Leica Q3 or Fujifilm GFX 100RF

[MFT-Lehrling]

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I think competion in the niche premium bridge camera market is always good, but lower the expectations of the first entry in this market seems to be the way to go… (should be the rule for any new market entry e.g. Smartphones, DSLM, electric cars, etc)

Leica has allready a proven track record and 3-3,5 refinements made with their Q series. To think that a new
"player" enters the stage and beats a refined product is just not realistic.

E.g. the Zeiss ZX1 was only a short lived, but pretty intresting take, for that niche market. But the will and dedication for refinements over more generations was just not there. (in my opinion, this camera-philosopy/idea is realy great, it was just delivered way too late and in kind of a prototype stage…)

Fuji seems more fun/play-thing oriented, with many button/dials, push mechanism. Most important thing from my point of view is the lens perfomance… dedicated test should follow soon on this. The first few glances/impressions does not seem that promising, but we will see… i think the direct competion for the Q ist just not there (yet), too many differences.

BUT i could be wrong and it will be a giant succes in an even more niche market😅. (as the use case described/posted by @Telemetric, would be awesome if you could compare it to the Q-Series directly😇).
This also could be the beginning for Fuji in this market, they could refine it, offer it with different vocal lengths, etc.
I wish fuji and this camera all the best, hopefully it will meet the expectations of fuji, and they will get the confidence to develop more of this niche cameras and see it in a bigger time frame (5-10 years). They should know that getting into a new market always takes time and a long breath, escpecially with a declining camera market as a whole. (looking at sony and zeiss here)

For me this bridge/premium-bridge segment ist the most exciting market in the last 6 years. Iam not realy intersted in any new interchangable lens camera. Sure they get better with each update, but are also getting more and more stuff that i do not have any use for. Sensor development stagnated (DR) in the last 5 years, the 0,001 sec fast af with dog-xxx recogniton, bigger buffer and 8k ultra+&xy does not bring any value for me.

Cameras like the ZX1, Q-Series and now the GFX100RF do realy change they way a camera is looked at in a more profonde way. Iam thrilled to see more of these!

Comming back to the original thread-theme:

New Fuji GFX100RF(series) … a (hopefully future) competition for the Q.
 

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The Leica Q3 is available for pre-order at B&H Photo Video and Adorama

[JNK100]

45 minutes ago, Telemetric said:

Good afternoon,  
Right now I’m in Prague testing the Fuji GFX 100 RX, as the brand invited me to the launch and has lent me a unit for a few months. After using it intensively for two days, I’m starting to form an opinion about it.

However, I’d like to clarify that I’m not an influencer or a YouTuber. I’m a professional photographer and I use Sony for work (A7RV and A7CR) and Leica for my personal photos (M10-P and M11-P). I’ve also tested the SL and Q range from Leica.

In fact, I’m a Sony collaborator and I’m also currently in talks with Leica to become one, since I’m a travel and documentary photographer and both brands are interested in photographers who give talks on those topics.

So, I’m not a Fuji ambassador, nor has the brand paid me.

They invited me to the presentation because back in 2019 — if I remember correctly — they lent me a 50R to do a photographic report in Berlin. That camera turned out to be a disaster: terrible autofocus, very ugly noise from ISO 2000 upwards, and it was also big and heavy. I ended up returning it, stating that there were better cameras for my professional work. So I went to this new model's presentation with low expectations.

Here are my thoughts so far.  
I'm going to talk about the camera from the perspective of the kind of photography I do: documentary and reportage (mainly travel). First, the visual aspect. It’s subjective, of course, but while the black version is discreet and elegant, the silver one seems too eye-catching and bulky. I don’t think the silver color does it any favors. That’s why, when I saw them, I chose a black unit. It feels comfortable in hand and is not heavy at all.

It doesn’t have IBIS, but the leaf shutter is among the best I’ve seen. It makes ZERO noise. None. It feels like an electronic shutter. Also, it causes no vibrations in the camera, which largely compensates for the lack of IBIS. Yesterday I took photos inside a nuclear bunker here in Prague with very little light, at 1/5s, and they turned out fine. It also helps that the lens is the full-frame equivalent of a 28mm. Speaking of the lens, I think it’s a great choice because with 102 MP you can crop and still get files with excellent resolution. In fact, you can crop directly in-camera using a selector, so it’s almost like having multiple focal lengths. But be careful: even if you crop, the depth of field remains that of a 28mm. I don’t mind it being f/4 either — it's roughly the equivalent of f/2.8 on full frame. For my type of photography (again, documentary and reportage), I prefer a compact lens over a very fast one if the latest has to be bigger.

This lens isn’t really meant for close-up portraits with heavy bokeh, although it does a decent job if needed. While there are better cameras for this, you can also do some street photography with it, since the autofocus — finally — is good for a medium format. It’s not my A7RV, which is a focusing marvel, but it’s not fair to compare them, as the Fuji’s sensor is larger, so it has to work harder to focus. Still, it holds up well against Leica’s Q and SL in terms of focusing speed.

