Leica Q3 vs Q2! Can you see the difference? SPOILER: Issues.

I met up with my friend Paolo in Rome to walk around and try the Q3. See what you think! Photos edited with a single-click of Jupiter RGB from verygoodpresets.com
Follow Paolo: / paolocip77
Follow Dan: / danbaker88
Me:
dave.online/
/ daveherring
0:00 - Intro
1:20 - Leica Store Rome
2:00 - Shooting Photos
7:02 - Shooting Video
8:51 - More Photos
9:36 - Impressions

[@IntrovertAmateur]

Hey Dave, great to see your channel growing and you are able to travel and create content :). Wasn't able to stop by since our second daughter was born 2 months ago :) Great video as always and this comparison confirms my opinion. You have to really like and gravitate towards the new features to upgrade to the Q3. According to rumours Leica will keep the Q2 in the line up or rebrand it as an "entry level" Q camera. I interpret that as a sign that even Leica knows about the quality of the Q2 and not everyone "needs" (we can't talk about needs when we are talking about Leica :D) the Q3 features and are happy with the Q2. That being said the new AF system, M11 60MP sensor (pixel binning and cropping), USB-C and upgraded video features in a Q2 weather sealed body were reasons for me personally to sell my Q2M (M11 sensor seems to be amazing for low light and black and white conversions; not monochrome level, but still) and my Sony A7IV. When I had the Q2M and A7IV I was mostly shooting with the Q2M, but missed several shots of my running daughter due to slow AF. These kinds of shots were perfect for the A7IV, but the setup is much more bulkier to handle while pushing a stroller for example. I don't have any illusion regarding the image quality, as this comparison illustrated. And regarding video the A7IV wipes the floor with the Q3, but I think the Q3 video features will be enough for my family stuff. I'm just curious, if the rolling shutter (also very noticable here in this video but result of the 60mp sensor) also occurs in 4k and 1080. Long story short, I made my pre order and waiting since launch for my Q3. But if everything goes well, I'm able to pick mine up tomorrow, since I got a call today from my local camera store in Germany, which only were able to get 1 Q3 - which hopefully be mine soon :)

[@davidherring]

Thanks for sharing! Congrats on the birth of your second daughter! Being a dad is the greatest thing. I hear you on the AF. It is really nice to be able to rely on it. Then Q2 doesn’t always hit for sure, and I do think the Q3 is much better in that regard. Let me know your experiences when you start shooting! Excited for you!

[@Fleet42]

Love this real life review Dave! I passed on buying the Q3 last week because while I loved my Q2, I’m not sure I’d grab it over my M11. Camera West in Walnut Creek will let you go out for an hour with gear. Shawn is so cool , he’s the owner and he takes care of us!

[@davidherring]

He is awesome and I’m grateful for him! When I get back to the US let’s go shoot together 💪🏼

[@Fleet42]

@@davidherring I can’t wait and happy belated birthday my man!!!

[@jpbonjour]

Camera West in WC FTW for sure ❤

[@morganmiller7777]

M1- the snob of all snobbery. Cost is insane. Q2 has by far the worst higher ISO performance, it’s just bad: no thanks. I like my moody nights

[@photodan88]

Haha thanks for the mention Dave ☺️🍦 3:53

[@davidherring]

💪🏼💪🏼

[@MikeChudley]

Dan Baker's ice cream photos are unmatched haha.

[@davidherring]

Right? Dude is an artist.

[@Jack-qn6vy]

For me, the main difference is that the Q3 has a slightly longer beard and does a pretty good job converting in camera from Italian to American. Other than that they are virtually identical. Oh wait we are supposed to compare the cameras, my bad! That could be an SD card issue…good video!

[@davidherring]

Love this comment!

[@foliage_zone]

What vlog camera do you use in this video,I really like it🥺

[@davidherring]

All of my videos are shot on the Sony A7SIII & the 16-35 GM.

[@macjim]

I’m a former M9 owner but have been a Fujifilm guy for many years now but I’m now looking at trading in all of my gear to buy the Q3. As much as I love the M series cameras I feel the Q’s suit me better even though I prefer manual focusing. Currently, my camera supplier does not have the Q3 in stock but they have a waiting list… much as they did when I bought my GRIIIX.

