Clandrel Posted January 22 Share #1 Posted January 22 Advertisement (gone after registration) Hi, I just can’t decide between a Q3 43 or go for the SL system. I have noe problem with size/weight, so it is all about what is the most satisfying system. I thought a Q3 with its limitations would be perfect, but suddenly I thought that all the possibilities with a SL3 would be the better option. This will be my only camera. So, a SL3 with a SL 35mm Summicron to start with ( or do I have to go APO?) or a Q3 43? I shoot family, street and architecture (with people in them). I LOVE the build quality of the SL3 and will probably build a small collections of lenses (35/50/75 most likely). I LOVE the possibilities a system gives you, but afraid it will turn into a lens-wanting-bonanza, where you always look for the best lens. Also, I believe the SL3 may be more future proof than the Q3? But… I LOVE the restrictions a fixed lense gives you (Q3 43). What would you do, and if you choose SL3, which lens would you start with? Thoughts? Claus Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted January 22 Posted January 22 Hi Clandrel, Take a look here Cant decide: Q3 43 or SL3. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
hdmesa Posted January 22 Share #2 Posted January 22 Personally, there's no one I know that would much appreciate much being photographed at headshot distance with an APO lens on a 60mp camera. The non-APO lenses are more flattering, IMO. "Lens-wanting bonanzas" as you put it, those are unavoidable with interchange lens cameras. You have to be ok with that. I think the Q3 (28) in 35mm crop mode is a nicer portrait camera than the Q3 43. I wouldn't want anyone pointing that 43mm APO lens at my face, lol. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff S Posted January 23 Share #3 Posted January 23 You could pick up a clean SL2 for a bargain price, and either a Sigma or used/new-non-APO Leica lens. Or just go with one zoom. I sold all my SL lenses except the 24-90, and on the SL2, it’s my all-around complement to my M bodies. IQ is superb, like having 6 primes. No bonanza lust necessary. The Q3-43 would be a nice, small weather sealed travel companion, but more of a luxury than necessity for me. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eoin Posted January 23 Share #4 Posted January 23 I think the Q3 43 may prove to be somewhat limiting over time, with a widest FOV of 43, perhaps the Q3 28mm would possibly prove to be more versatile?. You can crop extensively without too much penalty. I have the Q2-M and love the simplicity as a grab and go when I don't necessarily have a photography orientated outing. But for more photography focused times, without doubt the SL2 or the M system offer much more. Again 35mm as your widest in the SL lenses may not offer the versatility as say a 28 or 21 with cropping if need be. I'd absolutely recommend the APO lenses if budget allows, I'm finding them (21, 35, 90) to be outstanding and the Summilux 50 SL while stunning, perhaps a little too large as an everyday carry. But it also has its unique charm I wouldn't be without. Personally speaking, my photography's satisfaction is proportional to the amount of effort required and I rank them from low to high Q2, SL2 and M, but that's just me. I'm spoilt for choice. Were I to choose a single system here to fore it would be the M, but my ageing eyes make the SL2 and its lenses a more practical choice. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoshuaR Posted January 23 Share #5 Posted January 23 There's no good answer here, partly because everyone uses their cameras differently. I added an SL2-S to my M10-R and M10M and have enjoyed the experience. But I use the camera almost entirely with my M lenses; after trying out a few L-mount autofocus lenses, I've remembered why I don't enjoy AF shooting much. For me, the value of the camera is entirely that it offers a different way of enjoying the M glass in which I've already invested. I've gotten a lot more value for stills photography out of my 50mm, 90mm, and 135mm lenses since adding the SL2-S, and more value out of my wider lenses for video. If I didn't already own M glass, I'd go for a Q3, probably the 28mm variant. The SL series would be too big to be my only / main camera, personally. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpark114 Posted January 23 Share #6 Posted January 23 I guess only you can decide. You already mentioned you'd not care SL's bigger size & weight. Q3 will be less expensive, but no option to change lens puts me off. My M is always with me whenever I want to go light & simple, so I'm big biased against Q series (compared to M, the only benefit Q provides to me is AF). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ellisson Posted January 23 Share #7 Posted January 23 Advertisement (gone after registration) If you shoot a lot of architecture, the Q3 43 may not your best choice; the Q3 28 would be more versatile (e.g., wider angles), also for street and family photography if you recognize the cropping features of the camera. On the other hand, the SL system gives you better options for architecture, and landscapes and most other photography with wider lenses and telephotos from Leica, Sigma and Panasonic. Even if you buy a Q3 camera, would you still want an SL camera and all the lens options - L mount, M and R (with adapters)? The SL system has more possibilities than the Q system, although the Q does a lot in a small, light weight kit with cropping modes. I enjoy both, the Q 28 and an SL2-S with several L-mount zooms plus my M lenses. You've said all of this in your post, so I'm just confirming your options. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smogg Posted January 23 Share #8 Posted January 23 When making your decision, it's worth keeping in mind that the SL3 has a much better quality EVF and external screen. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
