Thinking of trading my Q3 43 for an SL3. Am I crazy?

[JNK100]

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17 hours ago, quiet.seattle said:

I've had the Q3 43 for about six months. It is everything as advertised: Smallish, great lens, etc. Previously I had a Q2 and loved it but prefer a focal length near 50mm and traded it in for the Q3 43. I also own an SL2-S and a couple of Panasonic lenses. I seem to prefer operating the SL2-S more than the Q: the EVF if just startling sharp and the camera feels good, albiet heavy, in the hand. But, I rarely use it. The Q43 does just as well in low light and I prefer the 60 megapixels for resolution and cropping. I'm just an enthusiast street photographer that mostly uses autofocus; I don't do video. Am I alone in not finding as much joy in using the Q camera as in an SL? Should I trade the SL2-s and Q3 43 for an SL3? Help a fella out. 

Ok, so you loved your Q2 and bought a Q3-43.

This makes sense . 

Stay as you are and enjoy your photography would be my opinion.

 

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[Mikep996]

"Just when you think you have everything you need, something else looks tempting."

LOL...Yep, like the Hasselblad X2D + two lenses I purchased a couple of weeks ago. 🤣

[setuporg]

The Q3 43 is that good.

[ravinj]

6 hours ago, Mikep996 said:

"Just when you think you have everything you need, something else looks tempting."

LOL...Yep, like the Hasselblad X2D + two lenses I purchased a couple of weeks ago. 🤣

Well done! X2D is the camera that I don't mind lugging around. 

[hoolyproductions]

On 6/9/2025 at 11:28 PM, quiet.seattle said:

I've had the Q3 43 for about six months. It is everything as advertised: Smallish, great lens, etc. Previously I had a Q2 and loved it but prefer a focal length near 50mm and traded it in for the Q3 43. I also own an SL2-S and a couple of Panasonic lenses. I seem to prefer operating the SL2-S more than the Q: the EVF if just startling sharp and the camera feels good, albiet heavy, in the hand. But, I rarely use it. The Q43 does just as well in low light and I prefer the 60 megapixels for resolution and cropping. I'm just an enthusiast street photographer that mostly uses autofocus; I don't do video. Am I alone in not finding as much joy in using the Q camera as in an SL? Should I trade the SL2-s and Q3 43 for an SL3? Help a fella out. 

Several very good replies already, some thoughts from me:

• I have a Q3 43 and SL3/SL3-S. I have been a long time user of the SL2-S and it is a most wonderful camera
• In use, I much prefer the superior ergonomics and additional functionalities of the SL cameras over the Q.
• When I am doing a lot of photography, and it is my main focus, I am more than happy to carry the extra weight
• However, for more casual stuff, or occassions where I want or need to travel light I now consider my Q3 43 'irreplaceable'
• You run the risk of getting into a GAS cycle. If you trade in the SL2-S and the Q3 43 you will find yourself without a light and very capable option, and might find yourself trying to pick up a second hand Q (or other compact) within a few months. You would lose a bunch of cash selling your Q3 43 (depreciation)
• Unless 60MP is very important to you, save for a while until you can do a trade in on your SL2-S only. With good lenses the cropping ability of the SL2-S is quite remarkable, 60MP might not be the 'game changer' you think (or then use longer lenses so you don't need to crop)

[Pavel V]

15 hours ago, ravinj said:

Well done! X2D is the camera that I don't mind lugging around. 

Wait ... you didn't see X3D yet...

[pgh]

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Quote

 

Am I crazy?

 

Crazy is probably a little strong.

But if I were primarily a street photographer who only wanted to use AF, a q343 is exactly what I would use. I have an SL2, and while it could do well I personally wouldn’t even think of bringing it out for this work.

Now, I don’t photograph street anymore. When I did I used an M6 and a Contax G2. Loved them both. 

If I returned to street now I would just use my M10 - I’d probably get more keepers with the q343, but in the pleasure to use category the M is king for me.

[mdrips]

A Q3 43 and a D Lux 8 are currently my favorite everyday carry cameras.

That said, having done photography since the 60s, I can’t look at my older photos and tell you what camera I used to take the photo.

For me, the image is the destination and the camera is just part of the journey to get there.

Focus on your images. Everything else is just noise.

[ravinj]

7 hours ago, Pavel V said:

Wait ... you didn't see X3D yet...

I was actually very happy with my X1DII, except for lack of IBIS. Hence the X2D. Unless X3D has 200MP and 20 stops of dynamic range, I won't be tempted. 

[steve edmunds]

not crazy just bored and wealthy , very common

[Jeff S]

3 hours ago, ravinj said:

I was actually very happy with my X1DII, except for lack of IBIS. Hence the X2D. Unless X3D has 200MP and 20 stops of dynamic range, I won't be tempted. 

I think about simpler improvements: a joystick; IP 54 weather sealing; faster AF, etc. But even then, the lack of a robust US dealer network and a closer service center keeps me away.  

The SL2 meets all these needs for me, plus a more extensive lens range, especially the workhorse 24-90, which covers 6 primes without any significant IQ sacrifice.

[ravinj]

26 minutes ago, Jeff S said:

I think about simpler improvements: a joystick; IP 54 weather sealing; faster AF, etc. But even then, the lack of a robust US dealer network and a closer service center keeps me away.  

The SL2 meets all these needs for me, plus a more extensive lens range, especially the workhorse 24-90, which covers 6 primes without any significant IQ sacrifice.

I had the SL2 and most of the SL APO primes which IMO are peerless, esp my favorite, the SL 90. Built like a tank and will survive an apocalypse. 

[Jeff S]

6 minutes ago, ravinj said:

I had the SL2 and most of the SL APO primes which IMO are peerless, esp my favorite, the SL 90. Built like a tank and will survive an apocalypse. 

I had the SL 75, identical build, and sold it based on lack of use in favor of the zoom. Nobody can tell the difference in my prints.  Lots of choices, which is part of the joy of the system. 

[Cogito]

On 6/11/2025 at 11:15 AM, mdrips said:

A Q3 43 and a D Lux 8 are currently my favorite everyday carry cameras.

That said, having done photography since the 60s, I can’t look at my older photos and tell you what camera I used to take the photo.

For me, the image is the destination and the camera is just part of the journey to get there.

Focus on your images. Everything else is just noise.

 I see your valid point, but if images were my only focus I would have kept my A7CR, far more in focus shots, but the experience of using that camera is far inferior to the Q3 43. But then I use the Leica for personal photography and use Sony for professional work. 

[Oxfordian]

It is very easy to get sucked into the race to own the latest and greatest bit of kit, I am fairly sure that we have all succumbed at some point over the years.

I have a Q3, it is brilliant I just smile every time I pick it up to take out whether on a photo trip or just a family walk, it does 90% of what I need for my photography. I cleared out all my Nikon kit earlier this year and moved fully to Leica cameras with a SL2, the Nikon's weren't bad cameras the results were very good but they were so complicated to use, so much deep diving into menus to find what you are looking for, whereas the Leica set up seems much more simple.

Maybe I'm still in the honeymoon period with both cameras so my views may change in the months ahead but somehow I doubt it.