With the latest Fujifilm GFX100RF, photographers now have a few large-sensor compact cameras. However, because of the GFX100RF’s high price, many photographers are now considering the Leica Q3.
The Leica Q3 and the GFX100RF are set up completely differently and are unique in their own right, so this guide compares the two based on specs.
Product Links
Fujifilm GFX100RF – B&H
Leica Q3 – B&H – Accessories
Fujifilm GFX100RF vs Leica Q3 Spec Chart
The first thing to be aware of is that the Leica Q3 is full-frame, while the Fujifilm GFX100RF is Medium-Format with a 0.79x crop factor. The difference here isn’t as significant as the difference between APS-C and Full-Frame. The GFX could almost be considered a slightly larger full-frame, kind of like APS-C vs. APS-H.
Price
The Q3 is quite a bit more expensive, about $1,400 more, but when shopping for used Leica Q3 cameras, you can get a price closer to the GFX100RF.
Lens
Another important feature is the lens. The Leica Q3 uses a 28mm f1.7 lens, while the GFX uses a 35mm f4 lens. The full-frame equivalency of the GFX lens would be about 28mm f3. People act like this is a slow setup, but remember, the Fujifilm X100VI had an APS-C 23mm f2 lens with a full-frame equivalency of 35mm f3. So, the GFX100RF is not too different here compared to the Fujifilm X100VI.
Stabilization
The Leica Q3 has a 60MP sensor with optical stabilization and pixel-binning options, so you could shoot 60MP, 36MP, or 18MP. The GFX100RF has a 100MP sensor without stabilization and no pixel-binning options, so you’re always stuck at 100MP unless you use one of the aspect ratio crop modes.
To really take advantage of the GFX’s 100MP resolution, you’ll have to crank up the shutter speed on the already slow lens to reduce motion blur.
Use Case
Because of the 28mm f1.7 lens, the Leica Q3 would be more versatile when shooting portraits or even general lifestyle photography, whereas the GFX100RF might be a better landscape travel camera. You get all those great film simulations with the GFX system. But Leica has some of the best straight-out-of-camera colors as well, if you’re not looking for anything fancy.
Size
The GFX100RF does have a much more compact profile with a shorter lens.
| Fujifilm GFX100RF | Leica Q3 | Winner | |
| Price | |||
| Camera Only + Included Battery | $4,899.00 | $6,295.00 | Fujifilm |
| Weight | |||
| Body Only | 654 g | 658 g | — |
| + Battery & Memory | 735 g | 743 g | — |
| Weather Sealed | Yes with Adapter | IP52 Weather Sealing | Leica Q3 |
| GPS | |||
| GNSS | no | no | — |
| Built-In Flash | no | no | — |
| Sensor Resolution | |||
| Sensor Size | 43.8 x 32.9 mm | 36 x 24 mm | Fujifilm |
| Actual Resolution | — | 62.39 MP | — |
| Effective Resolution | 102 MP | 60.03 MP | Fujifilm |
| Image Resolution | 11,648 x 8736 | 9520 x 6336 | Fujifilm |
| File Size | — | 70MB | — |
| Sensor Pixel Pitch | — | — | — |
| Pixel Binning | no | 60,36,18MP | Leica |
| Lens Specs | — | ||
| ND Filter | Yes (4 stops) | No | Fujifilm |
| Focal Length | 35mm (28mm equiv) | 28mm | — |
| Elements | 10/8 | 11/9 | — |
| Aspherical | 2 | 3 | — |
| Aperture | f4 | f1.7 | Leica |
| Min Focus | 20 cm | 17 cm | Leica |
| Stabilization/IBIS | No | Optical | Leica |
| Continuous Burst | 6fps | 15fps | Leica |
| EVF | — | ||
| EVF Type | OLED | OLED | Fujifilm |
| EVF Size | 3.2″ | 3″ | Fujifilm |
| EVF Resolution | 5,760,000 Dot | 5,760,000 Dot | — |
| EVF Pupil Position | — | 20.75mm | — |
| EVF Magnification | 0.84x | 0.79x | — |
