Leica Q3 43 Digital Camera

The Leica Q3 43 marks a significant development in the Q series, maintaining the same powerful and compact design while featuring an extended APO-Summicron 43mm f/2 ASPH. lens. This model is tailored for those who prefer greater reach over a wider field of view, making it particularly suitable for portrait photographers and everyday users seeking a more focused and natural perspective, in contrast to the original Q3's 28mm lens.

Aside from the lens and some cosmetic variations on the camera body, the Q3 43 retains the core functionalities of the Q3. It is equipped with a high-performance 60MP full-frame sensor, a hybrid autofocus system, 8K video recording capabilities, and an enhanced handling design, all of which contributed to the original Q3's reputation as a versatile all-in-one solution for diverse photographic requirements.

Full-Frame Sensor and Maestro IV Processor

60MP BSI CMOS Sensor

The Q3 43, derived from the M11 and the original Q3, is equipped with a high-resolution 60MP full-frame CMOS sensor. This sensor incorporates a back-illuminated (BSI) design, which enhances noise performance and accelerates readout speeds, thereby benefiting both photographic and videographic endeavors. The elevated resolution is particularly advantageous for detail-centric applications, such as landscape and architectural photography, while the noise-reduction features of the BSI design enhance clarity and color fidelity in low-light situations, especially at higher ISO settings.

Furthermore, the increased resolution of the 60MP sensor facilitates distinctive digital zoom functionalities that emulate the use of various focal length lenses: a 1.4x crop mimics a 60mm focal length, a 1.7x crop corresponds to a 75mm focal length, a 2x crop represents a 90mm focal length, a 2.8x crop simulates a 120mm lens, and a 3.5x crop emulates a 150mm focal length.

Triple Resolution Technology

Similar to the M11 and Q3, the Q3 43 features a 60MP sensor that supports Triple Resolution Technology. This innovative pixel binning technique permits photographers to choose from 60MP, 36MP, or 18MP output, with each resolution utilizing the entire sensor area and delivering vibrant 14-bit color along with a dynamic range of 14 stops.

Maestro IV

The Maestro IV processor, paired with 8GB of buffer memory, is well-suited for the multimedia applications of the Q3 43, ensuring rapid performance during still photography and video recording. This enhanced processing capability also supports Triple Resolution Technology, expands the sensitivity range from ISO 50 to 100,000, enables continuous shooting at an impressive rate of 15 frames per second, and promotes seamless functionality when utilizing the electronic viewfinder and LCD.

APO-Summicron 43mm f/2 ASPH. Lens and Hybrid AF

43mm: A New Perspective

The Q3 43 marks the inaugural introduction of this distinctive focal length within the Q-series cameras. This focal length closely resembles the human eye's field of view, providing a remarkably realistic, distortion-free, and natural perspective, especially when compared to wider or longer focal lengths. Its adaptability makes it ideal for a range of subjects, including landscapes, portraits, and street photography. Additionally, akin to its counterpart, the Q3, it features a specialized Macro setting that allows for close-up photography at a distance of just 10.4 inches.

Apochromatic Optical Design

Leica has not only introduced a distinctive focal length but has also developed a new APO lens. The APO-Summicron 43mm f/2 ASPH. features an apochromatically corrected design that ensures exceptional color accuracy, free from fringing or other chromatic aberrations. Additionally, the lens incorporates aspherical elements, contributing to its high sharpness, minimal distortion, and excellent contrast. This lens is well-engineered, providing a practical blend of a versatile focal length, a bright f/2 maximum aperture, remarkable color reproduction, and outstanding sharpness.

Hybrid Autofocus and Subject Tracking

Utilizing advanced processing capabilities and an enhanced sensor design, the Q3 43 features a hybrid autofocus system that combines phase-detection focusing with contrast-detection and depth from defocus (DFD) autofocus. This integration allows for quicker and more precise focusing, particularly when capturing moving subjects or operating in varied lighting environments. Furthermore, the inclusion of phase-detection focusing facilitates an intelligent subject recognition system capable of identifying and tracking eyes, faces, bodies, and animals within the frame.

8K Video and ProRes Recording

Increased emphasis has been placed on video recording capabilities. Similar to its predecessor, the original Q3, significant design focus has been directed towards enhancing the video performance of the Q3 43. This camera serves as a versatile multimedia device, offering video quality that competes with its outstanding still image capabilities.