satijntje Posted January 23 Share #9 Posted January 23 Get a SL2, either second hand (the marked is full of them), or a new one for a crazy reduced price (below 3k€), and a Sigma 24-70 Zoom and a Panasonic lens 50mm f1.8, and add the Q3-43 for traveling. If it turns out that you like the SL2 a lot, you can then always upgrade to a SL3(-s) and exchange the non-Leica glass with Leica lenses. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elliot Harper Posted January 23 Share #10 Posted January 23 That’s why I love the is forum. When you ask to choose one from two camera bodies, you end up with 3 cameras and 4 lenses 🤑 15 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elliot Harper Posted January 23 Share #11 Posted January 23 12 hours ago, hdmesa said: I think the Q3 (28) in 35mm crop mode is a nicer portrait camera than the Q3 43. I wouldn't want anyone pointing that 43mm APO lens at my face, lol. Why? You like people using a 28mm pointing to your faces because it would be much closer in order to get the same composition ?😂 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ALScott Posted January 23 Share #12 Posted January 23 I have ended up with all three. Q3 28, SL3 and M11P. I love the Q3 out walking around when I want to be able to take quick shots thus the AF over the M11P. I love the SL3 for lens variation and the 24-90 mentioned lives on that camera but I have a 50 lux just for portraits and it gives beautiful results. I really love and needed the SL3 for longer glass 70-200 and 150-600 which there is no other way to get to but SL. I do have to say you can crop in a ton with the Q3 and still have a fantastic file for printing and have done that too. The M is a whole other ball of wax. Bigger learning curve, but fun, slows me down in a fantastic way and super small and light. It is now what leaves the house with me the most. Plus the M battery lasts forever. If I could absolutely only keep one though, it would be the SL’s for their do it all ability and it is the most practical choice for the same reason. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
keeping_a_balance Posted January 23 Share #13 Posted January 23 Weight not a problem = SL3 Lens buying will be a problem. If you go q343, you will want more (eventually), buy another body and get into lenses. - you are prolonging the issue.... Restricting yourself on options = take a the camera out with only one prime, use one prime for X amount of time to force yourself. Lenses: APO are great, but you can get roughly 90+% there with other cheaper lenses and can get a whole kit for less than one apo... it's all up to you... Would however look at M mount lenses, which are a dream on SL3. (even voigtlander etc) I have the SL3 and leave my Q at home 90% of the time, I have enough lenses to make it relatively light weight if I want (small summicron m or something), and as robust as I want with other lens combinations options. As other have stated, the viewfinder and screen are so much better on the SL3 creating a much more immersive shooting experience in my opinion. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Photoworks Posted January 23 Share #14 Posted January 23 there is a place for APO lenses, sharp and detailed. But they are missing the magic, i have traded my Q3 28 with a Real summilux-M 28 and I could not been happier on the M11 or SL3. The Q 28 lens is missing the sharpness fall of, soft colors, and little vignetting on an M lens. on the Q 28, everything is sharp! nothing else. but the lens is really a 26mm with a macro option and lots of in-camera lens correction. The Q3 43 is good for portrait, you can get a softer look and good details. But it does not compare with a real portrait at 75-90mm or the 50 1.2 in any case with the Q line you probably need 2 cameras. with the SL line, you would have one camera and more lenses. And since the Q is the drug to more leica, you probably buy more of the others anyway! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
la1402 Posted January 23 Share #15 Posted January 23 As a travel companion, the Q3 may be easier at it is lighter and weather sealed. But its not really small and the 43mm lens can be quite limiting if you are visiting cities or like landscapes. Very much a matter of taste. The SL3 is without question more capable, but it is quite a brick, and if you use M lenses to keep it small, you are losing AF and weather sealing. But as size apparently doe snot matter and you are looking for one camera only, no question the SL3. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hdmesa Posted January 23 Share #16 Posted January 23 3 hours ago, Elliot Harper said: Why? You like people using a 28mm pointing to your faces because it would be much closer in order to get the same composition ?😂 Most people have fat faces that are not flattered by longer focal lengths, unless you only photograph hollow faced fashion models. And 28 cropped to 35 with a Lux is not the same as 43 with an APO. No one wants APO microcontrast popping out all the pores on their face. That said, neither Q would be my choice for portrait photography. That would be an SL with a non-APO 35mm lens. I'm just not a fan of 50mm and longer focal lengths for portraits. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
CptSlevin Posted January 23 Share #17 Posted January 23 12 hours ago, Smogg said: When making your decision, it's worth keeping in mind that the SL3 has a much better quality EVF and external screen. Almost the same 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! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/418774-cant-decide-q3-43-or-sl3/?do=findComment&comment=5745262'>More sharing options...
Smogg Posted January 23 Share #18 Posted January 23 4 minutes ago, CptSlevin said: Almost the same 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! Resolution is just one of the characteristics of the EVF. The SL3's EVF has a significantly better dynamic range than the Q3, which is very noticeable in high-contrast scenes. I would even say that the EVF of the SL3 is one of the best on the market Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
CptSlevin Posted January 24 Share #19 Posted January 24 7 hours ago, Smogg said: Resolution is just one of the characteristics of the EVF. The SL3's EVF has a significantly better dynamic range than the Q3, which is very noticeable in high-contrast scenes. I would even say that the EVF of the SL3 is one of the best on the market Any proofs? not subjective experience please? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LD_50 Posted January 24 Share #20 Posted January 24 If size and weight are not an issue, there’s not much I would prefer about a Q3 43 over an SL3 other than price. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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