Leica 28mm f/1.7 Q3 lens review 

For those who don't want to shell out over £6000 for the Leica Q3, this lens is available on the M mount for £4400 so you can mount it on your affordable £7000+ Leica M11 body for the same experience, although manual focus only...

Wow, you just need one of those magic Frost reviews to take away the Leica "magic". The best review of this lens so far.

Im a Sony A7R4 user, with 61 Mpix on board. I had my eye on the Q3 for streetphotograohy only. But now i think a Sony A7CR with a 24 1.4 GM or 35 1.4 GM would be the sharper option. These lenses have far superior corner IQ with my 61 Mpix sensor.

Never blame Canon for massive in-camera corrections on their budget lenses anymore... ;)

Great review. Note that on macro mode the minimum aperture is forced to 2.8. Thats why theres no difference in your samples at 2.8 and 1.7.

After all the crazed hype about the magic of these Leicas its good to finally see an objective assessment of the lens, being able to be compared on your consistent measures. (Not that i’ll ever be able to afford any of the Leicas. ;-)) Thank you Chris!

This makes me appreciate the canon RF 28mm and Nikon Z 28mm even more.

Unless you really really want a Leica for 6k, I think getting the Sony A7CR would be way better if you want a small and lightweight camera. You won't be limited to 1 lens, get better AF, faster processors and saves you quite a lot of money.

What a beautiful lens and camera! Thank you for sharing and God bless you and your family!

Now I have a whole new appreciation for my Canon RF 28mm pancake.

Thank you for this review. I own a Q3 since june and it replaced my R5 as my main camera. I love the look and colors I get out of it. I was really curious about how it would fare in your tests.

This camera and the Q2 are very popular as these things go. It’s such a satisfying camera to use, and it produces rather nice images which are very slightly different to most other cameras in a way I find impossible to explain. One thing about the lens is that if you compare the field of view with other camera lenses you will probably find that this is more like their 24mm than 28mm images. Personally I would prefer it to be the other way, more tight like a 30mm lens or even a 35mm for street use and optimum out of focus area. We’re all different of course. The body has a very simple almost minimalist appearance with few external controls but all most people need is there and the menu system, although very comprehensive, is probably up there with the very best for being logical and easy to use.

Now I understand why this camera is so expensive - it's the first ever 28mm "fisheye" lens. This amount of distortion and softness in the corners is not normal for the 6k price.

I just placed your Canon RF 28-70mm F2 lens video review next to this video and the Canon lens blows the Leica 28mm F1.7 out of the water. Thanks Chris, you just saved me $6000.00.

I own the A7RV and the Q3 and while I agree that with some GM glass, even the GM II zooms, the A7RV makes the best use of of the 61mp sensor, the Q3 is much more portable and ‘fun’ to use. An interesting comparison would be the Q3 with the Q2 and/or Q with their lesser sensors but the same lens.

Just a tiny hint of blue+gold chromatic aberration (especially in the corner test chart and the clock macro shot), which I find very pleasing compared to the common green+magenta aberrations. My eyes see naturally blue+gold aberration on contrasting edges, and any lens that produces that instead of magenta will look far better to me.

I only have the Leica Q, not the Q3, but the best images are portraits. Simon from Simon's Utak and Zenography indicate that there is more to lenses than technical specs. Now that I have seen this, I am content that I did not spend more than I did for my used Leica Q. Thank you for this review. Your channel is excellent.

Very telling and revealing review. The lens is slightly better than average, and in no way justifies a 6000 price tag.

Chris… there’s something to know about the Leica Lens. You only focused in the center to test corner sharpness. Correct? Well I had similar results as you until I focus on each corner to test the lens corner sharpness and I can confirm corner sharpness is excellent and equal to center sharpness when you actually focus in the corner even at F1.7 I believe it’s part of this lenses design and I’m good with it. I want what I focused on to be sharp, not areas I did not. It doesn’t behave like my Nikon Z glass which doesn’t get sharper in the corner when you focus on the corner wide open.

