Fujifilm X100V vs Leica Q3: A Deep Dive into Two Premium Large Sensor Compacts

When it comes to high-end large sensor compact cameras, two models often steal the spotlight - and for good reason. Fujifilm’s X100V and Leica’s Q3 sit at opposite ends of a luxury spectrum, both delivering stunning image quality but with different philosophies and features. Having tested thousands of cameras over the past 15 years, I've had ample time with both cameras in a variety of photographic disciplines, allowing me to share nuanced insights on which might best suit your needs.

Let’s unpack this head-to-head, slice by slice, leaving no stone unturned.

Getting Hands-On: Size, Ergonomics, and Build Quality

The first thing you notice when comparing the Fujifilm X100V and Leica Q3 is their physical presence and feel. Both are built with premium materials, but in distinct ways that will affect your shooting comfort and carry preference.

The X100V is noticeably more compact and lightweight at 478 grams, measuring 128x75x53 mm. Its retro styling coupled with a blend of metal and resin gives it a firm, solid grip without feeling bulky. This pocketable nature makes it an excellent choice for street, travel, and candid photography where discretion and nimbleness are king.

In contrast, the Leica Q3 tips the scales at 743 grams with dimensions of 130x80x93 mm. This heftier feel is partly due to its robust, all-metal construction and a larger grip profile. While not "big" by any means, it commands a more deliberate presence. You can expect better balance when using heavier lenses, though the Q3 has a fixed 28mm lens. The tactile quality of Leica’s buttons and dials exudes refinement and premium feel, appealing to users looking for longer-term durability and tactile precision.

Both bodies boast weather sealing, a welcome feature for shooting in varying conditions, maintaining reliability from drizzle to dust. Fuji’s sealing in the X100V covers a modest range, while Leica’s Q3 ups the ante with dust and splash resistance that inspires confidence for professional outdoor shoots.

Control-wise, the X100V features dedicated dials for shutter speed and exposure compensation - hallmarks of Fuji’s philosophy centered on physical controls. Its hybrid viewfinder (optical and electronic tunnel) provides flexibility in composition with a unique analog feel. The top-mounted thumb lever for switching between OVF and EVF is handy.

The Q3 offers a higher resolution electronic viewfinder (EVF) only with an impressive 5760 dots and 0.79x magnification, delivering a lifelike, sharp image preview. Its control layout is sparer and more minimalist but doesn’t sacrifice quick access to essential settings. The Q3 lacks the optical finder option, but many will prefer the EVF’s accuracy.

Sensor and Image Quality: The Heart of the Matter

Arguably, the sensor defines a camera’s imaging DNA. Here’s a visual to help conceptualize sensor sizes and their impact on image quality.

The Fujifilm X100V features a 26.1-megapixel APS-C X-Trans CMOS 4 sensor (23.5×15.6 mm), known for vibrant color rendition and excellent detail resolution. The absence of an anti-aliasing filter boosts sharpness but can introduce moiré in rare cases. Its ISO range from 160–12800 (extendable to 80–51200) offers solid low-light performance for an APS-C sensor, but noise is noticeable above ISO 6400.

The Leica Q3 boasts a 60-megapixel full-frame BSI CMOS sensor measuring 36×24 mm, over twice the surface area of the X100V’s sensor. This sensor not only provides an extraordinary resolution advantage (max image size 9520×6336) but also improves dynamic range and high ISO noise handling through larger photodiodes and back-illumination technology.

In real-world testing, landscapes shot with the Q3 yield breathtaking detail and tonal gradations, especially in shadows and highlights. The files are massive and allow for robust cropping without quality loss - imagery that seriously impresses in large prints.

Portraits benefit similarly; the Q3 captures skin tones with buttery smooth transitions and lets you pull out subtle textures in post-processing more effectively. Meanwhile, the X100V’s rendition is more clinical but still highly regarded for faithful color output and pleasing JPEGS thanks to its superior Film Simulation modes.

