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Leica Q3
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Leica · Compact · 60 MP · Full Frame · 8K video

Leica Q3

From $6,735 — 1 offer
KEY FACTS
BrandLeica
Announcement dateMay 2023
Released2023
Camera typeCompact
What We Like
+Exceptional 60MP full-frame sensor delivers outstanding detail, dynamic range, and image quality with distinctive Leica color science
+Premium build quality with magnesium alloy body and tactile controls feels built to last, distinctly Leica in hand
+Versatile fixed 28mm f/1.7 Summilux lens with macro mode (17cm minimum focus) and digital crops to 35/50/75/90mm equivalents
+Upgraded autofocus with phase-detection, subject tracking, and eye-AF; 5x faster than Q2
+Professional 8K video capability with multiple codecs (ProRes, H.265) and 10-bit color at up to 60fps in 4K
+Enhanced connectivity: USB-C charging, wireless charging option, 10x faster file transfers via improved Leica FOTOS app, Made for iPhone certified
Worth Knowing
−Expensive at $5,995+ retail price puts it out of reach for most photographers despite excellent specs
−Autofocus performance criticized by some reviewers as unreliable, particularly with tracking and face-detect modes in some firmware versions
−Lacks proper grip and awkward ergonomics for one-handed shooting; requires additional accessories (thumb grip/handgrip) for comfortable use
−No battery charger included in box; fixed focal length limits compositional flexibility despite digital crop modes

General

Brand
Leica
Announcement date
ⓘ
Refers to the date the manufacturer publicly announced the upcoming release and general specs of this camera.
May 2023
Released
ⓘ
Refers to the year this camera was officially made available for sale.
2023
Camera type
Compact
Read our notes on general
The Leica Q3 is a premium full-frame compact camera that combines classic rangefinder aesthetics with modern technology. Its 60MP BSI CMOS sensor, fast Summilux 28mm f/1.7 lens, and professional 8K video capabilities deliver exceptional image quality and versatility in a beautifully engineered magnesium body. However, the $5,995 price point, mixed autofocus reliability reports, and limited ergonomics without accessories present significant trade-offs for this niche ultra-premium compact.

Sensor

Type
Full-frame BSI CMOS
Resolution
60MP (also 36MP or 18MP via Triple Resolution Technology)
Dynamic Range
14-stop
Color Depth
14-bit

Optics

Lens
Leica Summilux 28mm f/1.7 ASPH.
Stabilization
Optical image stabilization
Macro Mode
Minimum focus 17cm (6.69 inches)
Digital Crop Modes
35mm, 50mm, 75mm, 90mm equivalents
Sensor format
ⓘ
Refers to the most commonly used sensor sizes.
Full Frame
Megapixels
ⓘ
The higher the number of megapixels, the more detail the cameras sensor can capture.
60 MP050

Autofocus

Type
Hybrid (Phase-detection AF + Contrast AF + Depth from Defocus)
Subject Recognition
People, animals, eye-detect, face-detect, body-detect
AF Speed
Five times quicker than previous generation (Q2)

Display

Electronic Viewfinder
5.76MP OLED
LCD Screen
3-inch tilting touchscreen, 1.84M-dot resolution

Video

4K Recording
4K at 60fps
Codecs
H.265, ProRes 422 HQ (Full HD)
Color
4:2:2 10-bit
Max video resolution
ⓘ
The best resolution this camera can capture video in. Modern cameras can capture up to 8K video.
8K

Processing

Processor
Maestro IV with L² Technology
Buffer Memory
8GB
Continuous Shooting
Up to 15 fps

Sensitivity

ISO Range
50-100,000

Connectivity

USB
USB-C 3.1 Gen 2 (10Gbit/s)
Video Output
Micro-HDMI
Wireless
Wi-Fi 2.4 & 5 GHz, Bluetooth 5.0
Apple Integration
Made for iPhone certified, Leica FOTOS cable included

Build

Material
Magnesium alloy body
Weather Sealing
IP52 certification
Dimensions
Compact form factor
Weight
Lighter form factor than X100VI

Battery

Type
Lithium-ion BP-SCL6 (8.4V, 2200mAh)
Charging
USB-C charging, wireless charging option available

Design

Style
Rangefinder-style, reminiscent of Leica M-series
Controls
Traditional manual focus ring, aperture ring, shutter speed dial

Features

Wi-Fi
ⓘ
Built-in Wi-Fi allows you to connect your camera and share images wirelessly.
Yes
Weather sealing
ⓘ
Weather sealing capabilities will give you more confidence when shooting in unfavourable conditions.
Yes

Storage and battery

Dual memory card slots
No