Leica today announces a 43mm variant of the popular fixed-lens compact, the Leica Q3 43. The new focal length is the closest to the approximation to the angle at which a human can recall objects without moving their eyes. The Leica Q3 43 is identical technically to the Q3, but adopts a wholly new and stunning 43mm Apo-Summicron f/2 ASPH fixed lens with integrated macro mode. Visually, it differs from the 28mm model with its new grey leatherette coat.
Leica Q3 43: A new Apo-Summicron lens
The new Summicron lens has the same diameter as the 28mm f/1.7 Summilux unit of the Q3 and is virtually identical in appearance and operation, which incudes the familiar integrated macro mode. According to reports from some early users, this lens is comparable in performance to the 50mm Apo-Summicron-M, which is regarded as one of the world’s outstanding optics.
Technically, the camera shares the specification of the Q3. The BSI sensor offers triple-resolution technology at 18, 36, and 60MP, with the capability to capture up to 8k video. ISO ranges from 50-100,000. The hybrid autofocus system offers a combination of phase detection, contrast detection and object detection. The Leica Q3 43 continues the familiar user interface and haptics of the 28mm version.
With the new longer focal lengths, the camera at maximum 60MP resolution offers crops of 60mm (31MP), 75mm (19.8MP), 90mm (13.7MP), 120mm (7.7MP) and 150mm (5 MP) focal lengths by using the frame lines displayed in the 5.76MP OLED viewfinder, or on the tiltable monitor with the touch function. The resolution at 150mm is similar to that on the Q3 at 90mm.
New colour, accessories
A new mid-grey leatherette coating distinguishes the Leica Q3 43 from the Q3, although the body is finished in the standard Q3 black paint.
All Q3 accessories, including hand grips, hoods, thumb grips and cases also fit the Leica Q3 43. However, a new multifunction protector has been added to the range. Finished in black leather, it features a practical handgrip and Arca-Swiss compatibility. This case also fits the Q3.
The Leica Q3 43 is available worldwide from today. In the United Kingdom, it will cost £5,900, including value added tax. This is £350 more than the 28mm Q3. In Germany (and, if Leica follows its policy, in most other European Markets), the Leica Q3 43 retails for €6,750, including tax (Q3 with 28mm lens: €6,250), and in the US for $6,895, excluding tax.
LEICA PRESS INFORMATION
Free for release after 26th September 2024, 2pm (BST)
NEW: Leica Q3 43
The Unique, Compact Full-Frame Camera Now with a New APO-Summicron 43 f/2 ASPH. Lens.
Wetzlar, 26th of September 2024. In 2015, Leica Camera AG launched the Q-Series and introduced a completely new family to its collection. Now in its third generation, the compact full-frame Leica Q3, with a fixed focal length of 28mm, inspires people all over the world. In addition to the unrivalled standards of design, workmanship, image quality and operation, the success of the Q-Family is especially attributed to its close dialogue with its users, and so with this new launch, Leica fulfils a frequently expressed wish by introducing the Leica Q3 with a 43mm fixed focal length.
At the heart of the new Leica Q3 43 is the specially developed lens. The APO-Summicron 43 f/2 ASPH. not only joins the family of the legendary Leica APO lenses, which rank among the best in the world, but also stands out in the current Leica portfolio, as the focal length mirrors the natural perception of the human eye. This allows for the realistic composition of distortion-free motifs through the high-resolution OLED viewfinder. As a result, the versatile 43mm focal length is perfectly suited for street photography and portraits. The Leica Q3 43 creates extraordinarily sharp, high-contrast images in any lighting condition and still maintains its compact, lightweight form, even with the complex construction of the apochromatically corrected lens with four aspherical lenses. Also, as with its sister model the Leica Q3, the Leica Q3 43 also features an integrated macro mode for close-ups.
The new APO lens delivers superior performance at its maximum aperture of f/2. making it possible to separate subjects from the background with a harmonious bokeh. Combined with its outstanding ISO performance, the APO lens enables short exposure times, even in low light. Photos and videos can be taken at the 43, 60, 75, 90, 120 and 150mm focal lengths by using the frame lines displayed in the 5.76MP OLED viewfinder, or on the tiltable monitor with the touch function. That way, an image with a resolution of approximately 5 megapixels is created with the highest selectable sensor resolution of 60 megapixels. This high resolution is maintained even at the maximum 150mm focal length, offering exceptional flexibility for photography and filming in an extremely compact form.
