Leica Q3 43 vs Sony a7CR | Is there a difference?

[@MatthewMorse]

My biggest issue with the A7C lineup (all of them) is the EVF is almost unusable. I've considered buying an A7CR more than once, but looking through that minuscule EVF is a complete deal-breaker. It's a shame Sony couldn't have made the EVF a little larger, but for me, it feels like looking into a tiny viewfinder from an old point-and-shoot camera.

[@ABarrera]

The EVF is not the best thats for sure! I happen to always use the LCD so it has not bothered me as much but I can see how it would bother someone who uses the EVF.

[@bondgabebond4907]

I don't have much trouble with the small EVF. It's the same as the a6700 and it works great for me.

[@erichstocker8358]

I don't have any problem with the EVF. I use it all the time. However, I am used to using small viewfinders on film rangefinders. I'm also 78 so my eyes aren't that "new" anymore. It depends what you adapt to. I find most people don't want to adapt. I almost never use the LCD screen except for menu.

[@Jonathantuba]

The low quality of the EVF and back screen is my gripe with the A7CR. The camera works wonderfully, but my enjoyment using it is to a certainly reduced by these poor displays. It is a big shame that Sony diminished an otherwise great camera by cost cutting in those areas.

[@petergordon4666]

Nice presentation. I own both cameras. I agree that the I Q is really too close to call. Sony gives great autofocus and lens selection/versatility at the cost of a marginal EVF. I am a 50 plus year Leica shooter, so I do enjoy the Q3 43 experience even though it is not an M. If I were to choose the value proposition I would take the Sony. Going on a trip soon and will take the Sony with 20-70 and the Q. We will see.

[@streetphotography.globetro7744]

The Leica lens has much more microcontrast, the details in the shadows look much better and the image is more three-dimensional.

[@lancairdriver]

I’ve owned both these cameras. You’re spot on in that AF is so much better on the Sony, but EVF and screen quality are night and day better on the Leica. I returned the A7CR because it was a pain to shoot with that particular sony while it’s a joy to shoot with the Leica. I’ve used the Q343 for personal photos since the day it came out, but professionally, I exclusively shoot with my other Sony cameras.

[@wadimrybalchenko2034]

Nice comparison! Thank you!

[@sphaera3809]

Nice comparison, I loved my M6 back in my film days, but now I’m on Sony and Fuji GFX. For everyday use, the Sony is a joy. Yes, Leica has better optics, but when image quality is the priority, no full frame camera will beat medium format. I’d recommend you get the Sony grip, I’m a big dude too and it was a perfect fit for my hands and I can now use all my fingers to hold the camera.

[@tagchristof]

in addition to the rolls royce vs. nissan build quality and design, the real reasons to get the leica not really touched on here, are the leaf shutter + the significantly better viewfinder + the much better interface. plus, that insane apo and its gorgeous rendering (apparent even when not pixel peeping) plus close-focus ability, just truly makes it far and away the best one-and-done camera on the market. that A7CR is excellent and super impressive - finally, sony is making something lovable that isn't just a passionless high-performance tech gadget - but even though they *can* make some strikingly similar images, they won't be used in the same ways. it's apples to oranges: the alpha is a really nice, reasonably priced camry with a great infotainment system and up-to-date tech that'll be traded in as soon as the next gen comes out. the 43 is a slightly anachronistic but obsessively honed, singular totem that will inspire immense, intense passion among its users for as long as it works.

[@sphaera3809]

One small feedback, I’d have stopped down both lenses a bit, to 4 or 5.6, or maybe gone through all full stops. Seems silly to shoot in broad daylight at maximum aperture…

[@jurrevandermeer4857]

Super cool comparison😊 i have almost a mirror setup to this: a7cii and a q3 28mm :) came very close to adding the 43 but then i found out you cannot use macro mode when using a filter. Next stop: hasselblad + 55mm😅 Thanks again for a great video!