I personally really like the chosen focal length — more than a 35mm. It’s my “natural” focal length for documentary and reportage because being a bit wider than 35mm makes it more comfortable for storytelling and interiors. So for me, a 10/10 on that front. If it were a 35mm, I’d probably disregard it entirely. The viewfinder is good, the screen too, the menus are easy and customizable, and the RAW files aren’t larger than my A7RV’s if I shoot using lossless compressed RAW.

One thing that needs improvement (seriously) is the rear joystick. It’s a bit stiff to operate, which isn’t a big issue in itself, but the problem is that it has anti-slip ridges that, when you're walking with the camera hanging from your neck or shoulder, end up literally tearing your sweater. Several of us came back with ripped sweaters in the front or on one side (depending on how you carry the camera) because of that. It rubs like sandpaper and destroys the fabric.

As for image quality, it seems good so far, and the colors too, but I’ll let you know more on Monday when I see the files on a big screen. For now, I’m working on a MacBook Air and not really processing in the hotel — I’m just using the laptop to offload images to an external drive.

I’m using the camera intensively, about 8 hours a day, and I’ll keep sharing more details.

Is it better than the Leica Q?  
For what I do, yes. Again — for what "I" do. It’s a camera clearly designed for documentary photography, both in terms of focal length and performance. Honestly, it’s the first Fuji I’d seriously consider buying, and I’d choose it over the Leica Q without hesitation.

Cheers!

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The out of focus areas in these shots look unpleasant to me for some reason.

[Smogg]

4 minutes ago, JNK100 said:

The out of focus areas in these shots look unpleasant to me for some reason.

This one was taken on a phone😅

[Telemetric]

Hehe the pics I uploaded are taken with an iPhone.

[JNK100]

8 minutes ago, Telemetric said:

Hehe the pics I uploaded are taken with an iPhone.

That's a relief! 😂

[Smogg]

9 minutes ago, Telemetric said:

Hehe the pics I uploaded are taken with an iPhone.

I can't find an answer to the question anywhere: Is it possible to put on a hood without using an intermediate ring with a filter?

[JNK100]

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13 minutes ago, Smogg said:

This one was taken on a phone😅

Blush 😂

[Chris W]

3 hours ago, Dazzajl said:

I’m absolutely sure they do. I’m saying I don’t know anyone who does. Of all the working snappers I know or meet out in the field, Canon and Sony are by far the market leaders. Nikon and Fuji make up pretty much all of the rest. It’s very hard to make a commercial case for buying Leica or Hasselblad when other companies make more robust and technically advanced product, with equal or better optics for less money. 

Again, which has zero to do without your odd colour claim.

I know quite a few professional photographers. They all love the look of Hasselblad images from the X1D2 or X2D. They don't want to spend that kind of money, especially on the lenses which cost more than the body. They think the auto-focus is too slow. No IBIS (unit the X2D).

No one I know dislikes the Hasselbald, they just need Sony for the speed, the features and accuracy of focus, Nikon and Canon for the high quality while being affordable.

I don't know anyone who shoots Fuji professionally. I know one top pro who only shoots M11p and SL3.

[Chris W]

4 hours ago, Dazzajl said:

However, how confident are you that you’d pick correctly in a blind test of the same shot, with the same lens on those three cameras? 

It's much more about the user experience, also the post processing. Hasselblad and Leica often wins on the image imported to Lightroom or Capture One, before you start post production. 

But if you don't like a stripped back workflow, less features, simple menu, you are going to prefer  to shoot with Fuji, Sony, Nikon and Canon.

Personally I love the simple workflow of Hassy and Leica.

[Telemetric]

1 hour ago, Smogg said:

I can't find an answer to the question anywhere: Is it possible to put on a hood without using an intermediate ring with a filter?

I just tried. I think no.

[Telemetric]

25 minutes ago, Chris W said:

Again, which has zero to do without your odd colour claim.

I know quite a few professional photographers. They all love the look of Hasselblad images from the X1D2 or X2D. They don't want to spend that kind of money, especially on the lenses which cost more than the body. They think the auto-focus is too slow. No IBIS (unit the X2D).

No one I know dislikes the Hasselbald, they just need Sony for the speed, the features and accuracy of focus, Nikon and Canon for the high quality while being affordable.

I don't know anyone who shoots Fuji professionally. I know one top pro who only shoots M11p and SL3.

 

Hassel has the best color science by far. My colorist always says that if all photographers used Hassel, he wouldn't have any work.
And, by the way, Leica has one of the worst color sciences. Also said by my colorist, who works with the best agencies and photographers in the world.
I own Leica Ms because I love the shooting experience, but getting the so-called “Leica look” is incredibly easy in any camera.

In fact, I apply the same color style to all my photos (my color style), regardless of the camera, and it’s actually with the Leicas where it takes the most work to get it right.

By the way, here you have part of the curriculum of my colorist (and good friend):

The Addretouch post-produced works have been published in international media as Stern, Paris Match, El País (EPS), Time, Newsweek, Newsweek Japan, Washington Post, Time, New York Times, C- Photo Magazine or British Journal of Photography. 

