Q3 43vs A7S
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.
Astrophotography & Low-Light — A7S (2014): The original A7S pioneered the concept of a camera optimised entirely for low light. Its 12.2MP sensor has enormous photosites — extraordinary high-ISO performance that still holds up. Lacking IBIS and limited to 1080p internally (4K requires external recorder), it is a specialist tool. For astrophotography, event videography, or any scenario where light is genuinely scarce, it remains outstanding.
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
A7S (2014)
- Astrophotographers
- Low-light event videographers
- Filmmakers needing clean high-ISO footage
Quick take: The q3 43 has the highest resolution at 60mp; the a7s is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Q3 43 (2024) | A7S (2014) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £6,995 | £600 |
| Sensor | 60MP full-frame BSI CMOS | 12.2MP Full-Frame BSI CMOS |
| Resolution | 60.0MP | 12.2MP |
| Video | 8K/30p, 4K/60p 10-bit — L-Log | 1080p/60p internal, 4K via HDMI (external recorder) |
| Autofocus | Phase-detect AF with face and eye detection | Phase-detect / contrast-detect hybrid AF |
| Stabilisation | 8-stop IBIS (combined with OIS) | None |
| Burst Rate | 15fps electronic | 5fps |
| Battery Life | ~350 shots (CIPA) | ~370 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 743g body only | 474g (with battery and card) |
| Dimensions | 130.0 × 80.3 × 91.1mm | 126.9 × 94.4 × 48.2mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF 0.79× 5.76M-dot OLED | Electronic, 2.36M dots, 0.71× magnification |
| Screen | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen, 1.84M dots | 3.0" tilting LCD, 1.23M dots |
| Mount | Fixed Summicron-M 43mm f/2 ASPH (43mm — closest to human field of view) | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Single UHS-II SD slot | Single SD / MemoryStick PRO Duo slot |
| Connectivity | USB-C 3.2 Gen 2, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Bluetooth 5.0 | Multi/Micro USB, Wi-Fi, NFC |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Q3 43 | A7S |
|---|---|---|
| Portrait | ||
| Street | ||
| Travel | ||
| Landscape | ||
| Sports | — | |
| Wildlife | — | |
| Astrophotography | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | — | |
| Sports & Action | — |
GearScore™ suitability scores are based on aggregated purchaser reviews weighted by photography genre. See how scores are calculated →
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