Cyborg bees to be Chinese military scouts
Scientists in China are turning bees into cyborgs by inserting controllers into their brains and deciding where they should fly.
The bees – part insect, part machine – could serve as military scouts or be used to search for survivors following a natural disaster.
Zhao Jieliang, a professor at the Beijing Institute of Technology, and his team recently developed the world's lightest brain controller – weighing only 74 milligrams, or less than a pinch of salt.
The device is strapped to the back of a worker bee and pierces its brain with three needles to instruct it to fly in specific directions.
Based on the tests conducted by Prof Zhao and his team, the device worked nine times out of 10 and the bees obeyed the instructions.
With this type of technology, the scientists believe that 'cyborg bees' can be used in covert operations or in missions in locations inaccessible to humans.
The micro devices can be equipped with cameras, listening devices and sensors that allow the insects to collect and record information, which can then be relayed back to their operator.
Given their small size, they could also be used for discreet military or security operations as they would be able to crawl through small spaces that humans and larger robots wouldn't be able to reach and do so without arousing suspicion.
'Insect-based robots inherit the superior mobility, camouflage capabilities and environmental adaptability of their biological hosts,' Prof Zhao and his colleagues wrote in their paper, which was published in the Chinese Journal of Mechanical Engineering on June 11.
'Compared to synthetic alternatives, they demonstrate enhanced stealth and extended operational endurance, making them invaluable for covert reconnaissance in scenarios such as urban combat, counterterrorism and narcotics interdiction, as well as critical disaster relief operations,' they wrote.
Earlier reports on this research showed scientists outfitting other insects, such as beetles, with microchips and wiring, which they would use to control the bug's movement with infrared rays and Bluetooth signals.
One of the 'backpacks' that the scientists had developed weighed only 23mg, nearly a third of what the cyborg bees carry.
Scientists in Singapore have also developed miniature cyborg controllers, but these were bigger and heavier.
These devices, however, were strapped to cockroaches, which were used to help the search and rescue efforts following Myanmar's 7.7 magnitude earthquake in March.
Several other countries, including the US and Japan, are also racing to create cyborg insects.
While Prof Zhao's team has made great strides in advancing the technology, challenges remain.
For one, the current batteries aren't able to last very long, but any larger and the packs would be too heavy for the bees to carry.
The same device cannot easily be used on different insects as each responds to signals on different parts of their bodies.
China has been working to miniaturise its technology in other fields, with the country unveiling mosquito-sized drones in June as well.
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Forbes
6 hours ago
- Forbes
Open Ear Vs In-Ear? How These Earbuds Differ And Which Is Best?
Open ear is the new challenger to in-ear headphones. Is there a winner in this battle? Anker Some months ago, I encountered an entirely new format of earphones for the first time in the guise of the open-ear Soundcore C40i earbuds — and they were something of a revelation. As the name suggests, open-ear earbuds are designed specifically to let you hear sounds from the outside world as you listen, while also removing the listening fatigue associated with conventional in-ear designs. With the new open-ear Soundcore AeroClip and the Soundcore Liberty 5 earphones as reference, I thought it was an opportunity to weigh the pros and cons of each technology, so you can decide which works best for you. Open-ear earbuds refer to wireless earphones that clip onto your earlobe rather than inside or over it. A rear section houses ng the battery and Bluetooth tech, while sound chamber sits on the other and both are connected by a band made of Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU), a rubber-like plastic material that is lightweight, flexible and durable. Open ear earbuds has a jewelry-like appearance and let you hear the outside world as you listen. Anker Thanks to what your grandparents would think of as the wonders of 'modern technology' all of this can be contained in a tiny earbud that, in the case of the Soundcore AeroClip , weighs a mere 5.9g. The TPU material enables it to grip your earlobe firmly but without significant pressure, so you can barely feel them, and as there's nothing