Leica Q3 43

[zlfan]

$7k!

[eatstoomuchjam]

For almost any other camera, I'd suggest that you should post some details about the camera, etc - but in this case, I think it's perfectly valid to just yell the price.  🤣

[MrSMW]

Very nice…but I only buy kit for work purposes and it wouldn’t work for me in that regard even if it was 1/4 the price.

Actually, at 1/4, I’d find a way…but it isn’t and won’t be in my working life time, so sadly not 😏

[Phil A]

I struggle with the prices of the Q and SL Leica systems. While the M has a clear differentiator because there are no competitors (except for that super niche PIXII that I never saw someone use even on social media), the other two are something that Sony/Panasonic/... could easily replicate for half the price if they'd want to.

It's funny when the Leica fanboys start arguing that it's worth paying 3k more than a competing product because it has less buttons or no "unnecessary" video function, etc. Reminds me of back when the DSLR guys were suspecting that the camera would be WAY cheaper if they had no video recording (but of course still have live view).

[MrSMW]

The other thing about this Q3 is I already have a 1/2 price one, in a more ergonomic body and with the ability to change lenses.

It’s called an A7RV.

And even cheaper and a similar style body to the Q3, the A7CR.

Except that one only has a single card slot and the rear screen isn’t anywhere near as good, plus some other ‘deficiencies’, because I looked really hard at it as a ‘budget Q3’, the limiting factor of that camera being the 28mm.

I rarely need to go wider than 28 and 28 I much prefer over 24 and though that sensor has the ability to crop and crop fairly hard, I also need 75+mm and that is beginning to push things a leetle too far.

So nope, went for a used ‘like new’ A7RV for €1000 less than current retail with 3 lenses giving me from 20-180mm.

Also, it can use adapted WITH AF, Leica lenses.

IMO, it IS a better and more wallet friendly option than a Q3 or SL3, but without a red dot badge.

I’d love a Leica or a Hassie but the reality for me is I cannot afford the latter and cannot justify the former.

[Andrew Reid]

$7K is an absolute joke. You are not getting a Leica, it's a Panasonic.

The 28mm lens on the normal Q3 is really terrible, it's worse than a toy and relies on Panasonic's correction to get rid of the massive distortion and vignetting.

Leica just need to be more honest... what is the $7K getting you in terms of engineering from LEICA? Cutting edge lens? No. It's very misleading marketing in my view.

Leica Q 28mm RAW:

With the built in software profile applied in-camera and Adobe Camera Raw:

[zlfan]

it is called the leica tax. I think m6 is pretty good id shoot film. I have a r8 body, and bought several Kodak color film roll for it. but have not used it for more than 10 years. somehow I like the digital process much much better, convenient. 

leica digital, probably m9 and s are worthy to have as they are ccd. otherwise, I'd go panny.

boy, a fixed lens cam at $7k. it is like gucci, channel, for fan boys.

[eatstoomuchjam]

It's also not really a new thing that Leica partner with a consumer brand for cameras and even some lenses.

https://forum.mflenses.com/the-leica-minolta-collaboration-t77452.html

The Leica R3 and R4 were basically Minolta bodies with a different mount.  And a number of Leica R lenses were also Minolta rebrands (mostly zooms, but the 24/2.8 R lens was one too, as was the 15mm fisheye).  At least one R lens was even made by Sigma - and that's not Sigma of 2024, but Sigma of before 1995.  Imagine paying Leica prices for a 28-70mm zoom lens only to learn later that you'd just bought a Sigma.  

[Andrew Reid]

Leica have always walked a fine line between the money you pay being for the engineering and design, and the money being for the branding.

They've got to be more transparent about when they are using software correction on a very basic cheap optic made in China.

[zlfan]

On 9/27/2024 at 6:56 PM, eatstoomuchjam said:

It's also not really a new thing that Leica partner with a consumer brand for cameras and even some lenses.

https://forum.mflenses.com/the-leica-minolta-collaboration-t77452.html

The Leica R3 and R4 were basically Minolta bodies with a different mount.  And a number of Leica R lenses were also Minolta rebrands (mostly zooms, but the 24/2.8 R lens was one too, as was the 15mm fisheye).  At least one R lens was even made by Sigma - and that's not Sigma of 2024, but Sigma of before 1995.  Imagine paying Leica prices for a 28-70mm zoom lens only to learn later that you'd just bought a Sigma.  

when I bought my set of leica r lenses more than 10 years ago, I was very careful with the versions and the focal length and user experience, to only buy lenses made in Germany. you are right, some of them are from Minolta. 

[SRV1981]

What a joke 

[MrSMW]

6 hours ago, SRV1981 said:

What a joke 

I wouldn’t go that far…

If it was €£$3500, it would be as cool as f*ck.

A modern tilt screen, IBIS, large sensor, relatively compact camera, is highly desirable to a lot of folks, me included!

From the OG X100 (my favourite camera of all time relative to it’s time) to it’s latest iteration, plus the Sony RX1R, the Q2/Q3 and even the little Ricoh’s, it suits a lot of folks!