[@davidherring]

The Q series is fantastic. Best of luck!

[@TryingtoLearntheuke]

Hey Dave-Another Bay Area shooter. Camera West is a great store. Am on the waiting list for the Q3. Love the video by the way.

[@davidherring]

Awesome!

[@stevenjewell9754]

HI Dave, I’d be interested to know if the recent experience, albeit very short, has put you off getting a Q3? I couldn’t see any difference in the image quality between them. Another great vid, keep ‘‘em coming!

[@davidherring]

I was never planning on upgrading. The image quality is absolutely no different in my opinion. And I don’t need 61mp from a point and shoot, or any of the other features that make the Q3 worth it for me. Others may, and no problem with that. But for me, the Q2 is honestly a little overkill for me. I mostly just shoot M, and have been considering selling my Q2 and getting a 28mm M lens.

[@JS-shim]

I think it is hard to tell image quality difference on a KZbin video. The Q2 is great. The Q3 has other advantages besides it’s sensor, eg the screen and phase focusing. Many people also report major gains in high ISO. Second hand Q2s are a reasonable option.

[@walkingmeditation61]

The new 60MP sensor allows greater crop ability and is better by one stop in low light. There are some reported "Lock Ups" with the Q3 The Q3 has many new upgrades. It has significantly improved AF and the same EVF as the SL2

[@cliph6068]

What type of SD card was used in the Q3? I've had mine for about 3 weeks with zero lockups but I'm using a Sandisk V90 card. I've read that using off brands or slower cards might be contributing to the lockups per those who have reached out to Leica with the issue. I suspect firmware is also at fault.

[@davidherring]

Lexar 1667x, same ones I use in my Q2, M10R, Sony A7RV, and A7SIII. My suspicion is firmware.

[@cliph6068]

@@davidherring I think firmware plays a part as well, but Leica support is telling people who've experienced this issue that it's related to the SD card. Every report I've seen of it was with a V60 or slower card.

[@gearetal]

Another great vid! Rome looks beautiful!! Can I ask what camera bag Paolo is using in the clip of him in the Leica store? It looks like a perfect Q sized insert/ bag.

[@davidherring]

I’ll find out for you! Thanks for the kind words!

[@mechashiva8328]

It's a messenger bag from Mission Workshop. I have the same bag and used it in college. It's very well made and I would recommend it. I just don't think an insert would make it a good camera bag. Plus, MW already has camera specific bags. Inside Line Equipment is another alternative to MW. If you need to keep it Gucci; Killspencer has inserts and straps for Leica's etc. All three are California brands.

[@gearetal]

@@mechashiva8328 Thank you! I’ve realised I wasn’t very clear in my request… it was the insert/ pouch he uses in the vid that I was asking about. I’ve not heard of killspencer, so will definitely look them up! Cheers bud!

[@gearetal]

@@davidherring Thank you!

[@piola6666]

ciao James. It is a TENBA BYOB 7 Camera Insert Noir. I have 2 (one in Rome one in Bergen, Norway) since it is absolutely PERFECT when I want to bring and keep safe just the Q2 . The big bag is a Mission Workshop stuff, I love that too :-)

[@xpfloyd]

Hi Dave, the bug bear with my Q2 is the auto white balance. Did you get a feel of this was improved with the Q3?

[@davidherring]

We both shot auto WB and the photos looked identical in Lightroom.

[@mcsquaredjr]

Interesting. I've never had issues with the WB on Q2. In fact I always thought auto WB on Q2 was way better compared to Fujis and Nikon Zs I owned/own. What kind of issues do you have, just curios. Thanks!

[@VTP14]

What camera do you shoot this video on in the beginning?

[@davidherring]

Sony A7SIII

[@davidkipperman5218]

I'm a Q2 shooter and I love the camera. All I have to say about the Q3 is there are some really good deals on used Q2's! 😜

[@davidherring]

Truth! The Q2 is fantastic.