[@lancairdriver]

you can use the macro mode on a Q3 43 with a filter, just requires a $40 lens hood, I’m using the one from Haoge, you can’t tell the difference from the oem hood, just fractionally more room for a filter. not sure why youtubers have made such a big deal about this.

[@jurrevandermeer4857]

@lancairdriver oh really?? Thanks a bunch for the info, i'll look for it!!

[@lancairdriver]

@@jurrevandermeer4857 Haoge Metal Square Lens Hood for Leica Q3 Q3-43 Camera Accessories Black LH-LQ343B

[@ABarrera]

💯 agree! There are a ton of options out there

[@MadefromJava]

I wonder if the Sony was more vibrant/sharper at the beginning because it was shot at f2.5. I don’t think the Leica is worth more than 2x the price, but I prefer shooting with the Leica and it motivates me to shoot. The Sony feels like a work tool to me lol

[@ABarrera]

Both lenses were shot wide open so I don’t think it was the lens. It might just be the color science out of the box. You can get both to match easily with some tweaks. But I agree with you on the Leica.

[@RegrinderAlert]

Despite that advantage the Leica has way more microcontrast to it on every single picture. Pretty big difference to the overall look imo.

[@LF1985]

I'd build a camera combined A7CR and Q3. Q3 body but with grip as A7CR (inside the battery), Q3's screen and EVF, Leica menu, front dial on grip, Sony"s AI AF, interchangeable lenses with leaf shutter (as Hasselblad system), built in ND filter (like in Ricoh GR). And of course same price as A7CR.

[@CM_7]

Where can I order that thing?

[@ecollazo67]

Great video. I own a Sony A7CR and I love it. I do think if you re-tried the comparison with the Voigtlander APO-LANTHAR 35mm f/2 on the Sony, the similarity would grow from 98% to 99.5%. I'd be interested in seeing a follow up video about that.

[@plenilunio7627]

Great Video as usual, where can I download the images

[@rphotographyofficial]

Can you compare the leica q3 43 with a hasselblad X2D with the XCD 55V if you able to get one.

[@meat_loves_wasabi]

Using the A7R5 for 2yrs and Q3 for over a year.. both cameras have excellent IQ and fun to use in their own unique way which is great.. just came back from Kyushu trip and some days I felt like using 7R5 & some days Q3 depending on the itinerary we had for the day

[@ABarrera]

Both are truly incredible cameras! We are lucky

[@gzafra]

I own both too (Q3 28mm version tho). Although comparing the 43mm APO Summicron with the 40mm f2.5 G lens is a bit unfair. I mean, the 40mm is a great lens, sharp but still a G lens. Much cheaper and also smaller. There is no easy comparison because there is no Sony 40mm'ish lens similar to the APO Summicron. Still, once you add up the lens difference, EVF and LCD screen, the difference is not so big :)

[@canadianwatchguy6768]

When you are looking at the Raw files in Lightroom, are you using the Embedded profile for the Q3 or one of the Adobe profiles? I find the differences between viewing the Q3 files in the Embedded profile is much better and more accurate than with the Adobe profiles

[@ABarrera]

I used the embedded profile on both cameras

[@RegrinderAlert]

@@ABarreraThe one iterally called “Embedded” on the Q3 43? Please compare it to the Jpeg Output (STD/NAT profile), there is something wrong with the “Embedded” lightroom profile. Just look how the color histograms shift compared to Adobe Default/Color. The blues get burned by a crazy amount and autumn colors turn all green.

[@MaWiS-d8n]

Now it all makes sense: Leica invests in snappier monitors / VFs and photographers are happier while shooting and watching pictures in camera. And the other guy with the Sony sees this and says „oh damn, why are my pictures so sh!tty“.

[@benjiang9789]

Thank you for helping me save so much money! No need to upgrade from Sony to Leica Q3.

[@noopynnus]

I'd argue the A7RV + 35mm 1.4 GM is a better

[@ABarrera]

You would be right but the size would be significantly bigger.

