p.16 #1 · Official: Leica Q3 Unveiled, Now Open for Pre-Orders
I got a Q3 late last week, but didn't really have time to unbox it and get it setup until today. Here's 3 things I'm not entirely thrilled about:
1) When I manually focus the lens, there is an audible sound of the metal pieces sliding over one another. Perhaps this will go away with use, but I suspect it will not. My Q2 did not make this sound and was completely silent as I moved the focus tab between the minimum focus distance and infinity. Perhaps it's just my copy, but I'd be curious to know if others have experienced the same thing.
2) While setting up the camera and having it on for about 5 - 10 minutes, I noticed I could feel warmth coming from the body. I took a few test pictures (maybe 4 over the course of a few minutes), but 95% of the time I was just diving through the menu and getting all of the settings configured to my taste. The warmth was noticeable and not something I ever noticed on my Q2. Also I wasn't in video mode at any point. I'm hoping this camera doesn't heat up when I'm actively using to where it feels uncomfortably warm. It'll be something I look out for when I get to take it for a real spin. But it was certainly something that made me think, "Hmm okay. That's different."
3) The side door that houses the USB-C port feels flimsy and there's no rubber sealing. It feels like a weak point from a weather sealing perspective. With my Q2 I was never afraid of rain or dust but I'm not sure I'll have the same level of confidence with the Q3 even though it still has an IP52 rating.
On a different note, the Match Technical Thumbs Up grip works perfectly on the Q3 and does not cover the new button. This is the one that just slides into the hotshoe and does not require an allen wrench to tighten from the top. So if you already have one, don't sell it when parting ways with your Q2. This is the one: https://www.camerawest.com/product/thumbs-up-q2-thumb-support-boxed-9
Also, the Expert Shield Glass screen protector for the Q2/M fits the Q3 LCD screen perfectly. The LCD on the Q3 is the exact same size as the Q2.
p.16 #5 · Official: Leica Q3 Unveiled, Now Open for Pre-Orders
A few user experiences about Q3:
- Q3 consumes batteries very fast compared to Q2 esp with the older Q2/SL2 battery.
- When I changed from 128GB Lexar card to 256GB Lexar card, it froze once before I formatted the card. Then it is fine.
- Animal eye af is not working much indoors. Q3 puts mostly the box on the body/face.
- Ricoh GW-4 0.75x adapter works great with Q3. It was not af'ing with Q2, but it af's with Q3. I guess pdf helps. I will test this weekend at a museum with light show as 28mm might not be wide enough and will try on the landscape in distance. It is very useable based on indoor cat shots and my garden shots thru the window.
p.16 #6 · Official: Leica Q3 Unveiled, Now Open for Pre-Orders
singularity001 wrote:
I got a Q3 late last week, but didn't really have time to unbox it and get it setup until today. Here's 3 things I'm not entirely thrilled about:
1) When I manually focus the lens, there is an audible sound of the metal pieces sliding over one another. Perhaps this will go away with use, but I suspect it will not. My Q2 did not make this sound and was completely silent as I moved the focus tab between the minimum focus distance and infinity. Perhaps it's just my copy, but I'd be curious to know if others have experienced the same thing.
2) While setting up the camera and having it on for about 5 - 10 minutes, I noticed I could feel warmth coming from the body. I took a few test pictures (maybe 4 over the course of a few minutes), but 95% of the time I was just diving through the menu and getting all of the settings configured to my taste. The warmth was noticeable and not something I ever noticed on my Q2. Also I wasn't in video mode at any point. I'm hoping this camera doesn't heat up when I'm actively using to where it feels uncomfortably warm. It'll be something I look out for when I get to take it for a real spin. But it was certainly something that made me think, "Hmm okay. That's different."
3) The side door that houses the USB-C port feels flimsy and there's no rubber sealing. It feels like a weak point from a weather sealing perspective. With my Q2 I was never afraid of rain or dust but I'm not sure I'll have the same level of confidence with the Q3 even though it still has an IP52 rating.
On a different note, the Match Technical Thumbs Up grip works perfectly on the Q3 and does not cover the new button. This is the one that just slides into the hotshoe and does not require an allen wrench to tighten from the top. So if you already have one, don't sell it when parting ways with your Q2. This is the one: https://www.camerawest.com/product/thumbs-up-q2-thumb-support-boxed-9
Also, the Expert Shield Glass screen protector for the Q2/M fits the Q3 LCD screen perfectly. The LCD on the Q3 is the exact same size as the Q2.
p.16 #7 · Official: Leica Q3 Unveiled, Now Open for Pre-Orders
Fred Miranda wrote:
It appears that some of the 28/1.4 Lux samples suffered from misfocus, possibly due to a miscalibrated rangefinder or lens.
However, the 28/1.7 Lux lens shows impressive resolution with less CA, which explains why Leica decided to use the same lens for the 60MP Q3. Nevertheless, the images captured with the 28/1.4 Lux lens have contrast magic.
Hi Fred,
Do you mind to explain what you mean by "contrast magic"? Does the 28 Lux have a bit more SA or just richer color?
