The Camera That Changed How I Show Up

I used to shoot with a Canon. It was a good camera. It did everything I asked. And somewhere along the way, I stopped reaching for it. Not because it failed me. Because I never really fell in love with the process of using it.

„It was never about having the perfect camera. It was about finding one I actually wanted to carry.“

From Canon to Leica — what really changed

When people ask why I switched, they expect a technical answer. Sensor size. Autofocus. Dynamic range.

But honestly? None of that is the reason. The reason is simpler and harder to explain: picking up my Leica Q3 43 made me want to go out and shoot. Every day. That feeling didn't exist before.

I bought the Q3 43 and something shifted — not just in my photos, but in how I move through the world.

„The best camera isn’t the most expensive one. It’s the one you take with you.“

It became part of who I am

Since I got the Leica, I stopped reaching for my iPhone to take photos. That alone tells you everything. When you have a camera you love — one that feels right in your hands, that makes you proud to carry — you choose it. You bring it to the market, on a walk, to a quiet Sunday morning with coffee. It stops being equipment and starts being part of your identity.

My Leica comes with me everywhere now. And because I have it with me, I see more. I notice more. I shoot more.

„Carry your camera. Not for the shots you plan — for the ones you’d otherwise miss.“

The mindset that matters more
than the gear

Here's what I actually think made the difference — and it has nothing to do with Leica.

It's the decision to fall in love with the process.

Not with the perfect shot. Not with the likes. With the act of showing up, day after day, camera in hand, even when nothing extraordinary is happening. That Brian Cody mentality — you wake up, you show up, you do the work. Growth comes from consistency, not from waiting for inspiration.

Photography taught me that. The Leica made it easier to practice.

Why the Q3 43 specifically

If you're curious about the camera itself — here's what I love:

It's small enough to carry everywhere but serious enough that you feel it in your hands. The 43mm focal length is as close to how the human eye actually sees as any lens I've used. Nothing feels forced or distorted. It just looks like life.

And the Leica app genuinely surprised me. The fact that I can connect it to my phone, do self-portraits, and transfer images instantly removes all the friction that used to make me lazy. No cables. No excuses.

The new Leica Looks filters are also worth mentioning — they're not Instagram presets. They're thoughtfully designed film-inspired profiles that actually change how I approach a scene. I find myself shooting for a Look sometimes, which is a new kind of creative constraint I didn't expect to enjoy.

„Good tools don’t replace skill. They remove the excuses not to practice.“

You don't need a Leica
to take better photos

I want to say this clearly: you don't.

What you need is a camera you genuinely want to use — and the commitment to use it every single day. Not for big shoots. Not for perfect light. Just to keep your eye trained and your habit alive.

The Leica Q3 43 did that for me. Something else might do it for you.

But whatever camera you have — take it with you tomorrow. Leave the phone in your pocket. See what happens.