Leica will build a special edition for just about anything. An anniversary, a city, a Bond film…we’ve basically seen platinum-plated M bodies and enough one-off leatherette colorways to fill a vault in Wetzlar. What we haven’t seen is the German marque sign an honest-to-goodness licensing deal with a sports property. And that’s exactly what just happened with Formula 1, and the first product to come out of it is the Leica Q3 43 Formula 1 Edition.
Carbon Comes to Wetzlar
Carbon fiber is practically the official fabric of Formula 1, yet it’s a material Leica admits it has never really used on its cameras before this partnership.
The Q3 43’s wireless charging handgrip swaps its usual leatherette for a full carbon shell, joined by a matching hot shoe-mounted thumb rest and a soft-release button with a carbon inlay ringed in red. Every piece is manufactured and tested in Germany, and Leica placed the weave precisely where your hands land, with the goal being for shooters to feel the motorsport connection in every frame.
Steering Wheel Logic
The racing references don’t stop at the grip either. The whole body wears a black, non-slip Microvelour covering textured like an F1 steering wheel, and the red accents are more than just a decorative touch as well. Drivers rely on color-coded buttons to find controls without looking, so Leica finished the soft-release and one of the thumb rest’s function buttons in red for the same reason.
F1 logos land on the top plate and lens cap, while a rope strap carrying both brands’ marks rounds out the set.
The Q3 43 Underneath
Mechanically, nothing has changed with this special edition. You still get the 60MP full-frame sensor with Triple Resolution Technology, 8K video, and the stellar APO-Summicron 43 f/2 ASPH. lens that frames the world roughly the way your eyes do.
The lone functional exclusive is a “Formula 1” Leica Look. It’s essentially a punchier, more saturated color profile that loads through the FOTOS app and renders live in the viewfinder.
Spec Sheet
Model: Leica Q3 43 Formula 1 Edition
Sensor: 60MP full-frame BSI CMOS (Triple Resolution: 60/36/18MP)
Lens: Leica APO-Summicron 43 f/2 ASPH.
Processor: Leica Maestro IV
ISO Range: 50 to 100,000
Video: Up to 8K
Carbon Fiber Parts: Wireless charging handgrip, thumb rest, soft-release button
Body Covering: Black non-slip Microvelour
Exclusive Color Profile: “Formula 1” Leica Look (via Leica FOTOS app)
Included: Co-branded rope strap, F1-logo lens cap, custom packaging
Pricing & Availability
The Q3 43 Formula 1 Edition debuted with an event at the Leica Store and Gallery in Los Angeles, hosted by F1 presenter Ariana Bravo and 2009 world champion Jenson Button. It’s available now at Leica Stores, the Leica Online Store, and specialist retailers, priced at $9,950. Head over to Leica’s website to learn more.
Recap
Leica Q3 43 Formula 1 Edition
Leica opens its new Formula 1 licensing partnership with a $9,950 Q3 43 dressed in German carbon fiber and steering wheel-spec Microvelour.