[@jpbonjour]

Hey Dave - fellow Bay Area shooter. I did pre-order the Q3. I’m upgrading from the original Q which has been my every day shooter for 6 years. I’m hoping the Q3 can replace my barely used Canon R-5C - that thing is a beast but just too heavy for a one person video crew. Italy looks amazing - we should shoot when you get back to the bay

[@davidherring]

Nice! From the Q, the Q3 is a big upgrade. Hit me up on IG, @daveherring, and yeah let’s def connect!

[@Sandroisfree]

Finally a 1vs1 video. That's exactly what I thougt about the Q3. There is for sure a step up but not a big one. I don't think an upgrade is worth it for me at least.

[@davidherring]

If you don’t have a Q, it’s fantastic. But if you have a Q2, I don’t believe it’s worth the premium upgrade. My opinion.

[@janromo9753]

Thanks for the vid. Q3 AF frankly one of the few features that draws me to it over the q2. But I hardly grab the q2 any more, gravitate much more to my M or SL2-s.

[@davidherring]

Thanks for sharing!

[@gordw6402]

As a Q2 Monochrom owner, I cancelled my order for the Q3 'Colour' camera...No memory back up ...no buy. Also, they finally put a tilt screen...but no portrait tilt ?????? Plenty of Colour cameras on the market with memory back up and a REAL tilt screen. Thank you for this honest video.

[@davidherring]

Thanks for sharing!

[@hayleymurillo]

For am easy point and shoot… would you go Q2? Or Q3?

[@davidherring]

Q2. Save your money. Find a used Q2.

[@zteefzeefje]

Thanks for the episode, very informative and entertaining. I stick with my Q2 and a bit flirting with the M system, maybe I switch to to it....

[@davidherring]

Same! Definitely keeping the Q2 for now. You’ll love the M if you move over to it.

[@nariza7]

ty for the video example as I was curious about handheld stabilization

[@davidherring]

As far as I can tell, there is absolutely no stabilization. That said, the Q is small enough for an affordable gimbal.

[@nariza7]

@@davidherring oh, do you remember if OIS was set to Auto or On when recording? I also feel like theres no stabilization in video (at least it doesnt seem like it), and am wondering if the algorithm for auto (if it was still set on that) doesnt kick in stabilization as much, and requires it to be set to On for it to work for sure.

[@davidherring]

@@nariza7 Oh man I have no idea. I imagine it was on auto, but I don’t know for sure. Let me check with Paolo!

[@nariza7]

@@davidherring Thank you haha. It's okay if you are't able to find out since it was borrowed

[@piola6666]

@@davidherring I have no idea 🙂 Tha day we rushed a bit 😛

[@Coldgecko]

So my 2 cents. Image quality will come in cropping for sure... 60mp vs 47mp is huge -- for someone like me who generally crops with a 28mm or 24mm image its important to have more mp. I shoot with a Sony A7RIV with a Tamron 28-75 hung off it most of the time -- and I even crop that more often than not. Second, the auto focus experience should be better by using the Panasonic hybrid focus system vs contrast only on the Q2 -- that could be huge too. Third, similar to the autofocus is the face detection improvement if it works -- that too is a big thing for portraits or tracking -- again, if it works 80% as close to Sony -- its a winner. Last, the reason that Leica SF does not rent -- likely because they are thinking of leaving downtown :) -- cheap shot, sorry. I'm talking out of my ass -- because I dont own a Q2, but I do own a Q2 Mono -- and I ordered a Q3 coming in days...

[@davidherring]

Thanks for sharing. I shoot the R cameras from Sony as well, currently the RV, and cropping is a must for me for commercial work. I get what you’re saying.

[@Coldgecko]

The craziest thing I just cant get my head around is that you only get one card slot. Insane in 2023 that this is a thing for a $5k camera -- or even a $2k camera. I drive a Porsche or two and you expect that from them -- charge for simple add-on stuff you take for granted on other cars -- but the engines still are the same -- that said, something so important as memory for a camera to try to squeeze these bucks for profit is insane -- but WTF, I bought one so its nuts... I only buy it as a mess around compact camera but if it were commercial use -- that would not be good to have the memory image loss -- like your buddy on your walk -- nuts.

