Leica Q3vs S1 II
Leica
Leica Q3 (2023)
Starting from £5999 new
Best for Travel, street & premium compact shooters
View Leica Q3
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Travel, Street & Premium Compact Shooters — Leica Q3 (2023): 60MP, Summilux 28mm, IBIS, and weather sealing — the Q3 is the ultimate fixed-lens camera for those who can justify the cost.
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
Leica Q3 (2023)
- 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
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 leica q3 has the highest resolution at 60mp; the s1 ii is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Leica Q3 (2023) | S1 II (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £5,999 | £2,200 |
| Sensor | 60MP full-frame BSI CMOS | 24.2MP Full-Frame BSI CMOS |
| Resolution | 60.0MP | 24.2MP |
| Video | 8K/30p, 4K/60p, C4K/60p | 6K/30p, 4K/120p, 10-bit 4:2:2 internal |
| Autofocus | Phase-detect AF with subject/face/eye detection | Phase-detect AF with subject recognition (human, animal, vehicle) |
| Stabilisation | 5.5-stop IBIS | 5-axis IBIS, up to 8 stops |
| Burst Rate | 15fps | 30fps (electronic), 9fps (mechanical) |
| Battery Life | 380 shots (CIPA) | ~400 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 743g | 680g (body only) |
| Dimensions | 130.0 × 80.3 × 91.0mm | 138.5 × 100.0 × 91.5mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | 0.787" OLED EVF, 5.76M dots | Electronic, 3.68M dots, 0.78× |
| Screen | 3.0" fixed touchscreen | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen, 1.84M dots |
| Mount | Fixed Summilux 28mm f/1.7 ASPH | Leica L-mount |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-II | Dual slot: CFexpress Type B + SD UHS-II |
| Connectivity | USB-C 3.1, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, HDMI |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Leica Q3 | S1 II |
|---|---|---|
| Travel | ||
| Street | ||
| Landscape | ||
| Portrait | ||
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Sports & Action | ||
| Wedding & Events | — | |
| Wildlife | — |
GearScore™ suitability scores are based on aggregated purchaser reviews weighted by photography genre. See how scores are calculated →
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