I bought a camera of $ 8,000 and we do not regret it. That is why

In November, I spent 6000 pounds (about $ 8,100) from the private Mawali on Leica Q3. More than 25,000 pictures However, including everything from photography in the streets, travel, landscapes and even Main editing features. I have some ideas about these types of distinct chewing and we hope that some strong tips for shopping for either of you, whether you are thinking about this camera or Another compressed Like the famous Fuji x100VI.

Let’s dive.

I bought Leica Q3 43 with my own retail value, which was at that time a shy of 6000 pounds – well, only, only. more, Including the second battery that you also requested. This is a large amount of money, especially at a time when the wallet strings are tightened and large purchases-especially those unnecessary such as these-are difficult to justify.

Why do I want that?

Well, there are a number of reasons, and I hope that any photographers there will understand, or not. In recent years, I have found myself somewhat exaggerated with the equipment I gained in 13 years of professionally taking pictures. Many bags, triglycerides, lenses, lens transformers-whatever-are increasingly wanted to follow a more abstract approach in a lot of photography.

For years, I used Sony RX1R As a compact camera, “take anywhere” when I don’t want to take a group full of a group. It is a distinct compact in the amazing full frame that takes beautiful pictures with its fixed 35 mm in the size. But he is now 12 years old, and his age appears, with a slow, unreliable automatic focus, relatively low accuracy, and Critically, There is no camera lens, so you have to photograph with the home screen and look like a tourist. I spent years hoping to replace Sony, but where Sony left a gap, Leica fill it.

Q3 43 is, in some aspects, his spiritual successor. It has a great frame sensor with a very high -quality fixed lens. It takes amazing pictures, and I can carry them with me to a large extent all the time, while keeping it coherent around my neck, and ready to shoot whenever I see a chance.

It has a fixed lens of 43 mm, which may not suit everyone, but perfect for most of my work. I usually touch between 35 mm and 50 mm focus, so 43 mm is an ideal sweet spot between the two and I did not find it confined to many of the pictures that I took with it. I tried a 28 mm version of the camera and did not communicate with the wide corner width.

I recently wrote about The three types of camera photographers need to obtain themWhich includes the spine, daily pregnancy and a more artistic option, and although the Q3 43 was at all for me, it is the second point where I feel it had the greatest impact for me. It is not a camera that had to provide any suits when carrying it. I don’t need a large photography bag, just a small or a messenger bag. Sometimes, I took out with her around my neck without a bag at all.

I definitely love a camera with me always. It is true that the best camera is the camera that you have with you, but it is double if the camera is always with you In reality The best camera. Well, it’s not like Sony RX1R, but it is smaller than Canon R5, and he was a great companion Photo around StockholmEdinburgh and Barcelona. It is a pleasure to be able to raise it quickly and shoot.

It helps to run it. Mostly fired at the priority of the opening of the opening, as it abolished the chest loop on the lens when I wanted to control the depth of the field. I mostly keep it in ISO 400, and the camera is always good in giving me the right shutter speed for any scene you take.

At night, I must deal with this ISO, especially since the camera does not have a stable photo sensor like my R5. In fact, at the technical level, the Q3 43 is not good well, as both the explosion and automatic adjustment system are slower than competitors. It is better to describe the discovery of its topic as “beating or missing.”

But this Why I love this camera. You do not have to dive into the infinite abyss of the settings menu to know different automatic focus options. I just keep this camera when focusing on one point, half closed to focus on everything I want, then reinstall to take the shot. Or I will focus manually. It is an essential photography experience that encourages me to think more about the shot I eat and less than the settings I use.

Then there are the integrated colors profiles of Leica, which I adore completely. He shot almost everything using the Leica Chrome look, which does things for the colors and contrast that I am obsessed with. I am often associated with a warm white balance, and recently, a Polarpro Gold Mist Filter, Who gives my photos warm and love. This filter does not leave the camera at all and, for me, it should be.

In fact, I now photograph most of my photos in JPEG and use it almost no treatment. This is in a blatant contradiction with my way to work with R5 – I just shot Raw on that camera, and all my photos are going through a level of work in Lightroom. Do I hope that Leica offers options to adapt these personal files in the camera? definitely.

I dealt with Q3 43 as a compact and classic small point. I use the basic settings to photograph them quickly and creatively, and tend to colors in the camera to reduce my suspended time. I was offered a different way to work, and I enjoyed completely every moment I spent this camera so far.

To be fair, not only Leica Q3 43 that can give you this. Fujifilm is still dear to social media thanks to its compact size and customizable anti -film patterns, while Ricoh Griii was praised by street photographers and travel for their quality and pocket size. I thought about buying X100VI instead of Leica, but I will be honest, as there is another element that may be less proud to recognize it.

I required Leica.

I do not like to think about myself as a symbol of the situation, and although I do not want to get a roll, a yacht or Lambo in my engines (well, maybe a little), I have always dreamed of finally having a camera this iconic red point in the front. I was worried about being a modernity that would explode quickly, but it was not – I still find myself excited to receive it and take it somewhere. It also helps to be the solid metal construction of the Q3 43 makes it feel more unlimited than a light feeling, which can be said to be from the feeling of X100VI.

It gives me a creative sensation that I really do not get from Canon R5. To rely on the measurement you used before, the R5 is a worker car; My work, it places a sign of the boxes for what they need to do a job. A professional tool to accomplish matters. But it is not the car they imagine about driving down the coast. Leica is the fictional car. Classic Ferrari, perhaps. It technically does most of the things themselves, but it does it in a completely different way that makes you feel significantly different when using it.

Perhaps there was a lot of money to spend on the camera, especially I was not talking strictly Need. This helped Lica in the UK to make a benefit free of interest, so I already spread the cost for 12 months, instead of dropping money once. But this is the money that I was – and I am still happy with his spending.

I gave my photography, I didn’t even know I needed. In the six months I faced, I feel more developed as a photographer, and I took pictures that I am proud of. I can’t wait to find out what will bring the next six months.