"This camera is for those who see meaning in everyday life. And without color, you're left with light, shadow, and emotion. Because the true value of an image lies in its ability to evoke something."
Carlo Carletti on the Leica Q3 Monochrom
The second monochrome generation of the Leica Q family with a dedicated black and white sensor
100 years ago, the Leica I broke with convention and revolutionized photography as the first mass-produced 35mm camera. This pioneering spirit lives on in Leica monochrome cameras: with the uncompromising decision for pure black and white photography and the courage to consciously forgo color. Then as now, these cameras are an expression of an attitude of leaving the beaten track to open up new pictorial worlds. With the introduction of the Leica Q3 Monochrom, the next chapter of the compact mirrorless full-frame camera begins, focusing entirely on image composition with light and shadow.
As the second monochrome generation of the Q family, the Leica Q3 Monochrom with its dedicated black and white sensor concentrates on the essence of photography and captures only the brightness data. Its 60 MP monochrome sensor with Triple Resolution technology impresses with remarkable sharpness, impressive dynamic range and outstanding tonal depth - without color filters and without compromising on detail. It records images with a resolution of 60, 36 and 18 MP between ISO 100 and 200,000 as well as videos in up to 8K. Together with the fast wide-angle fixed focal length Leica Summilux 1:1.7/28 ASPH., it produces low-noise, nuance- and texture-rich images in every situation and even in poor lighting conditions.
The design of the Leica Q3 Monochrom remains true to both the modern Q family and the clear monochrome aesthetic. Manufactured in Germany, it stands for functional beauty visually and excellent workmanship of the finest materials haptically. The all-metal housing and the lens hood are painted black, the engravings such as the "Monochrom" lettering on the camera top cap are in subtle black or gray and the leather is refined with a stylish finish. Last but not least, the deliberate omission of the red Leica logo underlines its minimalist design.
The high-resolution 5.76-megapixel OLED viewfinder, the fast, precise hybrid autofocus and the tilting touch display are the strong performance features of the Leica Q3. The Q3 Monochrom also offers the greatest possible creative freedom for deliberate photography and filming in black and white, with easy switching to macro mode with a close focusing distance of 17 cm and the choice between automatic and manual operation. Thanks to its IP52 rating, the robust camera is protected against splash water and dust.
With a digital zoom from 28 to 90 mm and numerous video functions, the Leica Q3 Monochrom offers a wide range of options for capturing black and white images in outstanding image quality in everyday creative work. Thanks to reliable, convenient connectivity with the Leica FOTOS app via Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB-C and HDMI-Micro, these can be securely integrated into the mobile workflow with extremely fast transfer speeds.
The Leica Q3 Monochrom also offers a coherently structured, easy-to-use user interface with a clear separation of photo and video functions. Both follow their own color concept and, in combination with the well thought-out icon and menu navigation, enable particularly intuitive handling. At the end of the year, Leica plans to make the new operating concept for Q cameras available for the Leica Q3 and the Leica Q3 43 via a firmware update.
The Leica Q3 Monochrom also plays a pioneering role within the Q family with its pioneering Content Credentials technology. It is the first Q camera to provide images with a digital signature in accordance with the Content Authenticity Initiative (CAI) in order to provide forgery-proof proof of their origin and subsequent changes.
Optional accessories expand the creative scope and allow the Leica Q3 Monochrom to be customized. The new monochrome camera can be supplemented with the accessories of the Leica Q3. Leica is also introducing a handgrip with wireless charging and matching leather, a red filter and various carrying straps at the same time as the Q3 Monochrom.
About Leica Camera
Leica Camera AG is an international premium manufacturer of cameras, Lens and sports optics products. As part of its growth strategy, the company has expanded its business to include mobile imaging (smartphones) and the manufacture of high-quality eyeglass lenses and watches, and is also represented in the home cinema segment with its own projectors.
Leica Camera AG, headquartered in Wetzlar (Germany) and with a second production site in Vila Nova de Famalicão (Portugal), has a worldwide network of its own sales companies with around 120 Leica Stores.
The Leica brand stands for excellent quality, German craftsmanship and industrial design combined with innovative technologies. An integral part of the brand culture is the promotion of the culture of photography with around 30 Leica Galleries worldwide, Leica Academies and international awards such as the Leica Hall of Fame Award and the Leica Oskar Barnack Award (LOBA).
