In a quandry over Q`s...

[LeicaGuyUK]

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I once owned a Q-P and oh boy did I love that thing but it had an issue with the EVF sensor semi-working so i sold it and got a Q3 28 which to this day I absolutely love... Anyhow I have a love/hate relationship with my M11 and so I have put it up for sale... With that in mind I`m stuck on decision with what to replace that with... Q3M/Q3 43 or maybe even a SL3 reporter... Budget is around £6-7k... Any thoughts would be appreciated

Oh and if it helps the Q for street and maybe the SL for anything other than and semi serious...

Edited Thursday at 05:55 PM by LeicaGuyUK

[Nachtmsk]

I have a Q2M and love it. So I'd recommend the Q3M if you primarily shoot BW  or the Q2M if you wanted to save some money. 

 

[norm_snyder]

I will be interested in seeing how this discussion goes...since I am having increasing difficulty reliably focusing M10M as I get older, and stabilization would be appreciated, as well.  I have an Q2M which has become my "daily driver."  I am considering replacing the M10M with a Q3 43, as typically I tend to not shoot with focal lengths greater than 75mm much.

[Herr Barnack]

If I were in your shoes, I would most likely get the Q3 Monochrom.

I have a Q2 which is a good camera - but its Achilles' heel is high ISO performance.  The Q3 with a maximum ISO of 200,000 with the high ISO capability of a B&W sensor nukes that issue.  60 mp will make wall size prints more than doable, if you want to print.

As for no color - I am starting to think that perhaps color is not mandatory for creating arresting images.  I think the late, great Sebastião Salgado might go along with me on this theory.

[Nachtmsk]

13 hours ago, Herr Barnack said:

If I were in your shoes, I would most likely get the Q3 Monochrom.

I have a Q2 which is a good camera - but its Achilles' heel is high ISO performance.  The Q3 with a maximum ISO of 200,000 with the high ISO capability of a B&W sensor nukes that issue.  60 mp will make wall size prints more than doable, if you want to print.

As for no color - I am starting to think that perhaps color is not mandatory for creating arresting images.  I think the late, great Sebastião Salgado might go along with me on this theory.

Yes, Salgado was great - also Cartier-Bresson. I think BW is better at capturing the essence of a scene more times than color is, particularly when the subject is a person. 

 

[Nachtmsk]

As a side comment - One other thing I would add is this. Make your kit as minimal as possible.  Pick a favorite camera and stick with it for a long time. Get to know it really well. I think that make us, certainly me, a better photographer. I have the Q2M and I think it's more than enough for my needs.  Woody Allen still writes his screen plays on a typewriter. Cartier-Bresson stuck with the same camera and 50 mm lens for decades. 

Edited yesterday at 01:36 PM by Nachtmsk

[Jeff S]

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2 hours ago, Nachtmsk said:

Cartier-Bresson stuck with the same camera and 50 mm lens for decades. 

Seems he “upgraded” cameras fairly regularly.  And that was before forum influencers.
 

https://www.jogeier.com/blog/henri-cartier-bresson-and-his-cameras-a-chronological-journey/?srsltid=AfmBOop-HBqc7Vt12JAB2mQg6DFBUBmHzWXMNKLsT6QRX710O-FgV0yO

[tangosix]

I replaced my m11 with the q3 28, and then q3 43.  I loved the image look the m11, which is unique, but frankly grew tired of missing important human shots.  

Only you know how you will use a new gear,  but this is about a new experiences and growth.  The SL3 would provide that in spades. 

 

[businessasusual]

I, too, have done mental gymnastics trying to find the camera that addresses my needs. Ageing eyesight led me to buying the SL2 (before the 3 was available) and the 50mm Lux. Weather proofing was a bonus. The weight has not been. I love the camera and cannot say enough about the lens - I love the results. That lens shines like no other. Carrying it around on a 6 hour walk hurts like hell. As a result, I picked up the M11 with a 50mm. Love the weight and inconspicuous size. Do not like struggling with focusing. I take one or the other on any given day, coupled with my Vlux 5 and found most of my shots on any day ended up being with the Vlux 5. This has led me to the Q3 43. I have a feeling this is going to become my workhorse. (together with zoom capability of Vlux 5). I am reluctant to part with the L system (also used with M lenses) and the M11 will have it’s uses for the projects that allow time to focus and me wanting to be less conspicuous. The regret of parting with previous M’s runs deep. I’m keeping this one.

I agree with getting to know one camera really well - which I did 20 years ago with my M6TTL and Noctilux. That was all I had and I miss the simplicity. I wasn’t counting on my eyesight deteriorating. Bummer.

I can say I have gotten to know the 3 setups (about to add Q3 43 - 28mm requires me to get way closer than I’m comfortable with, with strangers) I have. It really helps to know how to get the best out of each setup. Leica shines with the intuitive and simplistic menus - I found other brands like Nikon and Canon to end up being the proverbial VHS Recorder that nobody ever mastered using, except for play and record.

Looking forward to getting out there with minimal weight, weather proofing and autofocus.  Q3 43 here I come.

[just3aBro]

You have already a Q3 28, so why not stick with this one? Safe the money, you hand a great camera at hand, no need to spend a lot more money for even the same camera but a different focal length.

[Nachtmsk]

On 12/18/2025 at 5:25 PM, norm_snyder said:

I will be interested in seeing how this discussion goes...since I am having increasing difficulty reliably focusing M10M as I get older, and stabilization would be appreciated, as well.  I have an Q2M which has become my "daily driver."  I am considering replacing the M10M with a Q3 43, as typically I tend to not shoot with focal lengths greater than 75mm much.

 

22 hours ago, Jeff S said:

Seems he “upgraded” cameras fairly regularly.  And that was before forum influencers.
 

https://www.jogeier.com/blog/henri-cartier-bresson-and-his-cameras-a-chronological-journey/?srsltid=AfmBOop-HBqc7Vt12JAB2mQg6DFBUBmHzWXMNKLsT6QRX710O-FgV0yO

There's always one who looks for the exception to the comment.. hahahahah.. Thanks for article. Yes,  he upgraded about every 10 years. A good amount of time to get to know a camera. And he primarily used  only 50mm lens over decades. 

I'm sure he had his own 'forum influences' - other Magnum photographers. Not a bad group at all to get advice from. 

[Jeff S]

39 minutes ago, Nachtmsk said:

I'm sure he had his own 'forum influences' - other Magnum photographers. Not a bad group at all to get advice from. 

Exactly my point; reference base was known and trusted working photographers, not anonymous forum sources with GAS from watching YouTube, etc, and then asking which camera/lens to take on the next vacation trip.