Leica and Formula 1 Team Up for Special Edition Q3 43 Camera

In another “special edition” collab, Leica has teamed up with Formula 1 for a special edition of its Q3 43. The result is what you’d expect from two brands that take themselves very seriously: impeccable craftsmanship, a premium price, and more carbon fiber than your average pit lane. The Leica Q3 43 Formula 1 Edition doesn’t change anything under the hood. In other words, the sensor, lens, and autofocus are all identical to the standard Q3 43. What you’re paying for is the aesthetic overhaul.

[Related Reading: The Leica Q3 43: Hands-on review]

The design work centers on real carbon fiber, not a printed pattern or a cosmetic nod to the material. The handgrip shell, soft-release button, and thumb rest are all made from genuine carbon, manufactured and tested in Germany. The carbon is complemented by a black Microvelour covering whose grip texture is explicitly modeled on a racing steering wheel, and small red accents on the soft-release button and one function key mirror the color-coded controls a driver would find on the wheel itself. Leica makes a point of noting this isn’t a material it typically uses, which makes the execution feel more exclusive.

Speaking of exclusivity, the Leica x Formula 1 Q3 43 also has the exclusive price of $9,950. The standard Q3 43 retails for $7,950 at the time of writing this. So, you’re paying the extra $2,000 for red accents, a rope strap with dual branding, and I guess all that carbon fiber. If you’re a collector, a motorsport photographer with a budget to match, or someone who wants the most visually arresting version of this camera, go for it! I mean, the revamp is pretty sleek. For everyone else, it’s worth noting that the standard Q3 43 is the same camera specs-wise.

Leica and F1 have also developed a dedicated “Formula 1” look profile for this edition, available through the Leica FOTOS app. It pushes contrast and saturation to suit the high-energy visual language of motorsport. While you’re shooting, it applies the look in the viewfinder in real time rather than only in post. I believe that’s a smarter implementation than it first sounds – seeing the actual rendering while you shoot changes how you frame and expose.

Leica Q3 43 Formula 1 Edition Specs

The underlying Q3 43 is a genuinely excellent camera, which makes this a reasonable foundation for a special edition. It features the 43mm APO-Summicron f/2 ASPH. lens, which can be a great choice for trackside and paddock work. Triple Resolution Technology gives you 60, 36, or 18 megapixels from the full-frame BSI CMOS sensor, depending on your needs, and the hybrid autofocus handles fast-moving subjects reasonably well for a fixed-lens compact.

Specification	Details
Sensor	35.8 x 23.9 mm Full-Frame BSI CMOS, 60.3 MP (effective) / 62.39 MP (total)
Processor	Leica Maestro IV
Lens	Leica APO-Summicron 43mm f/2 ASPH., 11 elements in 8 groups
Image Stabilization	Optical (in-lens)
ISO Range	50–100,000 (manual) / 100–100,000 (auto)
Autofocus	Hybrid AF (contrast, depth mapping, phase detection), 315 points
Continuous Shooting	Up to 15 fps, up to 63 RAW / 67 JPEG frames
Shutter Speed	Mechanical: 120–1/2000s / Electronic: 1–1/16000s
Video	Up to C8K (8192 x 4320) at 29.97 fps; ProRes 422 HQ (FHD); up to 120 fps (FHD slow motion)
Viewfinder	OLED EVF, 5,760,000 dots, 0.79x magnification, 100% coverage
LCD	3″ tilting touchscreen, 1,843,200 dots
Storage	Single SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-II) slot
Connectivity	USB-C 3.2 Gen 2, Micro-HDMI, Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.0
Battery	BP-SCL6, 2200 mAh, approx. 350 shots
Weather Sealing	IP52
Dimensions	130 x 80.3 x 97.6 mm
Weight	772 g (with battery)

Pricing and Availability

The Leica Q3 43 Formula 1 Edition is priced at $9,950 and goes on sale October 20, 2026. The launch event takes place the same day at the Leica Store and Gallery, with Formula 1 presenter Ariana Bravo and 2009 World Champion Jenson Button in attendance.

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