Q3/Q3 43: Firmware update v.3.0.0 improves black out times and much more

[aficionados]

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53 minutes ago, Smogg said:

Ideally, it would be nice to have a focus lock that would not be interrupted even when turning the camera off/on. But you can't ask for too much, you need to be satisfied with what you've been given😀

I am puzzled why you need the focus lock to be persistent even the camera is turned off and on again. You have a scenario in which you shoot something and come back a few hours later to shoot it again where both camera and subject have not moved at all?

Edited December 12, 2024 by aficionados

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[Dr. G]

1 hour ago, Smogg said:

Changing the aperture or exposure compensation unlocks AF-L. This is still not very good. But now the shutter button does not unlock after the first frame, and this is a huge step towards meeting the requests of users for many years.

 

28 minutes ago, Smogg said:

You are right, but Leica probably doesn't want to give this functionality to the entry level camera in their camera line.

This would help with stitching, but am I understanding that this is only mappable to the shutter release half press and not a custom button?

Edited December 12, 2024 by Dr. G

[SrMi]

1 minute ago, Dr. G said:

 

This would help with stitching, but am I understanding that this is only mappable to the shutter release half press and not a custom button?

AF-L is mappable to a function button and disables focusing with the shutter button until it is unlocked by changing anything or pressing anything but the shutter button.

[Dr. G]

Just now, SrMi said:

AF-L is mappable to a function button and disables focusing with the shutter button until it is unlocked by changing anything or pressing anything but the shutter button.

So it's a pseudo back button focus, then.  I guess it's better than what we had in certain scenarios.  

[Cogito]

is there any advantage to updating via SD card rather than app?

[win-win]

Viewfinder sill became darker when shutter button half pressed.

[Smogg]

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20 minutes ago, aficionados said:

I am puzzled why you need the focus lock to be persistent even the camera is turned off and on again. You have a scenario in which you shoot something and come back a few hours later to shoot it again where both camera and subject have not moved at all?

I can sometimes stand in one place for up to half an hour waiting for a person in the right clothes and/or a car of the right color. To save battery, I turn off the camera

[Dr. G]

12 minutes ago, win-win said:

Viewfinder sill became darker when shutter button half pressed.

I still can't figure out what causes this.  It seems like it happens more in AFc.

[SrMi]

23 minutes ago, Cogito said:

is there any advantage to updating via SD card rather than app?

Not really. Sometimes, the update is available earlier in FOTOS, sometimes for SD cards.

[Pelu2010]

51 minutes ago, aficionados said:

I use 2 fps continuous shooting mode to shoot single picture. Just press the shutter once and one picture is taken even with the 2-fps.

And you don't have blackout at all.

I know it's not a solution to the blackout of single shot, but you have it.

Yes, I do this too. But I love to be in single mode for longtime exposures and the blackout in single shot keeps me disorientating. 
it’s weird I know. I switched to a M to have no blackout  but then I don’t have any feedback. 
thanks for the advice though 😍

cheers 

 

Peter 

[Pelu2010]

I would love to see no blackout for any future camera out of Wetzlar pls …. 
🤩

[Smogg]

By the way, I wonder why this happens? How do engineers manage to avoid Blackout during continuous shooting and why can't they avoid it during single shooting?

[ChrisQ3]

6 hours ago, Leon_B. said:

Leica has released the firmware update v.3.0.0 for the Leica Q3 and Q3 43 with many improvements.

The firmware is already available on the official Leica website, slight availability delays via the FOTOS app can be possible. 

Downloads:

• Leica Q3
• Leica Q3 43

New:

• USB Audio:
  New supported USB audio products by RØDE:
  • VideoMic GO II
  • VideoMic NTG
  • Wireless GO II
  • Wireless ME
  • and compatible USB microphones

Improvement:

