All of the Leica hallmarks are here: beautiful design, stunning build quality, and tactile handling.
And, of course, theres the eye-watering Leica price tag.
What sets this edition apart is the glass.
(Image credit: Future)
Even more so than the standard Q3, the Q3 43 feels like the perfect everyday camera.
Should you better re-frame, you have a whole lot of pixels to play with.
There are many things that make the Leica Q3 43 truly unique.
No other compact ships with a 43mm prime lens.
In short, the Q3 43 is everything a compact camera should be.
If you might afford its inordinate price tag, its one youll never want to leave home without.
Its an undeniably premium piece of kit with niche appeal.
That also extends to the interface, both physical and digital.
Thats not to say its a perfect camera.
As in our review of the Leica Q3, we also felt that the tilting touchscreen isnt perfectly implemented.
During our time with the 43, we were more naturally drawn to the high-res 5.76m-dot viewfinder.
Shoot with it for a day, and youll wonder how youll ever fully enjoy a different camera again.
Theres the maximum burst speed of 15fps, which you might only use with the electronic shutter.
What youre getting here is not a heavyweight workhorse, but a sublime tool for everyday use.
The original DNG files are kept, so its non-destructive.
While its an unfamiliar number, its also an incredibly intuitive one.
By offering a natural, distortion-free view, that glass offers an intimate perspective.
Specially designed for the 43, the APO-Summicron lens is tightly packaged and pin-sharp.
We also detected minimal distortion in stills.
Like the Leica Q3, you have the option to apply a digital crop.
Its a useful trick, although I would generally prefer to crop in after the fact.
(Image credit: Future)
On the standard setting, JPEG images out of the Q3 43 are pleasingly sharp and dynamic.
Should I buy the Leica Q3 43?
From the tactile handling to the familiar field of view, its exactly what photography should feel like.
(Image credit: Future)
Its price tag will mean it stays in wish-list territory for most people.
(Image credit: Future)
(Image credit: Future)
(Image credit: Future)
(Image credit: Future)
(Image credit: Chris Rowlands)
(Image credit: Chris Rowlands)
(Image credit: Chris Rowlands)
(Image credit: Chris Rowlands)
(Image credit: Chris Rowlands)
(Image credit: Chris Rowlands)
(Image credit: Chris Rowlands)
(Image credit: Chris Rowlands)
(Image credit: Chris Rowlands)
