As keen eye observers of the camera industry will know, the Leica Q3 is the result of a close partnership between Panasonic and Leica (L² technology-sharing partnership). Panasonic provide the digital side and Leica the industrial design & housing. The lens has Leica’s formula but is digitally corrected, so not made in Wetzlar. Essentially when it comes down to it, the Q3 is 85% a Panasonic full frame camera. Therefore, with an entirely new sensor and image processor, the Q3 hints at what to expect from the next generation of full frame Panasonic mirrorless cameras. Under the hood of the Q3 is a new 60 megapixel sensor with phase-detect AF, capable of 8K – although the frame rates on the Q3 are limited by the small housing and need to run the image processor at a lower clock speed. This 60 megapixel sensor will likely be the one Panasonic selects for the upcoming S1R Mark II with a release date likely to be before March 2024 when the Leica SL3 is rumoured to be released. The SL3 is also expected to be 60 megapixel, with 8K. Whether the S1H Mark II will feature the 60 megapixel 8K sensor or stay at 6K (24 megapixel) remains to be seen. At the moment the 6K Dual Gain cameras do have an advantage in low light. For the extra 2K resolution between my Panasonic S1H and Sony a1 there is quite a steep drop off in high ISO performance above 3200. With...
Published By: EOSHD.com blog - Monday, 30 October, 2023