Leica
Q3
Full-frame fixed 28mm f/1.7 premium compact for documentary and travel.
$5,995
Released May 2023
Nikon
Z9
Flagship stacked mirrorless with 45MP, 8K video, and no mechanical shutter.
$5,899
Released Oct 2021
Q3 is 1.6 years newer.
Wins
Q3
Wins
Z9
TL;DR — Key differences
- AQ3 has higher Burst (mechanical) (4 fps vs 0 fps)
- BZ9 has higher Burst (electronic) (120 fps vs 15 fps)
- AQ3 has higher ISO max (native) (100,000 vs 25,600)
- BZ9 has higher Battery life (CIPA) (740 shots vs 350 shots)
- BZ9 has higher 4K max frame rate (120 fps vs 60 fps)
Key specs at a glance
Size and weight, to scale
Q3
130 × 80 × 92 mm
743 g (1.64 lb / 26.21 oz)
Z9
149 × 150 × 91 mm
1340 g (2.95 lb / 47.27 oz)
Q3 is 19mm narrower and 70mm shorter than Z9 but it is also 2mm thicker.
Q3 is 597 g lighter than Z9.
Depth (front-to-back): 92mm Q3 · 91mm Z9
Back view, to scale
Width × Height — same proportions as the front of the body.
Q3
130 × 80 mm
Z9
149 × 150 mm
Top view, to scale
Width × Depth (front-to-back) — see which body is chunkier on the table.
Q3
130 × 92 mm
Z9
149 × 91 mm
Sensor size, to scale
Q3
36 × 24 mm · Full Frame
864 mm² area
Z9
35.9 × 23.9 mm · Full Frame
858 mm² area
Lens ecosystem
Native lens selection
Q3: mount data unavailable
Z9
✓ more lensesNikon Z
90+
native lenses available
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
Why pick one over the other
Reasons to choose
Q3
Subject recognition
Adds Human, Face, Eye…
Burst (mechanical)
4 fps vs 0 fps — higher is better
Codecs
Adds H.265, H.264, ProRes
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 130, 80, 92
Card types
Adds SD UHS-II
ISO max (native)
100,000 vs 25,600 — higher is better
Weight
743 g vs 1340 g — lower is better
EVF resolution
5,760,000 vs 3,690,000 — higher is better
Reasons to choose
Z9
Subject recognition
Adds People, Birds, Dogs…
Codecs
Adds N-RAW, ProRes RAW HQ, ProRes 422 HQ…
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 149, 149.5, 90.5
Card types
Adds CFexpress Type B / XQD, CFexpress Type B / XQD
Burst (electronic)
120 fps vs 15 fps — higher is better
Battery life (CIPA)
740 shots vs 350 shots — higher is better
Pre-Capture / Pre-Release
Only Z9 supports it
4K max frame rate
120 fps vs 60 fps — higher is better
Both cameras share
- ✓Eye AF — Both support eye af
- ✓Animal / bird AF — Both support animal / bird af
- ✓Weather sealing — Both support weather sealing
- ✓Touchscreen — Both support touchscreen
- ✓Wi-Fi — Both support wi-fi
- ✓Bluetooth — Both support bluetooth
Pros & cons at a glance
Editorially curated highlights and trade-offs.
Q3
Pros
- ✓60MP full-frame
- ✓Summilux 28mm lens
- ✓Built like a tank
- ✓Unique aesthetic
Cons
- –Fixed lens
- –Very expensive
- –No interchangeable system
Z9
Pros
- ✓45MP stacked
- ✓8K 60p internal
- ✓120fps stills
- ✓Pro build
Cons
- –Heavy body
- –Expensive
- –Large files
Full specifications
✓ = category winner
Frequently asked
Quick answers generated from verified specs.
Which is better for sports, Q3 or Z9?
Z9 scores 9.0/10 versus 4.5/10 for Q3 — 120fps burst — pro-level action capture.
What's the resolution difference between the Q3 and Z9?
Q3 is 60.3 MP and Z9 is 45.7 MP, so the Q3 captures more detail for cropping and large prints.
Do the Q3 and Z9 have in-body image stabilization?
Q3 does not have IBIS, while z9 has 6-stop in-body image stabilization.
Which shoots faster bursts — the Q3 or the Z9?
Q3 reaches 15 fps electronic. Z9 reaches 120 fps electronic.
What's the weight difference between the Q3 and Z9?
Q3 weighs 743 g and Z9 weighs 1340 g, so the Q3 is 597 g lighter.
Do the Q3 and Z9 record 4K video?
Q3: 8K (max), 4K up to 60p. Z9: 8K UHD (max), 4K up to 120p.
Are the Q3 and Z9 weather sealed?
Q3: Yes. Z9: Yes.
Which has better battery life?
Rated battery life is 350 shots (CIPA) for the Q3 and 740 shots for the Z9, giving the Z9 the edge.
How much does each cost?
Q3 launched at $5,995 and Z9 at $5,899. The Z9 is $96 less.
Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed May 2026.
Product images courtesy of Leica and Nikon press materials.