We managed to get a week long loaner of the new Leica Q3 Monochrom, and here are our review. We also took the camera on a recent trip to Kuching, Malaysia, where we co-hosted a dinner event with Breitling.
Learning to see in black & white with the new Leica Q3 Monochrom
The Leica Q3 Monochrom has a retail price of SGD 9,900 including GST.
The Leica Q3 Monochrom
The Leica Q3 Monochrom is a special edition of the Q3 Summilux 28mm f1.7 released in May 2023. The Q3 43, with the superb APO-Summicron 43mm f/2 lens was released in September 2024. This latest novelty, the Q3 Monochrom was released a couple of weeks ago. It is based on the original Q3 with the permanently attached Summilux 28 f/1.7 lens. See our commentary on the Q3 Monochrom and release notes here.
The camera is basically the exact same camera as the Q3. Every element of the original Q3 is carried over. The same tilt LCD screen with the same EVF is found.
The lens is also the same Summilux 28mm f/1.7. This is an excellent lens, with a very wide maximum aperture of f/1.7, which is useful in low light situations. Coupled with the high ISO capability of the camera, makes this a superb camera for all purposes. The lens has a built-in extension tube which iis extended by rotating the innermost collar into Macro mode, allowing for objects closer to the lens to be photographed. However, as noted in our earlier reviews, it does not get close enough for our usual style of watch photography. Also, in this mode, the lens loses the ability to focus to infinity.
The controls are the exact same as that found on the Q3 and Q3 43, with button placement and port openings in the same location. Only one SD card is provided at the bottom plate next to the battery compartment. And the body is weather sealed to IPX67.
The only difference between the Q3 and Q3 Monochrom is the sensor. Well, actually the sensor is actually exactly the same, but the Bayer filter which is fitted over the sensor to give it the ability to see colour is removed. This gives the sensor up to one full stop of light, enabling the already good high ISO performance to be even better. For all the photographs I took, I left the camera to manage the ISO, with an upper limit set to 25,600. The camera has a ISO range of up to 200,000, but grain becomes obvious above my set limit. The lack of a filter also avails the full 60Mp sensor to be used to capture details, texture and tonality. And images are exceptional in this regard.
Sample photographs and discussion on the image quality
Image quality is, in a word, EXCELLENT. And I mean that in bold and in capitals. The full 60Mp BSI sensor is available for resolution. The images are superbly detailed. And the tones are rendered very naturally. The image, black and white it may be, shows shapes, lines, patterns and textures beautifully. The tonal range is very wide, ranging from a very bright, brilliant white to deep dark shadows.
Here are some use cases.
As an EDC (Every Day Carry)
The camera is ideal as an EDC, if you don’t need colour. And indeed that is the first thing to get used to a camera like the Q3 Monochrom. The challenge is to be able to visualise the world which is in colour to our eyes, and extrapolate it into a monochromatic image. Once that hurdle is overcome, this is a superb tool.
Architecture and interior
For architecture and interiors, the Q3 Monochrom is a fabulous tool. The ability to use “Perspective Control” is a useful feature. With this tool turned on, I programmed into one of the unlabelled programmable buttons on the back of the body, the viewfinder (and rear LCD) shows a parallelogram superimposed on the image the lens sees to show what the final image captured will look like. For images captured in raw (dng) format, this is not baked into the image, but the tilt information is carried in the meta data, and can be reversed in post production.
This image below is of the staircase leading to the upper room at the new Lange boutique in Singapore. I tilted the camera up to capture the entire staircase. Without perspective control, the sides of the wall will converge and not look parallel. This effect can be either created in-camera using this tool, or in post production in Photoshop. The result is the same.
The tonal character and patterns with textures are captured beautifully in these images. Note that for commercial interior shoots, this style of images can only complement, but not replace full colour images of the location.
Outdoor, I find the meter to have a tendency to overexpose, especially when there is a large expanse of bright sky in the frame. The image below is taken in spot meter mode, with the spot right in the middle of the building. The image is over-exposed, with the sky blowing out. And even the bright parts of the building lacking in texture and detail.
