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Canon SX280 HS vs Leica V-Lux 4

Portability
91
Imaging
36
Features
43
Overall
38
Canon PowerShot SX280 HS front
 
Leica V-Lux 4 front
Portability
65
Imaging
36
Features
62
Overall
46

Canon SX280 HS vs Leica V-Lux 4 Key Specs

Canon SX280 HS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-500mm (F3.5-6.8) lens
  • 233g - 106 x 63 x 33mm
  • Launched March 2013
  • Succeeded the Canon SX270 HS
Leica V-Lux 4
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200 (Increase to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-600mm (F2.8) lens
  • 588g - 125 x 87 x 110mm
  • Launched September 2012
  • Replaced the Leica V-Lux 3
  • Replacement is Leica V-Lux 5
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Canon SX280 HS vs Leica V-Lux 4 Overview

In this article, we are looking at the Canon SX280 HS versus Leica V-Lux 4, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by companies Canon and Leica. The resolution of the SX280 HS (12MP) and the V-Lux 4 (12MP) is fairly close and they use the same exact sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The SX280 HS was introduced 7 months later than the V-Lux 4 and they are both of a similar age. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Canon SX280 HS being a Compact camera and the Leica V-Lux 4 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before we go through a comprehensive comparison, below is a brief summary of how the SX280 HS matches up vs the V-Lux 4 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX280 HS over the Leica V-Lux 4

 SX280 HS V-Lux 4 
LaunchedMarch 2013September 2012More recent by 7 months
Display resolution461k460kSharper display (+1k dot)

Reasons to pick Leica V-Lux 4 over the Canon SX280 HS

 V-Lux 4 SX280 HS 
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Canon SX280 HS and Leica V-Lux 4

 SX280 HS V-Lux 4 
Focus manually Dial accurate focus
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurement
Touch display Neither comes with Touch display

Canon SX280 HS vs Leica V-Lux 4 Physical Comparison

If you are looking to lug around your camera, you have to consider its weight and size. The Canon SX280 HS comes with exterior measurements of 106mm x 63mm x 33mm (4.2" x 2.5" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 233 grams (0.51 lbs) whilst the Leica V-Lux 4 has specifications of 125mm x 87mm x 110mm (4.9" x 3.4" x 4.3") accompanied by a weight of 588 grams (1.30 lbs).

Check out the Canon SX280 HS versus Leica V-Lux 4 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are working with at that moment. Underneath is the front view measurements comparison of the SX280 HS vs the V-Lux 4.

Canon SX280 HS vs Leica V-Lux 4 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SX280 HS and V-Lux 4 is 91 and 65 respectively.

Canon SX280 HS vs Leica V-Lux 4 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX280 HS vs Leica V-Lux 4 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it's difficult to see the contrast in sensor measurements merely by looking through technical specs. The visual here should give you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the SX280 HS and V-Lux 4.

As you can tell, both cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing and the same megapixels and you can expect comparable quality of photographs but you should consider the launch date of the cameras into account. The more modern SX280 HS will have an edge with regard to sensor technology.

Canon SX280 HS vs Leica V-Lux 4 sensor size comparison

Canon SX280 HS vs Leica V-Lux 4 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX280 HS vs Leica V-Lux 4 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Canon SX280 HS
Portrait photography with Leica V-Lux 4
34
you can focus manually
features face detect autofocus
cannot use external flash
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
45
manual focus
includes face detection focus
supports RAW formats
low MP (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Canon SX280 HS Street photography highlights
Leica V-Lux 4 Street photography highlights
61
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (233g)
fixed screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
57
screen can move to multiple angles
image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW formats
small sensor size (1/2.3")
heavier than competitors in class (588g)
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX280 HS Sports photography info
Leica V-Lux 4 Sports photography info
36
incredible zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
features tracking focus
max fps low (4.0 frames per second)
low MP (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
not so great battery (210 shots)
does not have phase detect autofocus
46
incredible zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
includes tracking autofocus
great battery pack (540 shots)
low MP (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX280 HS Travel photography info
Leica V-Lux 4 Travel photography info
61
lighter than competition (233 grams)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (25mm)
very long zoom (500mm)
lack of Timelapse mode
not so great battery (210 CIPA)
low MP (12 megapixels)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
55
great battery pack (540 shots)
flash built-in
selfie friendly screen
quite wide (25mm)
long reach (600mm)
missing Time Lapse recording
heavier than competitors in class (588g)
low MP (12MP)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX280 HS Landscape photography advice
Leica V-Lux 4 Landscape photography advice
41
you can focus manually
reasonably wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
low MP (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
not so great battery (210 CIPA)
lack of Timelapse mode
48
manual focus
quite wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW formats
great battery pack (540 CIPA)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
low MP (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
missing Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX280 HS Vlogging advice
Leica V-Lux 4 Vlogging advice
34
reasonably wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
features face detect autofocus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition (233 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
lack of microphone socket
63
quite wide (25mm)
selfie friendly screen
image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
includes external mic port
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
heavier than competitors in class (588g)
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Canon SX280 HS vs Leica V-Lux 4 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX280 HS and Leica V-Lux 4
 Canon PowerShot SX280 HSLeica V-Lux 4
General Information
Manufacturer Canon Leica
Model type Canon PowerShot SX280 HS Leica V-Lux 4
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2013-03-21 2012-09-17
Body design Compact SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Powered by Digic 6 -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4000 x 3000 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 6400 3200
Maximum enhanced ISO - 6400
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points - 23
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-500mm (20.0x) 25-600mm (24.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.5-6.8 f/2.8
Macro focusing distance 5cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 461k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display technology - Free-Angle TFT Screen LCD Display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,312k dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Features
Min shutter speed 15s 60s
Max shutter speed 1/3200s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter speed 4.0 frames/s 12.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 3.50 m 13.50 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60, 30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30, 120 fps), 320 x 240 (240 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 50, 30, 25 fps), 1280 x 720p (60, 50, 30, 25 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 233 gr (0.51 pounds) 588 gr (1.30 pounds)
Dimensions 106 x 63 x 33mm (4.2" x 2.5" x 1.3") 125 x 87 x 110mm (4.9" x 3.4" x 4.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 210 photos 540 photos
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NB-6L -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 secs)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Price at release $325 $899