[@davidherring]

@@Coldgecko Yeah, sad about that photo. So weird that it locked up and didn’t save the picture.

[@bakulmatiyani]

what sling bag is Paulo carrying?

[@davidherring]

He listed it in one of the other comments! 💪🏼

[@gurugamer8632]

My M11 always freeze up and why is the new camera Q3 freezing up?

[@davidherring]

Prob will take a few firmware patches to get it right.

[@piola6666]

@@davidherring the Leica shop assistant told me that it was probably due to a not SUPER-HIGH-SPEED CF.

[@junichinomura4810]

the real user comparison on that 1 hour borrowing leica Q3, it is not the pre-released version it make sense to stick with what you have, leica since the new release of cameras, from leica M11 series up to now, even there`s update available to leica M11 users, but still there`s a issues on their firmware, the best leica now to have is the last generation leica Q, leica Q2 series, leica M series before M11, leica SL series. by the way I owned Leica Q2 monochrome until now it is best leica to have no pronblem. and it is updated to firmware version 5.

[@davidherring]

I rarely buy anything new generation. I almost always get my gear at least a year and multiple firmware versions later. Currently with the Q2 (2022 purchase) and M10R (a few months ago upgrade from the M10).

[@Gvacam1222]

I had the same issues with my Q3 (+my battery only lived for 1h) so i sold it 10 days later to buy a Q2 ghost edition..best move sor far as those are now circa 4700 vs 6300 for q3..

[@davidherring]

Thanks for sharing! I think for 90% of people, the Q2 is more than enough.

[@elliotresnick5433]

Where did you find the new Q2 for $4700?

[@alexcanada1071]

how do you like the ghost edition? just ordered one myself.

[@walkingmeditation61]

You usually have some nice video's. This one is ridiculous Name one camera where you can tell the difference between the previous camera and the new model regarding image quality on a you tube video? there's more "crop ability" with 60MP sensor that's the first thing to mention and its better by at least one stop in low light. It's reasonable to point out the camera locked up twice but after you made that point it's like you gave up. The Q3 has the SL2's EVF which is incredible a lot of people welcome the flip screen The AF is significantly improved. Leica also removed the exposure constraints for long exposure shooting. It's minor but the lens cap design has been fixed it will no longer potentially fall off when the felt wears out The wireless charging hand grip is really nice. There will be firmware updates correcting bugs as well.

[@davidherring]

It’s just a fun video, not a scientific evaluation. It’s a real world, grab a camera comparison. That’s all. ✌🏽

[@walkingmeditation61]

@@davidherring There have been noted "Lock ups" with the Q3 Leica does have issues as you know with the M10-R and other models. especially with new models. How about a "fun" video with the Q3 showing all the things I mentioned? that would be fun too !!!

[@davidherring]

We went into this with no experience with the Q3, and only an hour with it. We just took it as it went.

[@walkingmeditation61]

@@davidherring that's fine & fun it's just you were very dismissive of all the upgrades which are significant

[@davidherring]

@@walkingmeditation61 didn’t mean to come across as dismissive, just authentically reacting. The Q3 has amazing upgrades, especially if it’s your first Q. Fantastic camera for sure. Leica doesn’t make anything that isn’t a home run.

[@ludo1632]

Yes quite different colors from Q3 vs Q2 and not just the colors are different, but it was expected. Not compared here but I do prefer what I got from the Q than my Q3. Maybe a question of aesthetic? Felt the way with the M11 which I sold after a few month to go with the M10-R (better than M11 but not as pleased as I was with the M10). The M10-R is growing on me but I’m struggling with the Q3 in getting the final image I want. I shot 3 weddings with the Q3 and no freezing but I push the camera by taking many pictures continuously and it froze, so it is an issue still not fixed.

[@davidherring]

Thanks for sharing. I feel the same way. I really love the M10R but I did prefer the colors of the M10 more. I’m not planning to pick up an M11, and who knows even in the future. Sticking with the Q2 in the meantime as well.

[@craigianmenzies]

Single generational technology upgrades are rarely worth the financial outlay, someone new would / should go for a Q3.

