The Story (again)
The precious opportunity for a spontaneous weekend trip to Hong Kong came by again, this year’s run potentially worse with a “Black Rainstorm” warning, Hong Kong’s highest level of rainstorm alert. In 2024’s run, I had brought along the Nikon Zf, and this time, I decided on the Leica Q3 43.
I have already completed a full review of the Leica Q3 43 here if you are looking for a more in-depth read and today’s write-up is more of a visual photography essay of the spots we hit in Hong Kong over the approximately 40-hour stay.
Day 1 – Late Friday evening
Just my backpack and me getting ready to board the flight to Hong Kong, which will have me reaching around close to midnight. With the Leica Q3 43 having USB-C charging capabilities and how short this trip will be, I simply brought along a power bank and a single battery.
Day 2 – The one day I had
Starting the day’s with my must-have Hong Kong breakfast option of instant noodles at Law Mark Kee. To be frank, prices have inched up in Hong Kong however the cost of living is still relatively lower than Singapore, which unfortunately has taken the crown of one of the most expensive city to live in multiple times.
Along the way, being Jellycat fans, we also popped by + Bread bakery, known for their Jellycat inspired creations but we were probably too early and only found this Taro-flavored bun. (that white hat’s a piece of mochi haha)
Old Kowloon City
Moving from the “Monster building” last year, we decided to pop by Kowloon City this year, specifically the redeveloped area which used to house the former infamous Kowloon Walled City that spawned multiple movies and stories that endured for decades.
Kowloon City area is quiet area with its own charm, a left-behind-in-time type of mood which one seldom associates with Hong Kong’s reputation of a fast paced financial centre.
History: Kowloon Walled City was once the ‘self-governed’ world’s most densely populated settlement, a maze of cramped self-built buildings housing over 30,000 people in just 2.6 hectares. Known for its chaotic structure, unlicensed businesses, it was demolished in the 1990s and replaced by today’s Kowloon Walled City Park.
Shooting in the Rain
By this time, as predicted the skies opened up and Kowloon City was drenched in a curtain of rain. Rain transforms Hong Kong into a neon-drenched cinematic set with its reflections and fleeting moments.
At the famous ‘egglets’ store patronised by Chow Yun Fat, and with the Q3 43’s 43mm lens, of course a portrait shot was in order.
Despite the rain, the Q3 43 autofocus locked on quickly, even when droplets blurred the scene. The leaf shutter was whisper-quiet, making candid street shots feel effortless. Not having to worry too much about the rain also allowed me to focus on getting the shot.
Capturing the scene of the streets in rain gave a different feeling to me, one which gave me a different form of appreciation different from the usual crowded, rushed bustle of Hong Kong’s streets.
Turning from the main streets into the narrower paths and into the nearby market to take shelter from the heavy world opened up a different visual world to capture.
The Leica Q3 43’s 43mm APO lens was a joy to use, shooting under dimly lit awnings and inside “dai pai” dong food stalls, the lens produced sharp, vibrant images with pleasing bokeh.
Low light is often the downfall of compact fixed lens cameras, but the Leica Q3 43’s full-frame 60MP sensor handled the dimmer environment remarkably well.
Battery and Practicality
In constant use through a thoroughly wet 10-hour day, the Leica Q3 43’s battery life held up better than expected. For travel photography, this camera blends portability with professional output in a way few rivals can match.
Conclusions
The Leica Q3 43 isn’t just a luxury compact, like the other classic cameras, it is a storytelling tool that thrives in unpredictable conditions. On this rainy day in Hong Kong, it proved to be more than a camera; it was a companion that encouraged me to embrace the weather and see beauty in the chaos.
Here is the lady who planned 2025’s run of 2D1N in Hong Kong.
Thank you for reading.
Disclaimers:
- I photographed all product photos and samples here. I believe any reviewer with pride should produce their own product photos.
2. All images were shot with the Leica Q3 43, if not, the source will be stated.
3. This review is not sponsored; I write as a passion and hobby, and I appreciate that photography brands are kind enough to respect and work with me.
4. The best way to support me is to share the review, or you can always help support the site by contributing to my fees to WordPress using the PayPal button at the bottom of the page.
KeithWee | Photography 
Awesome sharing Keith. Pretty amazing to also see someone really using the camera instead of only using it as a beauty prop.
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Hi! thank you. These are all tools end of the day, but I do ensure I do my best in caring for them too 🙂
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Lovely pictures and article. How did you manage the cleaning up of the Q3 43 after getting it drenched?
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Hi! Thank you for popping by. Actually I’m very careful and detailed with the clean up of my equipment which I will always do a proper wipe down almost immediately and back to the dry box once available too.
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Excellent sharing you did, Keith. And welcome to Hong Kong!
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Thanks for the post, some nice pics, felt like I was there.
Interested to know how you perceived HK with this FL vs your last trip with a 35mm?
I assume you use single point AF, cause you have a few candid shots of ppl oof in this and the nikon review. I assume this is the case, can you comment. (not pointing fingers happens to me far too often too, just want to understand why it may happen to you and if this is not the case would love to understand what else it could be…)
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Hi! No prob haha. Yes, you are spot on and I used single point AF ; and also why some of these shots are soft.
Nothing to be offended about as everyone is always learning and I feel photography wise we can only get better through listening and trying.
One thing I’m also figuring out is how to produce photos that may though not be the most focused / soft but yet are still able to narrate the story.
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Hi Keith, did you ditch the 28mm and bought this 43mm?
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Hi Caron, I still have the 28mm Q3 🙂 it’s simply more versatile for everyday and travel while the 43 does have an edge in IQ with its APO lens
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I am considering either one. I still prefer 28mm though 43 offers APO lens.
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I understand … one is more versatile while the IQ improvements in the other is real.
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This I can’t decide for you haha, and it will be irresponsible to.
For me it will be the 28mm as it is simply more versatile and the 43 if I take more portraits than other genres. Macro is excellent but it is more of a close up shot as for real serious macro one needs to go into magnification , details are tack sharp. Use at night is great.
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Hi Keith, in the end I caved in for the 43 🙂
Tough choice but glad I finally did.
Hope I can use it for a long time.
Only worry is not wide enough.
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Hi Caron, I’m sure it will serve you a long time, and I’m also confident you will work well with it and vice versa. Enjoy!
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I love your comment about taking your own product photos, thanks for sharing!
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Hi Eli, thank you !
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