inside your ear canal and nothing covering your ear, you can barely tell that you're wearing them. The band also doubles up as a touch-sensitive pause and skip button and for accepting calls, which is clever. Looks-wise, the small, rounded band gives the appearance of jewelry, and as an old-fashioned type, it did cross my mind that they may look odd on me, but fortunately, this proved not to be the case, and I didn't get any strange stares — or at least, no more than normal. Ah, but surely, they are going to fall off, you might be thinking. Not so. Much to my surprise, I found that whether pounding the streets on a run, they didn't budge, giving me confidence that I could use them in many situations. That is the case, however, only if you put them on correctly. Put them over your earlobe the wrong way round and they will come off, which I learnt the hard way, when — well, there's no way to sugar coat this — one fell off my ear and into the toilet bowl. Yikes! On the upside, this was a great opportunity to test their IPX4 rating, and after I fished it out, washed and dried it off, the bud showed no ill effects, demonstrating its durability. Air Conduction As the earbuds are some distance away from your ear canal, you might wonder how they work. The answer is the science of conduction, with the angled side-firing speaker driver beaming the sound waves towards the ear canal. As there is no seal over the ear, outside sounds can be picked up as you would expect, so when running or cycling, or crossing the street on the way to the shops, you can hear traffic or be more likely to hear someone approaching you, which is a bonus for safety. Alternatively, you might be secure inside your home but want to be able to hear the doorbell as you wait for that package to arrive. Surround Sound What I wasn't expecting was how good the open-ear Soundcore AeroClips sounded. For such a tiny thing, with no physical contact to the ear, the clear and engaging output seemed almost magical, and as sound isn't being beamed directly into your ears, there was a strange sensation of not being certain if the audio was coming from the smartphone, which meant some slightly panicked checking the first couple of times. Whether for podcast voices or for 'breeze hop' (aka relaxing funky beats, which is a term I think I've just made up) were natural and easy to listen to. Switching things up with Oasis Live at Cardiff and the beefy weight of the guitars and the gravel in Liam's older voice showed their presence. Microphone quality was also fine, as somehow, the tiny AeroClip buds contain four microphones, and my voice came across clearly on a call, even in a crowded restaurant. So, are open ears the perfect solution? Well, not quite. The key feature of being able to hear outside sounds at the same time as your audio is also a downside. When things get too noisy, you simply cannot hear what you're listening to anymore well – and as for using them on the deafening London Underground – forget it. In ear headphones such as the Soundcore Liberty 5 are ideal for when you want to block out the ... More outside world, such as when traveling on the subway. Anker The Benefits of In-Ear This, then, is exactly where a more traditional in-ear headphone design, such as the Liberty 5, comes in. If open earbuds are aimed at letting outside noise in, in-ears are designed to do the opposite, and at just £100 ($100), the Soundcore Liberty 5 earbuds are a great affordable option. At just 4.6g the buds are even lighter than the AeroClip , which is extremely light, and with no open speaker driver, it also allows for a more durable IP55 water and dust resistance rating. However, the bud is directly in your ear so there's no getting away from the fact that you are more aware of it. Sound quality priority While not a 'high-end' earphone, the Liberty 5 s have a strong emphasis on sound quality. To get that, though, you must spend time ensuring that they fit well and that a variety of easy-to-swap tips in different sizes are provided. From previous experience, I had assumed that I had abnormally small ear canals and so went straight for the smallest ones. However, my mistake was flagged up by the 'HearID' sound test routine in the app. This test analyzes your hearing and adjusts the headphones' output but before it starts it checks if your earbud has a proper seal. It promptly informed me that I did not. After correcting this, I immediately noticed an improvement in the sound quality. Once completed, the test determined that I had above-average hearing for my age, so I was happy to forgive being caught out by it. The Liberty 5 s are undoubtedly a step up in audio terms compared to the Aeroclips (especially if your source device supports LDAC), with