Q3 43vs S1 II
Leica
Q3 43 (2024)
Starting from £6995 new
Best for Documentary, portrait & reportage photography
View Q3 43
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Documentary, Portrait & Reportage Photography — Q3 43 (2024): The Q3 with the most human lens — 43mm, 60MP, and Leica rendering at its most natural and versatile.
Hybrid & Video — S1 II (2025): The S1 II is the full-frame L-mount hybrid camera Panasonic's system has been waiting for — phase-detect AF, 4K/120p, class-leading IBIS, and a professional build in one complete package. It addresses every weakness of the original S1 and positions Lumix firmly back in the conversation for serious hybrid shooters.
Who should buy what
Q3 43 (2024)
- Portrait and documentary photographers who find 28mm too wide and 50mm too tight
- Q3 owners who prefer a natural 43mm perspective over the iconic 28mm Summilux
- Reportage photographers who want the discreet Q3 form factor with a more intimate focal length
- Leica system users who want a fixed-lens body that excels across multiple genres
S1 II (2025)
- Hybrid photographers who need excellent stills and serious video capability
- Video professionals who want full-frame quality with 4K/120p
- Landscape and portrait photographers who want maximum stabilisation
- L-mount system users upgrading from S1 or S5 II
Quick take: The q3 43 has the highest resolution at 60mp; the s1 ii is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Q3 43 (2024) | S1 II (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £6,995 | £2,200 |
| Sensor | 60MP full-frame BSI CMOS | 24.2MP Full-Frame BSI CMOS |
| Resolution | 60.0MP | 24.2MP |
| Video | 8K/30p, 4K/60p 10-bit — L-Log | 6K/30p, 4K/120p, 10-bit 4:2:2 internal |
| Autofocus | Phase-detect AF with face and eye detection | Phase-detect AF with subject recognition (human, animal, vehicle) |
| Stabilisation | 8-stop IBIS (combined with OIS) | 5-axis IBIS, up to 8 stops |
| Burst Rate | 15fps electronic | 30fps (electronic), 9fps (mechanical) |
| Battery Life | ~350 shots (CIPA) | ~400 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 743g body only | 680g (body only) |
| Dimensions | 130.0 × 80.3 × 91.1mm | 138.5 × 100.0 × 91.5mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF 0.79× 5.76M-dot OLED | Electronic, 3.68M dots, 0.78× |
| Screen | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen, 1.84M dots | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen, 1.84M dots |
| Mount | Fixed Summicron-M 43mm f/2 ASPH (43mm — closest to human field of view) | Leica L-mount |
| Memory Cards | Single UHS-II SD slot | Dual slot: CFexpress Type B + SD UHS-II |
| Connectivity | USB-C 3.2 Gen 2, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Bluetooth 5.0 | USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, HDMI |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Q3 43 | S1 II |
|---|---|---|
| Portrait | ||
| Street | ||
| Travel | ||
| Landscape | ||
| Sports | — | |
| Wildlife | ||
| Vlogging & Video | — | |
| Wedding & Events | — | |
| Sports & Action | — |
GearScore™ suitability scores are based on aggregated purchaser reviews weighted by photography genre. See how scores are calculated →
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