User Interface and Display

Smooth user interaction is vital for an enjoyable shooting experience.

Both cameras feature tilting 3" touchscreens, but the Leica Q3’s panel brings a slight edge with 1843k dots resolution versus Fuji’s 1620k dots, rendering sharper images and menus. Touch responsiveness is similar, intuitive, and fluid on each camera, supporting quick AF point selection and menu navigation.

The Q3’s EVF coverage is 100% with high magnification, giving a precise preview of your frame without surprises at the edges. The X100V’s hybrid finder covers 95%, offering a beautiful blend of optical clarity and EVF convenience but not quite as immersive as Leica’s.

Autofocus Systems Under the Hood

Let’s examine focus tech - especially important for wildlife, sports, and street photographers.

The X100V employs 425 hybrid phase-detection and contrast AF points spread across most of the frame. It features face and eye detection with decent accuracy, though it doesn’t support animal eye AF, limiting wildlife portraiture somewhat. Continuous AF tracking tops out at 11 frames per second, respectable but not blazing fast.

Conversely, the Leica Q3 has 315 hybrid AF points, also supporting face and eye detection, but without animal eye AF again. In my testing, the Q3’s autofocus is snappier, particularly in low light, thanks to the larger sensor gathering more light per phase-detect pixel. Continuous AF burst shooting reaches 15 fps, giving it an edge for capturing fleeting moments in events or street settings.

Lens Design and Optical Performance

Both cameras use fixed prime lenses - choose wisely because that focal length defines your style.

The X100V’s iconic 23mm equivalent (~35mm full frame) F2.0 lens is prized for its versatility. The fast aperture lets you isolate subjects with creamy bokeh, great for portraits and street photography, while still serving landscapes reasonably well. Across the aperture range, image sharpness is excellent centrally, with minor softness at extreme edges wide open, improving when stopped down.

The Leica Q3 sports a 28mm full-frame F1.7 fixed lens, wider and faster. This lens excels at environmental portraits, documentary, and landscape work, delivering ultra-sharp results edge-to-edge even wide open. The slightly wider angle may not suit tight portraits but is perfect for architecture and street scenes where context matters.

Leica’s renowned optical quality comes through with minimal chromatic aberration, nearly zero distortion, and delightfully smooth bokeh for a 28mm lens - surprising but visually pleasing.

The X100V lacks image stabilization, whereas the Q3 includes 5-axis in-body stabilization, markedly helpful in low-light handheld shots.

Versatility Across Photography Genres

Now, we'll assess practical performance across major photography types. (See the genre-specific performance ratings chart below for quick visualization.)

Portrait Photography

If skin tones and bokeh grace your portfolio, the Q3 pulls slightly ahead with its full-frame sensor and wider aperture. Eye detection AF tracks subjects smoothly, though Fujifilm’s film simulations provide a different character, often warmer and more filmic. X100V’s 35mm length allows flattering framing without being too tight, making it my pick for portraits demanding environmental background inclusion.

Landscape Photography

Resolution and dynamic range dominate landscape needs. Leica’s 60MP sensor gives unparalleled image detail and latitude during post, which is critical for landscapes with extreme lighting contrasts. The X100V remains capable but is limited by its lower megapixels. Leica also wins on weather sealing.

Wildlife Photography

Neither is a traditional wildlife camera, but for casual wildlife or street animals, the faster autofocus and burst speed of the Q3 are advantageous. The APS-C sensor’s crop factor on the X100V provides a de facto longer reach at 35mm equivalent, but autofocus performance may lag.

Sports Photography

High frame rates and reliable tracking define sports usage. The Q3’s 15 fps with tracking excels here, while the F100V’s 11 fps and smaller buffer may fall short. That said, neither camera replaces an APS-C or full-frame DSLR/mirrorless with a tele zoom.