meatier bass response and clearer detail. The Dolby Sound mode opened podcast audio up nicely, and while you can use custom modes, such as Bass Booster and Acoustic, I'd eschew these and use the Custom EQ mode. It takes time to optimize it, but the result will be worth it, whatever you're into. In-ears will also usually provide active noise cancelling (ANC). While some open-ear buds offer this (which appears contradictory considering that open-ear buds are designed to let sound in), for truly effective ANC, you need a sealed design — and the Liberty 5 s do a good job. The app provides five intensity levels and shortcuts for airplane or vehicle travel and there's also a 'Wind Noise Reduction' setting, which often catches ANC out, so to speak. Finally, there's also a gaming mode, which reduces latency and boosts 'footsteps and voices' at the risk of connection instability. If you do need to hear the outside world, there's a 'Transparency' mode, but you have to manually activate it and it isn't as natural an experience as open-ear buds. So, which is best? What this brief compare-and-contrast tour of open-ear vs in-ear demonstrates is that it isn't a question of better, but more about what you want to prioritize. If you appreciate being able to keep an ear on your surroundings, then open ear is the way to go, but there's no getting around that in a noisy environment, such as an office, they may not work. And while I love the airy feel of the open ears, there's no doubt that for non-causal listening, you'll get more from an in-ear design. That said, you will have to accept that, while it's not uncomfortable, you'll still be aware that there is something in your ear. There is, it turns out, no such thing as a free lunch. As such, you may need both open Ear and in-ear earbuds. It's fortunate, then, that Soundcore offers affordable options, so you can pick up both of these for less than the price of high-end options from other brands, which, in these cash-strapped times, should be music to your ears. Further reading Forbes Soundcore C40i Earbuds Review: No Noise Canceling — No Fear By Benny Har-Even Forbes NuraTrue Pro Cuts Cords But Not Corners With CD-Quality Lossless Audio Over Wireless By Benny Har-Even Forbes Acefast Acefit Pro Open-Ear Headphones Review By Benny Har-Even
Tom's Guide
10 hours ago
- Tom's Guide
I put this $40 waterproof Bluetooth speaker to the test in my shower and here's what happened
Growing up, there was nothing I loved more than my cheap, rubbish-sound-quality, gimmicky speaker. It would come with me and my friends everywhere and pretty much soundtracked my youth in real time. But technology has advanced since I was young, and the best cheap speakers now come with good sound quality and without the gimmicks. The Tozo PE1 combines compact convenience with great sound quality, with help from the companion app. It's completely waterproof, making it great to take a shower with, and has multipoint connection to handle two of your devices at once. The battery life drains pretty fast if you listen at full volume, and the sound is tinny at those volumes too. But I have to say, these aren't deal breakers for me. You can find out more about how I got on in my full Tozo PE1 review. The Tozo PE1 Bluetooth speaker is a real budget steal. It's available for purchase at Amazon U.S, but the price differs depending on which colour you get. 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I prefer the tiny size and big noise of the Tozo PE1 — I can throw it in any bag, or clip it to the outside using the built-in flexible carabiner. On the carabiner, while it's rubber, there is metal inside, so it takes a good squeeze to get it to flex and is very secure. While the Tozo PE1 hasn't been specifically tested for dust protection (so be wary not to get it sandy at the beach), it's completely waterproof. The waterproof rating of IPX8 means it can be submerged in water and still come out good as new. So, if you're anything like me, you can perform a mean shower cover of Carrie Underwood's 'Before He Cheats' to your shampoo bottles. The speaker has a mesh front which gives a textured look, and you can actually see this vibrate from the power of the drivers at higher volumes. The 43.5mm dynamic drivers produce a huge sound despite the tiny size of the speaker. They are better at lower volumes, but for the price point, even the high volume performance is great; but more on that later. There is a USB-C charging port on the bottom of the speaker, located next to the built-in microphone. There is a 20-inch charging cable included with the speaker too. The controls on the Tozo PE1 speaker are all located on the right-hand side, making it really easy to change the song or alter the volume while