Hi Christopher, I was intrigued by your review, for which many thanks. Owning a Q3 myself and in view of comments below I made a test chart (in Illustrator) and did a test myself at F1.7. Now I may not have been exactly square on but was certainly very close. I set the focus point on the centre and then each corner. Indeed there is a very small fall off in sharpness away from the point of focus. so when I focussed on the centre the corners were slightly less sharp than the centre and vice versa. The focus area was always tack sharp regardless of where in was positioned in the frame. I don't see this as a fault in the lens more a stylistic approach to the focus point and the fall off to the out of focus areas. I then did the same shot (filling the frame with the A4 card as I did with the 28mm) with the SL 75mm APO on the SL2-S It was razor sharp across the whole test card regardless of the focus point, as it is designed with corner to corner sharpness in mind. If Leica wants to make a lens that is sharp across the whole focal plane then they clearly can do it. I really do believe it is a stylistic "Leica Summilux M" look they are striving for in the Q series cameras. With a 28mm lens I am certainly looking to guide the viewers eye to the subject and fall off from focus area to the out of focus elements in the shot is tool I love to use to achieve that look. Thanks again for the non-biased review.

After watching your review about this expensive lens. I love my budget Sony 35mm f/1.8 even more 😅

I don't like a fixed lens camera that cost over €6000 and have Monster software corrections. There is too much exaltation for the Leica brand just because of its glorious past in the analog world of film In the digital era there is no longer this difference because the sensor is a Sony, the same one you find on the Alpha 7 R4 and the all the electronics are from Panasonic. In the end, the only thing you really pay for is the red badge and the software

Your reviews are a bit Leica like. There are 100’s as (technically?) good and even better than yours. But yours have a real sense of class. Thanks, very enjoyable. I still can’t make up my mind about buying a Q3. I have lusted after a Q since I first saw a Q2. But they are a LOT of money and I have Sony RV with 20, 35, 55 and 85 lenses. But I do want one! Thanks again for the classy reviews.

I'm happy with the first Leica Q model

Well , it is a lot to expect . Small , useful , and performance from a simple system . Dedicated to use for street , travel and backup . You pay for the name and certain quality . With Leica you always want and expect more . Great video review , thank you !

Always enjoy your reviews, even when I watch them a second time! 8:25

The distortion totally let me down

For this price I'd rather say bye-bye. But thanks a lot for testing this. I had always wanted to know if paying such amount of money would get an image quality that was up to it.

Well, it seems that the combo of X-T5 and 18mm f1.4 is a better setup. BUT, it is not a Leica.

Thanks for the nice review! I found similar performance with my Q3 except for the slipping "A" position on the lens. I wonder if it's just your sample? My aperture ring is not easy to put in A mode. I shoot at, or near 1.7 often and using it every day since June- no accidental mode switches yet. I suppose MINE could be the odd sample too 🤷🏼‍♂ Any other Q users having this issue? ...just curious. I've mentioned elsewhere in comment replies, but shooting for my full time living for many years and with many systems, it's hard to put a price on the pure enjoyment of shooting with my Q3. I was always intrigued by previous Qs but didn't part with the money until the Q3. In large part because the 60MP sensor and digital zoom offer very useable 35mm and 50mm equivalent focals lengths (about 40MP and 20MP resepectively). And for smaller enlargements or online uses, the 75 and 90mm equivalents are useful as well.

I'm glad this camera only comes with a wide angle. It makes it easy to resist.A 50mm version would have made it much more difficult.

I have always wondered about this lens/camera great video!

I did totally want to know how well that lens would do. Thanks chief.

I shoot it in Raw and have to crop slightly to remove the corner vignette and correct for the distortion, which probably makes the field of view equivalent to a 30-32mm

I currently own and use a Q3, which is a gift from a family member (definitely too much money for me to spend). My personal favorite compact camera line is still the Sony RX1, which I think is technically better than the Q. But the Q3 when viewed as a whole package really is a quality, fun camera that is hard to beat. I’ve also used the A7C+35GM combo, which is amazing but just feels a lot more clunky and less fun than the Q. If Sony would just give us a 3rd gen RX1 my Q3 might end up on the shelf a lot more though 😊

Leica could have updated and improved the lens for the Q3, however it’s difficult to argue with a camera in such short supply that it is nearly impossible to find in stock. The lens is good enough, it is rare to find the photographer that can discern differences in corner sharpness in real world photos. For those that pixel peep it’s the e in the r.

