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Leica

Q3 43

Q3 variant with 43mm equivalent perspective for classic reportage.

$5,995

Launch price

Released Jun 2024

vs

Leica

SL2

47MP L-mount body before the SL3 generation.

$5,895

Launch price

Released Nov 2019

Q3 43 is 4.6 years newer.

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Wins

5categories

Q3 43

LandscapePortrait

Wins

5categories

SL2

WildlifePortrait

2 categories tied

Which would you choose?

TL;DR — Key differences

Q3 43 wins 2 categories·SL2 wins 3 categories
  • AQ3 43 has higher ISO max (native) (100,000 vs 25,600)
  • AQ3 43 has lower ISO min (native) (50 vs 100)
  • BSL2 has higher Burst (mechanical) (8 fps vs 4 fps)
  • BSL2 has higher Card slots (2 vs 1)
  • BSL2 has higher Battery life (CIPA) (640 shots vs 350 shots)

Key specs at a glance

Q3 43SL2
Resolution60.3 MP47.3 MP
SensorFull FrameFull Frame
ISO max100,00025,600
Burst15 fps20 fps
4K60 fps60 fps
IBISNo7-stop
Weight743 g720 g
Battery350 shots640 shots

Size and weight, to scale

Q3 43

130 × 80 × 92 mm

743 g (1.64 lb / 26.21 oz)

Credit card shown to scale as a size reference (ISO 7810, 85.6 × 54 mm)

Credit card

85.6 × 54 mm

for scale

SL2

138 × 98 × 88 mm

720 g (1.59 lb / 25.40 oz)

Q3 43 is 8mm narrower and 18mm shorter than SL2 but it is also 4mm thicker.

Q3 43 is 23 g heavier than SL2.

Depth (front-to-back): 92mm Q3 43 · 88mm SL2

Sensor size, to scale

Q3 43

36 × 24 mm · Full Frame

864 mm² area

SL2

36 × 24 mm · Full Frame

864 mm² area

Lens ecosystem

Native lens selection

Q3 43: mount data unavailable

SL2

✓ more lenses

Leica L

80+

native lenses available

30 first-party50 third-party

Counts include current first-party and major third-party native autofocus lenses.

Use-case scoring

Which one for what?

Algorithmic scores from verified specs · 10 = best in class

Use caseQ3 43SL2
Portrait
7.5Good
8.5Excellent✓ wins
Sports & Action
5.0Fair
6.5Good✓ wins
Video & Hybrid
5.5Fair
6.0Good✓ wins
Landscape
8.0Excellent
8.5Excellent✓ wins
Travel
4.5Fair
6.5Good✓ wins
Wildlife
5.5Fair
9.0Excellent✓ wins
Vlogging
3.0Limited
5.5Fair✓ wins

Why pick one over the other

Reasons to choose

Q3 43

  • Dimensions (W×H×D mm)

    Adds 130, 80, 92

  • ISO max (native)

    100,000 vs 25,600 — higher is better

  • ISO min (native)

    50 vs 100 — lower is better

  • Subject recognition

    Adds Face, Eye

  • EVF resolution

    5,760,000 vs 3,690,000 — higher is better

  • Codecs

    Adds ProRes

  • Resolution

    60.3 MP vs 47.3 MP — higher is better

  • EVF magnification

    0.79 × vs 0.78 × — higher is better

Reasons to choose

SL2

  • Dimensions (W×H×D mm)

    Adds 138, 98, 88

  • AA filter

    Only SL2 supports it

  • Subject recognition

    Adds Bird, Vehicle

  • Burst (mechanical)

    8 fps vs 4 fps — higher is better

  • Pre-Capture / Pre-Release

    Only SL2 supports it

  • In-body stabilization (IBIS)

    Only SL2 supports it

  • Card slots

    2 vs 1 — higher is better

  • Microphone jack (3.5mm)

    Only SL2 supports it

Both cameras share

  • Eye AFBoth support eye af
  • Animal / bird AFBoth support animal / bird af
  • 4K max frame rateBoth 60 fps
  • Max video bit rateBoth 150 Mbps
  • Weather sealingBoth support weather sealing
  • TouchscreenBoth support touchscreen

Pros & cons at a glance

Editorially curated highlights and trade-offs.

Q3 43

Pros

  • Unique 43mm view
  • 60MP
  • Premium compact

Cons

  • Fixed lens
  • Expensive
  • Niche focal length

SL2

Pros

  • 47MP
  • L-mount
  • Leica quality

Cons

  • Superseded
  • Heavy
  • Expensive

Decided which one is right for you?

Compare live prices for the Q3 43 and SL2 at major authorized retailers.

Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, Cameraegg earns from qualifying purchases. Cameraegg may also earn commission from B&H links, at no extra cost to you.

Full specifications

= category winner

Q3 43
SL2
Resolution
60.3 MP+27%
47.3 MP
Sensor type
Full-frame BSI CMOS
Full Frame CMOS
Sensor size
36 x 24 mm
36.0 × 24.0 mm
AA filter
No
Yes
Q3 43
SL2
Aperture
f/2
Focal length (35mm equiv.)
43 mm
Q3 43
SL2
Processor
Maestro Series processor with L2 Technology
Maestro IV
Q3 43
SL2
ISO min (native)
50−50 less
100
ISO max (native)
100,000+2 stops
25,600
ISO max (expanded)
100,000
102,400
Q3 43
SL2
Shutter type
Electronic + mechanical shutter
Mechanical + Electronic
Max mechanical speed
1/2000 sec
1/8000 sec
Max electronic speed
1/16000 sec
1/16000 sec

Frequently asked

Quick answers generated from verified specs.

Which is better for wildlife, Q3 43 or SL2?

SL2 scores 9.0/10 versus 5.5/10 for Q3 43 — 20fps burst captures fleeting moments.

What's the resolution difference between the Q3 43 and SL2?

Q3 43 is 60.3 MP and SL2 is 47.3 MP, so the Q3 43 captures more detail for cropping and large prints.

Do the Q3 43 and SL2 have in-body image stabilization?

Q3 43 does not have IBIS, while SL2 has 7-stop in-body image stabilization.

Which shoots faster bursts — the Q3 43 or the SL2?

Q3 43 reaches 15 fps electronic. SL2 reaches 20 fps electronic.

What's the weight difference between the Q3 43 and SL2?

Q3 43 weighs 743 g and SL2 weighs 720 g, so the SL2 is 23 g lighter.

Do the Q3 43 and SL2 record 4K video?

Q3 43: 8K (max), 4K up to 60p. SL2: 4K up to 60p.

Are the Q3 43 and SL2 weather sealed?

Q3 43: Yes. SL2: Yes.

Which has better battery life?

Rated battery life is 350 shots (CIPA) for the Q3 43 and 640 shots for the SL2, giving the SL2 the edge.

How much does each cost?

Q3 43 launched at $5,995 and SL2 at $5,895. The SL2 is $100 less.

Can't decide between two? Compare a third camera.

Add any camera to get a three-way Q3 43 vs SL2 vs X comparison.

Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed July 2026.