A Weekend in Amsterdam… with the Leica Q343
A Weekend in Amsterdam… with the Leica Q343
This photograph is Amsterdam for me; the light, serenity and charm, as if you have stepped into a painting by one of the Dutch masters… My wife surprised me recently with a long weekend trip to a mystery destination. I was told to pack light, and for me, that also means bringing only one camera... this time the Leica Q3 43. A camera that took me by surprise when it was officially released on September 26, 2024. It is a premium full-frame compact camera featuring an APO-Summicron 43mm f/2 ASPH lens, a 60-megapixel sensor, and an integrated macro mode.
The decision to buy the Q3 43 was not taken lightly. I had only re-purchased a beloved silver Leica Q weeks before. I loved that camera… sexy and refined, and with a vintage look in a modern design: a camera with one focal length, a superb fast lens, a Summilux 28mm f/1.7, where I had to use my feet and not the conceit of a tele lens to get in close and intimate; yet wide enough to capture landscapes and environmental portraits to tell the bigger story.
And yet I knew that the 43mm focal length was one I would be more intimately connected to. I most often shot the Leica Q images with a 35mm crop… Just like the Leica Q, the 343 is a real camera. And so user-friendly for novices and professionals; an everyday camera that is perfect for travel.
What stands out with the Q3 43 is the quality of the images, ease of use, the sharpness of the APO lens and the dynamic range. The picture files are rich. It is lightweight yet has heft and is so versatile. I had such a great time in Amsterdam, and being able to capture the trip's memories so well made the experience even better.
I share below a series of images I captured in the hotel room that demonstrate the versatility of the files. For me, the Leica Q3 43 and Amsterdam are thematically linked. It is a sexy camera that captures awesome images and gives me the freedom to explore, be daring, and know that I will have captured the memories I envisioned. Whether it is street, portrait, landscape, food, selfies, macro… this camera can do it all… and do it well.
"Some tourists think Amsterdam is a city of sin, but in truth, it is a city of freedom. And in freedom, most people find sin."
~ John Green
