The Best Leica Q3 43 Accessories
In this blog, I will share some of the accessories I use with my Leica Q3 43. While the Q3 is great on its own, I find these items add to the overall experience. If you click on each title, it will take you to Amazon or B&H, where if you do buy it or something else, I will get a small % kick back at no extra cost to you. This helps keep this blog running without slapping horrid ads everywhere.
This is a simple shutter extension that screws into the shutter button and adds a more protruding surface for you to reach. This makes it much easier to locate the shutter in a hurry and, in my opinion, makes the shooting experience more comfortable. There are many different options out there; I just use generic ones from Amazon.
The thumb grip slides into the hot shoe and provides a large area for your thumb to rest. If you use the camera one-handed, this is a lifesaver as it allows you to reduce how hard you need to grip it. If you use the camera two-handed, then it becomes less useful. Four things to keep in mind: this grip will give your camera a bigger footprint and create a sharp point that can scratch other things. If you use the Q3 on a neck or body strap, it can dig into your body. It blocks easy access to the thumb dial. It makes the FN1 and FN2 custom buttons feel a little mushy. If you want one, you can either get the genuine Leica part at an extortionate amount or do what I did and pick up a cheaper replica from Amazon for less than half the price.
The photo and video files coming out of the Q3 are huge. If you want the smoothest performance, I suggest getting the fastest UHSII SD Card you can afford. From my experience, it makes a night and day difference to the performance of the camera. I personally use the Sony Tough cards as I appreciate the added durability, but any card from the top brands will do.
I have two PD anchors attached to the camera at all times. They slide straight through the mounting points, and because there is no metal, I don’t have to worry about scratching the body. They allow for a host of different accessories to be attached.
I use the PD cuff wrist strap. I’ve used it for many years and find it the most comfortable. This is extremely subjective, of course, and many might not like how it looks.
I have a paracord-style shoulder strap with custom PD mounting points. This was handmade by a small, independent store based in the UK. The strap is light, compact, looks good, and maintains the practicality of having a PD attachment.
Always carry a few of these Zeiss wipes for when the camera gets dirty.
A second battery is usually a must-have accessory; however, on this camera, it really depends on the use case. The battery life is already fantastic and can easily last an entire day. Also, the camera charges very fast via USB-C and a good battery pack. Given how expensive Leica batteries are, I would probably recommend a very good battery pack like this one. Of course, if you’re shooting non-stop all day and you won’t be taking breaks to rest (and top up the camera), then a second one is a good option. I personally have a second spare, and I can’t remember the last time I had to swap it out.
