Leica D-Lux 6 vs. Nikon Coolpix S640: A Compact Camera Showdown for the Discerning Photographer

When it comes to compact cameras, choices abound. Yet, picking the right small-sensor fixed-lens compact boils down to your photography style, budget, and desired features. Today, I’m diving deep into two intriguing contenders: Leica’s upscale D-Lux 6 and Nikon’s budget-friendly Coolpix S640. Having tested thousands of cameras over the past decade and a half, I know how critical it is to cut through specs and marketing fluff to uncover what truly matters in the field. This comparison is grounded in hands-on experience, technical know-how, and practical use cases - perfect for enthusiasts or working pros mapping out their gear upgrades.

Weighing Leica’s rich photographic heritage against Nikon’s mass-market savvy, we’ll explore everything from sensor prowess to autofocus quirks. Along the way, I’ll share real-world examples and honest critiques to help you see where each camera shines - or stumbles. Let’s embark on this side-by-side journey and figure out which compact deserves a spot in your bag.

The Size and Feel: Handling and Ergonomics

Physical usability can often make or break the shooting experience, especially in a compact you want to carry all-day or slip in your pocket. The Leica D-Lux 6 (111 x 68 x 46 mm, 298g) is noticeably chunkier and feels more solidly built compared to the Nikon S640 (91 x 55 x 21 mm, 130g), which favors ultra-portability.

Leica’s D-Lux 6 sports a robust magnesium alloy body with a well-muscled grip that invites confident one-handed operation. The chunk lets the camera house a larger sensor and lens assembly, but also makes it less pocket-friendly - think jacket pocket rather than jeans. In contrast, Nikon’s featherweight S640 is a true pocket rocket, slipping easily into smaller spaces and even light purses.

I tested extended walks with both cameras. The D-Lux 6’s heft felt reassuring and less prone to shakes, especially when zoomed in. Meanwhile, Nikon’s minimalistic S640 occasionally felt flimsy, and the tighter grip meant my fingers would cramp a bit when holding for longer stretches.

Hands-on takeaway:

• Choose Leica D-Lux 6 for robust ergonomics and a serious feel.
• Pick Nikon S640 if pocket portability at ultra-light weight is your priority.

Design and Control Layout: Intuitive or Clunky?

The ability to rapidly access key controls can elevate or hinder your creative workflow.

Leica impresses with thoughtfully placed dials and buttons. The D-Lux 6 offers direct access to aperture and shutter speed via dedicated rings and knobs, a godsend for photographers who like manual control and quick tweaks. The 11 frames per second continuous shooting button is a handy bonus, making action shots easier. The lack of a touchscreen may feel old-school, but I appreciated the physical clubs for my thumbs, especially in bright sunlight where glare can make touchscreens frustrating.

Nikon’s S640, on the other hand, opts for minimalism. Physical buttons are few, with no manual exposure controls - everything runs mostly on auto or program modes. This makes it accessible to casual users but a big limiting factor for enthusiasts wanting creative control. The LCD is non-touch and fairly basic, relying on slow menu navigation which can feel fiddly on the go.

My verdict on controls:

• Leica D-Lux 6 excels for photographers craving manual finesse and quick access.
• Nikon S640 caters well to beginners or users wanting point-and-shoot simplicity.

Sensor and Image Quality: The Core of the Matter

Image quality comes down primarily to sensor size, technology, and processing pipeline. Here the two cameras diverge significantly.

Leica’s D-Lux 6 features a 1/1.7" CMOS sensor measuring 7.44 x 5.58 mm with a 10MP resolution, paired with the well-regarded Venus Engine processor. The larger sensor area (41.52 mm²) allows for better low-light performance, dynamic range, and noise control compared to Nikon’s S640's 1/2.3" CCD sensor at 6.08 x 4.56 mm and 12MP resolution (27.72 mm²).

In real-world shooting, Leica’s sensor delivers cleaner images especially from ISO 400 upwards, preserving shadow detail and reducing chroma noise even at ISO 800 and beyond. The S640’s CCD sensor tends to show more high-ISO graininess and muffled shadows.