[@cdavey7654]

I really wish Sony would make a 40mm f/1.4 GM

[@PhotoTrekr]

Besides costing half as much as the Leica, the A7CR has the added advantage of being able to use all of the Sony lenses. And Sony has much better lenses than that 40mm. But, if anyone can afford a Leica and likes using that system, fine, shoot whatever you like. I originally bought the A7CR for travel. But, I find myself using it along side my A7RV when I'm home.

[@joematiacio3449]

Nice video. Part of the value proposition is availability. Waiting for the Sony Rx1R III to come to life.

[@albertzhager7852]

Here I did not see a comparison in difficult lighting conditions, and there is also no comparison in working with a flash, especially in reflected light, for example from a ceiling or a wall, and I suspect that Leica will be on the floor in a deep knockout. Why did I talk about the flash? I just saw how the Sony A6700 works, and it is simply ideal work with exposure metering. In addition, if you take a lens at a comparable price and quality, it is not yet known which of them will show the best result.

[@SummersSnaps]

For a trained eye the difference is night and day. I would not agree with the statement that the Sony is 98 or 99% close, but however any client will not be able to tell the difference, but the experienced tog will. Especially in post processing the differences become apparent. And here is the major issue of the industry, we are being sold stuff on a regular basis that no client will ever notice or care about. Even medium format vs APS-C, you think its so pronounced in post, once exported, whacked on social media, those start differences start to diminish massively. If you really want a fun test, get a Pentax K-1 and the smc PENTAX FA43/1.9. Then you will be shocked at the results ;) (and when factoring the total price of the gear and the differences in $$, your jaw will drop).

[@DigiDriftZone]

It's shameful Sony still put these 6+ year old screens and viewfinders on recent cameras...

[@LF1985]

This is the best EVF on that size, they have to built in bigger unit for more resolution and magnification.

[@Cromwell1940]

Would love to see your comments on the zeiss cf 40mm f2. Amazing lens and close comparison I would have thought

[@rlysakowski]

Image quality is very comparable, autofocus is much better on Sony and still Q43 is better? That's at least what I understood as the conclusion of this comparison.

[@frankfeng2701]

Brand and look bias can be a big factor

[@drwatsonismine]

So if the Sony viewfinder and rear screen are so low resolution, does it make it harder to get accurate focus? Do you use the screen to focus and compose? Does it bother you or get in the way of the moment?

[@ABarrera]

The screens are not as good as the Leica but they do not interfere with getting focus whatsoever. They are perfectly adequate to nail focus and compose.

[@drwatsonismine]

Ok. Thanks. Good to know. I appreciate your help.

[@frankygamaliano7058]

I have multiple cameras, although 7CR AF is excellent its EVF & LCD are not enjoyable for manual focusing as compared to my Q3 and Zf. I knew this before getting it as I wanted interchangeable lens FF in small form but still I wish Sony put A7V LCD in it.

[@ondrejbobek.]

That cut-out harsh bokeh is from EFCS at high shutter speed, not the lens: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gaq6c5d7ms2VepIsi=F9LZhvEZ3nsuxiZg&t=704 A7C/CII/CR uses only EFCS which damages the bokeh at very high speeds, to avoid this you need to use Silent mode, but be careful when moving (or with moving subjects) as the sensor reads data super slow...

[@cdavey7654]

I use my Sony 40mm G on an a7IV and a7RIV, it’s a really great and fun lens for the money. It holds its own pretty well against the expensive Leica. Pros and cons to each of them for sure, but at least I can put a better/different lens on my Sony bodies… Also, I think I’d like the Leica better if it was 42mm, haha. 🤓📷 Sony really does need to up their game with the evf, and screen quality. The EVF is a bit better on the regular bodies but they all could use improvement. Also, the sony compact cameras need two card slots or at least some built in storage… Thanks for the comparison.

[@shahrinram9848]

Which one inspire you more to go out take a photograph?

[@ABarrera]

That will be different for everyone. When I need reliable AF the Sony hands down! When I know AF is not as important the Q3.