| EVF Brightness | — | – | — |
| EVF Refresh Rate | — | 120 fps | — |
| EVF Delay | — | 0.005 s | — |
| LCD | |||
| LCD Type | LCD | TFT LCD | — |
| LCD Size | 3.2″ | 3″ | Fujifilm |
| LCD Resolution | 2,100,000 Dot | 1,843,200 dots | Fujifilm |
| Adjustability | 3-Way Tilting | Tilting | — |
| Memory Cards | |||
| Memory Card Type | Double UHS-II | Single UHS-II | — |
| Battery Power | |||
| Battery mAh | 2200 mAh | 2200 mAh | — |
| Battery VDC | 7.2 VDC | 7.2 VDC | |
| Battery Performance | 820 Shots | 350 Shots | — |
| Shutter | |||
| Shutter Life | — | — | — |
| Flash Sync Speed | 1/4000 | 1/2000 | Fujifilm |
| Max Mech Shutter Speed | 1/4000 | 1/2000 | Fujifilm |
| Max Electronic Speed | 1/16000 | 1/16000 | — |
| Photo Bit Depth | |||
| 16-Bit | yes | no | Fujifilm |
| 14-Bit | yes | yes | — |
| 10-Bit HEIF | yes | no | — |
| 8-Bit JPG | yes | yes | — |
| Focus | |||
| Detection Modes | Eye/Face/Animal | Eye/Face/Body/Animal | — |
| ISO Performance | |||
| Base Performance | 80 to 12,800 | ||
| Extended Performance | 40 to 102,400 | 50 to 100,000 | — |
| Extended | — | — | — |
| Video | |||
| Max Bitrate | 720Mbps | 600 Mbps | — |
| 8k60p Internal | — | no | — |
| 8k30p Internal | — | yes 4:2:0 | Leica |
| 4k60p Internal | no | yes 4:2:2 | Leica |
| 4k30p Internal | yes 4:2:2 | yes 4:2:2 | — |
| External HDMI | — | 8-bit | — |
| ProRes 422 HQ | yes 4k SSD Only | 2k Only | Fujifilm |
| ProRes Raw 12-bit Internal | — | — | — |
| H.265 10-bit Internal 4:2:2 | yes | yes | — |
| H.265 10-bit Internal 4:2:0 | yes | yes | — |
| 4k120p | no | no | — |
| 1080p240 | no | no | — |
| 1080p120 | no | yes | Leica |
| Record Limit | none | 29min | Fujifilm |
| Operating Temperature | 14 F to 104 F | 32 F to 104 F | Fujifilm |
There are quite a few differences when comparing the two cameras. I don’t know some of the specs yet, but from what we know, there are significant differences between the body’s features and video performance.
The GFX100RF has a bigger screen, a faster mechanical shutter, a slightly larger EVF, and significantly more shots per battery life. However, I don’t trust those numbers since using any JPG film simulator with heavy processing significantly reduces battery life.
The Leica Q3 seems to be a much more capable video camera.
For the average file size, this depends on the compression modes you use on the GFX100R. Fujifilm gives you compressed, lossless compress, uncompressed options. Between Compressed and Lossless Compression I can get file sizes ranging between 70MB to 120MB, very busy images can get closer to 140MB.
What Would I Buy?
First, I probably wouldn’t buy a brand-new Leica Q3 since I don’t want to pay that price. So I think the new price of the Fujifilm GFX100RF is a much better value.
After thinking about this for a few days, I would go with the Fujifilm GFX100RF. It offers something more unique than the Leica Q3, a medium-format sensor in a very compact size. It’s truly revolutionary. However, the Leica Q3 isn’t going to give me something I can’t already get on my Nikon Z8 or any other full-frame camera with a nice lens. Besides its compactness, the Leica Q3 has too much overlap compared to what I already have.
However, if I were a Dentist and only wanted to buy one camera that I would never use, I would probably go with the Leica Q3.
I’m still hunting down more unique specs between these two cameras, so let me know if I missed anything.
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