Leica Launches Q3 43 Formula 1 Edition Camera in Los Angeles

Leica and Formula 1 launched the Q3 43 Formula 1 Edition camera at the Leica Store and Gallery in Los Angeles on October 20, 2026. The debut, presented by Formula 1’s Ariana Bravo and 2009 FIA Formula 1 Drivers’ World Champion Jenson Button, marked the start of a licensing partnership between the German camera maker and the global motorsport series. The event also featured 26 motorsport photographs by Italian photographer Callo Albanese, known for his work capturing the world of Formula 1 from inside the Parc Fermé.

The camera’s design draws directly from the materials and visual cues of the racetrack. Carbon fiber, a signature of Formula 1 engineering, appears on the wireless charging handgrip, soft-release button, and thumb rest, a material not traditionally used in Leica cameras. According to Leica Camera North America president Mike Giannattasio, these carbon fiber components are manufactured and tested exclusively in Germany. The camera’s black Microvelour covering is modeled on the texture of racing steering wheels, while red accents on the control elements echo the color-coded cues used by drivers to locate controls during a race.

The Q3 43 Formula 1 Edition is built on the Leica Q3 43 platform, featuring an APO-Summicron 43 f/2 ASPH. lens that provides a 43-millimeter focal length, chosen for its similarity to human visual perspective. Triple Resolution Technology in the BSI CMOS full-frame sensor allows for images at 60, 36, or 18 megapixels. The camera also includes a fast hybrid autofocus system and extensive video functions.

Back of Leica Q3 camera showing screen and controls — Photo: Burkhard Mücke / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0 (cropped)

A new ‘Formula 1 Look’ was developed specifically for this edition, delivering higher contrast and richer saturation to capture the atmosphere of the paddock and racetrack. This look is available exclusively through the Leica FOTOS App and can be previewed directly in the viewfinder while shooting. That allows photographers to see the effect in real time. The app also enables immediate transfer of images and videos to mobile devices.

The set is completed by a rope carrying strap with both Leica and Formula 1 logos, and custom packaging with a red inlay. The F1 logo appears on both the top plate and lens cap, strengthening the visual connection to the sport. The edition is compatible with Leica Q3 and Q3 43 photography accessories.

Giannattasio describes the partnership as rooted in shared values of precision, engineering, and performance. “A camera and a Formula 1 car may seem worlds apart, but both depend on precision, engineering and performance, and on the people behind them,” he says. He adds that the camera is intended to appeal to photographers, Leica collectors, and Formula 1 fans alike, sometimes all in the same person.

The collaboration isn’t limited to the camera itself. At the Los Angeles Store & Gallery, the exhibition The Art of Speed presents Albanese’s motorsport photography, offering visitors a perspective on Formula 1 through candid moments and close access. The exhibition and the camera together create multiple ways for audiences to engage with the partnership, with the product serving as the focal point and the photography providing a broader cultural context.

Leica’s approach to distribution for this edition avoids mass retail, focusing instead on its own stores and specialist retailers. This allows prospective buyers to handle the camera, explore its design, and discuss its photographic capabilities with knowledgeable staff. Giannattasio says, “We didn’t build it for just one kind of customer.” He notes that the partnership is intended to offer something credible to longtime Leica customers, while also reaching new audiences who may know the Leica name but have not yet experienced its products.

According to Leica, the Q3 43 Formula 1 Edition is available starting on October 20, 2026, at all Leica Stores, in the Leica Online Store and from specialist retailers, with a retail price of $9,950. The magazine has also looked at Enchanted Fairies’ luxury portrait experiences.