My only issue has been the lack of longer lenses with these things and Fuji got around it with a wide angle and tele adapters and the 60mp jobs with cropping and multiple models a la Ricoh are an option, but probably a bit pricey for most having 2x Q3’s!

It has got me thinking though that a pair of the latest X100’s, one with the wide and the other with the tele, would make a really great combo, especially now that they have; IBIS, tilt and a decent amount of megapixels for some further cropping…

[Fairkid]

I have a Q3 (have had previous Qs too) and I love it, I think the lens is amazing with a lovely character. I carry it with me everywhere and for me it was worth the price - would I like it if I could buy a similar camera for less from another manufacturer? Yes of course but there isn't one that fits the bill from my point of view. Namely, bright fast 28mm lens, rugged build, fantastic evf on the left of the body, superb full frame sensor with a lovely output and all in a relatively light package. I will keep it for a few years and it will still be worth a few quid, probably will end up costing me £25 a week which for something that gives me a lot of pleasure is a bargain in my book. 

[Fairkid]

Saying all that I also love my GRIII which really does go with me everywhere and the output is also superb. More of a snap cam though but useful for late in the city and surreptitious shooting.

[SRV1981]

8 hours ago, MrSMW said:

I wouldn’t go that far…

If it was €£$3500, it would be as cool as f*ck.

A modern tilt screen, IBIS, large sensor, relatively compact camera, is highly desirable to a lot of folks, me included!

From the OG X100 (my favourite camera of all time relative to it’s time) to it’s latest iteration, plus the Sony RX1R, the Q2/Q3 and even the little Ricoh’s, it suits a lot of folks!

My only issue has been the lack of longer lenses with these things and Fuji got around it with a wide angle and tele adapters and the 60mp jobs with cropping and multiple models a la Ricoh are an option, but probably a bit pricey for most having 2x Q3’s!

It has got me thinking though that a pair of the latest X100’s, one with the wide and the other with the tele, would make a really great combo, especially now that they have; IBIS, tilt and a decent amount of megapixels for some further cropping…

I don’t see an image improvement over a Ricoh or x100v 

[MrSMW]

2 hours ago, SRV1981 said:

I don’t see an image improvement over a Ricoh or x100v 

Really?

I had the same sensor X100V in the XT3 and the S5ii/Z6ii beats it.

I have the same sensor as the Q3 in my A7RV and that beats both of those.

Nah. Those APSC sensor cameras put out good quality for sure, but few would say comparable even with 24mp full frame when it comes to outright image quality.

60mp A7RV is on another level.

I’ve been through the sensor/image quality improvement process over the last few years and it’s definitely a real thing.

There’s a noticeable difference moving up, but the difference is even more apparent if you go back after any time.

Just my experience anyway…

[John Matthews]

I've been printing recently. It's so hard to see differences these days between sensor formats. Granted, I don't print much about A4, but I don't have the wall space or budget for much bigger. I think many people buy Leica because they're tired of getting "lost" in GAS- there is something enticing to that concept. Just put all the money you have for gear into ONE camera with a fixed lens. Now, you can ONLY create with that. There's something liberating in that.

[zlfan]

10 hours ago, Fairkid said:

I have a Q3 (have had previous Qs too) and I love it, I think the lens is amazing with a lovely character. I carry it with me everywhere and for me it was worth the price - would I like it if I could buy a similar camera for less from another manufacturer? Yes of course but there isn't one that fits the bill from my point of view. Namely, bright fast 28mm lens, rugged build, fantastic evf on the left of the body, superb full frame sensor with a lovely output and all in a relatively light package. I will keep it for a few years and it will still be worth a few quid, probably will end up costing me £25 a week which for something that gives me a lot of pleasure is a bargain in my book. 

leica lenses are really good. no doubt about it. I rate them as the best in my lenses collection. Zeiss Contax and zf lenses are also very good, different rendering style. for portraiture, I think leica lenses are the best. 

[zlfan]

48 minutes ago, John Matthews said:

I've been printing recently. It's so hard to see differences these days between sensor formats. Granted, I don't print much about A4, but I don't have the wall space or budget for much bigger. I think many people buy Leica because they're tired of getting "lost" in GAS- there is something enticing to that concept. Just put all the money you have for gear into ONE camera with a fixed lens. Now, you can ONLY create with that. There's something liberating in that.

when I built my set of leica r lenses, I thought I would stop there. guess what, I start cas on medium format lenses. you move into high level cas. it is always reaching the limit of your wallet. truth hurts, so does the wallet. lol. 

[MrSMW]

12 hours ago, John Matthews said:

Just put all the money you have for gear into ONE camera with a fixed lens. Now, you can ONLY create with that. There's something liberating in that.

There is.

But you can also have the flexibility of going out one day with just a single prime and then on other days, say for work purposes and have a zoom or multiple lenses.

Which is why I probably would struggle to go back to a fixed lens these days, ie, because we can have the same principle, but with that interchangeable lens body.