I am not going to lie, I have been stuck in an awful rut for almost a year. My creativity took a dramatic fall, and I had no get-up-and-go when it came to photography. Until now...
For several years now, my Sony a7 III or Sony a7 IV were my workhorses. Ever reliable, no matter what I threw at them. Capable of everything I required, whenever I called upon them.
Whether I wanted to photograph wildlife, weddings, portraits, astro, products, or anything else, no job was too big for my Sony setup. So much so that, last year, I fell out of love with photography. I was bored. Despite my best efforts to try to make stuff happen, I was not capturing the shots I wanted when working on any type of personal photography.
My Savior?
Despite struggling, I was desperate to reconnect with a camera and with the images I was taking—but how could I do this?
I decided to make what I considered a bold move: one camera, one lens, one focal length.
I have always been a fan of Leica, but the price tags for an M camera along with lenses was far too much of a bite to chew, and I have yet to try a rangefinder camera. Hopefully one day, though! This brought me to the next possible option, the Leica Q3. Firstly, what a gorgeous camera the Q system is—or any Leica, for that matter.
I watched countless YouTube videos on the Leica Q2 and Leica Q3, picking apart the positives and negatives that could affect the way I shoot and travel. Which one would be right for me?
In the end, I went with the Q3 after picking it up for a great price on the used market.
New Challenges
I love the idea of trying something new, and limiting myself to the 28mm focal length is an exciting prospect. It will challenge me as a photographer because I will need to work harder on compositions, focusing, style, and more.
The fresh feeling of these challenges has inspired me in new ways. I could not wait to take the Leica Q3 out on a trip, and I ended up visiting Edinburgh and Glasgow in one weekend to also try my hand at street photography.
I am certainly not going to be giving any street photography tips away any time soon, as I am a proper newbie at this type of photography. Not only that, but I am super introverted, so inside, while I was having amazing fun, I was also self-conscious and screaming inside at times!
I am no stranger to capturing portraits, but never of complete strangers in the center of a city.
Walking around Edinburgh, I spotted this dapper-looking fella above who looked interesting to me. The flat cap, mustache, and smoking device all caught my eye. I decided to be brave and started to make conversation with the gentleman. He was extremely charming, polite, and was very happy to pose for a photo, which I then proceeded to capture. I love the details of the image, and the black and white, in my opinion, really pops. What do you all think?
Early Days
As with receiving any new camera, it will take time to get used to all the differences this camera has to offer—especially when compared to my Sony setup. It is very much early days, as the Leica has only been in my hands for two weeks, but I already find myself looking at different trips to focus on street photography.
The likes of Japan, Jordan, the USA, Portugal, Morocco, and more are all being strongly considered right now. Usually, when I travel for photography, it is more for wildlife or landscape work, but I feel excited to step into this different world available to me.
Sure, I could have done this all along with my Sony camera, but with that, I was carrying a heavy bag with a heavy camera, lenses, and accessories. It was a pain! With the Leica Q3, all I carry with me is the camera, a power bank, and a small shoulder sling to carry them in.
I absolutely feel more inclined to carry this with me everywhere—an everyday carry camera. I have the will to capture more moments, which previously I could have missed or just not bothered to take.
Another crazy moment happened in Edinburgh. When I was walking around looking for my next shot, I spotted a beautiful bride and groom walking toward me. I asked if I could capture their photo, and they were very excited. I then spotted their actual wedding photographer and apologized with a cheeky smirk to him. If you're reading this, I'm sorry—they just looked too good!
Final Thoughts
Is dropping £4,000 on a used Leica camera the solution to all my problems? Probably not. However, I love it! For the first time in a long time, I feel excited again. I feel passion for photography again, and everywhere I look, I am starting to see compositions. Even when watching television, I will see something and say to my wife, "Ooh, I want that shot."
I feel rejuvenated, and I owe a lot of this to the shooting experience of the Leica Q3. The Sony can be like a high-performance sports car—fast, reliable, and built to get the shot—but the Leica Q3? That is pure luxury. Sleek, refined, and made to turn heads even at a standstill.
The shooting experience is so different, it can be tough to explain. I had never shot with a Leica until I got this camera. It is more deliberate. You take your time and savor the moment more. With Sony, you can end up spraying and praying, in a way.
Have you ever been stuck in a total rut and decided to buy something exciting to bring passion back into your photography? Let me know.
Happy that you found your vibe with a Leica, but personally I would probably have put a Lensbaby Velvet 28 or a similarly small & light 28mm on the A7 IV, and paid for a number of those trips with the saved cash. No one is forced to lug around all lenses they possess when taking the A7 IV for a trip... Not sure about such lenses for Sony though, I have the Nikon Z 28 f/2.8 which gives me exactly what you describe on my el cheapo used Z5.
