Part 2 > A different Leica Q3 43 review: 43 Photos with the best every day camera

Part 1 is here.

Hello readers. It is time for the second half of my first 43 keepers with the Leica Q3 43. Before we jump in, let me appreciate some of the smaller things about the 43 that I like. The on/off switch is the best ever. I sincerely hope Leica stays away from that nonsense button like on the SL3. The physical on/off switch on the 43 is perfectly weighted with just enough firm resistance. Does it help take better photos? No, of course not. It is still nice to have, though. And then there are the two function buttons on the backside under the exposure wheel. One button stands out every so slightly more than the other one, making them super easy to find by tactile feel alone. So well done. There is the Macro ring which actually does help you take better photos. Finally, the manual focus release mechanism is still the best manual focus experience I have ever encountered. Focus clutch rings are nice as well but they are a little too easy to engage. This small button press combo with a small movement of the focus ring is just intentional enough to not do this by accident and yet very easy to engage when you want to shoot manual focus.

But enough with the words, let's see some photos!

#23

We walked by a rather ridiculous looking hotel in Austria and the morning light brought out the pastel tones nicely against the deep blue sky that day. On days like these the 43 proves its worth because this was just an errand run and I was happy that I threw my small pouch over my shoulder to be able to take this photo.

#24

On the same errand run, I noticed a reflection where all the different blue hues came together.

#25

Same trip but on an evening as the sun had just set behind the ski slope our balcony faced out on. Not an easy shot to get right. I wanted the yellowish tint from the sunset but I did not want to lose the blue-ish darker tones of the snow.

#26

Some fun as a passenger on the way back. The framing of this shot takes you with me in the car. The 43mm focal length is perfect for this.

#27

Testing some of the stabilization capabilities of the 43. I know there are limitations because of the sensor size but how cool would it be if the 43 would get some of the features that OM System is putting into their cameras? I would love an in-camera ND filter on the 43.

#28

This one is top 5 for me so far. The colors were indeed vivid and to have this bar with that name in a setting like this, I love it. Again I am pushing the stabilization of the 43 to get a bit of motion blur from the bus that was driving past.

#29

Just a shot at home of my work desk. Greens and reds are always a good test and I like how the 43 renders here.

#30

A slightly different self-portrait of yours truly. I definitely had to use manual focus here and the macro mode because the camera had no idea what the hell I was trying to do...

#31

Not much to say about this photo. It is very sharp, the APO lens doing its job here.

#32

The light has been difficult to work with the last few weeks. This was on a trip to a small town where I had training and because I have the 43 with me, I can take photos like these. Nothing remarkable, just a nice look. And for me, a micro happiness moment when taking the photo. Part of the appeal of the 43.

#33

Playing with the Macro ring.

#34

It took me a while to get this shot. The cat was moving around and the AF on the 43 is still...well...just ok, but lacking by quite a bit to other camera manufacturers. I do hope there will be an update because this is probably the weakest aspect of the 43.

#35

I came across a place where they rented out old VW beetles. The 65:24 works well here.

#36

More VW Beetles.

#37

Spring is here. The details are so crisp. Very nice.

#38

An abstract perspective of the roof of the Utrecht Central Station.

#39

The local music venue. It is one of the more expressive modern buildings in the town where I live and houses many different sized performance halls. The cool thing about this venue is that everything comes together, classical music, dance, pop, rock, jazz, and performance art.

#40

I find Black & White difficult to shoot. But somehow this streetlight with the shadow of the cyclist seems to work.

#41

I took the next photo while out on a run. I would not do this on a regular basis but the light was very nice so I took the Q3 43 in a small pouch with me. The portability proving itself useful once again.

#42

Some more nice light. Not the best composition but I like how the buildings on the right seem to want to fully soak in the early spring sun. But perhaps that is just me projecting.

#43

Another atypical black and white photo. The tree branches give this photo a weird vibe. It reminds of what a print of an etched work of art looks like. Not that this is art, but you get my point.

We have reached the end of the first 43 keepers of shooting with my Q3 43. It has firmly established itself as my go-to camera for everyday use. For a single prime shooting experience it ticks all the boxes. The focal length works well for me, better than the 28mm. It is small enough to carry all day. The lens and sensor combo work tremendously well. And the feel of the camera is a joy.

I am still searching when it comes to the Q3 43 in a setup where I want to have more versatility. When going on hikes for instance. Or when I want to have a wide and a short tele for some vacation walkaround. I do own a Q3 28 as well. That is much easier to combine with a 75-100mm-ish prime on a second body. But owning two Q's feels excessive. I bought my Q3 28 second hand to see whether I would indeed prefer the 43. It turns out I do. We'll see where this goes. At risk of stating 'famous last words', I don't see the Q3 43 leaving my side any time soon. Even if it still raises questions for a two camera setup...