Decision tools · Compare

M11 Monochrom vs Q3

Quick take: The M11 Monochrom has the highest resolution at 60MP; the Q3 is the most affordable.

Where the M11 Monochrom wins

  • Resolution: 60.3MP
  • Battery Life: ~700 shots (CIPA)
  • Weight: 530g (body only)

Where the Q3 wins

  • Cheaper new: £5,650 vs £8,500
  • Burst Rate: 15fps
  • Portrait: 5.0 vs 3.2
  • Street: 7.2 vs 6.2
  • Travel: 5.9 vs 3.6

16 specs side by side·15 genres scored·UK prices from Wex Photo Video, Clifton Cameras, MPB, eBay and Amazon UK

How to read this page. Highlighted cells win that row on the spec alone. Genre scores are the engine's base scores (enthusiast, photo and video); Camera Match re-weights them for your level and priorities. Price buttons are affiliate links; the price you pay is the same.

Price buttons are affiliate links — GearFrame may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It never affects a score. Learn more

Size comparedbody only, no lens · drawn to one scale
0 25 50 75 100 Q3 130 mm 91 mm M11 Monochrom 139 mm 80 mm
  • M11 Monochrom 139 × 80 × 38 mm · 530 g
  • Q3 130 × 91 × 80 mm · 743 g

The M11 Monochrom is 9 mm wider, 11 mm shorter, 42 mm slimmer and 213 g lighter than the Q3.

Drawn to scale from the makers' dimensions (W × H × D). Front shown, depth on the slanted edge.

Verdictwhich should you buy?

M11 Monochrom — Black & White Photography: The M11 Monochrom is the finest black-and-white camera in the world. A 60MP sensor with no colour filter array produces sharpness and tonal depth no colour camera can match — combined with extended high-ISO performance. Manual focus, no video, and an extraordinary price make it a specialist instrument, but for dedicated B&W photographers it is unmatched.

Q3 — Travel, Street & Premium Compact Shooters: 60MP, Summilux 28mm, IBIS, and weather sealing — the Q3 is the ultimate fixed-lens camera for those who can justify the cost.

Who should buy what
M11 Monochrom (2023)
is the right camera for you if…
  • Dedicated black-and-white photographers who demand the finest possible monochrome files
  • Fine art and documentary photographers who work exclusively in B&W
  • Leica M system users who want maximum monochrome image quality
  • Astrophotographers — monochrome sensors excel at capturing fine star detail
Q3 (2023)
is the right camera for you if…
  • Photographers who want a fixed-lens full-frame camera with no compromises
  • Q2 owners upgrading to articulating screen and improved autofocus
  • Travel photographers who want one premium compact that does everything
  • Street and documentary photographers who want Leica quality without changing lenses
Full specificationsthe better value in each row is highlighted
Specification M11 MonochromLeica · 2023Q3Leica · 2023
Price £8,500£5,650Best
Sensor 60.3MP Full-Frame Monochrome BSI CMOS (no colour filter array)60MP full-frame BSI CMOS
Resolution 60.3MPBest60.0MP
Video No video8K/30p, 4K/60p, C4K/60p
Autofocus Manual focus rangefinder (no autofocus)Phase-detect AF with subject/face/eye detection
Stabilisation —Optical stabilisation in the lens (no IBIS)
Burst Rate 5fps15fpsBest
Battery Life ~700 shots (CIPA)Best380 shots (CIPA)
Weight 530g (body only)Best658g (body only)
Dimensions 138.6 × 80.0 × 38.5mm130.0 × 80.3 × 91.0mm
Weather Sealed YesYes
Viewfinder Optical rangefinder, 0.73× magnification0.787" OLED EVF, 5.76M dots
Screen 2.3" touchscreen LCD, 2.33M dots3.0" tilting touchscreen
Mount Leica M-mountFixed Summilux 28mm f/1.7 ASPH
Memory Cards Single SD UHS-II slot + 64GB internal storageSingle SD UHS-II
Connectivity USB-C, Wi-Fi, BluetoothUSB-C 3.1, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth

Wins the row — price, resolution, burst, battery, weight and sealing are compared; text specs aren't ranked.

How they score by genreengine base scores out of 10
Genre
M11 Monochrom
Q3
Portrait
3.2/10
5.0/10
Street
6.2/10
7.2/10
Travel
3.6/10
5.9/10
Wedding & Events
2.0/10
6.4/10
Documentary
2.9/10
6.1/10
Sports & Action
2.4/10
—
Landscape
7.2/10
7.7/10
Wildlife
1.5/10
—
Casual
1.6/10
4.4/10
Food
3.0/10
6.7/10
Macro
3.8/10
4.7/10
Architecture
6.7/10
7.8/10
Astrophotography
5.9/10
5.7/10
Filmmaking
—
5.4/10
Fun & simple
—
3.9/10

Scores come from the same engine as Camera Match: verified specifications weighted by what each genre needs, with documented adjustments. The product page and this table show the enthusiast base score. See how scores are calculated →

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