Review Leica Q3 43: What are the differences with the Leica Q3?

Since its release, the Leica Q3 43 has attracted the attention of many photography enthusiasts, especially those already familiar with the Leica Q3.

Renowned for its premium build quality, elegant design and excellent imaging performance, the Leica Q series has become a preferred choice for those seeking both style and performance in a compact full-frame body.

At first glance, the two cameras look very similar, but the Leica Q3 43 brings some subtle but important changes.

In this article, discover more about the Leica Q3 43, its main features, technical specifications and what are the differences with the Leica Q3.

Whether you’re thinking of buying your first Leica, or wondering whether the Leica Q3 43 is worth buying, this article will guide you in your choice.

1. Introducing the Leica Q3 43

The Leica Q3 43 is a special edition of the famous Leica Q3, equipped with a new 43mm f/2 APO lens, offering a more natural field of view than the 28mm f/1.7 lens of the standard version.

Like the Leica Q3, it features a high-resolution 60 MP full-frame sensor, all integrated into an elegantly designed compact body.

This combination of precision optics and portability makes the Leica Q3 43 an ideal choice for street, portrait and everyday photography.

Lens: 43mm vs 28mm

The first major difference lies in the new lens integrated into the compact body. The Leica Q3 43 is equipped with an APO-Summicron 43mm f/2 ASPH lens, a first in the Q series, which, since its launch in 2015, has always been equipped with the popular wide-angle Summilux 28mm f/1.7 ASPH lens.

With this new 43mm lens, Leica aims to offer a field of view closer to that of the human eye, making the Leica Q3 43 ideal for street, portrait and everyday photography.

APO-Summicron 43mm f/2 ASPH lens

The APO-Summicron 43mm f/2 ASPH. lens is the main new feature of the Q3 43 body. Labeled APO-Summicron 1:2/43 ASPH, it comprises 11 elements divided into 8 groups, including 7 aspherical surfaces, guaranteeing perfect sharpness across the entire image surface.

The “APO” designation is particularly important, as it means that colored bangs due to chromatic aberration are almost completely eliminated.

In its standard configuration, the minimum focusing distance is 60cm, but by turning a dial to the Macro position, this is reduced to 27cm.

The lens also features optical image stabilization, including an Auto mode. This mode activates stabilization only at slow shutter speeds, where necessary.

As on the Leica Q3, a 49mm filter thread is included.

Different design between Q3 and Q3 43

Apart from the lens, the other notable difference between the Leica Q3 and Leica Q3 43 concerns the design of the body. The Leica Q3 43 adopts a new grey leatherette covering, replacing the classic black finish found on the Leica Q3.

The Leica Q3 43 is also slightly deeper, with a depth of 9.7cm versus 9.2cm for the Leica Q3, i.e. 5mm more. It measures 8cm high, 13cm wide, and weighs 772g, which is slightly heavier than the Leica Q3, which weighs 743g.

Apart from these slight differences in color, format and weight, the overall design remains very similar between the Leica Q3 and the Leica Q3 43.

As on the Leica Q3, the Leica Q3 43 features the iconic red Leica logo, which is no longer present on all camera bodies, such as the Leica Q2 Monochrom.

Difference in digital crop modes between Q3 43 and Q3

It’s also worth noting the differences in digital cropping modes between the two Leica Q3 models.

The Leica Q3 43 offers digital cropping options at the following focal lengths: 43mm, 60mm, 75mm, 90mm, 120mm and 150mm.

The Leica Q3 (28mm), meanwhile, offers digital cropping at 28mm, 35mm, 50mm, 75mm and 90mm.

Thanks to the 60-megapixel sensor present on both cameras, image quality remains excellent, even when using these digital crops.

3. Leica Q3 43 technical specifications

In terms of functionality, the Leica Q3 43 incorporates all the technical features of the Leica Q3.

It is equipped with a 60-megapixel, triple-resolution, full-frame BSI CMOS sensor, offering excellent image quality even in low-light conditions. Its ISO range extends from 50 to 100,000, enabling photography in a wide variety of situations.

The autofocus system is hybrid, combining phase and contrast detection for fast, precise focusing. In burst mode, the Leica Q3 43 offers efficient autofocus tracking at 4 frames per second, ideal for capturing moving subjects.

On the video side, it offers advanced performance with possible 8K recording, meeting the needs of demanding content creators.

For aiming and framing, the Leica Q3 43 retains the 5.76 million-dot OLED electronic viewfinder, which is very comfortable to use, as well as a 3-inch tilting touchscreen, which offers great flexibility for shooting from different angles.

4. Price and availability of the Leica Q3 43

The Leica Q3 43 is available now at 6750€. The Leica Q3, meanwhile, is priced at 6250€.

You can order your Leica Q3 43 now from 50.8 Shop, or contact us for more information.

It is also available in our new Leica Boutique Zaventem.

5. Is the Leica Q3 43 worth more than the Q3?

With this new version of its best-selling camera, Leica adds a touch of novelty while remaining true to the spirit of the Q series.

By integrating a new 43mm lens into the Q3, the brand is targeting a public that finds the 28mm too wide for certain uses, and prefers a more standard angle of view.

The Leica Q3 43 offers a more natural perspective, close to that of the human eye, making it an ideal focal length for street photography, portraiture and even everyday photography.

With this choice, Leica broadens the appeal of the Q range by meeting the expectations of photographers looking for a more classic rendering.