“Watches, Stories, and Gear” is a roundup of our favorite content, watch or otherwise, from around the internet. Here, we support other creators, explore interesting content that inspires us, and put a spotlight on causes we believe in. Oh, and any gear we happen to be digging on this week. We love gear.
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Header Image Via: Leica
The Leica Q2 has developed a Swiss army knife, do-it-all reputation amongst the photography community since it was released back in 2019. With a wide 28mm Summilux lens, a macro shooting mode, and a digital zoom feature that offers an equivalent to a wide array of focal lengths, the Q2 can hold its own as a one-camera option on assignment, or as a trusty secondary shooter. Our very own Kat Shoulders and photographer Zach Piña had sung the praises of the Q2 in a recent Changing Gears podcast, but one thing they mentioned that could elevate the Q2 to greater heights would be a 40mm fixed lens. With appropriate timing, Leica announced the Q2’s successor this week with the brand new Q3. Although the next generation “Q” is still equipped with the 28mm f/1.7 Summilux (sorry Kat and Zach), it boasts updates in other areas including a 60 megapixel sensor, 8K video quality and improved auto-focusing capabilities.
The Leica Q3 features a 60 megapixel sensor from the previous 45 megapixel sensor in the Q2. The Q2 displayed impressive qualities working with the 28mm Summilux lens and according to Leica, the larger sensor is going to be that much better. The new sensor is built in with “Triple-Resolution” technology which allows the camera to shoot across 60, 36 and 18 megapixels saved into RAW format. Expect each image to have Leica’s signature detail with all resolutions and its integrated macro mode.
In addition to the larger sensor, the Q3 utilizes a new auto-focusing technology. You might remember several months back, we covered a new partnership between Leica and Panasonic, where both companies announced they would be sharing technologies to better their products. The dividends from this collaboration pay off in the Q3 with its internal hybrid autofocus system (found on the Panasonic S5II) that uses depth from defocus and phase detection. The upgrade in video resolution to 8K comes as a welcomed surprise, but the jury is still out on how the video recording will work with the new auto focusing system.
The Leica Q3 has all the hallmarks of what made the Q2 the camera that it is today, and then some. With this new release, Leica is offering up an intriguing proposition to upgrade to a higher-spec camera, as well as an increased opportunity for those to get in on the Q2 once more hit the used market. The Leica Q3 retails for $5,995.
Watch spotting isn’t just limited to the timepieces we catch on other people’s wrists. Sometimes we come across some cool and interesting time-telling displays, whether it’s walking through a charming downtown area or catching a train at a prominent railroad terminal. The folks over at Network Rail are partnering up with the Royal Institute of British Architects and the Design Museum to host an international competition to find the next timepiece design to be displayed across the nation’s rail network. The competition is open to students across the globe who are currently studying the fields of art, design, engineering, and architecture. The deadline to enter is June 13th, 2023. For more information on the competition and how to enter, head on over here.
We’ve come a very long way in the video game space since Metal Gear Solid made its debut in 1996 at the Tokyo Game Show. What separated the action-adventure video game from the rest was that at the time, MGS was the only 3D game out there that nailed the stealth genre and incorporated the uber-cool hiding-behind-cover mechanics. Well. MGS fans can rejoice, because your faithful main character, Solid Snake, is back after Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater was announced during the Playstation Showcase. The latest game is a remake of its third iteration and promises to have some familiar features including the original character voices and a captivating storyline. With that, you’ll also have some updates to an expansive suite of combat features. For more intel, The Verge has the scoop here.
Another announcement from the Playstation Showcase that got on our radar was Sony’s latest portable gaming device called the “Project Q”. The nifty handheld device features an 8-inch HD screen and allows the user to stream any game from their PS5 console over Wi-Fi at a solid 1080p and 60fps. The Project Q also comes equipped with features to retain that home-gaming experience including adaptive triggers and DualSense feedback. The Sony Project Q is slated for a release later this year. Check out Sony’s press release provided here for more information.
We live in a world filled with luxuries and $180,000 can get you some of them. You can put it all down on a feature-packed Porsche 911 Turbo or you could spread it around and pick up some quality NWA’s (or drop the entire thing on a grail, all up to you). What this lump sum of change can also get you is Caviar’s latest iPhone wrapped in a PVD-coated titanium case with 24k gold plating accents and a Rolex Cosmograph Daytona affixed to the back. You read that correctly – an actual working Rolex Daytona on the back of an iPhone 14 Pro Max.
We’re most certainly aware this won’t appeal to 99.9% of our readers, but there is always that 0.1% that could be into this type of thing. Caviar seems to think so and they’ve only made three that are currently available for a price starting at $182,580. The Russian-based company whose focus is selling “upgraded” smartphones and smartwatches is no stranger to pulling off products akin to this; just take a look at their $4,500 iPhone X Tesla with a built-in solar panel or their solid gold Samsung S2/S3 case that retails for upwards of $76,000. There’s only one way to describe this thing and we’re going to quote our favorite Ocean’s Eleven character, Ruben Tishkoff, when we say that this Caviar iPhone is, “Some gaudy monstrosity.” Let us know in the comments if you feel the same.
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