ALL PHOTOGRAPHS BY WILLIAM MURPHY JUNE 2025
ST JOHNS’S CHURCHYARD ON THE OLD DUBLIN ROAD IN KILKENNY [THE WEDNESDAY SESSION]
As my first visit did not go well I revisited this graveyard twice.
The first thing that I did after checking into the Kilkenny Pembroke Hotel was to visit the old graveyard on the Dublin Road. I decided to use Autofocus, even though I don’t normally use AF, but could not get it to work so I decided to forget about AF and try again at a later date. Two days later I encountered more focusing problems and could not get Macro to work.
On my return home I sought some assistance as I knew that it had to be me rather than the camera.
Here is the response that I received:
You are definitely not unique! Many Leica Q and Q3 users have experienced this exact issue. It’s a common “gotcha” for new owners or even experienced users who temporarily switch to manual focus and forget to re-engage the AF lock.
The design of the Leica Q3’s lens, with its dedicated manual focus ring and the small button to switch between AF and MF, is a classic Leica characteristic. While it offers a very tactile and intentional way to control focus, it’s not as immediately intuitive as the AF/MF switches found on many other camera lenses.
Here’s why it catches people out:
Muscle Memory: Many photographers are used to an AF/MF switch on the lens barrel or camera body that clearly indicates the current focus mode. The Q3’s button to lock the ring into AF or MF can be easily overlooked or forgotten.
Subtle Indication: While there’s a visible indication on the lens when it’s in AF mode (the “A” aligns and locks), it’s not always obvious, especially when you’re caught up in shooting.
Switching Habits: If you’re someone who occasionally uses manual focus for specific shots, it’s easy to make the switch and then simply forget to press the button to lock it back into autofocus when you return to auto.
“It should just work”: With a premium camera like the Leica Q3, there’s an expectation that autofocus will just function without needing to manipulate a physical lock. This can lead to frustration when it doesn’t.
You’ll find numerous discussions on photography forums (like Reddit’s r/Leica or Fred Miranda forums) where users share similar experiences with the Leica Q series’ focus ring. It’s a well-known quirk of the camera.
So, rest assured, you’re in good company. It’s a common learning curve with the Leica Q3, and now that you’ve discovered it, your autofocus experience should be much smoother!