The Q3 43 supports DCI 8K recording at a maximum of 30 frames per second, utilizing 4:2:0 10-bit color for internal recordings and 8-bit color for external recordings via the micro-HDMI port. Additionally, it is capable of 4K recording with 4:2:2 10-bit color at frame rates of up to 60 frames per second, allowing for both internal and external recording options. For Full HD shooting, the frame rate can be increased to 120 frames per second for slow-motion playback, while all resolutions also accommodate a true 24 frames per second frame rate for a cinematic effect.

ProRes 422 HQ recording is achievable internally at Full HD resolution with frame rates reaching up to 60p. The inclusion of Micro-HDMI and USB-C ports enhances connectivity with various accessories such as external recorders, gimbals, power banks, and others, making the Q3 43 a valuable asset for video creators. Additionally, the Q3 43 now supports the use of RODE external microphones through a USB-C connection, allowing for superior audio quality during video recording.

Camera Design

Hi-Res EVF and Tilting LCD

• Two significant physical enhancements in the Q3, which are characteristic features of the Q3 43, include a high-resolution electronic viewfinder and a versatile tilting touchscreen rear LCD.
  
  
• The 5.76 million-dot OLED electronic viewfinder provides a high-resolution, eye-level composition tool and boasts a refresh rate of 120 frames per second, allowing for more lifelike motion representation. This viewfinder offers a magnification of 0.79x, an adjustable diopter, and an eye sensor that facilitates automatic switching between the electronic viewfinder and the LCD.
  
  
• Introduced with the Q3 series, the LCD screen features a tilting mechanism that allows it to be positioned both upward and downward, accommodating various shooting angles. This 3-inch, 1.84 million-dot LCD also functions as a touchscreen, enabling more intuitive control over settings.
  
  

Portable, Weather-Sealed Design

• The Q3 43 is a compact camera designed for everyday photography, featuring a design that closely resembles its predecessors while incorporating several significant enhancements for better usability.
  
  
• Unlike the original Q3, the Q3 43 showcases a distinctive grey leatherette covering, which contrasts elegantly with the black top and bottom plates, creating a unique and timeless aesthetic.
  
  
• Constructed from magnesium alloy, the body is sealed to offer protection against dust and moisture, achieving an IP52 rating, making it suitable for challenging environmental conditions.
  
  
• The high-capacity BP-SCL6 lithium-ion battery is capable of delivering 350 shots per charge and maintains the same physical design as its predecessor, the BP-SCL4, which is also compatible with this model.
  
  
• The USB-C 3.1 Gen 2 port allows for various functionalities, including data transfer, tethering, power delivery, in-camera battery charging, and connection to RODE external microphones. Additionally, the Q3 43 is Made for iPhone certified, enabling a direct wired connection to an iPhone.
  
  
• A micro-HDMI port is available for connecting to external monitors and recorders, as well as for previewing footage directly on a television.
  
  
• The camera accepts one SD-type memory card and supports the UHS II protocol.
  
  
• The physical design remains largely unchanged from the original Q3, allowing for compatibility with all accessories, including Thumb Supports, the HG-DC1 Wireless Charging Handgrip, and the Multifunction Protector, among others.
  
  

Expanded Connectivity and Wireless Charging Accessories

• Enhanced wireless connectivity, featuring Wi-Fi capabilities at both 2.4 and 5 GHz, along with Bluetooth 5.0, allows for wireless transfer speeds that are up to ten times faster than those of the previous generation. Users can now achieve transfer speeds of up to 35MB/s, facilitating the transfer of a full-resolution DNG file from the camera to a mobile device in a mere two seconds.
  
  
• The upgraded Leica FOTOS app provides the functionality to transfer new Leica Looks to the camera, including options such as Contemporary, Classic, Blue, Selenium, Sepia, and others. Additionally, the announcement of the Q3 43 introduces a new Leica Look—Leica Chrome—which can be applied to JPEG images to impart a touch of "analog charm."
  
  
• Furthermore, the FOTOS app enables the incorporation of GPS data into files by utilizing locational information from the user's mobile device. When used in conjunction with the optional HG-DC1 Wireless Charging Handgrip, the Q3 43 is capable of wireless battery charging through Qi-compatible charging mats, such as the Drop XL Wireless Charger.