holding it in one hand. The buttons are also dual-purpose to save space on the speaker. The power button also plays and pauses the music, while the volume buttons also control the song skips. The only issue I have with these buttons is that they are indented, so you have to press quite hard to get them to respond. However, you can also control the music easily from your phone — especially handy if you're not right next to the speaker. The Tozo PE1 speaker uses Bluetooth 5.4 to give a total range of 15 meters. I found this great for when I was moving around the garden but wanted to stay connected to keep playing my music. The signal stayed stable wherever I was in the garden, and then in between rooms when I was using it in the house. There is also dual device connection, which is easy to use as the speaker is automatically discoverable without needing any button pushes. I connected to my laptop to play music and to my phone at the same time, so I was alerted to calls and notifications. The switch between the two was seamless with no delay. There is a built-in microphone at the bottom of the speaker so you can even use it to take calls. I tested this by calling my brother. He isn't one to mince his words, so I know he was being honest when saying he could hear me clearly, albeit with a little crackling. The speaker is compatible with the Tozo Signature Sound app, where I was able to alter EQ settings and use presets to get the most out of my music. And for a studio sound experience, Tozo says you can get two of the speakers and connect to them at the same time. This is also a feature of the Tribit Stormbox Lava, although I don't recommend forking out close to $300 for two of those speakers. However, since the Tozo PE1 is very affordable, buying two is definitely something to consider. Unfortunately, Tozo only sent me one unit, so I haven't had the chance to test it out for myself. When testing the sound quality of the Tozo PE1 speaker, what stood out to me was that it sounds so much better when hanging from the carabiner, although it does have contouring on its body to lie flat too. I began testing with 'Guns for Hands' by Twenty One Pilots. This is a song that uses electronic beats, so it's a great way to pick out any trouble areas with tinniness. Given the price and size of the speaker, I was expecting this to be far worse than it was. The speaker sounded pretty good until it reached about 70% volume, and then the song started to become tinny. This is also because the song is high-pitched, so the sound of the electronic beat becomes pretty much unbearable. I always like to test audio gear with some metal songs as it gives me a good idea of how the mids are performing. I went for 'Oh No' by Bring Me The Horizon, which (dare I say) is one of their more pop-y songs, so it felt like a fair test for a small speaker. I tried this with the Pop EQ preset and it balanced the vocals on the track really well, even at high volumes. The bass certainly carried the song here and sounded punchy, but the cymbals came across as very tinny. I wanted to see what else I could do with the EQ settings in the app and turned to 'She's American' by The 1975. I decided to create a custom EQ from one of the existing presets. I used the Deep EQ preset and raised the lower frequencies and highest frequencies to get a crisper sound on the rhythm guitar. I love this song and this gave it a super full sound, so I played it a few times on repeat. To test the Vocal EQ setting, I played 'The Last Man on Earth' by Wolf Alice. The vocals on the recording of this track are very raw, and accentuating this only made the experience better. There was still the tinny sound at high volumes, but this was by far my favorite song to listen to on the speaker, so slower, vocal-first songs are definitely the way to go. While the PE1 wasn't the definition of great sound quality, it's important to remember that this is a sub-$40 speaker. Being peaky at high volumes can usually be expected with smaller Bluetooth speakers. The Ultimate Ears Miniroll has the same issue as the Toxo PE1 of getting tinny at higher volumes — it just comes with the territory. 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The speaker is great to use anywhere — even in the shower, since it's completely waterproof — while its compact size means it can come with me everywhere I go. The flexible carabiner is also awesome for hooking onto the outside of bags. My favorite feature is the Tozo Signature Sound app, as this gave me more freedom to play around with the speaker and get the sound I wanted. If you're in the market for the cheapest speaker you can get your hands on that still has decent sound quality and a sleek yet convenient look, clip this to your bag.
