Leica has returned to its black-and-white roots with the new Q3 Monochrom, a stealth-driven, design-forward evolution of the brand’s famed compact full-frame platform. Built for shooters who see the world in light, shadow, and pure tonal nuance, this edition strips away the Bayer filter and low-pass filter, unlocking the full potential of its 60MP BSI CMOS sensor. The result? Sharper detail, richer dynamic range, cleaner high-ISO performance, and an unmistakably Leica rendering that appeals to street photographers and documentary purists.

The Q3 Monochrom retains the DNA of the standard Q3 — including 8K30 and 4K60 video recording, the crisp 5.76m-dot OLED EVF, and its macro-capable Summilux 28mm f/1.7 ASPH. lens — but its imaging pipeline has been completely optimized for monochrome capture. Leica’s Maestro IV processor, paired with an 8GB buffer, allows fast contrast-detect autofocus and continuous shooting up to 15 fps. ISO stretches from 100 to an incredible 200,000, giving shooters the freedom to work in nearly any lighting scenario.

New ergonomics include a tilting 3″ touchscreen and the intuitive SL-System UI, making navigation faster and more fluid. The body itself remains unmistakably Leica: all-metal, IP52 weather-sealed, finished in a matte black paint with no red dot, creating a discreet, reportage-ready tool. Leica’s new Content Credentials technology also makes its Q-series debut, supporting authentication workflows for journalists and archivists.

Leica is releasing matching accessories, including a wireless-charging handgrip, a red-light filter, and new straps. Priced at $7,790, the Q3 Monochrom stands as one of the most compelling digital monochrome cameras ever built.

In related news, check out the Canon EOS R6 III.