Leica Q3vs ZV-E1
Leica
Leica Q3 (2023)
Starting from £5999 new
Best for Travel, street & premium compact shooters
View Leica Q3
VS
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.
Video Creators, Vloggers & Filmmakers — ZV-E1 (2023): Full-frame video quality in a vlogging body — exceptional low-light performance and a genuinely compact form factor.
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
ZV-E1 (2023)
- Video creators who want full-frame low-light quality in a compact body
- Vloggers stepping up from APS-C who prioritise image quality over resolution
- Filmmakers who want S-Log3 and cinematic colour in a run-and-gun package
- A7S III users who want the same sensor in a smaller, lighter body
Quick take: The leica q3 has the highest resolution at 60mp; the zv-e1 is the most affordable; only the leica q3 is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Leica Q3 (2023) | ZV-E1 (2023) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £5,999 | £1,999 |
| Sensor | 60MP full-frame BSI CMOS | 12.1MP Full-Frame BSI CMOS Exmor R |
| Resolution | 60.0MP | 12.1MP |
| Video | 8K/30p, 4K/60p, C4K/60p | 4K/60p (S-Cinetone, S-Log3), 4K/120p, 1080p/240p |
| Autofocus | Phase-detect AF with subject/face/eye detection | Real-time Tracking AF with subject recognition |
| Stabilisation | 5.5-stop IBIS | IBIS — Active Mode for video |
| Burst Rate | 15fps | 10fps |
| Battery Life | 380 shots (CIPA) | ~570 shots (CIPA) / ~105 min video |
| Weight | 743g | 483g (with battery) |
| Dimensions | 130.0 × 80.3 × 91.0mm | 121.4 × 71.6 × 54.3mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | No |
| Viewfinder | 0.787" OLED EVF, 5.76M dots | None — screen only |
| Screen | 3.0" fixed touchscreen | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen |
| Mount | Fixed Summilux 28mm f/1.7 ASPH | Sony FE mount (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-II | Single CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II |
| Connectivity | USB-C 3.1, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 3.5mm mic, Multi-Interface Shoe |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Leica Q3 | ZV-E1 |
|---|---|---|
| Travel | ||
| Street | ||
| Landscape | ||
| Portrait | ||
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Sports & Action | — | |
| Low Light | — |
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