Tom's Guide
10 hours ago
- Tom's Guide
I've been testing the Leica Q3 43 for a week — and if you didn't believe the Leica hype already, you will after seeing these photos
I'm in the very privileged position of testing the best cameras, from compacts to medium format bodies and everything in between. More than a year of testing these cameras has proven one thing to me: the Leica hype is real, and these cameras are in a league of their own. And the camera that proved that? The Leica Q3 43, which I tested for a week — I had tears in my eyes when I returning the loan unit. The Q3 43 is an exceptional compact camera. It's tactile to handle and intuitive to use, and it's very easy to travel with, barely taking up space in your backpack. Fitted with a 43mm lens whose field of view resembles human vision, and a 60.3MP CMOS sensor, the camera takes stunning images packed with plenty of detail and beautiful colors. The autofocus performs well for stills while the Maestro IV processor captures a wide dynamic range. For casual videographers, the Q3 43 offers the ability to shoot 8K/30fps and 4K/60fps footage too. While not without its faults, as there's no IBIS and the battery life is short, the Q3 43 is worth every cent… if you can afford it. Read on for my full Leica Q3 43 review. Specs Leica Q3 43 Price $7,380 / £5,900 Sensor 60.3MP CMOS Processor Leica Maestro IV Stabilization Optical Image Stabilization only AF system Intelligent Hybrid AF Focus modes Intelligent AF, Single AF, Continuous AF, Manual Focus Viewfinder OLED EVF, approx. 5.76 million dots Display 3-inch TFT LCD touchscreen, approx. 1.84 million dots ISO range 50-100,000 Max video resolution C8K/30fps | C4K/60fps | FHD/120fps Ports USB-C, micro HDMI output, 1x SD/SDHC/SDXC UHS-II/V90 Wireless/Bluetooth Wi-Fi, Bluetooth Max shooting speed 15fps (electronic) | 7fps (mechanical) Max shutter speed 1s to 1/16000s (stills, electronic) | 120s to 1/2000s (stills, mechanical) Battery life (Stills, CIPA) 350 shots Size 5.11 x 3.84 x 3.16 inches Weight 1.51lbs (body only) Leica cameras don't come cheap and they fit a certain luxurious lifestyle. The Leica Q3 43 retails for $7,380 / £5,900, but unlike the Leica M11-D ($9,799) where you need to spend extra on glass, the Q3 43 has a fixed lens. This lens has a focal length of 43mm, which I'll discuss in depth later, and it has been specifically designed for the Q3 43. The Q3 43 finds itself competing with the likes of the Fujifilm GFX100RF ($4,899) — also a fixed-lens camera but medium format. It's priced closely to the Hasselblad X2D 100C ($8,199), which is an interchangeable lens camera (ILC). Given the Q3 43's compact, full frame nature, the Sony A7CR ($2,999) and the Fujifilm X100VI ($1,599) are also its competitors, but they cost a lot less than the Leica. So why would you buy the Q3 43 if you can just get one of the aforementioned cameras for cheaper? People who want a Leica aren't looking for cheaper alternatives — they want a Leica. If I could afford it, I would be buying the Q3 43 in no time. Its unique 43mm focal length sets it apart, and the image quality and color reproduction are phenomenal. The Leica Q3 43 is a stunning camera. It's near-identical to the base Leica Q3 which features a 28mm lens. That has been replaced with a 43mm lens with a field of view that resembles human vision and what your eye sees. It's a fantastic, sharp lens that, when combined with the camera's 60.3MP sensor, captures an incredible amount of detail. Unlike every other camera that comes in black or silver, the Q3 43 is available in a few colorways: Black Paint, Matte Black Paint, Red, Safari Green and Silver. The front of the camera is wrapped in a faux-leather material that gives it a premium edge — and yes, this looks like an expensive camera. The camera measures 5.11 x 3.84 x 3.16 inches so it's slightly bigger than other compacts, like the Fujifilm X100VI. Without a battery and SD card, the Q3 43 weighs 1.51lbs and has great weight distribution. It feels great to carry around your neck with the included leather strap. Tactile to hold and use, I love how the Q3 43 handles. One thing I would change? Add a protruding sculpted grip, like on the Fujifilm GFX100RF. That's not to say it isn't comfortable to hold; that would just make it even better. Similar to the Leica M11-D, the Leica Q3 43 doesn't house as many ports as most other cameras. Located behind a hatch on the left-hand side, you'll find the USB-C port for data transfer and charging, and a micro HDMI output port. Even though the