I just pulled my finger on a Q2 after eyeing them for about 2 years on and off. I am wondering how it will compare to the 50 and 35 Lux in terms of colors and contrast. I found the 35 Lux FLE to have superb contrasts, giving images a little something extra.
p.16 #8 · Official: Leica Q3 Unveiled, Now Open for Pre-Orders
nehemiahphoto wrote:
Hi Fred,
Do you mind to explain what you mean by "contrast magic"? Does the 28 Lux have a bit more SA or just richer color?
I just pulled my finger on a Q2 after eyeing them for about 2 years on and off. I am wondering how it will compare to the 50 and 35 Lux in terms of colors and contrast. I found the 35 Lux FLE to have superb contrasts, giving images a little something extra.
That's right. The 35 Lux lens has an additional level of fine contrast even when it's wide open. This is likely because it corrects spherical aberration really well, although against the light, it produces a charming veiling. The same can be said for the 28 Lux lens. It gives a similar amount of contrast as the 28/2 Cron lens when wide open, but it does so at f/1.4! I've never seen a 28mm lens that performs at such a high level. It's definitely modern with its high resolution and contrast even when wide open, but it's not boring like most modern lenses today. However, I think there may be a little copy variation for the 28/1.4 Lux as my current copy performs significantly better than the first.
I did the same thing with the Q2 camera, and I don't regret it. The built-in 28/1.7 Lux is another amazing lens that also has unique character. I've taken over 6,000 pictures with it, and I love the way it captures images. It offers similar contrast and resolution at f/1.7, but I still think the f/1.4 version has that extra contrast when comparing both lenses wide open. Something I noticed is the total lack of vignetting since we see a slight cropped image out of the camera. I usually add a bit of post-vignetting depending on the mood I'm going for.
p.16 #9 · Official: Leica Q3 Unveiled, Now Open for Pre-Orders
serhan_ wrote:
- Ricoh GW-4 0.75x adapter works great with Q3. It was not af'ing with Q2, but it af's with Q3. I guess pdf helps. I will test this weekend at a museum with light show as 28mm might not be wide enough and will try on the landscape in distance. It is very useable based on indoor cat shots and my garden shots thru the window.
Any chance you can share some samples with the Ricoh adapter? How well do the edges hold up out of curiosity?
p.16 #10 · Official: Leica Q3 Unveiled, Now Open for Pre-Orders
Fred Miranda wrote:
That's right. The 35 Lux lens has an additional level of fine contrast even when it's wide open. This is likely because it corrects spherical aberration really well, although against the light, it produces a charming veiling. The same can be said for the 28 Lux lens. It gives a similar amount of contrast as the 28/2 Cron lens when wide open, but it does so at f/1.4! I've never seen a 28mm lens that performs at such a high level. It's definitely modern with its high resolution and contrast even when wide open, but it's not boring like most modern lenses today. However, I think there may be a little copy variation for the 28/1.4 Lux as my current copy performs significantly better than the first.
I did the same thing with the Q2 camera, and I don't regret it. The built-in 28/1.7 Lux is another amazing lens that also has unique character. I've taken over 6,000 pictures with it, and I love the way it captures images. It offers similar contrast and resolution at f/1.7, but I still think the f/1.4 version has that extra contrast when comparing both lenses wide open. Something I noticed is the total lack of vignetting since we see a slight cropped image out of the camera. I usually add a bit of post-vignetting depending on the mood I'm going for....Show more →
Exactly what I was wondering and have gotten the feeling of looking at images thus far. I am excited to try mine. I am really curious about the AF. I don't have very high hopes coming from Sony regarding tracking. But for single shot acquisition and Eye-AF, I am quite curious how fast/usable it is. I am also going to compare my a7c + 35i against the Q2 slightly cropped. The Q2 should give me a 30mp 35mm at just about f2.
Images like this make me sad I sold my FLE to Steve lol. I can always (and may) pick up another.
p.16 #11 · Official: Leica Q3 Unveiled, Now Open for Pre-Orders
nehemiahphoto wrote:
Exactly what I was wondering and have gotten the feeling of looking at images thus far. I am excited to try mine. I am really curious about the AF. I don't have very high hopes coming from Sony regarding tracking. But for single shot acquisition and Eye-AF, I am quite curious how fast/usable it is. I am also going to compare my a7c + 35i against the Q2 slightly cropped. The Q2 should give me a 30mp 35mm at just about f2.
Images like this make me sad I sold my FLE to Steve lol. I can always (and may) pick up another....Show more →
The AF performance is satisfactory, but it cannot be compared to Sony's. My daughter's A6100 APS-C camera has superior AF capabilities. The Eye-AF feature works when the firmware is updated to version 5.0, but it is only reliable in well-lit conditions when using AF-C mode. In situations with low light or backlighting, it is preferable to switch to AF-S mode. The "Tracking" mode functions reasonably well, although its performance is not as impressive in low-light scenarios. Personally, I don't believe the AF of the Q3 is significantly better either. I experimented with it for a couple of days and found it still lags far behind Sony. The AF of the Q series resembles that of the SL, so it functions adequately, but we have become accustomed to more advanced performance. The strength lies in its accuracy due to contrast detection. When it successfully locks focus, it tends to be spot-on.