[@IntrovertAmateur]

I think you summed it up perfectly at the end. If someone doesn't care about the legacy, build quality etc. of Leica there are plenty of great choices on the market and the A7cR is a great camera. It still surprises me how long could Sony could cheap out on the displays + EVFs on their cameras for so long 😅Only with the A7R5 people recognise Sony as a company also capable of good displays and EFVs ... That being said I'm very happy with my Q3 43 because it really inspires me to shoot almost every day. The AF is in my opinion a disappointment, since Leica has a collab going with Panasonic and the AF of the Lumix S5II / S9 is so much better compared to the Q3 line up ... The latest firmware improved a bit, it still has room for improvement. I hope some day Leica will be able to reach the S5II / S9 AF level via firmware update. That being said I shoot the Q3 43 next to my Leica MP black paint and Leica M3. Compared to those manual focus cameras, the Leica Q3 AF feels like cheating, so it always depends on where you are coming from :D Thank you for your great work doing this comparison! As a Q3 shooter sometimes I wonder myself, if the Sony would have been a more reasonable choice ... (which it would be, but not as much fun :D).

[@ABarrera]

I agree! I’m really hoping the Q3 gets the same level of AF responsiveness as the S5II. Even though the final result is similar the experience is different enough to justify owning a Q3 43.

[@rs9610]

I shoot Sony and it's mostly because there's just no beating them in terms of technology, image quality, and innovation. The old color science is long gone and straight out of camera JPEGs are vibrant and flexible. That being said, I wish Sony would just pause with the autofocus, frame rate, resolution, and other technical improvements and just focus on improving the experience of using their cameras for a sec. I guess recycling old LCD displays and viewfinders does drive the cost of their cameras down but that didn't stop Nikon from releasing the ZF, which is a beautiful camera at an affordable price.

[@ABarrera]

There is no beating Sony when it comes down to innovation and glass imo. I do agree, it’s time they start focusing on the smaller things that make up the bigger experience.

[@wwzzyyy]

I was gonna sell my A7C ii and buy a Leica Q3 43 but after watching this video I changed my mind. Now I want to buy m11😂

[@ABarrera]

Same sensors lol just adapt M lenses unless you really want the range finder experience.

[@softiczlatan]

For me personally it was never about image quality when I sold my a7cii and bought Q3 43. Loved the images that came out of A7cii but the overall feeling was missing and it’s due to mediocre design and build quality. A7cii didn’t motivate me to go out and shoot at all, it is a workhorse like my pair of A7IV. Very satisfied with Q3 43 for my private work and as an everyday camera.

[@ABarrera]

Glad it worked out for you! Both these set ups have a place and I love that we have options as photographers.

[@jaywbus]

Maybe an old leica m8 for me. Other wise s5iix and Hasselblad 907x combo I love.

[@brunof.6452]

Leica just doesn't make sense. Although I love their designs. I'd advise anyone to get the Sony and using the extra money to invest in some personal project, a travel project… in the end, what's in front of the lenses is what gonna make the difference.

[@sabriaydi]

thank you for this very good comparison, now can you give us the comparison of the SL3 with the A7RV thank you

[@dimesdede]

Sharpness compare in the middle is easy. You should have checked the corners, there are the big differences...

[@randallbrander8157]

I like the Leica Q3 capability of Macro and Cropping with one lens compared to using more for the Sony A7CR. Cheers!

[@marleenvandam6931]

The sony platform is much more advanced and stable.The Q3 AF is inferior for sure!

[@jayoungrn]

Fun to watch the Leica BS patrol , took less than a day to see" microcontrast" "3d" in the comments. This is a comparison of a $500 lens vs a lens that if purchased separately would be $5,000. If Sony puts a better viewfinder and screen on the A7cr it would be flying off the shelf.

[@Mamo878]

But if you miss focus with a camera that costs nearly *$7000* the IQ suffers as well. So maybe the IQ with the Leica is not really _better_ than the Sony.

[@PistonMotorss]

it is not only about sharpness. I prefer the natural clean 3D images from Q3..!!!!

[@blackheyheyhey]

Sony's shutter is too loud for street photography.