Q3 43 is a hybrid camera that can shoot cinematic 8K video, it doesn't house any 3.5mm jacks for headphones and mic input or output. However, Leica's partnership with Rode means that the Q3 43 supports Rode mics via the USB-C port, such as the Rode Wireless Go Gen 3 ($329). On the bottom plate, you'll find a silver release lever which, on being pushed, releases the battery pack. Also located on the bottom plate is the memory card compartment, and the Q3 43 is compatible with one SD/SDHC/SDXC UHS-I/UHS-II card. There's no support for CFExpress cards which may be an issue for those looking to shoot a lot of 8K video. The Leica Q3 43 is fitted with a bright 3-inch TFT LCD touchscreen around the back. It has a resolution of approximately 1.84 million dots, and it falls just short of the Fujifilm GFX100RF's which boasts 2.1 million dots though, but I still found it bright enough to read in direct sunlight and in the dark. I found the touchscreen highly responsive in my testing, enabling me to quickly adjust settings and swap between Leica Looks, for instance. The monitor has a Tilt-Type mechanism so it can tilt only up and down and can't be swung outwards, but it's handy enough for shooting at waist-level or remaining discreet when shooting the streets or macro. The Leica Q3 43 features an excellent, detailed OLED electronic viewfinder (EVF) with a resolution of approximately 5.76 million dots. It's on a level playing field with the Fujifilm GFX100RF's and the Hasselblad X2D 100C's (both 5.76M dots). You can choose between a 60fps or 120fps refresh rate, and while the latter will shorten battery life, it will relay smooth motion. The viewfinder also provides a depth-of-field preview as half-pressing the shutter button stops down the aperture. In my testing, the viewfinder was quick and reliable and never once let me down. Unlike the Fujifilm X100VI, you don't need to buy a weather-sealing kit for the Leica Q3 43 as the camera has an IP52 rating, This means its body prevents a significant amount of dust from entering, and it is also safe against water drips at a tilt. You should be able to use the camera while it's drizzling but as always, err on the side of caution. Keeping in line with Leica's ethos of simplicity and minimalism, the Leica Q3 43's control scheme is stripped back and very intuitive. The camera doesn't host as many dials as most other cameras, and it didn't take me long to get to grips with it. The buttons and dials are all within easy reach and customizing them is simple too — keep a button pressed down to change its function via on-screen instructions. One of the Q3 43's standout features is its digital crop button, located above the touchscreen. At first I thought it would be difficult to access while shooting through the viewfinder, but it was actually easy to do with my thumb — yes, even when my face was pushed against the back of the camera. This button enables you to apply five digital crops, alongside the standard 43mm: 60mm, 75mm, 90mm, 120mm and 150mm. The camera crops into images to give effective focal lengths at the cost of some resolution, which is okay because you have 60MP at your disposal, allowing for extreme cropping. Sound familiar? That's because a similar function exists on the Fujifilm GFX100RF! As I'd already tested the GFX100RF before the Q3 43, I was familiar with the real-world application of the digital crop button. I used it constantly to see, in real time, what an image would look like if I cropped into it, and it helped me frame my images better. The other controls include traditional dials on the top plate for adjusting shutter speed, ISO and exposure, and the mode button which allows you to quickly swap between stills and video. It's important to note that there's no joystick for changing focus points. Instead, you'll need to use the D-pad. It isn't as comfortable as a traditional joystick but it isn't unusable either as it's responsive and quick. If it gives you any comfort, the Hasselblad X2D 100C doesn't have a joystick… or a D-pad, and you need to use the touchscreen for focusing, so at least Leica has implemented something to make focusing easier. At the time of writing, the Leica Q3 43 boasts the brand's smartest, most advanced autofocus system. It uses a combination of phase and contrast detection as well as depth mapping to accurately lock onto humans and animals/birds. As with other cameras, you can choose between Single AF, Continuous AF, Manual focus and Intelligent AF which automatically swaps between the first