I get what you're saying and for sure it was a consideration but I have such lenses for the Sony, and there was more factors at play for just wanting to feel something different.
Hi, next step for you, maybe : try a film camera !
Ooo, I have a couple. Still need to develop some films from my last trip to see if the shots are any good.
I work with a Sony a7 iv and bought a Leica Q3 as a second camera. I sold it after 6 months. Despite all my admiration for the brand, it's not a great camera for taking photos. It doesn't sit well in the hand, and lacks responsiveness. I realized that I'd still prefer to use the A7 iv, and I didn't keep the Leica. I thought that with the legend of the brand came true excellence. Well, no, there's only the legend. Leica has become a luxury brand, just like its watches. Without the legend and a certain aesthetic beauty, there would be no Leica.
Fair comments. The ergonomics were certainly a challenge at first, but as soon as I added a peak design wrist strap, it is a lot more comfortable for me. Mine, or at least the way I shoot is really responsive but I do know there are a lot of shortcomings with the Leica cameras especially when compared to a lot of the Sony, Canon and Nikons of the world, but Im enjoying it.
Or, maybe just a new lens and not a new camera? Less than $50 on eBay?
I have lenses a plenty, there was just something missing for me. An itch to scratch perhaps, and that has now been scratched.
I'm right with you on this. I love this camera! I mainly shoot the A1 II and A7R5 with about sixteen premium lenses. I acquired a used Q3 before my last trip and couldn't believe how much I liked this camera and the simplicity of carrying it. I'm definitely a big fan of this camera for general street and travel. I stitch shots for wider and crop for longer, so I am not limited to 28mm (it is actually closer to 26mm).
I'm glad you are enjoying it as well Jeff, there is just something different and fun about it, that can be tough to justify, but damn it's beautiful and the files are great. So much still for me to uncover with it, but really enjoying the experience.
We're very similar, and i did the same as you, but got a Q2M. Best camera I've ever owned, and I want to take it everywhere. You need to spend some time with a Q series to really understand it. Photography in its simplest and purest form I would say. 👍
Ooo I was so tempted by the Q2M, as one of my goals was to shoot more black and white, but as my wife really enjoys using it, she prefers colour. I may have to buy another in the future 🤔 🤣
Hehe, why not! I love black and white, but have been thinking a Q3 43 might be useful in case I need a colour photo or two on my travels. 😅
Haha sounds good! I just bought a skin for the Q3 which will make it more of a reporter look as well but also protect that shiny black paint body 🙂
I have owned the q3 for several months. Best camera that I have owned as it is with me always in my small tote. The quality of the prints is first class and is a pleasure to use . Its simplicity really appeals to me.
Hey Howard, I absolutely agree with the simplicity of the Q3. Very easy to use and navigate the menu system. I havent printed any images yet, as right now I haven't captured anything I would consider print worthy, but absolutely something I will do.
I have had numerous camera systems over the years ... from Nikon to Sony. They were all excellent; however, I felt like a was holding a computer that was taking the pictures for me. My current system also allows me to think and slow down. I prefer manual focus so that it must excel at this. The Q3 fits perfectly into my preferred modes of operation. If you play with the settings one can even remove that annoying centre focus square for manual focussing.
I 100% agree. I bet the Leica M system would also be right up your alley!
Tried it years ago and I do not like split image focussing so it is a non starter for me. I do not like using the back screen unless it is for waist level imaging.
Ah that is fair enough
For my it was a little P&S Canon SX240 HS! I got tired of hauling around my big Canon DSLR for anything outside of work and was not about to take it on a two week road trip, nor was my smartphone up to the task, so I found the lowly little Canon.
Who would have thought a point-n-shoot would have performed so well (especially when combined with Lightroom) would also rekindle my interest in personal photography.
Sadly the Canon had a manufacturing flaw that eventually damaged the lens and I moved on to the (new then) Sony a6000 - a lovely simple camera, I'm still in love after 10 years of joy. I just upgraded to much more complex and capable Sony a7CR - Im not in love - yet.
Its great that you also managed to find something that you could connect with, but such a shame about the flaw. Hopefully you will find something else in the future that you can enjoy just as much, or maybe the a7CR in future.
How come not a Sony a7C, Cii or CR? You already have lenses. Just take a single lens with you.
I wanted something different, other than Sony. I did also always want a Leica so killed two birds with one stone
Okee dokee!
You found a camera that you connect with and gives you passion about photography that you haven't felt in awhile. And your wife loves it is a plus. I went over 40 years and not until I retired that mine came back.
I now have a Nikon D3s that I only shoot in Manual mode. I love to craft each shot just like I did with my Minolta SRT-202 with a 50mm 1.4.
Congratulations.
