Q3 43vs Now Gen 3
Leica
Q3 43 (2024)
Starting from £6995 new
Best for Documentary, portrait & reportage photography
View Q3 43
Polaroid
Now Gen 3 (2024)
Starting from £120 new
Best for Classic Polaroid fans & square-print lovers
View Now Gen 3
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.
Classic Polaroid Fans & Square-Print Lovers — Now Gen 3 (2024): The definitive modern Polaroid. Autofocus, USB-C, and full-sized square prints — classic Polaroid experience, updated for today.
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
Now Gen 3 (2024)
- Anyone who wants the classic full-sized square Polaroid print experience
- Instax users who prefer Polaroid's dreamy colour palette and white border
- Party hosts and event photographers who want iconic-looking keepsakes
- Previous Polaroid Now owners upgrading to the Gen 3's improved autofocus
Quick take: The now gen 3 is the most affordable; only the q3 43 is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Q3 43 (2024) | Now Gen 3 (2024) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £6,995 | £120 |
| Sensor | 60MP full-frame BSI CMOS | i-Type / 600 Polaroid film (79 × 79mm / image area 62 × 62mm) |
| Resolution | 60.0MP | — |
| Video | 8K/30p, 4K/60p 10-bit — L-Log | N/A — instant film camera |
| Autofocus | Phase-detect AF with face and eye detection | Autofocus (0.4m–2m close; 2m–∞ landscape) |
| Stabilisation | 8-stop IBIS (combined with OIS) | N/A |
| Burst Rate | 15fps electronic | N/A |
| Battery Life | ~350 shots (CIPA) | Rechargeable internal battery (USB-C, ~15 packs) |
| Weight | 743g body only | ~445g |
| Dimensions | 130.0 × 80.3 × 91.1mm | 138.2 × 112.6 × 62.7mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | No |
| Viewfinder | EVF 0.79× 5.76M-dot OLED | Real-image optical viewfinder |
| Screen | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen, 1.84M dots | N/A |
| Mount | Fixed Summicron-M 43mm f/2 ASPH (43mm — closest to human field of view) | i-Type or 600 film (8 shots per pack) |
| Memory Cards | Single UHS-II SD slot | N/A — instant film only |
| Connectivity | USB-C 3.2 Gen 2, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Bluetooth 5.0 | USB-C (charging) |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Q3 43 | Now Gen 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Portrait | ||
| Street | — | |
| Travel | ||
| Landscape | — | |
| Sports | — | |
| Wildlife | — | |
| Parties & Events | — | |
| Everyday | — | |
| Low Light | — | |
| Creative | — |
GearScore™ suitability scores are based on aggregated purchaser reviews weighted by photography genre. See how scores are calculated →
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Camera family history