I'd really like you to do a review of the Ricoh GRIII, to see how it compares to the Leica here.

MORE LEICA REVIEWS !

Love your review, I have heard others say it is actually a 24 mm that is cropped to a 28 equivalent. Apparently the images don’t match a typical 28?

Would live to see tests on the SL2 and the APO len’s

I had a leica Q but it felt more like a 24mm than a 28mm i dunno it was just too wide for me .

We do need more relatively compact full frame cameras like this, I don't know why people buy the Q3 though. If I'm gonna pay an insane amount for a Leica, which offers no image quality benefits over cameras 3-5x cheaper, I would get an M series for the unique rangefinder aspect. The Q3 just feels like a completely normal digital camera but with a Leica price tag (which some think is entirely made by Panasonic) and a fixed mediocre lens. Buy a Fujifilm X100 with the updated lens instead.

Would be great if you do a review on the new Kamlan 70mm f1.1

Thank you very much for this lens test. Is there another test coming for the three different resolutions of the Q3?

I am pretty sure any camera brand can make a full frame fixed lens camera that will blow Leica Q out of water in terms of performance and features with lot cheaper price tag, but some how, none of them are doing it. So if some one wants full frame fixed lens point and shoot, you are stuck with one of Lecia Q 1,2,3 or Sony RX1 series(which is discontinued (and not very cheaper at all))

Maybe you should review more compact cameras (like Fujifilm X100V, or Ricoh GRIIIX, or...)

If you shown me the images without telling me what these images are shot with, I would have guessed that it came from some budgeted modern lenses with crazy distortion and poor corner sharpness. I even went back to watch Chris' review on the Viltrox 28mm f/1.8, and now I think I would buy that even if the costs are the same.

Best review. Substantial. I have the camera. I love it. I would like to shoot like I do with an iPhone pro max where everything is in focus all the time and I find it a challenge with the Q3. Please do a review if you know how to best overcome bokeh. Not saying bokeh isn't good but sometimes I like or prefer everything crisp. Thanks. No one else tested the lense like you so thanks.

For a modern 28mm prime lens, I am shocked how bad the barrel distortion is. The vignetting could be an artistic choice, but still, not good at all.

Cheers. It’s actually as if not more important than the camera to me

It would be nice if you could get a Sigma fp-L camera to be able to test L-mount only lenses too...or maybe a Panasonic S1R...I think you can get either camera for a good price now

Amazing review 😊

Question: when you did the clock close-up testing, was the camera in Macro mode? becase as far as I know, once you enter macro mode the camera automatically jumps to f2.8 even though the ring has 1.7 selected; At least it works that way on the original Q (maybe something changed with Q3?). Also worth mentioning is the camera uses a leaf shutter, for high-speed sync if someone is into that sort of thing.

Leica, you can find better but can't pay more.

You can easily find The OG Leica Q in good condition for around 2k. It has the same exact lens and 24MP on Full Frame is all you need. Some People say the Leica Look is not real and I also think some people overhype it a bit, but if you actually use this camera and look at the images you can get out of it, it just makes you smile. It is truly special and there isn’t another camera out there that packs a full frame sensor with a wide and bright lens in a compact high quality body.

Hi Chris thank you so much for this review. I wonder if 60mp sensor is too taxing for this lens that has not changed since that much since the original Q. I wonder if you can get your hands on the older Q2 or the original Q to see if that lens works better with these less taxing sensors.

Cool for Leica to lend you this super expensive lens that conveniently comes attached to a camera.

Was looking at this, but I’m going with the Sony a93 global shutter

They should have put the A after the F16 like Fuji does, as you're far less likely to use that aperture than f1.4...

Not that I know what I'm talking about, but I wonder how the edge sharpness is in macro..How big is your chart?

Can you test a Phase One 150mp camera?

