One Camera – One Lens – One Year | Leica Q3

Prologue

It started as a temptation and an experiment. On the one hand, I wanted to finally try out a Leica Q(3). On the other hand, I also wanted to get rid of too much superfluous equipment. One camera – one lens should be enough for me. And the Leica Q3 with my preferred focal length of 28mm and its general concept simply fitted very well into this experiment. An experiment for which I had initially given myself one year. Strictly speaking, this year was over on 18 March – but the phase was never intended to be a strict 365-day test.

How do I see the camera today?

The Brutal Truth

Ok, let’s just tell the whole, brutal truth after one year of intensive use.

The Leica Q3 is an overpriced camera. It has rather modest technical features and only mediocre autofocus, which is even worse in poor lighting conditions. Continuous autofocus (AF-C) is not really usable. Face and eye detection ist so-so, object tracking is simply horrific and usually works very erratically – if at all. It’s not the very fastest camera under the sky and has some strange quirks – like the jittering of the EVF when focussing. Speaking of the EVF: in low light (and the lens stopped down), it becomes very slow and jumpy – kind of like a time-delayed video conference with a poor network. The metering is inconsistent between portrait and landscape format and the camera’s customisable settings are somewhat limited. The lens is actually wider than 28mm, and to top it all off, you can’t even change it. Wait, have I mentioned one of the perhaps worst rolling shutter effects you’ve ever seen?*

Right? Must be a terrible camera…

Yes, of course, you can see it that way… and I am fully aware of all these points. I have not concealed any of these in my various reviews of the Q3.

But you can also see it very differently. Like I do…

*(This, however, it shares with many other 60MP cameras, not only from Leica!)

The Personal Truth 😉

I love this camera! It’s unique, it’s great and it’s fun! And it is very, very good at what it essentially is!

The combination of this sensor and this lens is to die for.

So, why are my statements above actually (total) nonsense? The answer is as complex as it is astonishingly simple. I’m only mentioning the following points here repeatedly because they keep cropping up in reviews and lead to strange criticism of the Q3. Criticism that, in my opinion, is nonsense in the contexts in which it is often voiced. After all, you wouldn’t buy an Alfa Romeo Spider and then complain that you can’t get across the Sahara in it. Or would you? No, just get a bloody Hilux…

So, what is this actually about?

First of all, anyone who wants to buy and use this camera should be aware of what they are buying. The concept of the Q3 doesn’t even try to compete with the speed or versatility of a current high-end SoNiCanon. So, of course it makes no sense to argue that those cameras give you more for your money. More what? Features? Sure! But that would be like comparing apples with pears. No, actually even more nonsensical… more like the thing with the Alfa Spider.

Secondly, if you want to photograph such things as the Olympic Games or a football match in typical sports photography style, you will need a different camera. This camera was also never intended for fast and hectic fashion shoots with models or for daily press work under enormous time pressure. The above also applies to non-professional users who need or want similar performance for their photography – whatever they do. The Q3 won’t give you that. It is not designed to be an all-singing, all-dancing workhorse. There are much more suitable cameras for this! Period.

However, thirdly (and most importantly), none of this really matters. Anyone who consciously buys a Leica Q3 (or a Leica M) does so for very personal reasons – or at least should do so. Because this camera simply suits you, the way it is. Because it offers you something special and increases your personal enjoyment of photography. The question of whether other cameras outperform the Q3 is completely irrelevant. What is relevant with the Leica Q3 is not the sum of its (technical) features, but the sum of the practical user experience and the results achieved with it. And that – for me – is still quite unique even after more than 12 months of use. It simply is… or you can prove me wrong.

Its Uniqueness

What other compact mirrorless full-frame camera with autofocus and a fixed 28mm lens is there on the market? You see, it is unique… 🙂

No, seriously… I really mean it. Sure, there are and have been cameras that offer a somewhat similar concept and therefore a somewhat similar user experience. For example, the Fujifilms X-Pro2/3 or the X100 series (APS-C, though), the Sony RX1 or perhaps a Zeiss ZX1. But none of these are really comparable. And yes, you could also take a Sony A7CR with – let’s say – a Sigma 24mm F2 DG DN – also full frame, also 60 megapixels, similar focal length, similar size. But hey, seriously? 

And yes, a few days ago Fujifilm released the GFX100RF… yes, beautiful camera, but no, it is not an alternative for me for several reasons.

For me personally, the before mentioned Fujifilm cameras come closest, and I have a lot of experience with them. And they also remain a much cheaper alternative to the Q3 – just not really the same.

However, the combination of the Q3 as a compact camera with an outstanding fixed 28mm lens and a superb 60MP full-frame sensor remains unique. The lens and the sensor together with Leica’s interpretation of the colours are very, very hard to beat. No matter what others say… the pictures always blow me away. The rendering of the Summilux is simply melting. With the Q3’s clean and smart body and menu design, I have everything I need for photography in my hands.

Simple – intuitive – inspiring

The Leica Q3 is a camera with soul. Some people don’t care about that. I do.

About limitations

As the saying goes: having is better than needing! And yes, there is truth in that. But the matter is also more complex. In a world in which – at least the privileged part of the population, to which I also belong – the feeling prevails that we have too much of everything and the possibilities are almost unlimited, limitations can also have a liberating and creative effect. Very much so.

What did a famous film director once say about limitations?

The enemy of art is the absence of limitations.

