Coming from a Sony A7RV, I didn’t know what to expect. You watch and hear all of the reviews of people hating or loving the camera. It makes it hard to understand what’s noise vs genuine feedback.
I bought the A7RV because I wanted a camera that would grow with my family for the next decade. I don’t care what people say, I am keeping this for as long as I can to get my ROI. But the megapixels per mile are definitely there. The only challenge (understanding this is a me thing), is that the camera is bulky. Period. It is AWESOME for shoots and anything else. It’s just bulky. I have tried running around with a smaller prime but it’s not the same.
So I was looking at the A7CR II and I liked it but there was something missing. I wanted something different. Like a completely different experience.
This could compare to saying you have a latte everyday, but one day you want to get “dirty”, and try the “dirty matcha latte” that your wife is raving about and then you get hooked. Well the Leica Q3 was my dirty matcha.
I bought this because we are going on a ten year awaited trip to Italy and I wanted this to be special. I also didn’t want to have to carry a mini studio with me while pushing a stroller, baby bag, and anything else. I just wanted that “it factor.” I found it in the Leica.
The Hold
The weight is lighter than my Sony, but damn it feels good to hold. Add in a little $40 thumb grip and we are cooking.
The Image
The photos are just sick man, the Leica color correction is something I can’t explain.
The Details That No One Mentions
After updating, I love that I can keep my profiles on my SD card — no one mentions that. Which is awesome because I am going to try and Claude Code some magic after my Italy trip to see what’s possible.
The menu button and play button are honestly a godsend. I love the simplicity in the menu. My favorite feature is that I can save 6 presets for my Italy trip that match my style.
The Wait Was Worth It
I waited 4.5 years to buy a camera like this and have always said “one day.” This last Tuesday was that “one day” and I am so pumped.