Resolution-wise, while Nikon’s 12MP chip offers slightly higher pixel counts, the image detail suffers from smaller sensor area and noisier results at base ISOs. Leica’s cyclopean lens sharpness and lack of heavy in-camera noise reduction allow images to resolve with more clarity despite fewer pixels.

For landscape photographers, the D-Lux 6’s superior dynamic range translates into better highlight retention in bright skies and richer color gradients in shadow areas. Nikon’s S640 often clips highlights and loses shadow nuance under harsh lighting.

Summary of image quality:

• Leica’s larger CMOS sensor trumps Nikon in low light, dynamic range, and color fidelity.
• Nikon offers more pixels, but lower sensor quality limits usable resolution and noise performance.

Folding in the Screen and Interface Experience

A user-friendly rear display is critical, especially when composing images live or reviewing shots quickly.

The Leica’s 3-inch TFT LCD with 920K dots presents a crisp and bright viewing experience, superb for framing in daylight and reviewing images with accurate color. It’s fixed, non-touch, but well-calibrated, precisely what I want for manual exposure work and zooming in on details.

Nikon’s 2.7-inch LCD, with only 230K dots resolution, is much dimmer and visibly grainy under brighter daylight. This makes critical focusing and image assessment tricky without shading the screen. The interface is less refined, with sluggish navigation through menus and limited customization options.

If you frequently shoot outdoors or in bright conditions, Leica’s screen clearly makes a strong difference in workflow fluidity.

Autofocus Capabilities: Speed, Accuracy, and Tracking

Neither model boasts high-speed autofocus performance rivaling flagship mirrorless or DSLRs; still, within their categories, autofocus efficiency impacts user satisfaction.

The D-Lux 6 uses a contrast-detection system with 23 AF points and supports single, continuous AF and tracking modes. Though not lightning fast, it did a reasonable job locking focus on moderately moving subjects, especially within the generous aperture ranges of F1.4-F2.3. I found tracking reliable enough for casual portraits and some low-tempo street shooting.

Nikon S640 also relies on contrast detection but with a less sophisticated system - only single AF without tracking or continuous focus. Focus hunting was more common on the S640, leading to slower capture readiness and occasional misses, especially in low light or with fast-moving subjects. Macro focus was limited as well, making close-ups more challenging.

Neither camera offers face or eye detection autofocus, a noticeable omission given that many modern compacts include it - even budget models. Wildlife or sports shooters will be left wanting.

Glass Matters: Lens Quality and Zoom Versatility

A fixed lens means you’re stuck with what’s onboard - so it better be stellar.

The Leica D-Lux 6 comes with a 24-90 mm equivalent zoom at a very bright maximum aperture: F1.4 at the wide end gradually narrowing to F2.3 at 90 mm. This translates into excellent low-light performance and shallow depth-of-field control for portraits or artistic blur, uncommon in this class. The glass is sharp corner to corner, with minimal distortion and practically no chromatic aberration.

The Nikon S640 has a longer 28-140 mm zoom but with a dimmer max aperture range of F2.7-6.6. This lets you zoom further but sacrifices low-light and bokeh capabilities. The lens optical quality is average for a budget compact, with softness creeping in at telephoto settings and visible distortion at wide angle.

In portrait situations, Leica’s fast glass produces lovely creamy bokeh and nicely rendered skin textures. Nikon’s slower lens means you need more light to get similarly blurred backgrounds, and results are more “plastic” in feel.

Burst Shooting and Video Features: Action and Moving Image

Sports and wildlife photographers will care about shooting speed and video specs.

The Leica D-Lux 6 supports an impressive 11 frames per second continuous shooting at full resolution - rare for a compact camera of its era - making it competent for capturing fast-moving subjects or fleeting candid moments.

Nikon S640 does not offer continuous shooting modes beyond single RAW capture and standard JPEG burst sequences with much slower frame rates.

On the video side, Leica shoots full HD 1080p video at up to 60 fps in MPEG-4 or AVCHD formats. The D-Lux 6 lacks input jacks for microphone or headphones, however, limiting audio control.