Its clients have obtained prestigious awards as World Press Photo (2007, 2009, 2013) Fotopress (2007) and entities such as Caixa Forum, La Virreina, Casa América or Niemeyer Center, that has worked for print works and exhibition producer.

Edited March 22 by Telemetric

[Chris W]

5 minutes ago, Telemetric said:

 

Hassel has the best color science by far. My colorist always says that if all photographers used Hassel, he wouldn't have any work.
And, by the way, Leica has one of the worst color sciences. Also said by my colorist, who works with the best agencies and photographers in the world.
I own Leica Ms because I love the shooting experience, but getting the so-called “Leica look” is incredibly easy in any camera.

In fact, I apply the same color style to all my photos (my color style), regardless of the camera, and it’s actually with the Leicas where it takes the most work to get it right.

I loved the images out of my Leica Q (raw, not jpeg), they rarely needed a lot of work. I like the images out of my M10, but they do need a bit of tweaking.

[Telemetric]

2 minutes ago, Chris W said:

I loved the images out of my Leica Q (raw, not jpeg), they rarely needed a lot of work. I like the images out of my M10, but they do need a bit of tweaking.

This is subjetive and if you like it, perfect but the truth is that Leica color science is not good. 

[Smogg]

38 minutes ago, Telemetric said:

I just tried. I think no.

Thanks for the info. Too bad. Strange miscalculation from Fuji. But I hope there will be solutions from third party manufacturers.

[Smogg]

40 minutes ago, Telemetric said:

 

Hassel has the best color science by far. My colorist always says that if all photographers used Hassel, he wouldn't have any work.
And, by the way, Leica has one of the worst color sciences. Also said by my colorist, who works with the best agencies and photographers in the world.
I own Leica Ms because I love the shooting experience, but getting the so-called “Leica look” is incredibly easy in any camera.

In fact, I apply the same color style to all my photos (my color style), regardless of the camera, and it’s actually with the Leicas where it takes the most work to get it right.

By the way, here you have part of the curriculum of my colorist (and good friend):

 

The Addretouch post-produced works have been published in international media as Stern, Paris Match, El País (EPS), Time, Newsweek, Newsweek Japan, Washington Post, Time, New York Times, C- Photo Magazine or British Journal of Photography. 

Its clients have obtained prestigious awards as World Press Photo (2007, 2009, 2013) Fotopress (2007) and entities such as Caixa Forum, La Virreina, Casa América or Niemeyer Center, that has worked for print works and exhibition producer.

This isn't the first time I've heard a similar comment about Leica colors from professional colorists. A friend of mine works as a photographer in an art gallery. When he first started working there, he was asked to stop using Leica for work and switch to Canon because the local colorists were spending too much time processing the materials they prepared for printing. I've always been surprised by this, but I'm not a professional. At least our opinions about Hasselblad colors coincide 😉

[Chris W]

47 minutes ago, Telemetric said:

This is subjetive and if you like it, perfect but the truth is that Leica color science is not good. 

One minute you say subjective then claim the truth is 'not good'.

It can't be both.

I like the colours out of my M10 and I LOVED the Q files.

[Chris W]

17 minutes ago, Smogg said:

This isn't the first time I've heard a similar comment about Leica colors from professional colorists. 

Too many variables.

The M8, M240 and M10 have a vastly different look. I didn't like the M240 colours.

M11 owners say it looks different to the M10.

The Q series again looks very different and I loved it, it didn't need much editing. I know a photojournalist who almost exclusively uses the M11 and his images are stunning. I don't know how hard he works on them, but he usually has a fast turnaround time (in the hotel , late after a day of shooting on assignment).

[Telemetric]

27 minutes ago, Smogg said:

This isn't the first time I've heard a similar comment about Leica colors from professional colorists. A friend of mine works as a photographer in an art gallery. When he first started working there, he was asked to stop using Leica for work and switch to Canon because the local colorists were spending too much time processing the materials they prepared for printing. I've always been surprised by this, but I'm not a professional. At least our opinions about Hasselblad colors coincide 😉

Well, I have difficulties too when I want to apply my color style in a Leica raw. Anything you touch, is a nightmare. Or you like the leica color or you are done… 

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica Q

[Telemetric]

12 minutes ago, Chris W said:

One minute you say subjective then claim the truth is 'not good'.

It can't be both.

I like the colours out of my M10 and I LOVED the Q files.

Is subjebtive for him i meant. If he likes ir, perfect. 

[Telemetric]

9 minutes ago, Chris W said:

Too many variables.

The M8, M240 and M10 have a vastly different look. I didn't like the M240 colours.

M11 owners say it looks different to the M10.

The Q series again looks very different and I loved it, it didn't need much editing. I know a photojournalist who almost exclusively uses the M11 and his images are stunning. I don't know how hard he works on them, but he usually has a fast turnaround time (in the hotel , late after a day of shooting on assignment).

I have the M10 and M11 and both are different… and bad.