Leica Q3

The Q3 is a fixed-lens compact released by Leica in 2023. Its full-frame sensor is paired permanently with a 28mm f/1.7 Summilux, so the lens cannot be swapped.

That single-focal-length design suits photographers who enjoy working with one wide field of view and framing by moving themselves. Built-in crop modes simulate 35mm through 90mm views when a tighter composition calls for one.

It suits daily carry in mixed conditions, with weather sealing for dusty or damp outings and built-in Wi-Fi for wireless connection. Video recording reaches 8K for occasional hybrid work.

At the heart of the Q3 is a full-frame 60 megapixel sensor. That resolution gives generous room for cropping after the shot and supports detailed large prints.

The fixed Summilux 28mm f/1.7 is the camera's defining feature. The wide aperture gathers light for evening and interior shooting and helps isolate subjects at close range. Optical image stabilization reduces camera shake, which helps keep handheld frames sharp at slower shutter speeds.

A macro mode brings minimum focus down to 17cm, close enough to fill the frame with flowers, food or detail shots.

Because the lens is fixed at 28mm, framing variety comes from digital crop modes at 35, 50, 75 and 90mm equivalents. Each crop uses a smaller area of the sensor, so cropped files carry fewer pixels, but the starting resolution leaves plenty to work with.

Video tops out at 8K, a resolution that captures fine detail and leaves latitude to reframe or crop footage during editing. For more routine projects, 4K at 60fps covers standard delivery and renders movement smoothly.

Colour is recorded at 4:2:2 10-bit. That gives colour adjustments in editing more information to work with, so grades and exposure corrections hold up more cleanly.

Codec availability depends on resolution. The camera records H.265, while ProRes 422 HQ is offered at Full HD for editing workflows built around that format.

The fixed 28mm f/1.7 lens shapes how you film. Its wide view suits handheld shooting in tight spaces, and the bright aperture helps keep exposure up in dim interiors.

The Q3 carries weather sealing, which helps when shooting in dusty streets, coastal wind or light rain. For a compact meant to be carried everywhere, that adds confidence in mixed conditions.

Sealing here means protection against dust and moisture rather than a guarantee, so sustained wet conditions still call for care when working outdoors.

The camera also includes built-in Wi-Fi, providing a wireless connection option that does not depend on a cable.

Storage runs through a single memory card, which keeps card management simple: one card to format and carry.

The trade-off is redundancy. With no second slot, there is no duplicate copy being written as you shoot, so a card fault puts everything on that card at risk.

Capacity planning matters more than usual here. Full-resolution stills and 8K video both produce large files, so choose a card with generous space before a long shoot.