two. In my testing, the Q3 43 quickly focused on every subject I pointed at, as you can see in the gallery above. It locked onto my coworker's face and I didn't have to think much. Similarly, it locked onto the man's body in the second shot, even though his face was turned away, and the swan in the third. I also like that when there are multiple people in the frame, the camera will highlight the person it is focusing on with a yellow box and the others with white. You can then use the D-pad to swap between your primary subject — a great feature for street photography. Where the Q3 43's autofocus slightly struggles is in video. In the video above, it's slow to focus on my face as I enter the frame. It's not the slowest but not the fastest either, and I'd recommend the Sony A7CR's AF system over the Q3 43's, at least for video work. The Leica Q3 43 doesn't feature in-body image stabilization (IBIS), which makes it difficult to shoot at very slow shutter speeds. I'd recommend using a tripod when shooting in low-light conditions or anywhere else that requires slow shutter speeds. Instead, the camera utilizes optical image stabilization. The first photo in the gallery above was shot at 1/4s and that's the slowest I could shoot handheld. Any slower than that and the result was blurry, impacted by camera shake, as you can see in the second slide. How would I describe the photos the Leica Q3 43 takes? Pin-sharp, gorgeously colored, extremely stunning. The camera is fitted with a 60.3MP CMOS sensor and Leica Maestro IV processor, both of which work together to deliver stupidly beautiful images. You can see a few sample shots in the gallery above. As I mentioned before, the Q3 43's viewfinder shows an accurate depth-of-field preview which I utilized in the first shot, swapping between different aperture values to capture a lovely photo of one of my coworkers. This camera is great for taking candids of friends and family while on vacation. In terms of shooting rates, the Q3 43 utilizes a 15fps electronic or 7fps mechanical shutter, which is more than enough for street, landscapes and travel photography. The electronic shutter has a maximum speed of 1s to 1/16000s while the mechanical shutter has speeds of 120s to 1/2000s. I had a lot of fun photographing birds with the Q3 43 too. I especially love the first photo of the bee collecting nectar and pollen from the purple flowers. It's sharp and the colors have been faithfully reproduced. I also shot this with the 120mm digital crop. Good news is that, if you're shooting in both JPEG and DNG, the camera will save an uncropped DNG version if you aren't happy with the straight-out-of-camera JPEG. What about the other digital crops? You can see how the images look with each digital crop in the gallery above. Even at 150mm, you can clearly see the sunburnt spots on the leaves. Similar to other Leica cameras, the Q3 43 gives you access to six Leica Looks, such as Vivid, Monochrome, etc. I thoroughly enjoyed using the High Contrast Monochrome black and white profile, which I like almost as much as Fujifilm's Acros. You can see sample images in the gallery above. It works great for street photography as it adds a dramatic flair. Because you have 60.3 megapixels at your disposal, you can crop right into images, and because the camera retains so much detail, these photos will make for great large-format prints too. The first image in the gallery above is a crop of the second. The flower's petals are still in focus and appear sharp with refined edges. The Q3 43's built-in lens has a dedicated macro mode. Using the lens dial closest to the camera lets you swap between macro and normal, and twisting it reveals a new set of markings for close-up focusing (as close as 27cm). The photos above were shot with the lens' macro mode active. I deliberately chose to focus on the petals, leaving the stigma slightly blurry, and I'm very pleased with the result. I did the opposite in the second shot and again, there's plenty of detail in the shot. The Q3 43 has an ISO range of 50-100,000. Similar to the Leica M11-D, the Q3 43 captures JPEGs alongside DNGs, and DNGs are usually 15-20% smaller than RAW files, but the difference is negligible. At ISO6,400, the camera performs as you'd expect so let's talk about higher ISO values instead. The images above were shot at ISO12,500: the first is a JPEG export of the DNG file and the second is the straight-out-of-camera JPEG. In the DNG, you can see a lot of grain in the background and the bobblehead, but the Q3 43's