Leica V-Lux 20 vs Olympus SZ-16 iHS

Its time to look a little more in depth at the Leica V-Lux 20 and Olympus SZ-16 iHS, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by manufacturers Leica and Olympus. There exists a noticeable gap among the resolutions of the V-Lux 20 (12MP) and SZ-16 iHS (16MP) but both cameras provide the same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

Photography Glossary

The V-Lux 20 was brought out 3 years prior to the SZ-16 iHS which is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before going right into a thorough comparison, here is a concise view of how the V-Lux 20 grades vs the SZ-16 iHS in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Leica V-Lux 20 & Olympus SZ-16 iHS. The entire galleries are available at Leica V-Lux 20 Gallery & Olympus SZ-16 iHS Gallery.

For anyone who is going to carry around your camera, you have to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Leica V-Lux 20 has got outside measurements of 103mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") with a weight of 218 grams (0.48 lbs) whilst the Olympus SZ-16 iHS has dimensions of 108mm x 70mm x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") with a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs).

Examine the Leica V-Lux 20 and Olympus SZ-16 iHS in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you use during that time. Following is a front view measurements comparison of the V-Lux 20 compared to the SZ-16 iHS.

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the V-Lux 20 and SZ-16 iHS is 91 and 89 respectively.

Typically, it is very tough to picture the difference in sensor sizes merely by seeing a spec sheet. The picture below might offer you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the V-Lux 20 and SZ-16 iHS.

Clearly, the 2 cameras have the same sensor dimensions but different resolution. You can anticipate the Olympus SZ-16 iHS to produce extra detail having its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop images a bit more aggressively. The more aged V-Lux 20 will be behind in sensor tech.