[@davidherring]

Agreed!

[@frankiacone6642]

freezing issues not working like it hsould

[@davidherring]

Yeah, def shouldn’t be freezing.

[@frankiacone6642]

Making me rethink my preorders for sure. Rumor has it Sony coming out with high resolution fixed lens camera in the fall

[@stephanedubarry8624]

I believe you should see a différence when framing as a 50mm

[@davidherring]

Definitely more megapixels, but the quality of the Q2 is a 10/10 and the Q3 is also a 10/10.

[@stephanedubarry8624]

@@davidherring sure. What I mean is that the higher number of pixels (at this lever) mostly helps when cropping à lot, for instance when framing at 50mm vs 28

[@etokeokeo9063]

They look like two brothers born in two different countries 🙂

[@davidherring]

Haha love this

[@piola6666]

@@davidherring uahahhaha again!

[@cshevlin]

Yeah. I’ll stick with my Q2 for now.

[@davidherring]

Same

[@conchscooter]

You have to spend that money to buy a camera that freezes. Every time I wonder about Leica …I get turned off. Good video thank you.

[@davidherring]

Pretty much all initial releases from any brand has bugs like this. I imagine these issues will be resolved with future firmware.

[@johnleftwich650]

Of course, not with Sony. They would rather just introduce a new camera instead of a firmware update.

[@davidherring]

Yep. This is the truth.

[@JJ_Photo]

Oh no - not still the freezing issue. The old Q has the same problem. Have missed so many shots because of this. And a lot of flat batteries as well. If you don't see it before putting the camera in your bag, the battery will be flat in a very short time. Come on Leica....

[@davidherring]

Unfortunately yes! I haven’t had battery problems with my Q2, but I’ve experienced the same freezing issue on my M10R as well.

[@johnadams3038]

You can't probably really see the difference between a Fujifilm X100V and a Leica Q2 let alone Q2 vs Q3 lol

[@davidherring]

I had the x100v and I promise you I can definitely tell the difference between the Q2 and the x100v 😂

[@johnadams3038]

@@davidherring In a controlled test where you shoot exactly same object then yes it will be more obvious but if you go about and each camera takes different photos at different apertures and settings then it will be super hard to tell if not impossible the difference.

[@dopevernacular2925]

Twins 👯‍♀️

[@davidherring]

Haha

[@carolchennning9188]

Wow let's shake it hard! shake it.

[@davidherring]

Shakey shake shake

[@genesultry6447]

Uh, I'll stay with my I-phone 6 plus and Nikon D-700.

[@davidherring]

Whatever works for you!

[@genesultry6447]

@@davidherring but seriously, thank you for posting the comparison video, it was helpful. Cheers!

[@morganmiller7777]

Early issues with all of them

[@davidherring]

Good thing we get plenty of firmware updates!

[@ChrisLRobinson]

My opinion unless your shooting street, 1.7 (wide open), Medium to High speeds shooting - from the hip not a huge game changer with the Q2. now if you're a wide open shooter, lets not kid ourselves, the Q3 is the better option, the phase detection is 10000% better than the q2 If you're an 5.6 or f8 zone shooter, single shot speed shooter, you should 100% stick with the Q2.

[@davidherring]

Good thoughts!

[@ChrisLRobinson]

@@gothamindembaum yeah just speaking facts. Yeah all leica beginners - if you can subsidize the hobby /it's nice to switch it up and test to find "your true" body and/or holy trinity lens setup. Im in Chicago and not a ton of rental places so I end up just copping things I don't need and selling it 6-8 months - if I don't mesh with it But id more of a pro hobbyist / errand / weekend warrior shooter lol lol so I Def lost money but trying the system - but if you look at it as rentals....My 5 year leica journey has looked like this I went: m9 | M9 and Q2 | Q2 and Q2m | Q2, M10M, Q2M | then went a year just Q2M sold everything took some trips with the cash| Then sunsets I missed | concerts color sometimes I did miss color - Now the past year I'm FLE II and M11with Lightroom ai denies I see no sense of every going back to the mono. m11 iso 35,000 clean on the streets!