Nikon maxes out at 720p 30 fps video in Motion JPEG format, which is lower quality and more storage hungry.

If moving image quality matters, Leica again stands clearly ahead.

Battery Life, Storage, and Connectivity

While compact cameras aren’t known for marathon battery stamina, these are practical concerns.

Leica’s rated battery life is around 330 shots per charge, typical for compact cameras with larger sensors and bigger LCD screens. It supports SD/SDHC/SDXC cards and has a single card slot, which is standard.

Nikon S640 lacks official battery life specs but uses EN-EL12 batteries, smaller and less durable than Leica’s. I found the S640 needed more frequent recharging in testing, particularly during live view and video recording.

Neither camera offers wireless connectivity options like WiFi or Bluetooth - an increasingly glaring omission in the 2020s. Leica does provide HDMI output for tethered viewing; Nikon does not.

Build Quality and Weather Resistance

Neither the Leica D-Lux 6 nor Nikon S640 offers weather sealing, dustproofing, or rugged protections. Both assume gentle handling in favorable environments. If you’re a landscape or travel shooter demanding reliability in adverse conditions, consider external protection or alternative gear.

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words: Sample Gallery

To illustrate these points visually, here’s a gallery showcasing JPEG samples captured side-by-side in controlled conditions:

Leica D Lux 6 front Leica D Lux 6 screen back Nikon S640 front Nikon S640 screen back

Notice Leica’s sharper details, better color saturation, and smoother tonal transitions compared to Nikon’s noisier output and muted color palette.

Performance Ratings at a Glance

To help visualize the overall strengths of each camera, here’s a synthesized performance scoring visualization based on real-world testing and lab analysis:

Leica D-Lux 6 scores highly in image quality, low-light operation, and user controls. Nikon S640 trails with strengths in portability and zoom range.

Suited to Your Style? Genre-Specific Strengths

Here’s a breakdown of how these cameras perform across common photographic disciplines:

Who Should Buy Which Camera?

Leica D-Lux 6: The Enthusiast’s Compact Powerhouse

If you’re someone who values:

• Superior image quality from a larger sensor.
• Fast, bright zoom lens ideal for portraits and low light.
• Manual exposure controls and quick access dials.
• Sharp full-HD video capabilities.
• Moderate weight and handling comfort.

Then, despite the higher price tag (~$1599), the D-Lux 6 is a beguiling choice. It suits enthusiasts, street and travel photographers who want DSLR-like quality without the bulk.

Nikon Coolpix S640: The Budget Pocket Cam for Snapshots

For snap-happy users on a tight budget (~$225) who:

• Want an ultra-lightweight, slim pocket shooter.
• Are content with simple point-and-shoot operation.
• Prefer a longer zoom range at the expense of aperture speed.
• Mainly photograph in bright light and casual settings.
• Don’t require RAW or advanced controls.

The Coolpix S640 delivers solid basic photography in a tiny shell. It’s perfect as a “throw-in-your-bag” vacation camera or gift for beginners who want straightforward snapshots without fuss.

Final Pros and Cons Summary

Wrapping It Up: My Takeaway for You

Between these two small-sensor compacts, the Leica D-Lux 6 is the clear choice for photographers who demand serious image quality, creative control, and strong video options in a compact package - albeit at a premium price. It’s a camera that rewards patience and skill with striking results, making it suitable for travel, portraits, and even some low-light landscape work.

Conversely, the Nikon Coolpix S640 stands as a capable, no-frills camera perfect for casual shooters looking for convenience and a light travel companion with decent zoom reach. It’s a solid entry compact, but enthusiasts and professionals will quickly find its limitations frustrating.

If my own bag had to pick just one, Leica’s D-Lux 6 would stay for its versatility and depth of features, despite its heft and cost. But for everyday snapshots, quick trips, or for those who want cheap and cheerful, Nikon’s S640 warrants respect.

I hope this detailed comparison helps you make a choice that fits your photographic ambitions and wallet. If you’re curious about specific shooting tips or want lens recommendations to complement these cameras, feel free to ask - I’ve lived and breathed compacts long enough to have juicy insights!

Happy shooting!