In addition to having a different lens than the original Leica Q3, the Leica Q3 43 also has a new grey leather outer, which contrasts elegantly against the black camera body whilst honouring the timeless design for which Leica cameras are globally renowned.
With easy-to-use Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, the Leica Q3 43 ensures a seamless mobile workflow, especially with iOS devices. Certified as a ‘Made for iPhone® and as an iPad®’ accessory, it offers an exceptionally smooth connection experience. When connected to the Leica FOTOS app, data can be transferred quickly and reliably, and creative Leica Looks can be easily loaded onto the camera. The launch of the Leica Q3 43 is complemented by the introduction of a new Leica Look: Leica Chrome, which can be applied to the JPEG and gives images an analogue charm. The expanding range of Leica Looks allows for the creation of unique, creative and striking images directly in the camera, ready to be instantly shared with the world via the Leica FOTOS app.
Both Leica Q3 models carry the same DNA. Like the Leica Q3, the BSI CMOS full-frame sensor with Triple Resolution Technology in the Leica Q3 43 gives you a choice between a resolution of 60, 36 and 18 megapixels. The camera’s ISO range of 50 to 100,000, coupled with a high-precision, fast hybrid autofocus system, and a tiltable 3-inch high-resolution touchscreen, makes this robust IP52-rated device the perfect tool to capture your unique perspective. In addition, the Leica Q3 43 offers the possibility to connect external RØDE microphones via USB-C. Whether you’re shooting in 8K resolution or capturing stunning photos, this German-engineered camera seamlessly integrates into your daily creative routine, allowing you to capture stylish shots with unparalleled Leica quality in any situation.
The Leica Q3 43 fits comfortably in your hand, especially with the new optional multifunction protector crafted from sleek black leather. It features an integrated grip, provides direct access to the battery, and can be swiftly mounted on tripods with a compatible quick-change clamp thanks to its Arca-Swiss compatibility. The Leica Q3’s practical, comfortable and stylish accessories are also available for the Leica Q3 43. These accessories include a unique wireless charging handgrip that works with the elegant Drop XL Wireless Charger for inductive charging, a range of protectors and carrying straps in various leather colours, and a selection of stylish thumb rests, soft release buttons, and colourful round retro lens hoods, all of which enhance the individual look of the Leica Q3 43.
The Leica Q3 43 is available globally at all Leica Stores, the Leica Online Store and authorised dealers from today, for the retail price of £5,900.00 including VAT. The retail price for the new multifunction protector with integrated handgrip is £220.00 including VAT.
Leica Q3 43 Technical Data
More reading
Jörg-Peter Rau on the background to the Q3 43 and the unusual focal length
Jonathan Slack’s review of the Leica Q3
Leica Q3: The quintessential fixed-lens full-frame camera defined
Strong demand for Leica Q3: Buyers face wait
A two-part look at the crop-to-zoom feature of the Leica Q3
Arte di Mano half cases for the Leica Q3 and Q3 43
Photographing the people of Skye by night with the Leica Q3
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Thanks Mike,
I questioned whether the Q343 was necessary: if the past with GR3X is prologue, then there clearly was space for this addition. I’ve already asked myself if I “need” to add a Q343 to my existing Q328 when I already have a CL with lenses from the FF equivalent of 16mm to 200mm with 24 MP on tap.
It’s hard to justify when the combined Q28-43 stays above the 24 MP line from 28mm through to about 70mm. With cropping the Q328 goes below the 24MP line at about 45mm, and the Q343 goes below the 24MP line at about 70mm.
If you factor in weight then the CL + TL18-56 comes in at 659g, and the Q328 + Q343 combination comes in at 1537g, double the weight of the CL combo, but it’s an APSC sensor if that matters to you.
Go lighter, but FF with the Ricoh GRIII + GRIIIX at a combined 519g and you have a great duo, but lacking a built in EVF.
And then there’s price: the two Q’s come in at just over $13,000 , the CL + TL 18-56 comes in at about $2,750 pre-owned, and the GRIII combo comes in at around $2,000.
