Leica Q3 43 Formula 1® Edition

Leica Q3 43 Formula 1® Edition – The Art of Speed

Where photographic excellence meets the world of Formula 1®

The Leica Q3 43 Formula 1® Edition brings together two prestigious worlds united by a shared philosophy: absolute precision, technological innovation, outstanding performance and uncompromising craftsmanship.

Created through the official licensing partnership between Leica Camera and Formula 1®, this exclusive special edition celebrates the world of motorsport and photography's unique ability to preserve extraordinary moments.

In both disciplines, every fraction of a second matters. In Formula 1®, months of engineering and development can determine a decisive advantage measured in milliseconds. In photography, mastering timing, light and movement makes it possible to capture moments that will never happen again.

The Leica Q3 43 Formula 1® Edition embodies these shared values in an exceptional full-frame compact camera, combining the photographic performance of the Leica Q3 43 with a distinctive design inspired by the materials, colours and functional details of Formula 1® racing.

The Art of Leica – Over a century of precision and craftsmanship

For more than 100 years, Leica has developed photographic instruments that combine technological innovation, optical excellence, mechanical precision and timeless design.

The art of photography begins with the ability to see: recognising light, contrast, emotion and the decisive moment that transforms an ordinary scene into an unforgettable image.

Leica brings that individual vision to life through advanced technology designed to serve the photographic experience.

For 75 years, Formula 1® has represented the relentless pursuit of performance, technology and innovation. Beyond the racetrack, it has become an international symbol of excellence, luxury, culture and prestige.

The collaboration between Leica and Formula 1® is therefore built upon deeply shared values, expressed through this exclusive camera edition.

An exclusive design inspired by motorsport

Carbon fibre: precision, lightness and character

The Leica Q3 43 Formula 1® Edition incorporates several carefully crafted carbon-fibre components, specially manufactured in Germany and finished by hand.

This iconic motorsport material appears on three essential elements:

• The ergonomic hand grip, providing a secure and comfortable hold.

• The thumb rest, enhancing stability and camera control.

• The soft-release button, contributing to a refined shutter-release experience.

Every carbon-fibre component is precisely shaped and carefully finished, creating an immediately recognisable connection between Leica craftsmanship and the advanced materials associated with motorsport.

Black Microvelour covering inspired by racing steering wheels

The traditional camera covering has been replaced with black Microvelour, selected for its tactile properties and secure grip.

Inspired by the texture and handling characteristics of racing steering wheels, this distinctive finish provides a comfortable, controlled hold while giving the Leica Q3 43 Formula 1® Edition its own visual identity.

The combination of black Microvelour, carbon fibre and precisely finished metal components creates an appearance that is both sporty and sophisticated.

Distinctive Formula 1® red accents

On racing steering wheels, high-visibility colours help drivers instantly identify important controls without taking their eyes off the track.

The Leica Q3 43 Formula 1® Edition applies the same principle through carefully positioned Formula 1® red accents.

These appear on the soft-release button and the right-hand function button integrated into the thumb-rest area.

Beyond their visual appeal, these details make important controls easier to identify while reinforcing the exclusive character of the camera.

Official Formula 1® branding and exclusive finishing details

The Formula 1® identity is also reflected in several distinctive finishing touches.

The official branding appears on the camera's top plate and matching lens cap.

An exclusive braided rope strap featuring the Leica and Formula 1® logos completes the appearance.

Every detail has been designed to preserve Leica's timeless aesthetic while celebrating the official collaboration between the two brands.

Carbon-fibre wireless charging hand grip

Specifically developed for the Leica Q3 43 Formula 1® Edition, the wireless charging hand grip is one of the defining accessories of this special edition.

Its carbon-fibre finish provides a secure grip and improved control, particularly when photographing with one hand.

The grip also offers the possibility of attaching a wrist strap for additional security.

An integrated Arca-Swiss-compatible mounting interface allows the camera to be attached quickly to a suitable tripod.

The grip can be removed whenever required.

Thanks to its integrated wireless charging function, the camera can be charged simply by placing it on a compatible charging pad, such as the Drop XL Wireless Charger.

Conventional charging via USB-C also remains available.

Leica APO-Summicron 43 f/2 ASPH. – A naturally human perspective

Exceptional apochromatic optical performance

At the heart of the Leica Q3 43 Formula 1® Edition is the outstanding Leica APO-Summicron 43 f/2 ASPH., a fixed 43 mm lens developed specifically for the Leica Q3 43.

Its focal length provides an exceptionally natural perspective, closely reflecting the way the human eye perceives the world.

This makes the camera particularly suitable for street photography, reportage, portraits, travel and everyday photography.

The lens features an advanced apochromatic optical design that effectively corrects chromatic aberrations, delivering remarkable sharpness, accurate detail and outstanding contrast.

Its sophisticated optical construction incorporates seven aspherical surfaces while preserving the compact proportions for which the Leica Q series is renowned.

Fast f/2 aperture for creative freedom

With its maximum aperture of f/2, the APO-Summicron 43 mm allows photographers to work confidently in challenging lighting conditions while maintaining precise control over depth of field.

