Clicky

Leica V-Lux 20 vs Sony HX5

Portability
91
Imaging
34
Features
33
Overall
33
Leica V-Lux 20 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5 front
Portability
92
Imaging
33
Features
30
Overall
31

Leica V-Lux 20 vs Sony HX5 Key Specs

Leica V-Lux 20
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-300mm (F3.3-4.9) lens
  • 218g - 103 x 60 x 33mm
  • Introduced April 2010
Sony HX5
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.4" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 200g - 102 x 58 x 29mm
  • Launched June 2010
Photography Glossary

Leica V-Lux 20 vs Sony HX5 Overview

Following is a in-depth analysis of the Leica V-Lux 20 and Sony HX5, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Leica and Sony. The sensor resolution of the V-Lux 20 (12MP) and the HX5 (10MP) is relatively well matched but the V-Lux 20 (1/2.3") and HX5 (1/2.4") boast totally different sensor dimensions.

Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

The V-Lux 20 was announced at a similar time to the HX5 so they are of a similar age. Each of these cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before getting straight to a thorough comparison, here is a simple introduction of how the V-Lux 20 grades vs the HX5 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Mastering Nature Photography with a Digital Microscope Camera

        

Reasons to pick Leica V-Lux 20 over the Sony HX5

 V-Lux 20 HX5 
Screen resolution461k230kClearer screen (+231k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony HX5 over the Leica V-Lux 20

 HX5 V-Lux 20 

Common features in the Leica V-Lux 20 and Sony HX5

 V-Lux 20 HX5 
LaunchedApril 2010June 2010Similar age
Focus manually No manual focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen sizing
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither features Touch friendly screen

Leica V-Lux 20 vs Sony HX5 Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to carry around your camera, you should factor in its weight and measurements. The Leica V-Lux 20 enjoys outside dimensions of 103mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") along with a weight of 218 grams (0.48 lbs) whilst the Sony HX5 has proportions of 102mm x 58mm x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") accompanied by a weight of 200 grams (0.44 lbs).

Analyze the Leica V-Lux 20 and Sony HX5 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are using during that time. Here is a front view measurements comparison of the V-Lux 20 vs the HX5.

Leica V-Lux 20 vs Sony HX5 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the V-Lux 20 and HX5 is 91 and 92 respectively.

Leica V-Lux 20 vs Sony HX5 top view buttons comparison

Leica V-Lux 20 vs Sony HX5 Sensor Comparison

Often, it can be hard to see the difference between sensor sizes merely by checking specs. The picture here might offer you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the V-Lux 20 and HX5.

As you can plainly see, both the cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The V-Lux 20 having a bigger sensor will make achieving shallower depth of field less difficult and the Leica V-Lux 20 will give you extra detail with its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will also let you crop shots way more aggressively.

Leica V-Lux 20 vs Sony HX5 sensor size comparison

Leica V-Lux 20 vs Sony HX5 Screen and ViewFinder

Leica V-Lux 20 vs Sony HX5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Leica V-Lux 20 Portrait photography features
Sony HX5 Portrait photography features
20
no manual focus
cannot use external flash
low MP (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
19
no manual focus
external flash not possible
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.4")
lack of RAW format
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Street Comparison

Leica V-Lux 20 Street photography advice
Sony HX5 Street photography advice
60
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors in class (218g)
screen does not articulate
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
55
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.4")
lack of RAW format
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Leica V-Lux 20
Sports photography with Sony HX5
27
image stabilization (Optical)
continuous shooting slow (2.0 frames per second)
low MP (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
26
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no shutter priority mode
low megapixels (10MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.4")
lack of phase detect AF
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Travel Comparison

Leica V-Lux 20 Travel photography advice
Sony HX5 Travel photography advice
63
lighter than competitors in class (218g)
flash built-in
fairly wide (25mm)
great reach (300mm)
lack of Timelapse mode
low MP (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
60
has built in flash
quite wide (25mm)
very long zoom (250mm)
no Time Lapse recording
low megapixels (10MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Landscape Comparison

Leica V-Lux 20 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony HX5 as a Landscape photography camera
37
fairly wide (25mm)
good sized screen (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
no manual focus
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
low MP (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
lack of Timelapse mode
37
quite wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no manual focus
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
low megapixels (10MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.4")
lack of RAW format
no Time Lapse recording
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Vlogging Comparison

Leica V-Lux 20 Vlogging info
Sony HX5 Vlogging info
30
fairly wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors in class (218g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
display is not selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of external microphone support
31
quite wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
display isn't selfie friendly
no mic jack
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

Leica V-Lux 20 vs Sony HX5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Leica V-Lux 20 and Sony HX5
 Leica V-Lux 20Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5
General Information
Make Leica Sony
Model Leica V-Lux 20 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2010-04-20 2010-06-16
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Bionz
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.4"
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.104 x 4.578mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 27.9mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 10MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4000 x 3000 3456 x 2592
Highest native ISO 6400 3200
Min native ISO 80 125
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-300mm (12.0x) 25-250mm (10.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.3-4.9 f/3.5-5.5
Macro focus distance 3cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.9 5.9
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 461k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/1600s
Continuous shutter speed 2.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 5.30 m 3.80 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, On, Off, Slow syncro
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (60 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (60, 30fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG AVCHD
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn BuiltIn
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 218 grams (0.48 lb) 200 grams (0.44 lb)
Physical dimensions 103 x 60 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") 102 x 58 x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery model - NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, portrait1/portrait2)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo/ PRO HG-Duo, optional SD/SDHC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Cost at release $779 $275