With its high-end build quality and impressive specs, the Leica Q3 43 promises a premium experience. But does it live up to the price tag?
Coming to you from Roman Fox, this balanced video looks at the Leica Q3 43 after a month of real-world use. Roman critiques the camera’s performance, emphasizing that its premium branding doesn’t excuse shortcomings. He points out that, while the build quality is excellent—weather-sealing and all—it’s not perfect. One of the function buttons feels less responsive than the other, and the ergonomics may not suit everyone. He recommends adding a thumb grip for better handling, especially for extended use. Despite these issues, the camera’s compact size and durability make it appealing for shooting in challenging weather.
Roman highlights the lens as the real star of the Leica Q3 43. Its 43mm focal length and f/2 aperture provide sharp, punchy images with excellent out-of-focus rendering. However, he mentions a few quirks, like the slightly stiff manual focus tab and the lack of a lock for switching between macro and normal modes. These small issues can slow you down when shooting on the fly. Autofocus, on the other hand, falls short for a camera at this price point. It performs well for still subjects but struggles with movement, making it less reliable for action or wildlife shots.
Key Specs
- Sensor: 60.3 MP Full-Frame CMOS
- Lens: 43mm f/2 with 3.5x digital zoom
- ISO Range: 50–100,000 (manual), 100–100,000 (auto)
- Video: 8K at 30 fps, 4K at 60 fps, with ProRes 422 HQ support
- Display: 3" tilting touchscreen
- Battery Life: Approx. 350 shots (BP-SCL6 battery)
- Weight: 1.7 lb with battery
Roman notes that the camera produces stunning raw files with rich contrast and sharpness. However, the default color profile leans cool, often requiring adjustments to warm up the images. For users who prefer a specific “Leica look,” this might be a selling point, but others may find the overly punchy output less appealing. He emphasizes that, in today’s market, the differences in image quality between high-end cameras are minimal. Most people wouldn’t be able to distinguish between photos taken with the Leica Q3 43 and those from other premium brands.
On the video side, the Leica Q3 43 holds its own, with stabilized 8K and 4K recording options. However, Roman criticizes the lack of separate settings for photo and video modes, which limits flexibility. The menus, on the other hand, are a highlight, offering a clean and intuitive interface that makes navigation straightforward. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Fox.