On a positive note, the Q2 provides a pleasant MF experience, which you might find more enjoyable compared to using manual focus with other autofocus lenses you've tried before.
p.16 #12 · Official: Leica Q3 Unveiled, Now Open for Pre-Orders
Fred Miranda wrote:
The AF performance is satisfactory, but it cannot be compared to Sony's. My daughter's A6100 APS-C camera has superior AF capabilities. The Eye-AF feature works when the firmware is updated to version 5.0, but it is only reliable in well-lit conditions when using AF-C mode. In situations with low light or backlighting, it is preferable to switch to AF-S mode. The "Tracking" mode functions reasonably well, although its performance is not as impressive in low-light scenarios. Personally, I don't believe the AF of the Q3 is significantly better either. I experimented with it for a couple of days and found it still lags far behind Sony. The AF of the Q series resembles that of the SL, so it functions adequately, but we have become accustomed to more advanced performance. The strength lies in its accuracy due to contrast detection. When it successfully locks focus, it tends to be spot-on.
On a positive note, the Q2 provides a pleasant MF experience, which you might find more enjoyable compared to using manual focus with other autofocus lenses you've tried before....Show more →
Quite helpful—thanks again. Would you say there’s much of a difference between the RX1R2 and the Q2? It seems the systems are different but possibly quite comparable?
Uploaded a few camera jpgs taken with GW-4 to dropbox, 21mm. Photos were af'd at center & hand held with dog pulling on a hot, humid NE weather. These should give you an idea:
p.16 #14 · Official: Leica Q3 Unveiled, Now Open for Pre-Orders
nehemiahphoto wrote:
Quite helpful—thanks again. Would you say there’s much of a difference between the RX1R2 and the Q2? It seems the systems are different but possibly quite comparable?
The Q2's lens is significantly wider: 27mm vs 33mm so that's subjective, but for travel, I prefer the wider. As you know they differ in rendering as well but honestly I like both in this regard. The main difference imo is size. Sony focuses on making their camera compact, while Leica focuses on making it more user-friendly.
I wish the Leica Q2 body and lens were a bit smaller though. It's almost as big as the M10-R + 50/1 Noct!
Uploaded a few camera jpgs taken with GW-4 to dropbox, 21mm. Photos were af'd at center & hand held with dog pulling on a hot, humid NE weather. These should give you an idea:
p.16 #16 · Official: Leica Q3 Unveiled, Now Open for Pre-Orders
Fred Miranda wrote:
The Q2's lens is significantly wider: 27mm vs 33mm so that's subjective, but for travel, I prefer the wider. As you know they differ in rendering as well but honestly I like both in this regard. The main difference imo is size. Sony focuses on making their camera compact, while Leica focuses on making it more user-friendly.
I wish the Leica Q2 body and lens were a bit smaller though. It's almost as big as the M10-R + 50/1 Noct!
Yes, I know it's actually wider than the nominal FL and that the DNG's are auto-corrected (I've been following along with this on FM). I really don't care--the images at 47mp are quite fine IMO.
To me, it's reminds me more of shooting the GM24 than an RX1 or FF with a prime 35mm lens. partially because the combo is larger and because it feels so wide for a fixed lens camera. Even the 31ltd just feels like a wide 35mm. The Q2 feels very different.
It's too bad Leica hasn't released a couple quality converters like Fuji has with their X100 line.
p.16 #18 · Official: Leica Q3 Unveiled, Now Open for Pre-Orders
I took both M10 35 FLE and Q2 to a recent trip try to compare how I feel about both setups on daily use. I love 35 FLE for environmental portraits. I still prefer 35mm FL compared to the slightly wider than 28mm of the Q2, but Q2/Q3 does give you a different type of portraits. It's more intimate, and I have to get closer to my subjects. The transition area and contrast seem to be in the same echelon of lens. However, when I see all the images on a big screen, Q2 definitely has more microcontrast and vivid colors SOOC. I love both.
Here are some samples comparing 35FLE and Q2.
LEICA Q2SUMMILUX 1:1.7/28 ASPH. lens28mmf/1.71/2000s100 ISO0.0 EV
LEICA M10Summilux-M 1:1.4/35 ASPH. lens35mm1/2000s200 ISO-0.3 EV
LEICA Q2SUMMILUX 1:1.7/28 ASPH. lens28mmf/1.71/250s100 ISO0.0 EV
LEICA M10Summilux-M 1:1.4/35 ASPH. lens35mm1/500s200 ISO-0.3 EV
p.16 #20 · Official: Leica Q3 Unveiled, Now Open for Pre-Orders
Leica is rumored to release soon a new Q3 camera firmware update. Here are two of the issues that will be addressed:
➼ Many Leica Q3 owners have experienced problems with the Q3 not shutting down when powered off. When this happens, the only way to shut it down is to remove the battery and put it back in. A similar issue was present also with some old M camera models.
➼ The other issue that is supposed to be fixed is one with the playback mode where images won’t display properly and sometimes lock up the camera.