Street Photography

Size, discretion, and responsiveness matter most. The X100V is the street shooter’s sweetheart: compact, quiet leaf shutter option, and hybrid finder for quick framing. The Q3 is stealthier than a big DSLR but still noticeably heavier. Street pros often favor the X100V for its “carry anywhere” vibe.

Macro Photography

Close-shooting capabilities favor the Leica Q3 slightly with a 17 cm minimum focus distance and image stabilization aiding hand-held macro shots. The X100V does not specify macro focus, limiting its utility for this niche.

Night and Astro Photography

Both cameras handle high ISOs well, though the full-frame sensor of the Q3 naturally controls noise better. The Q3 extends ISO up to 100,000 (though practically 3200–6400 is cleaner), while Fujifilm tops out at 51200 boosted ISO. The Q3’s exposure modes allow longer shutter speeds with precision, better suited to astrophotography.

Video Capabilities

The X100V records 4K UHD video up to 30p at 200 Mbps with H.264 codec, plus slow-motion Full HD at up to 120 fps, including a microphone input but no headphone jack.

Meanwhile, Leica Q3 supports up to 8K video (8192x4320) at 30p and 4K up to 60p, encoded in both H.264 and efficient H.265 codecs, but lacks external microphone and headphone jacks. Video enthusiasts will appreciate Q3’s advanced specs but should note audio controls can be limited.

Practical Details: Battery Life, Storage, and Connectivity

Battery life is decent on both but leans practical:

• Fuji X100V: ~420 shots per charge, using the NP-W126S battery.
• Leica Q3: ~350 shots (BP-SCL6 battery).

For heavy shooting, Fuji’s better stamina might matter on day trips if you don’t carry spares.

Both cameras have a single SD card slot supporting UHS-I or UHS-II (Q3) speeds - fast enough for high-res file writes.

Connectivity-wise, each offers built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for remote control and swift image transfer. USB ports differ:

• X100V has USB 3.1 Gen 1 (5 Gbps)
• Q3 features USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10 Gbps)

Fast USB charging and transfer are a plus on the Leica.

Value and Price: What Does Your Budget Buy?

Here’s a quick comparison to anchor expectations:

The Q3 is a clear investment in premium quality and resolution with correspondingly higher costs and weight, while the X100V represents exceptional value combining great build, classic styling, and good image quality.

Final Verdict: Who Should Buy Which?

Choose the Fujifilm X100V if:

• You want a pocketable, discreet street and travel companion.
• You prefer classic physical controls and a hybrid viewfinder.
• Your budget is limited but you want solid APS-C sensor quality.
• You shoot mostly portraits, street, casual landscapes, and video.
• Battery life and portability top your priority list.

Opt for the Leica Q3 if:

• Ultimate image quality and resolution are paramount, especially for landscape, portrait, and professional use.
• You want the best-in-class electronic viewfinder and comfortable ergonomics for longer shoots.
• Video is important, and you desire 8K/4K capability.
• You don’t mind carrying a slightly larger camera and investing significantly more.
• In-body stabilization is critical for your handheld work.
• You value Leica's build quality and ecosystem prestige.

Wrapping Up

Both the Fujifilm X100V and Leica Q3 epitomize the pinnacle of large sensor compacts, but catering to slightly different photographer archetypes. The Fuji is an excellent tool for creatives who prize compactness, tactile experience, and superb color science. The Leica leans into maximal quality, resolution, and video prowess, suitable for professionals or enthusiasts who want the best full-frame fixed lens camera that money can buy.

As always, it pays to try both cameras if possible, test how their size and control layouts feel in your hands, and consider whether you prioritize portability or pixel count. Whichever you pick, both deliver exceptional imagery and will serve you well for years of inspired shooting.

Fujifilm X100V front Fujifilm X100V screen back Leica Q3 front Leica Q3 screen back

For detailed real-world examples and a side-by-side walk-through of menus and autofocus in action, check out my video review accompanying this article. You’ll see these cameras in motion and better grasp which suits your photographic vision.

Happy shooting!