It would be interesting to know at which distance you make these test chart shots, and how it relates to the typical use case of the lens of street and landscape. This might explain why I haven’t heart of any sharpness complaints from owners, at least of the Q2.

Ordered my in June, still on back order...

I don’t mean to be rude, but this was probably a good performance 20 years ago.

That Diffraction so terrible already at f/8??? On a fixed non-interchangeable lens developed specifically for the camera... in a Leica Camera???

Not too bad for Leica's budget option ....

Any reason, why my comments are removed?

I think like a Voightlander 28mm F2 Ultron II and a Sony or a Nikon with no AA filter; will do a better job; and cheaper.. Almost just as small.

You show only 1.7 in the middle. Why is that?

I have always wondered who buys this type of cameras...so much money, you vould get an absolute high end camera system with lots of lenses for that amount!

for 6k this camera should have a lens on it that is pin sharp edge to edge let alone the horrid barel distortion.., can't justify the price in my book.

Kinda disappointing. But I just saved $6000 by not buying one!

As I always say, Leica cameras just like jewelry and people buy them for collecting purposes mostly. If you show Leica owners this review, they will say that is not quality issues, that is Leica's characters and feeling :))

I’ve never seen Chris review a lens and the corners never sharpen. Not even at f/8. For 6k.

Even Samyang can produce lens with better distortion control holy shit.

Honestly this just solidifies for me that Leica is a bit of the "gucci" of camera brands, massively overpriced with little reasoning.

6k? Lol you're paying for status first, lens second, and camera body third.

Top Review! Thanks! The middle is just fine, the corners are just as rubbish as if they were a 100 euro glass.

First

You could buy this camera lens combo, or you could buy the ground breaking Sony A9. For the exact same price.. sure you’d have to buy a lens, but you’re guaranteed one of the best cameras for the next decade.

Buy a mint q and thank me later

Leica trying for the Fuji X-100 market

Ah yes... that ominous silence at the end. NOT RECOMMENDED. I dont care what company made this but a camera is as good as its lens. $6000 is ridiculous and Leica fanboys can say whatever they want to try and justify this nonsense

Camera for snobs.

So, the lens is crap.

Lol the barrel distortion is even going to make flat-earthers to raise an eyebrow... Even budget lenses like Samyang aren't this bad. Leica what gives?

So, for the bargain price of 6k you get a 28 mm with horrible corners, so you have to crop it down to a 40mm F/2.5 equivalent to get a decent picture. And all that in a full frame bridge camera with bad AF and horrible ergonomics.

Leica reminds me of Apple products. You overpay just for the name. The lens image quality, in my opinion, does not justify the price.

leica lens imperfections = characters = expensive same lens with other badges = not good enough = reasonably priced 😂

Get a Sony a7R5 with 24 GM and you het better IQ , better IBIS , better AF,….

Technically not deserving the price asked. Ok your name is "Leica", but for that price I PRETEND much better performance.

is this the "quality" Leica owners brag about

You mean the red badge doesn’t make your image magical? It doesn’t fix your bad compositions and make up for lack of skill? Hmm a $6000 bargain.

I expected some interesting character, not just optical flaws. I like philosophy of those cameras that focuses on photography, but it's insultingly overpriced given this kind of lacking performance.

Always thought you should be not so smart to buy a Leica...but turns out someone needs to be even less smarted to buy one with a fix focal that is not sharp in the corners even at f8 ahahahah but kudos to Leica, stealing money from wealthy not so smart people is a great feat!

No thanks.

Who is spending $6k on a fixed length point and shoot!? Oh, Leica owners, that's who.

Leica is a fashion brand. People who get into this brand usually look for exclusivity. Some of them are probably snob enough to describe the truly special (aka subjetive) features they can see on Leica's lenses. I'm quie convinced that Leica doesn't invest anymore on lens technology.

Finally proof that these Leica lenses are hugely overpriced, being just better than average for a crazy price. I also personnaly found the bokeh to be unattractive,though the colours seem really nice. Honestly though, a canon R8 with a 28mm f2.8 is an all around better combo, if it can handle 45mp full frame or 32mp crop sensors fine.

No global shutter, but anyway ok.