That's great to hear, and what a cute pooch too
Saying "This Camera Reignited My Love for Photography" is like saying "A new hairstyle reignited my love for my wife". Love is based on more. Temporary lust, maybe...
She could do with a new hairstyle to be fair
You could have taken the same photos with your Sony cameras. Cameras don’t make photos outstanding. We always appear to use G.A.S. as an excuse to be be a better photographer. I am sure you always wanted a Leica in the first place; most of us do, however you are the same photographer.
I can't argue with some of those points. I absolutely wanted a Leica in the first place, and yes I could have taken the same or similar photos with my Sony set up.
It may or may not make me a better photographer in the future though, as I am purposefully limiting myself to one focal length and also expanding my own photography skills. Just having a Leica on its own, wont make you a better photographer but how you use a tool will.
I have often (wrongly) slated Leica in the past because of the high purchase cost of which I have no hope of ever affording but I must admit that I love the classic design of their cameras and would love to try one. I sometimes feel like I'm in a rut with my photography, so I switch between my old Pentax DSLR a K5ii and my equally old Samsung NX10 mirrorless camera. The NX is especially fun when using the 16mm or 30mm primes. Even using an old bridge camera can reignite my passion and give me some new challenges. I may not be able to afford the latest tech but there are so so many second hand bargain cameras out there to have fun with :)
Hey Keith, you are absolutely right about the high costs involved. I was lucky to purchase mine used to save a few pennies, but even then it was an expensive endeavour. Fortunately, selling some of my unused gear etc also helped in easing that financial burden.
I am glad, that you are able to enjoy other cameras to rekindle that passion and experience new challenges. I love finding second hand bargains for older cameras when out and about, even if they don't work, I put them on display in my office.
Very great comments from you, and really inspiring the ideas that you have come across to challenge yourself and keep your mind occupied!
Astronomically overpriced. If someone wants a heavily limiting camera with a fixed lens, why not spend less money on a better camera such as the Fujifilm GFX100RF. It has a better sensor, higher resolution (for today's use, it is easier to make due with 102 megapixels as compared to 60 megapixels).
Both cameras are on the small side (overly small), if a user has the leica money, then they could just go when the GFX100S II, and use the rest of the funds for a decent lens.
I'd agree that it is overpriced, at least new. I was lucky to buy mine used to save money. The price is the price, and that is the market.
Everyones decisions are each to their own, and I am happy with mine. Of course, there are a multitude of directions, that I could have taken, but I also wanted this camera.
I would add to your response that life's decisions of all kinds are rarely made purely on a logical basis after comparing all options on a spreadsheet. You can do that, but it still usually comes down to the psychology going on in our mind. Price and universally perceived logic are rarely the reasons we choose one product over another. That's true for the camera gear we buy, financial investments, and probably even the people we choose to have relationships with.
I realized many times from my experience that it would have made more sense to buy and hold an investment, but my impulsive nature would never allow me to do things that way. I noticed on occasion that gray iPads were cheaper than colored ones. So must we always make the logical choice and buy the cheaper gray one? Of course not. We buy what makes us feel good and nobody else can make that decision for us. We often choose particular service businesses because of a gut feeling... we like the auto mechanic because he remembers our kid's names and we trust them.
And with regard to our choice of camera gear, I remember vividly the struggle to make a decision over my first digital camera in 2003. I compared specifications of competing brands Nikon, Canon and Olympus on the internet until I was blue in the face. There appeared to be no logical reason to choose one over the other. It was not until I made the 250 mile trip to a camera store in Denver and held them in my hand that one simply felt right. I'm sure someone else would have drawn a different conclusion. My point is that everyone has an opinion but only you can make the right decision for you. I hope you enjoy your Leica for many, many years.
Really well said!
My go to walk-about is a Canon M6 MkII (32 meg) with an EVF-DC2 finder and a Zeiss Biogon 2.8/21mm ZM lens with M adapter. The Elmarit - M 2.8/90mm for the long shots.
I hope the system lasts as long as I do.
That sounds like a great set up!
I get my resolution, Canon color science, and Zeiss micro-contrast. And old school manual focus so I have to focus my brain as well.
I get the point, but for me the love of the hobby isn't about the gear.
It wasnt typically for me either, until recently. The gear obviously has been a part of it, but other things were very much also at play.
The biggest issue with the Leica Q3? As soon as you master it, you'll catch yourself dreaming of an M. No way to stop it. :-)
Way ahead of you haha I want to try one first, but certainly on the wish list.
It gets even scarier. The M series makes little sense without M lenses — the sensor is specifically tuned for them. And that’s a whole new hole in your wallet 😀😀😀
Oh god, that is scary because I really liked the look of the Thypoch lenses 🤣
Leica is about lenses, not cameras. I don’t see the point of buying such an expensive body without a lens that truly brings out its potential.