This obviously is a biased conclusion as I value compactness and low weight above the highest quality output, as I’m not shooting for A2 sized prints, let alone A1 sized posters.
I still keep hankering after either a Q-size and weight FF ILC camera with light L-mount lenses, or dream on for a CL2 with updated sensor and AF.
There must be more market gaps that Leica could fill…
Decisions, decisions. It’s always hard, and we try to help make choices. In the end, however, it all comes down to personal choice. We can lead the horse to water but…
Mike
The concept that 43mm is more ‘natural’ to the way that human vision works is, in my opinion, complete rubbish. If I come over a hillside ridge and see an open scene in front of me, my vision takes in a much greater angle of view which when related to the so-called 24x36mm full frame might be that of a 14mm or even that of a Widelux or Roundshot, except it is ‘distortion corrected’ by my visual cortex. If I see a distant wild animal or bird, I’m likely to experience the angle of view of a 400mm lens although my visual acuity doesn’t resolve as much. In any case, human vision adapts and is not constrained by a defined angle of view; it can focus on a small angle with great resolution and it can encompass and scan a huge angle. A photo as an image on a screen or print presents us with a scene that we then can process by the same methods of focussing on a small section or scanning a larger portion or the whole. What is ‘natural’?
If I am faced with a large crowd, a 21mm lens might be more ‘natural’; if I’m in a one on one conversation, a 90mm is probably more ‘natural’.
Focal lengths and photographic angles of view are defined by boundaries; human vision is defined by what we are paying attention to, and our brains do that. A ‘natural’ correspondence does not exist.
Reports are now showing up on the internet that you can’t use the lens hood in Macro mode / with a filter? because the lens needs to extend a little to engage the macro setting. The short lens hood doesn’t allow for this and prevents the lens extending. I hope there is a solution for this. Perhaps Jonathan could comment on this from his experience?
While this won’t prevent me from buying a Q3 43 it will certainly be an inconvenience when operating the camera and needs a work around.
I don’t like the standard lens hood on the Q and use the round vented Leica hood. I think it looks better and doesn’t suffer problems as far as I am aware.
Good to know. I’ll likely do the same.
With regards to the ‘you can’t make a lens wider but you can always crop’ idea, that is not completely correct in the digital age. While you can’t make a lens wider and capture a scene in one moment, you can shoot left and right and stitch in post, and for static subjects that works very well. I have never liked the 28mm focal length and if I were to pick a single focal length to walk around with it would be a 35 or 50mm (indeed I did a whole year with a Leica M3 and a 50mm which you can read about elsewhere on the web should you desire). Therefore this camera has piqued my interest in a way that the standard Q (lovely as it is) never did. To top it all it’s a chance to own a camera named after Desmond Llewellyn, so the only thing stopping me from buying one is my ongoing desire to retain two kidneys instead of one. I think this camera will succeed.
I know this camera will succeed. The plodding head of product management would have to have a neon market opportunity to have decided to develop this much desired product instead of a M summilux 75 and 90mm very niche lenses. The wait lists for this camera will be long.
Well, if you buy one, don’t drive into a tree..! (Poor Desmond..)
In line with recent posts, there’s a bit more to say about M versus Q. I a have Dlux Typ 109, and lovely as it is, stripped RAW show serious barrel distortion. I’ve no experience with Q, and not the knowledge to say how important it is, but have read that Q performs in camera correctionto correct lens distortion.
In short: Q lenses are not M lenses. For myself only, this may not matter. Where I live, there’s an almost 10% tax on non-essentials, so an M11 might cost me US$10,000, and a Summicron 50 ASPH another $8,000.
That $8000 would get me a Q3/43. On my pension, there’s no way I could afford to drop $18,000, but with a few sales of old equipment, I could buy a Q, with plenty of pension money to re-invest at the end of the year.
“Other things being equal” — well, they seldom are 🙂
In camera distortion fix is no different than any other camera. It is applied to jpeg files. With raw you have the option to turn off “in camera” fixes depending on a few things. However, I do not expect a lot of fixes for this apparently high performance APO near nifty fifty lens.
I think this camera is worth selling off a few things or taking up crime as that does not seem to be cared about in North America anymore.
.
