Coveted New Leica Q3 Taps Into Manual Film Shooting Roots
The brand name alone is enough to fire emotions — not least because the sticker shock caused by many of Leica’s recent cameras has had customers wondering whether the brand has fallen foul of reputation inflation. But, as anyone who has been behind the lens of these German cameras can attest, Leica is an industry benchmark for a reason.
There’s little surprise, then, that the new compact Leica Q3 is in high demand, with retail supply falling far below global demand. Featuring a 60-megapixel sensor and fixed 28 millimetre lens, the Q3 is an immensely capable little camera. And, whether shooting in low light, capturing portraits, or dabbling in landscape or reportage-style photography, the images that come off the Q3 are so crisp that they look like you’ve spent hours fine-tuning them in post-production. Flip over to video, and it can capture 8K resolution footage — a welcome perk in a compact unit such as this.
But, even then, image capture quality is only half of what makes the Q3 sing. Its sturdy, machined metal frame rests perfectly in-hand and, when combined with the layout of its controls, the Q3 can feel essentially analog. In our time testing the camera, the preference was to first set up for the day or situation using the camera’s display back, before moving to the viewfinder for framing and capture. And, though its autofocus capabilities are impressive, making that switch to manual mode offers a nice disconnect from the digital age.
Leica’s Coveted New Q3
Leica’s Coveted New Q3
Leica’s Coveted New Q3
Leica’s Coveted New Q3
Leica’s Coveted New Q3
Leica’s Coveted New Q3
Put simply, Leica’s Q3 melds an analog feel with its digital capabilities in a way that the manufacturer’s competitors seem either unable or unwilling to accomplish. Leica is a name renowned for a reason and, despite the bar to entry, it’s simple to see why the German brand continues to attract photographers year after year.
