Hands On - Leica Q3 43 - the better Q3?
Leica's Q series has arguably been the premium compact camera since its release. With high resolutions, a minimalist design and a super-sharp Lens, hardly anything was left to be desired. Only the focal length of 28mm didn't appeal to everyone and that's exactly what Leica wants to change with the Leica Q3 43.
The name: What is the Leica Q3 43 all about?
The Leica Q3 has been a popular choice among photography enthusiasts since its release in 2023. Now Leica is releasing a new version of the camera: the Leica Q3 43. The name gives a hint of what this version is all about - the new focal length of 43mm. Many have long wished for a Leica Q with a longer focal length, but the simple numerical upgrade in the name is perhaps not quite as elegant as the camera itself. But what counts are the inner values.
Exterior changes: A subtle new look
If you look at the Leica Q3 43 next to its predecessor, you will notice that little has changed on the outside. The leather has a slightly lighter tone and tends more towards gray, but the dimensions of the camera otherwise remain the same. Only the Lens has become slightly longer at 5mm, while the filter diameter of 49mm remains unchanged. The new glass elements make the camera 29g heavier, which has a slight effect on the balance.
Leica Q3 43 compact camera
- APO-Summicron 43mm f/2 ASPH. fixed focal length
- with integrated macro mode
- BSI sensor with Triple Resolution Technology (18/ 36/ 60 megapixels) + up to 8k video
- ISO 50 to 100,000
- Hybrid AF system (PDAF + contrast autofocus + intelligent scene recognition)
- Leica UX with intuitive operation
- fast and convenient connectivity
- with the Leica FOTOS app
- up to 6 Leica Looks presets can be loaded directly onto the camera
- new color with elegant grey leatherette
Hands On Leica Q3 43The main difference: the new 43mm Lens
Let's get to the heart of the new features: The Lens. The original Leica Q3 was equipped with the 28mm 1.7 Summilux - ideal for wide-angle shots. With the new Leica Q3 43, however, we experience a different world: the brand new 43mm f2.0 APO Summicron opens up a new angle of view. Why did Leica opt for 43mm and not for the more popular focal lengths such as 35mm or 50mm? There are no official statements on this, but it is assumed that the 43mm was deliberately chosen to match the diagonal of the 60MP full-frame sensor and thus minimize distortion.
Summicron instead of Summilux: one aperture, many advantages
The new 43mm Lens is a Summicron and no longer, as with the 28mm version, a Summilux. This means that the aperture has shrunk from 1.7 to 2.0 - and therefore has one third less aperture. This may sound like a disadvantage at first, but the Summicron has other, more significant advantages. In particular, it should be emphasized that it is an APO Lens.
APO Lens: Goodbye color fringing!
APO stands for apochromat, a term that stands for the correction of chromatic aberrations. Chromatic aberrations, also known as color aberrations, occur when lenses refract different colors of light to different degrees. This can lead to blurred color fringes. An apochromat such as the 43mm Lens from Leica drastically reduces these color fringes and ensures razor-sharp and true-color images. Leica places a particularly high value on quality here: only Lens that really eliminate almost all color errors are allowed to bear the APO designation.
Image detail Leica Q3 43Changes to the closest focusing distance and macro mode
The closest focusing distance of the new 43mm Lens also differs from the 28mm version. In normal mode you can now only get as close as 60cm (instead of 30cm), but in macro mode you can get as close as 26.5cm. This is slightly further away than the 17cm of the 28mm version, but the optical change to macro mode, where the aperture closes to 2.8, remains a highlight in operation.
Digital zoom: New steps for the Leica Q3 43mm
The digital zoom of the Leica Q3 is one of the main features that is also retained in the 43mm version. With the original Q3, you could switch between the focal lengths 28mm, 35mm, 50mm, 75mm and 90mm. The Leica Q3 43, on the other hand, offers zoom levels of 43mm, 60mm, 75mm, 90mm, 120mm and 150mm. However, it is important to note that these are digital crops and the resolution is reduced accordingly. Nevertheless, the full sensor image is saved in the RAW file so that the crop selection can be reversed in image processing afterwards.
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Stabilizer, central shutter and focus: proven features remain
The optical image stabilizer of the Leica Q3 is also retained in the 43mm version and ensures steady shots, especially with the longer focal length. The mechanical central shutter, which enables flash synchronization up to 1/2000, has also been retained. Switching between autofocus and manual focus is still done via the finger recess - a little unusual at first, but very intuitive after a while.
Conclusion
Apart from the change in focal length, the Leica Q3 43 is essentially the same camera as the original model: the viewfinder, the new flip-up display, the battery, the connections, the sensor with triple resolution and 8K video are identical. However, it still lacks a microphone input, which makes it somewhat less attractive for videographers.
