the Q3 again.

Just now I am contemplating about selling both cameras and buying the Q3 43 as my only camera. I always liked 40mm and analysed the pictures I took over the last couple of years. Q3 43 seems the right option for me. 

[FlashGordonPhotography]

I can’t tell you what to do. Just what I’d do. If this were my choice I’d take the Q3. Now I’m not a one camera one lens guy but cropped the Q3 gets to basically where the Zf is at 50mm, so that’d be my personal choice.

If it were actually me I’d get a 24-120 for the Nikon or a Q3-43 for my other shoulder.

Gordon

[darylgo]

ZF for interchangeable lenses, the 40mm Nikkor is a great lens and I've heard high praise for the 26mm.  This is a Leica forum, the answers you receive might make the decision more difficult.  Have a great vacation.  

2 minutes ago, FlashGordonPhotography said:

If it were actually me I’d get a 24-120 for the Nikon

+1 or the 24-70/4, diminutive, great IQ.  

[Miltz]

Q3 100%
 

[ktmrider2]

I am traveling around the world and faced a similar but not identical choice last month.  I purchased a Nikon Zf with 24-120 and the lens is absolutely amazing.  I have never owned a Q so take what I say with a grain of salt.  My first love is film so ended up with a new MP with 35/90 lenses and a Ricoh GR3.

I don’t know if I will ever get used to zoom lenses.  The ZF with 24-120 was simply too large for my comfort.  Not too heavy as a brass MP is not exactly light weight.  I don’t know how the Q3 fits weight wise.  The other thing which would concern me is traveling with really expensive gear since I left a M9 in a pub in Scotland ten years ago while hiking the West Highland Way (recovered next morning).  I know the MP is not “cheap”.

Of the two choices you offer, I would take the Nikon Zf.  It is one third the price of the Q3 and offers lens interchangeability.  It will never be small but the 28 and 40 primes are very small or the 26 pancake lens.  But the 24-120 really is an amazing optic.  Or two GR3’s-one with 28 and one with 40 for $2000.  

Have a great trip.  I am presently sitting out Typhoon Kristin at Subic Bay in the Philippines.  Am getting bored since diving has been cancelled for three days due to lots and lots of rain.

[JNK100]

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6 hours ago, Miltz said:

Q3 100%
 

+1

[ggweci]

On 10/24/2024 at 4:27 PM, FlashGordonPhotography said:

If this were my choice I’d take the Q3. Now I’m not a one camera one lens guy but cropped the Q3 gets to basically where the Zf is at 50mm, so that’d be my personal choice.

Agree with Gordon here.  The Q3 can cover anything the Zf w/ 26mm and 40mm can and you don't have to switch lenses.  Plus it will be better in low light, on the wide end, which I assume will come in handy during your travel.

Enjoy the trip!

Edited October 26, 2024 by ggweci

[Simone_DF]

Between your two options, I’d take the Q3. 
 

Alternatively, the ZF with the 26 and a longer lens, like 50 or longer would be my choice

[JNK100]

1 hour ago, AussieQ said:

I was in South Korea 5 weeks ago. The only camera I went with was the Q3. It was perfect for the trip. I didn't miss a tighter focal length at all. But then again, I like wide focal lengths.

+1

[chrisgonzalez]

If you aren't going to use the Q3 on a great vacation like that, when are you going to use it?! 

 

Take the Q3 and don't worry about extra lenses etc. Enjoy!!