Orson Welles

I absolutely love just grabbing this camera and going out with it. No lenses, no options. I also don’t have to think about which AI-supported AF-C mode to choose. Either there is no such thing, or it hardly works well anyway. I just go out and shoot – with few, but by far sufficient technical aids.

OK, perhaps we shouldn’t forget that the word ‘limitations’ in the same breath as a Leica Q3 is also kind of silly. Maybe in comparison – but let’s keep it real! It’s 2025 and the Q3 is an incredibly good and powerful camera! So, let’s not pretend that we’re shooting with a pinhole camera here… 😉

This camera is not for you? Is it too slow? It’s too inflexible? It’s too limited? I can fully understand that. But then you shouldn’t buy it anyway…

How was my year with the Leica Q3?

Here are a few short Q&As… Perhaps this best describes how I feel about the Q3 and my journey with it.

Do I regret buying the Leica Q3?

No, not for a second!

Did I miss or mess up a shot because of the Q3?

Yes, I did… especially at the very beginning. The AF ist sometimes a little bit on the slow side – especially in low light – and the AF field is too imprecise (too large for my taste). But once you know the camera inside out, that doesn’t really happen any more.

Was I sometimes annoyed by the quirkiness of the Q3?

Perhaps after the first euphoria and before the ‘arrival phase’ with the camera. And not really annoyed, but just noticing something that isn’t great. But the overall impression is and remains super positive. I even like some of the quirks now. As with people, they sometimes give things that decisive character.

Have I ever wished for a different camera instead?

No, never! But that’s also because I didn’t have any expectations that the camera couldn’t fulfil. I always realised that I wouldn’t be able to do certain shoots with a camera like this. If I wanted to do that, I would have to go for something else. In addition – not instead!

Has shooting with the Q3 taken me any further?

Yes, but not in the way some people might think or describe it. Every digital camera is a mostly black box with an inbuilt computer. It doesn’t teach you much and doesn’t necessarily make you any better. But depending on the concept, a camera like this can make you love photography even more. And that’s what the Q3 did for me… 

And being limited to one camera and one lens has also helped me progress photographically. Sure, I could have done it with another camera (and I have done it with others) – but perhaps not quite in the same way as with the Q3. Less exciting, less emotional.

What else could Leica improve?

Of course, a distinction must be made between software and hardware. On the hardware side, we have to wait for a Leica Q4 anyway. At the moment, the two keywords that spring to mind are ‘stacked sensor’ and ‘global shutter’. Both would reduce or even eliminate the rolling shutter effect. Another obvious thing would be to add internal memory, like in the M11. This would particularly compensate for the disadvantage of the single SD slot. 

Otherwise, from my point of view, the only things left to consider would be the lens design (smaller and with faster AF) and whether IBIS would fit into the camera. This would really make a Q4 almost perfect.

On the software side and hopefully already possible via a firmware update, I would actually wish for five things, which I have already mentioned elsewhere.

1. Stop the jittering of the EVF when focussing
2. Improve the performance of the EVF in low light
3. Improve the AF in general
4. Make AF-C at least usable
5. Improve the touch functionality of the menu

What do I actually think of Leica?

It sounds a bit silly to think about the company of your equipment as a photographer. It probably is a bit. But somehow it isn’t, because the company’s philosophy also plays a role in why you choose to use their equipment. After all, this philosophy influences what the company develops… So, what about Leica?

Hm, to be honest I can’t really say. The company has an interesting history, great merits for photography and has always had some iconic products – above all, excellent lenses. It almost went bankrupt, was narrowly rescued and has consolidated itself again. Fair enough, in my opinion. For one thing, the products are very good and sometimes unique. But there is also a lot of money in the world and the products apparently appeal to luxury lovers too. Personally, I couldn’t care less about the latter…

I have to admit that I find some of the company’s moves confusing, sometimes even silly. This includes the idea of producing expensive watches as well as the sometimes absurd production of fancy special models for collectors. As a real user, I would prefer Leica to invest these resources in the development of the cameras – especially the software. Hey, it’s 2025. The best mechanics is certainly great and I appreciate it, but it’s the software, stupid. 😉

I certainly have a fondness for the craftsmanship and quality of the equipment and especially the superior lenses. That’s fun. But I’m not going to become a Leica fanboy.

I like my Q3, that’s all!

What happens after this year with just one camera and one lens?

In principle, I could go on like this and have no problems. I have thought a lot about the Leica SL3 – and still do, as far as I can see a medium-term need for a system camera. I also considered combining it with a Leica Q3 43. That may sound totally stupid in some respects. Why two identical cameras with different lenses and why not something with interchangeable lenses? Why not something that expands the possibilities of a Q3 (as said, a Leica SL3 or another system… medium format or something)?

I thought there were two ‘intelligent’ reasons for this:

1. I might not need a fast and versatile system camera for my photography
2. A Q3 and a Q3 43 are the same, but different

The second point would certainly have been good for my workflow and my brain muscles, but also for my versatility. However, the Q3 43 as a ‘second camera for portraits and details’ seemed to me to be really overkill. I just couldn’t justify this purchase for myself.

So, for the time being, I’ll stick with one camera… until I need something else (in addition to the Q3). Maybe tomorrow, maybe in a year, maybe never. 😉

Every photographer needs to find his own camera. I have found mine. It’s the Leica Q3.

52 Pictures from 365 days with the Leica Q3