Leica Q3vs Now Gen 3
Leica
Leica Q3 (2023)
Starting from £5999 new
Best for Travel, street & premium compact shooters
View Leica Q3
VS
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?
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.
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
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
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 leica q3 is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Leica Q3 (2023) | Now Gen 3 (2024) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £5,999 | £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, C4K/60p | N/A — instant film camera |
| Autofocus | Phase-detect AF with subject/face/eye detection | Autofocus (0.4m–2m close; 2m–∞ landscape) |
| Stabilisation | 5.5-stop IBIS | N/A |
| Burst Rate | 15fps | N/A |
| Battery Life | 380 shots (CIPA) | Rechargeable internal battery (USB-C, ~15 packs) |
| Weight | 743g | ~445g |
| Dimensions | 130.0 × 80.3 × 91.0mm | 138.2 × 112.6 × 62.7mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | No |
| Viewfinder | 0.787" OLED EVF, 5.76M dots | Real-image optical viewfinder |
| Screen | 3.0" fixed touchscreen | N/A |
| Mount | Fixed Summilux 28mm f/1.7 ASPH | i-Type or 600 film (8 shots per pack) |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-II | N/A — instant film only |
| Connectivity | USB-C 3.1, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | USB-C (charging) |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Leica Q3 | Now Gen 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Travel | ||
| Street | — | |
| Landscape | — | |
| Portrait | ||
| Vlogging & Video | — | |
| Sports & Action | — | |
| Parties & Events | — | |
| Everyday | — | |
| Low Light | — | |
| Creative | — |
More comparisons with Leica Q3
Camera family history