Drop a DNG file from your Leica Q3 43 and get the exact shutter actuation count in seconds — processed entirely in your browser, never uploaded anywhere.
Check Shutter Count →The Leica Q3 43 (September 2024) is the alternative focal length version of the Q3, replacing the 28mm f/1.7 Summilux with a 43mm f/2 Summilux ASPH lens. The 43mm focal length — sometimes called the "Leica normal" — is historically significant in the Leica world, matching the diagonal of the 35mm film frame. It produces a field of view that closely resembles human vision, making it especially suited for portraits, travel documentary, and street photography where a wider 28mm would create too much environmental context. The sensor (60.3 MP full-frame BSI CMOS), mechanical shutter, IP52 weather sealing, and DNG RAW format are unchanged from the standard Q3.
| Model | Release | Lens | Est. Shutter Life | RAW Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leica Q3 43 | 2024 | 43mm f/2 Summilux ASPH | ~200,000 | DNG |
| Leica Q3 | 2023 | 28mm f/1.7 Summilux ASPH | ~200,000 | DNG |
| Leica Q2 | 2019 | 28mm f/1.7 Summilux ASPH | ~200,000 | DNG |
The Leica Q3 43 saves RAW files natively in Adobe DNG format with full EXIF metadata containing the shutter count. ShutterCount reads this directly in your browser:
You can also use ExifTool from the command line: exiftool -ShutterCount image.dng
| Actuation Count | % of Est. Life | Assessment |
|---|---|---|
| 0 – 10,000 | 0 – 5 % | Very low use — near new condition |
| 10,000 – 50,000 | 5 – 25 % | Low use — substantial life remaining |
| 50,000 – 120,000 | 25 – 60 % | Moderate use — typical for active Q-series users |
| 120,000 – 160,000 | 60 – 80 % | High use — inspect carefully; negotiate price |
| 160,000 + | 80 %+ | Near est. limit — factor in Leica shutter service (~€500–900) |
The 28mm Q3 is wider, capturing more environmental context — ideal for architecture, travel, landscape, and immersive street photography. The 43mm Q3 43 has a tighter, more "normal" field of view that renders subjects more naturally, avoiding the slight perspective distortion of a 28mm in close quarters. It is better suited for portraits, people photography, and travel documentary work.
Both the Q3 and Q3 43 support a mechanical and an electronic shutter. The electronic shutter reaches up to 1/16,000s and is silent — but it produces no mechanical wear and does not increment the shutter count. When assessing used bodies, a lower mechanical count on a Q3 or Q3 43 may reflect heavy electronic shutter use rather than low overall usage.
Shutter count reading via DNG file works identically for the Q3 and the Q3 43. Drop any DNG file from either camera into shuttercount.app for an instant reading.