- Capture 60MP photos and up to 8K videos
- Summilux 28mm f/1.7 fixed lens
- IP52 dust and splash proof rating
Turns out the rumors were true: Leica today unveiled the Q3 Monochrom, an exclusive monochrome edition of the existing Leica Q3 fixed-lens full-frame compact.
As our writer James Abbott noted in his review of the Leica Q2 Monochrom a few years ago, “once you see the image quality of a camera that has no color matrix filter and no need for an interpolation algorithm, you’ll quickly realize why the Q2 Monochrom makes sense. Even if it means sacrificing the option to shoot in color.”
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The Q3 Monochrom is built around a fast Summilux 28 f/1.7 ASPH lens and a 60MP full-frame sensor (which can also capture images at 36MP and 18MP, thanks to its triple resolution technology) with an ISO range of 100 to 200,000. You can also record black and white videos at up to 8K resolution. For photographing close-up subjects, the selectable macro mode reduces the minimum focusing distance to 17cm, while the digital zoom allows users to zoom/crop up to a 90mm equivalent focal length.
As you would expect from a premium Leica camera, the Q3 Monochrom is manufactured in Germany to the brand’s exacting standards and aesthetics. The all-metal body is finished in black (with gray accents and, of course, that iconic red dot logo) and has an IP52 rating, protecting it against dust and splashes of water.
The camera features a 5.76 MP OLED viewfinder and a tilting touch screen, as well as micro HDMI, USB-C, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity and compatibility with Leica’s FOTOS mobile app. It is also the first Q-series camera to offer images with Content Credentials, the digital signature that certifies that a photo has not been manipulated.
Form a neat Q, buyers.
And now comes the painful part. As you’d expect from a premium Leica camera, the Q3 Monochrom is expensive: it’s priced at $7,790 / £5,800 / AU$12,090. The good news, at least for those with the necessary funds, is that it’s available to order from today, 20 November 2025, at Leica stores, the Leica website and authorized dealers. A number of accessories are also going on sale today, including a grip (including wireless charging), carrying straps, and a red filter.
To me, the Q3 Monochrom sounds like a brilliant, maybe even perfect, street photography camera. Not only should it deliver impeccable image quality in virtually any lighting condition thanks to the lens and sensor combination (and, let’s face it, the fact that it’s a Leica camera), but it’s also compact, discreet and rugged – everything you’d look for in a camera you were using for quick, spontaneous photography and compositions. Now I just need to find the money to buy one…
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