Leica Q3 – Disappointed with High ISO Performance?

[Smogg]

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33 minutes ago, Steve7 said:

According to Bill Claff's measurements (https://www.photonstophotos.net/Charts/PDR.htm), the Q3 noise performance is almost identical to the D750 (see table on the left, lower on the page).  I guess the progress in all those years is giving such low-light performance at 60 MP rather than 24 MP.  Looking at other cameras with same or similar high-res sensors (e.g. Sony A7RV), the Q3 is in the same ball park as those.  One outlier is the Sigma fp L; it's about a stop better.  The fp L, has the same sensor but has a very slow sensor readout.  My understanding is that slower readout rates introduce less read noise, albeit with the potential cost of banding in artificial lighting and strong rolling shutter effects with moving subjects.

Visually, I see Leica being conservative with noise reduction on the out-of-camera JPEGs.  They seem to apply liberal chrominance noise reduction but relatively little luminance noise reduction, leaving lot's of detail and few or no noise reduction artifacts.  I personally much prefer this "honest" look to the images at, e.g., ISO 6400 and 12800.

For out-of-camera JPEGs, under Q3 JPEG settings, you can try setting Noise Reduction to high and see if you prefer the look of the JPEG images.

Best of luck finding a path to success with the Q3.

Sigma FP L has the same slow sensor readout as Q3, M11, A7RV. It's the same sensor.

[costa43]

Magnification of a 60mp file at 100% is very different to a 24mp D750 file. If you print them both out at the same size, my bet is the Q file will be there or thereabouts.

I do think the Q3 has decent high ISO performance but In my own experience, I felt that I had to expose even better than with some other cameras at the higher ISOs, or the colour noise would come quicker than ideal when recovering shadow detail. The sister sensor on the M11 is stronger here. 

Edited July 12 by costa43

[LocalHero1953]

I find the shadows of the Q3 43 are less recoverable than the SL2-S at the same exposure and ISO - they have more noise.

[SrMi]

9 hours ago, Steve7 said:

According to Bill Claff's measurements (https://www.photonstophotos.net/Charts/PDR.htm), the Q3 noise performance is almost identical to the D750 (see table on the left, lower on the page).  I guess the progress in all those years is giving such low-light performance at 60 MP rather than 24 MP.  Looking at other cameras with same or similar high-res sensors (e.g. Sony A7RV), the Q3 is in the same ball park as those.  One outlier is the Sigma fp L; it's about a stop better.  The fp L, has the same sensor but has a very slow sensor readout.  My understanding is that slower readout rates introduce less read noise, albeit with the potential cost of banding in artificial lighting and strong rolling shutter effects with moving subjects.

Sigma FP-L's maximum PDR is similar. The FP-L graph is shifted to the right, which is likely due to uncalibrated ISO values.

[SrMi]

I find Q3's shadow recovery quite suitable for all practical purposes.

ISO 1600, original and post-processed:

 

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[Miltz]

The Leica Q3 has the best 60 megapixel sensor on the market right now. High ISO performance is amazing. My Nikon Z6 is equally as good. For the Leica to match Z6 in high iso for all practical purposes, that’s amazing. Not sure what people expect. Also it looks like the OP doesn’t know how to use noise reduction on their computer.

[LocalHero1953]

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It's difficult to tell the OP's experience etc from just one post.

[RQ44]

Just use Adobe noise remover in lightroom or photoshop, noise issue solved. Life is too short to worry about high iso noise, just get out and make photos or send the camera back to where you purchased it from and try another brand.

[zlatkob]

On 7/11/2025 at 1:49 PM, Rbnich said:

Hi there,
I’m new to Leica and recently purchased the Q3. While I was excited to finally try a Leica, I have to admit I’m not impressed so far—particularly with the high ISO performance.

I’ve attached a screenshot of a RAW file at 100% zoom. No edits have been made apart from importing into Lightroom Classic and zooming to 100%.  I used the embedded profile and the histogram is balanced.

From everything I read before buying, I expected strong low-light performance, but what I’m seeing doesn’t match that expectation.  To be honest, my 14-year-old Nikon D750 seems to handle high ISO noticeably better, which is surprising given the time and tech gap between the two cameras.

It’s possible I’m missing something—maybe a setting or workflow adjustment that’s unique to Leica files? I’d really appreciate any insight. Hopefully, this is just part of the learning curve and not what Leica considers good high ISO performance?

Thanks in advance.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Could we get an update: what was the ISO of that photo in the original post?

[costa43]

On 7/14/2025 at 10:09 AM, Miltz said:

The Leica Q3 has the best 60 megapixel sensor on the market right now. High ISO performance is amazing. My Nikon Z6 is equally as good. For the Leica to match Z6 in high iso for all practical purposes, that’s amazing. Not sure what people expect. Also it looks like the OP doesn’t know how to use noise reduction on their computer.

It’s a great sensor but to claim it is the best 60mp on the market is a little inaccurate in my experience. There is a notable difference in quality between the M11 sensor and the Q3 sensor in shadow recovery and high ISO performance (I have owned both). They are definitely not ‘tuned’ to the same level. My assumption is that the Sony A7R5/A7CR will be closer to the M11 but I’ve no experience with these bodies. I also think the SL2-S has a remarkable sensor for everyday photography. Very robust and malleable files, albeit at 24mp. 

I do think the Q line is amazing and at the top of its game, so much so that I’m considering the 43 myself, but for those coming from another 60mp sensor and expecting an identical experience in post, it will not be the case.