- Captures 60MP photos and up to 8K videos
- Summilux 28mm f/1.7 fixed lens
- IP52 protection rating against dust and splashes
Turns out the rumors were true: Leica today revealed the Q3 Monochrom, a dedicated monochrome-only 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 doesn’t have a color matrix filter and doesn’t need an interpolation algorithm, you’ll quickly see why the Q2 Monochrom makes sense. Even if it means sacrificing the ability 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. It can also record black and white video 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 high-end Leica camera, the Q3 Monochrom is made 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 is IP52 rated, making it protected against dust and splashing water.
The camera features a 5.76 MP OLED viewfinder and tilting touchscreen, as well as micro HDMI, USB-C, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity and compatibility with Leica’s FOTOS mobile app. It’s also the first Q-series camera to offer images with Content Credentials, the digital signature that certifies that a photo hasn’t been tampered with.
Form a neat Q, buyers
And now the painful part. As you’d expect from a high-end Leica camera, the Q3 Monochrom is expensive – priced at $7,790 / £5,800 / AU$12,090. The good news – for those who have at least the necessary funds – is that it is available to order starting today, November 20, 2025, in Leica stores, on the Leica website and from authorized resellers. A number of accessories, including a handle (which includes wireless charging), carrying straps, and a red filter, are also on sale today.
To me, the Q3 Monochrom looks like a brilliant street photography camera – maybe even perfect. Not only should it deliver impeccable image quality in almost any lighting condition thanks to the lens and sensor combination (and, let’s face it, the fact that it’s a Leica camera), it’s also compact, discreet, and sturdy – everything I’d look for in a camera I used for quick, spontaneous compositions. All I have to do now is find the money to buy one…
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