The wide aperture produces beautiful subject separation and smooth, natural background blur.

Its versatility makes it ideal for intimate portraits, spontaneous moments, low-light scenes and dynamic subjects.

Integrated macro mode

The integrated macro mode reduces the minimum focusing distance to just 26.5 cm.

This extends the camera's creative possibilities, enabling detailed close-up photography of objects, textures, mechanical components and small subjects.

60 MP full-frame sensor with Triple Resolution Technology

The Leica Q3 43 Formula 1® Edition features a 60.3-megapixel effective full-frame back-illuminated CMOS sensor.

With Triple Resolution Technology, photographers can select between three image resolutions:

• 60 megapixels for maximum detail and resolving power.

• 36 megapixels for an excellent balance between image quality and file size.

• 18 megapixels for more manageable files and efficient workflows.

All three resolutions are available in JPEG and DNG RAW formats, while using the entire sensor area.

An ISO sensitivity range of 50 to 100,000 offers considerable flexibility across a wide variety of lighting conditions.

The powerful Leica Maestro IV processor, featuring L² technology, ensures efficient image processing and responsive camera operation.

Advanced hybrid autofocus and continuous shooting

The Leica Q3 43 Formula 1® Edition incorporates an advanced hybrid autofocus system combining:

• Phase-detection autofocus.

• Contrast-detection autofocus.

• Depth mapping.

• Subject detection and tracking.

This combination provides fast and accurate focusing, making the camera particularly suitable for spontaneous photography and moving subjects.

Continuous shooting speeds can reach up to 15 frames per second, depending on the selected settings and shutter mode.

At the highest burst rates, focus and exposure settings are established at the beginning of the sequence.

Professional video capabilities up to 8K

In addition to its exceptional photographic capabilities, the Leica Q3 43 Formula 1® Edition offers advanced video functionality.

It supports video recording at resolutions up to 8K, with a selection of recording formats and codecs, including H.265 and Apple ProRes.

The combination of its full-frame sensor, APO-Summicron 43 mm lens and advanced video features makes it a versatile creative tool for photographers who also produce high-quality moving images.

Leica FOTOS and the exclusive Formula 1 Leica Look

A visual signature inspired by the atmosphere of racing

A dedicated “Formula 1” Leica Look has been created especially for this edition.

This exclusive photographic rendering increases contrast and colour saturation to capture the atmosphere, energy and visual intensity of the racetrack.

The look can be transferred to the camera through the Leica FOTOS app and applied directly to JPEG photographs.

The application also enables images to be transferred quickly to a smartphone for convenient sharing.

The Leica Q3 43 Formula 1® Edition retains the advanced connectivity and photographic workflow features of the Leica Q3 family.

An exclusive special edition with distinctive accessories

The Leica Q3 43 Formula 1® Edition comes in bespoke presentation packaging that reflects the exclusive character of the collaboration.

Its distinctive elements include:

• Leica Q3 43 camera with exclusive Formula 1® finishing.

• Handcrafted carbon-fibre components.

• Black Microvelour camera covering.

• Ergonomic carbon-fibre hand grip with wireless charging.

• Exclusive thumb rest featuring carbon-fibre detailing.

• Soft-release button with carbon-fibre detailing.

• Special braided rope strap featuring Leica and Formula 1® logos.

• Matching Formula 1® branded lens cap.

• Exclusive “Formula 1” Leica Look.

• Specially designed presentation packaging.

The camera remains compatible with suitable accessories from the Leica Q3 photographic system.

Created for photographers, Formula 1® enthusiasts and collectors

As explained by Andreas Voll, CEO of Leica Camera, this special edition was conceived to bring together two communities that share a passion for precision, technological innovation and powerful emotions.

The Leica Q3 43 was a natural choice for the collaboration because of its outstanding image quality, compact dimensions, intuitive handling and timeless design.

The Leica Q3 43 Formula 1® Edition is therefore much more than a visual reinterpretation of an existing camera.

It combines exceptional photographic performance with a carefully considered visual and tactile identity, telling the story of a meaningful collaboration between two worlds devoted to excellence.

It is designed for demanding photographers, Formula 1® enthusiasts and collectors who value fine German craftsmanship, distinctive design and exclusive photographic instruments.

Technical Specifications – Leica Q3 43 Formula 1® Edition

Note: Dimensions and certain physical specifications refer to the Leica Q3 43 camera platform. Total weight may vary depending on the special-edition accessories fitted.

Leica Q3 43 Formula 1® Edition – Precision meets emotion

More than a camera, the Leica Q3 43 Formula 1® Edition represents a meeting of two philosophies dedicated to excellence.

Through its advanced photographic technology, motorsport-inspired design and exclusive craftsmanship, it celebrates the ability to capture a fleeting moment with extraordinary precision.

An exceptional photographic instrument created for those who believe that every detail matters and that the most meaningful moments deserve to be preserved.

The Art of Speed.

Trademark Notice

The F1 FORMULA 1 logo, F1 logo, F1, FORMULA 1, FIA FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP, GRAND PRIX and related marks are trademarks of Formula One Licensing BV, a Formula 1 company.