I thought the much-vaunted point of the Q3 was that with its high pixel count you can crop to any preferred focal length, so you buy it with a 28mm lens, but can easily crop the photos to 35mm, 43mm, 78mm or anything else you want.
But now – it seems – it’s time to buy one with a 43mm lens.
You can’t, of course, though, ‘un-crop’ from 43mm to 28mm.
What’s Leica doing? As usual, saying one thing, but then disregarding that and bringing out some other camera which does the opposite.
This is a hugely expensive ‘snapshot’ camera, like a Kodak Brownie ..but with a price on steroids. Leica is simply making jewellery.
The original Leica had a fixed lens, and then – five years later – Leitz, realising that the camera would be much more versatile if it could take other lenses than just the single fixed one – provided assorted interchangeable lenses, though the camera had to be sent back to the factory to have other lenses matched to each particular camera body.
But a little later, all the camera bodies were standardised so that any ‘Leica Thread Mount’ off-the-shelf lens could be attached to any Leica camera body.
So now Leica does the exact opposite, and you have to buy a body already fitted with just the one lens which you want. No interchangeability ..if you want the features of the Q. And unless Leica – or someone else – is going to offer high-quality wide-angle attachments, the Q3 43 is a step backwards to the 1920s.
You could, of course, just buy a Q3 with the usual 28mm lens, and just crop down to 43mm – which is what Leica was jabbering about since the Q3 was first introduced. Weird.
So you’ll be buying one, then? It’s always nice to read positive comments.
We-ell, just trying to provide a little historical perspective, Alan.
But it is nice to read positive comments, isn’t it? So I’ll say that a Leica M body is so much more versatile than this new Q: you can swap lenses on it; you can shoot wide-angle pictures and telephoto pictures, all at the same high resolution (instead of throwing away pixels when you crop the photos); you can use – for, say, nostalgia’s sake – exactly the same (usually small, lightweight) lenses on old M film cameras; the Leica M cameras really came of age with the – almost silent – M10-P; and there’s such an enormous variety of lenses – except no zooms – for the M series that you can shoot almost anything anywhere ..and always at the full resolution of the camera’s sensor!
There now ..I think that’s pretty positive!
Hi David, I want to be positive but I am afraid I have to be negative and disagree with most of your comment. My most used focal length is in the 50mm range. I temporarily owned a Q-P but totally disliked the 28mm so sold it in like new condition. I also shoot longer focal lengths a lot. I disagree that Leica has changed their message on cropping with this release. They are FINALLY listening to the market by bringing out a near nifty fifty lens – the head of product management finally got off his butt and listened (of course I will not mention his name). Please read the Wonderful article just published by Jono and his desire for this focal length. This is the camera I have dreamed of forever. Remove any video features and make it smaller and I would be in heaven. I miss the contax T days. Also this camera has autofocus which the M does not have! Anyway, I may need to check to see if there is any demand for my amazing Fuji X100 VI so that I can sell it to fund this camera so that my joy can be more complete.
I think Mike will soon be showing what both your amazing Fuji X100 VI and the Desmond Llewellyn 3 can both do when compared with each other ..so I’d say hold your horses a little bit longer..
As for “..totally disliked the 28mm..” ..I absolutely agree; what’s 28mm for? My most-used lens is ..21mm!
Now David has let the cat out of the bag. I will have to get him to sign an NDA.
I can hardly wait. I hope he lets the cat out of the bag before a monochrom is announced – now that would be especially delightful and no video baggage!
I also miss the Contax T days ( which is silly because i still have my T2 in working order but of course it’s film and like many, I’m now using digital ). A Q with a standard focal length would definitely bring back some of the joy of travelling with a standard perspective fixed focal length lens. Not only does this have auto focus but also close up and higher resolution capability up to short tele. The only worry is the price of the thing! I might have to sell one of my M cameras.
