Leica Q3 43

Leica Q3 43 — Key Specs & Highlights

• APO-Summicron 43mm f/2 ASPH.: the first non-28mm lens in Q history, and Leica's first APO lens in the series.
• 60 MP full-frame BSI sensor: the same sensor used in the Leica Q3 and M11.
• Hybrid autofocus: phase detection, contrast AF and subject recognition.
• 8K video: up to 30p, plus 4K60p and Full HD at 120fps.
• 5.76 MP OLED viewfinder and a tiltable 1.84 MP touchscreen.
• IP52 weather sealing: protected against dust and light rain.

The same Q3, built around a different lens

Every Q camera since 2015 has shipped with a 28mm lens, so the Q3 43 marks the first time Leica has offered the series any other way of seeing. Swap out the wide-angle Summilux and what's left is, deliberately, everything else about the Q3 unchanged — same sensor, same processor, same body dimensions almost to the millimetre. The only real decision here is the field of view you want to shoot with.
 

Why 43mm

43mm happens to be the diagonal measurement of a full-frame sensor, which is part of why it's often described as the focal length closest to how the human eye actually sees a scene — not compressed like a telephoto, not exaggerated like a wide angle. It also sits far enough from the standard Q3's 28mm that the two cameras genuinely feel different to shoot with, rather than being a minor variation on the same idea.
 

Leica's first APO lens in a Q

The APO-Summicron 43mm f/2 ASPH. is a new optical design, built with 11 elements across 8 groups, including 7 aspherical surfaces. The apochromatic correction is what sets it apart from every earlier Q lens — it brings different wavelengths of light into focus at the same point, which cuts down on colour fringing and holds sharpness wide open at f/2 in a way an ordinary lens design can't quite match. A built-in macro mode brings the minimum focus distance down to 27cm.
 

The sensor that made the crop-to-anything Q3 possible

Behind the lens is the same 60 MP full-frame BSI sensor as the standard Q3, which means the same trick applies: with this much resolution to spare, digitally cropping into a longer equivalent focal length still leaves a usable image. On the Q3 43, that means stepping up to 60, 75, 90 or 120mm equivalents without losing the option to shoot the native 43mm view at the full 60 megapixels.
 

Autofocus and video, unchanged from the Q3

The hybrid autofocus system — phase detection, contrast AF and subject recognition working together — carries over exactly as it is on the standard Q3, as does the video side: up to 8K at 30p, 4K at 60p, and Full HD at 120fps, all through the same Maestro IV processor. If you've used a Q3, none of this will need relearning.
 

One detail to tell them apart

Beyond the lens itself, the clearest way to spot a Q3 43 is the leatherette — a dark grey rather than the standard Q3's black — along with the "43" engraved on the lens barrel. Everything else, from the OLED viewfinder to the tiltable touchscreen to the IP52 sealing, is carried over unchanged.
 

What's in the box:

• Leica Q3 43
• Leather carrying strap
• Lithium-ion battery (BP-SCL6)
• USB-C cable
• Lens hood
• Lens cap
• Hot shoe cover
• Quick start guide

Leica Q3 43 — Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between the Q3 and the Q3 43?

The lens. The Q3 has a 28mm f/1.7 Summilux, while the Q3 43 has a 43mm f/2 APO-Summicron. Everything else — sensor, processor, autofocus and video — is the same.

Why 43mm specifically?

It's the diagonal measurement of a full-frame sensor, and widely considered close to how the human eye naturally sees a scene.

Is this Leica's first APO lens for the Q series?

Yes — the APO-Summicron 43mm f/2 ASPH. is the first apochromatically corrected lens fitted to a Q camera.

Can I still shoot at other focal lengths?

Yes, via digital crop: 60, 75, 90 and 120mm equivalents, using the 60 MP sensor's extra resolution.

How close can I focus?

Down to 27cm using the lens's built-in macro mode.

Is the Q3 43 weather sealed?

Yes, IP52-rated against dust and light spray water, the same as the standard Q3.