in-camera noise reduction technology has done a fantastic job of eliminating it in the second photo. The bobblehead's features and the text in the background are still sharp. The photos above were shot at ISO25,000 where things start to get really noisy. While the camera does a good job of reducing noise in the SOOC JPEG (second slide), you can still see grain in the bobblehead's trousers and the book in the background. There is also a slight loss in sharpness around the bobblehead's fingers. Just like with the Sony A7CR, I wouldn't recommend shooting at ISO higher than ISO25,000. The photos in the gallery above were shot at ISO50,000 and at this point, noise is destructive. The bobblehead's fingers and hair don't appear as sharp and neither do the letters on the book. While you can shoot at up to ISO100,000, use it only as a last resort. The Fujifilm GFX100RF outclasses the Q3 43 when it comes to shooting at high ISO. I noticed noise only at ISO102,400 when using the GFX100RF, which is commendable, and I'd recommended getting the Fuji instead if you want to shoot at high sensitivities. Similar to the Leica M11-D, dynamic range performance is where the Leica Q3 43 shines. Offering up to 14+ stops, you can make extensive adjustments in post-production without significantly impacting image quality. To test the camera's dynamic range, I conducted an extreme test by photographing my collection of bobbleheads and instant cameras against a light source (the sun), and I was very impressed with the result. In the gallery above, shot at ISO50, the first shot is a JPEG export of the DNG file, unedited, and the second is the same photo but with shadows and exposure boosted and highlights reduced in Adobe Photoshop Lightroom. The shadows have remained very clean and plenty of color detail has been captured. While the Leica Q3 43 is primarily regarded as a stills-first camera due to its lack of 3.5mm input and average image stabilization, it's excellent for casual video work. It can shoot 8K/30fps, 4K/60fps (as seen above) and FHD/120fps slow motion video, and cinematic 8K and 4K too (17:9 aspect ratio). 4K and 8K video is recorded in 4:2:2 10-bit which means it can capture 1.07 billion individual hues, while FHD is limited to 8-bit (16.7 million hues). Leica has also added support for Apple ProRes for high-quality video editing in professional post-production workflows. You can shoot in L-Log too to capture a wide dynamic range for more flexibility in post. Cinematic 4K, as I said, records footage in the 17:9 aspect ratio, and you can see a clip above. Movement is smooth and flawless at 60fps. This video was shot in the Vivid Leica Look which adds more saturation to colors and it looks fantastic, perfect for shots of flowers and any other bright subject. Where the Leica Q3 43 falls short is in the battery department. It utilizes the BP-SCL6 battery pack and it has a 350-shot CIPA rating. The Fujifilm GFX100RF blows the Q3 43 out of the water here as it's CIPA-rated for 820 shots. Even the cheaper Fujifilm X100VI (450 shots) and the Sony A7CR (530 shots) outlast the Q3 43. CIPA tests, however, are conducted under very strict testing conditions, and real-life results will always vary depending on your shooting conditions and habits. I shot JPEGs while regularly accessing the gallery, adjusting settings, shooting through the viewfinder and using the monitor, and a single charge yielded nearly 450 shots. It's always safer to take CIPA ratings as the standard, though. With a 60.3MP CMOS full frame sensor that takes beautiful photos, aided by a 43mm lens that is extremely sharp, the Leica Q3 43 is a force to be reckoned with. Great for street, architecture, travel and candid portraits, the camera boasts faithful color reproduction and it makes colors pop. Digital cropping adds to the camera's versatility while retaining lots of detail. Autofocus works well on both humans and animals as the camera quickly focuses on subjects being photographed. While primarily aimed at stills shooters, you get access to 8K/30fps and 4K/60fps video recording too, which is hindered by the camera's lack of 3.5mm input and lack of in-body image stabilization. Regardless, the resulting footage is smooth and gorgeous. The Q3 43 is a lovely camera to handle and compact enough to carry around your neck or in a small bag. I haven't stopped thinking about the Q3 43 since I tested it and I think it will be a while until another camera blows me like this one did. If you can afford it, then there's nothing like it.