As you know, I am generally not remotely interested in new digital cameras. I would have preferred this with a 35mm lens and a crop for 50mm, but I might actually buy one of these things as a carry around camera. I know that the diagonal on a 24mm x 36mm rectangle (35mm frame size) is 43.2mm. 43mm is therefore pretty much a standard point of view. I tend to use a 35mm or a 50mm lens on an M camera so 43mm is in the middle of what I like. Jono asked me a few weeks ago if the actual focal length for the 40mm Summicron lens for the original CL was actually 43mm, but I could find no evidence that it was 43mm. I have the original 40mm lens for CL and I find that it is lovely to use, but Jono assures me that the 43mm is much better, even better than my favourite modern Leica lens, the 50 Summilux Asph. He says it beats the Summilux ‘into a cocked hat’. So you may see the strange sight of me walking around with a digital Leica with autofocus. Shock horror from the old LTM brigade!
Glad for those who asked for a longer lens Q, Me? I am happy with, and still prefer a 28mm Q of whichever form.
The jury is out as far as I’m concerned, Don. I will use the Q3 43 because it is new, and I’m interested to discover what the Apo-Summicron lens can do. Is it as good as the 50 Apo-Summicron-M, I wonder? But I am not convinced that a longer focal-length compact is the ideal. We shall see. As it happens, I also have the Fujifilm X100VI and the little D-Lux 8 to play with. They are all radically different, but I couldn’t do without a wide-angle travel compact. Whether the Q3 43 is a keeper, remains to be seen.
I bet you could do without it Mike, I think it’s just that 28mm became popular because of smart phones and people simply got used to it. There weren’t too many 28mm compact cameras back in the day until Olympus XA4 Macro, Nikon (28TI ) came along and then the Ricoh GR series where the popularity of the wider look really took off. But there were plenty of 35, 38 and 40 mm options going way back. From my practical experience of using lots of compacts with different focal lengths for travel and all purpose photography, if you are going to have a fixed lens a 35, 38 or 40 is about as good as it gets. Sure a 28mm is great for tight spaces or a wide landscape, but you’re also going to want to take portraits and other subjects, and you can get great landscape shots with a focal length around 40mm with less distortion and without that ..”Hey, look, I used a wide angle lens” look. Almost as bad as the .. “Hey look, I took this picture with my drone” look. The real beauty of 43mm is that natural perspective. You’ll be looking at the subject in your images and not at which lens was used to get the effect.
You could be right. I do have the Fuji X100VI which was another factor in selling the Q3 28. The lens and sensor are both great, and it’s interesting that, at 35mm, both the Q3 and Fuji offer 40MP. In other widths, the 60MP Q3 sheds 1/3 of its resolution in that 7mm jump from 28 to 35mm.
Mike, that looks awfully tempting. I will have to wait till it’s widely available.
“The new focal length is the closest to the approximation to the angle at which a human can recall objects without moving their eyes.”
First time I come across that definition and I am not too sure as to what it refers to: the ocular field of view is much wider and the macula (the high-resolution color-sensitive center of the eye) has a much narrower field of view (17-18°).
43mm is an entirely likable focal length on its own and it gives a natural perspective when looking at a resulting print from a distance equal to the diagonal of the print (sometimes referred to as “standard viewing conditions”). No need for pseudo-scientific justification 😉
It makes a good eye-catching headline. I know nothing about such matters, but this might help (from Cambridge in Colour):
“Our central angle of view — around 40-60° — is what most impacts our perception. Subjectively, this would correspond with the angle over which you could recall objects without moving your eyes. Incidentally, this is close to a 50 mm ‘normal’ focal length lens on a full frame camera (43 mm to be precise), or a 27 mm focal length on a camera with a 1.6X crop factor. Although this doesn’t reproduce the full angle of view at which we see, it does correspond well with what we perceive as having the best trade-off between different types of distortion.”
As I said, it’s a good come-on headline!
Now this is a prayer answered. I always wanted a Q camera with focal length in the 50mm range so this is perfect for me. Eek! I am too late to be at the top of the waitlist. I will have to think about this.
Hmm, you should have asked the Oracle in a private message months ago. Delphi has nothing on Macfilos.
Let the “deluge” begin. My first and only new lens for my Sony A7C is the 40mm G F2.5. It would be interesting to do a comparison, though I suspect Leica owners would prefer the shooting experience of the Leica over the Sony.
Chris
I never owned the old Leica CL, but I do own a Sigma 45mm L-Mount lens which, I suppose, isn’t that far off. I am due to collect my Q3 43 tomorrow. I was waiting for me today, but I decided (reluctantly) that I’d better stay at my desk to deal with the deluge.