• Capture mode:
  Blackout time for single shots was improved from approx. 310 ms to around 250 ms.
• Firmware:
  Bugfixes in the firmware.
• Connecting to Leica FOTOS App:
  The problem of Leica FOTOS being unable to connect if another smartphone was already connected to the camera via Wi-Fi was remedied.
• Continuous Shooting:
  The start delay for the setting 15 fps was reduced by 700 ms.
• Autofocus:
  The iAF performance was improved. Focus delay and tracking output were improved.
• AF/AE-Lock:
  The AF Lock function will now be permanent after activation, until the relevant assigned button is pressed again or the AF Field is shifted. That applies to the settings AF-L + AE-L and AF-L. The AE Lock function maintains AE-L after activation, even if the AF Field is shifted.
• AF Field size:
  Configured AF Field sizes will now be saved to the user profile (on the SD card and the camera memory).
• Touch AF:
  Via Leica FOTOS app is now possible, even if the focus ring is set to MF.
• USB Mode:
  The factory setting of the camera was changed to Select on Connection.
• Exif 3.0:
  Support for Exif 3.0 and the GPS version 2.4.0.0 was added.

Brilliant, thanks for sharing, did both the updates from the App, and both worked perfectly; but yet to explore how the new updates perform… 

[Cogito]

37 minutes ago, SrMi said:

Not really. Sometimes, the update is available earlier in FOTOS, sometimes for SD cards.

Thanks. Just updated via app, took 5 mins start to finish including restoring profile (I use only one.)

Don't have any issues with blackout, or viewfinder becoming darker when shutter is half-pressed, but I never have had. Though it's not on the list, it'd be nice if eye AF has improved, I will try iAF to see if it's now a usable option. 

[Olaf_ZG]

Updated via Fotos. The camera even asked me if I wanted to save my profiles. All went smoothly.

[LocalHero1953]

1 hour ago, Olaf_ZG said:

Updated via Fotos. The camera even asked me if I wanted to save my profiles. All went smoothly.

All we want now is automatically to import them again afterwards. But at least they don't get accidentally overwritten.

[Robert Ardinger]

No issues with the update (via SD card) but though I might pass along a few fun "features" I found that needed addressing after updating (some of these have been touched on in other posts).

After updating and after saved profiles are loaded, there is still the Photo Mode Fn-2 "bug" of (when in Photo mode) the Fn-2 button defaulting to Photo/Video switch instead of what you might have had it previously set to (AE-L in my case).  All (actually most - see next paragraph) other parameters of the profile are present.  This "bug" might not be noticed if Fn-2 in Photo Mode was always left at the default Photo/Video switch. (described in detail in this Hudson Henry video that has been referred to in other posts).

Likewise, after the firmware update and setting the language, date, date format, Daylight Savings Time choice, time and time format (12/24hr) then reloading profiles the language, date, DST choice and time that were selected will be remembered but the date format reverts to the default DD-MM-YYYY if it was set to something else (MM-DD-YYYY in my case) and the time format reverts to the default 24hr if it was set to something else (12 hr in my case).  Again may not be an issue if the default settings are always used.

These "bugs" were present when upgrading to 2.0.5 and still there for 3.0.  Fixable by setting what you want for each profile and re-saving.

I find I have to resave the profiles anyway to get the small profile number to stick in the quick menu after reloading them.  Before saving the reloaded profiles I went through each one and reset time/date formats and the Fn-2 setting and made sure my preference for the initial information display in shooting and preview mode is set (mine had defaulted to the full information screens from my previous settings of minimal (shooting) and none (play)).  The names I had given the profiles before the firmware update did transfer when the profiles were reloaded so fairly easy to re-save.

These are not big issues and once known, if important, can be "fixed" in minutes as the important camera setting of a profile are reinstalled when profiles are reloaded and do not need to be reset.

I have noticed improved focus tracking since the firmware update.

Edited December 12, 2024 by Robert Ardinger

[dsalamena]

Hi! After updating the Fotos App I have not been able to connect my Leica Q3 via wifi/ Bluetooth. The camera now works with my iPhone 16 pro only when connected via cable.  Am I the only one with this problem (already reported to Leica support)? Any suggestions? 
thanks! 
 

Edited December 12, 2024 by dsalamena

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[tiendamquang]

Hello everyone,

After upgrading my Leica Q3 43 camera to the 3.0.0 firmware, I encountered an issue where the camera won’t turn off, requiring me to remove the battery, and the histogram disappeared. Has anyone experienced the same problem?

[mrlouie]

10 hours ago, Smogg said:

I have permanent AF-L  with the new firmware. This is great news and the most important thing in this firmware for me.

Finally it’s how my Q2 monochrome was over a year ago