The same for this image below. This tendency to over-expose is only observed in very bright outdoors situations at full open aperture. Both images were taken at f/1.7, 1/2000s, and both were at the base ISO of 200. This behaviour can possibly be corrected by a firmware upgrade. Or right now, if you can visualise it before releasing the shutter, with exposure compensation.
But when the exposure is correct, the image looks sublime.
Of course, low light is where the Q3 Monochrom excels. The image below is captured at ISO 200 (auto ISO) and at f/1.7 1/100s hand held using perspective control.
Event photography at Jacob & Co and Cartier
As an event photography tool, the camera is excellent as well. I found the autofocus on the Q3 Monochrom to hunt a bit when compared to my SL3-S with Summicron 35 ASPH, with the latter being more suitable for event photography. The image below of Jacob Arabo, the founder of Jacob & Co, showing the Billionaire watch to Lee Byung-hun, famous for his character of the Front Man in the Squid Game. This was a typical press pool photograph, jostling with at least 10 other photographer for the best spot for this pic.
The guests waiting for the event to begin.
Later that evening, we attended a cocktail hosted by Cartier.
Candid shots of the guests were easy to take and other than the hunting issue of the autofocus, it was a breeze. Note the shallow depth of field of the image at f/1.7.
Breitling event, Kuching November 27
This was the only camera we brought for the two day, one night trip. And all the photographs, including the event pics were taken with the Q3 Monochrom.
This was a typical dinner event. Beginning with Alvin Soon, President of Breitling Asia presenting the brand philosophy and watches.
Here is a photograph of a Premier chronograph on Stanley’s wrist.
And of some of the guests who attended. During the time we had the camera, it froze on us a couple of times. The rear LCD showing lines of code. This was reset by ejecting the battery and reinserting. After power-up, all returned to normal.
Battery life was decent, and the camera can last all day on a single battery. I took it for a quick walk around Kuching town. The river was very calm and the water crystal.
Here is a view of the town from the top floor of our hotel.
Portraits
Black and white is often prescribed for portrait. The 28mm lens is a bit wide on the full frame sensor to be a dedicated portrait lens, but it is useful nonetheless. the wide angle is excellent for environment portraits. Here are a few examples.
David Weber, master watchmaker at A. Lange & Söhne was in Singapore to demonstrate the savoir faire of the German maison. I have know David for decades, and even his father Manfred, who was also a master watchmaker for Lange.
Raymond Lim, Group CEO of Cortina Holdings, in his characteristic colourful garments. Even in black and white.
Some journalists watiting for the event to begin make good subjects for environmental portraits.
And even in the very dark cocktail room, the image captured is clean and clear.
Concluding thoughts
The Q3 Monochrom is an interesting camera. Like all monochrome cameras, the Q2 Monochrom before it and the mighty Phase One IQ4 Achromatic, or the entry level Pentax K3 Monochrome, this is a specialist camera for those who prefer to shoot in black and white. I quite enjoy being able to see in black and white. And to visualise the image. But this is rather new to me, and challenges me beyond my comfort zones.
If you can visualise in black and white, it brings many advantages to the final image. A black and white image emphasises the core elements. Colour distractions are eliminated. Composition becomes paramount – lines, shapes, contrasts, textures are heightened. And the play between light and shadow manifests as tension, striving for balance. The absence of colour also allows the image to transcend time, making the image look more classic. Timeless. And evokes a stronger emotional response to the subject.
If you are the above, the Leica Q3 Monochrom, or even the Q2 Monochrom might be ideal for your photography needs. If your budget is more constrained, the Pentax offers a less expensive experience. Or if you have some USD60k burning a hole in your pocket, then go for the Phase One IQ4 150 Achromatic. For everyone else, the Leica Q3 Monochrom is perfect.
Photo Notes
All black and white photographs on this page are taken with the Leica Q3 Monochrom. And photographs in colour of the camera are shot with the Leica SL3-S with Laowa CA Dreamer FF 90mm f/2.8 lens. Lighting is Godox RS 60ii Bicolour.
