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Leica V-Lux 3 vs Sony HX400V

Portability
67
Imaging
36
Features
57
Overall
44
Leica V-Lux 3 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX400V front
Portability
62
Imaging
45
Features
60
Overall
51

Leica V-Lux 3 vs Sony HX400V Key Specs

Leica V-Lux 3
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-600mm (F2.8-5.2) lens
  • 540g - 124 x 81 x 95mm
  • Released December 2011
  • Superseded the Leica V-Lux 2
  • New Model is Leica V-Lux 4
Sony HX400V
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-1200mm (F2.8-6.3) lens
  • 660g - 130 x 93 x 103mm
  • Revealed February 2014
  • Succeeded the Sony HX300
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Leica V-Lux 3 vs Sony HX400V Overview

Here is a extended assessment of the Leica V-Lux 3 and Sony HX400V, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by rivals Leica and Sony. There is a large difference between the image resolutions of the V-Lux 3 (12MP) and HX400V (20MP) but both cameras provide the same sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The V-Lux 3 was revealed 3 years prior to the HX400V and that is quite a serious difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of these cameras have the same body design (SLR-like (bridge)).

Before diving straight to a in-depth comparison, here is a short summation of how the V-Lux 3 matches up versus the HX400V when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Leica V-Lux 3 over the Sony HX400V

 V-Lux 3 HX400V 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Sony HX400V over the Leica V-Lux 3

 HX400V V-Lux 3 
RevealedFebruary 2014December 2011Fresher by 26 months
Screen resolution921k461kClearer screen (+460k dot)

Common features in the Leica V-Lux 3 and Sony HX400V

 V-Lux 3 HX400V 
Manually focus More precise focus
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurements
Touch screen Lack of Touch screen

Leica V-Lux 3 vs Sony HX400V Physical Comparison

When you are planning to carry your camera regularly, you're going to have to factor in its weight and volume. The Leica V-Lux 3 features external dimensions of 124mm x 81mm x 95mm (4.9" x 3.2" x 3.7") having a weight of 540 grams (1.19 lbs) whilst the Sony HX400V has sizing of 130mm x 93mm x 103mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 4.1") and a weight of 660 grams (1.46 lbs).

See the Leica V-Lux 3 and Sony HX400V in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you have chosen at that moment. Following is a front view over all size comparison of the V-Lux 3 vs the HX400V.

Leica V-Lux 3 vs Sony HX400V size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the V-Lux 3 and HX400V is 67 and 62 respectively.

Leica V-Lux 3 vs Sony HX400V top view buttons comparison

Leica V-Lux 3 vs Sony HX400V Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, its tough to see the contrast between sensor sizing simply by checking technical specs. The photograph underneath will help provide you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the V-Lux 3 and HX400V.

As you have seen, both of those cameras provide the same sensor dimensions albeit not the same megapixels. You can expect the Sony HX400V to give greater detail because of its extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also help you crop shots more aggressively. The older V-Lux 3 is going to be behind in sensor technology.

Leica V-Lux 3 vs Sony HX400V sensor size comparison

Leica V-Lux 3 vs Sony HX400V Screen and ViewFinder

Leica V-Lux 3 vs Sony HX400V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Leica V-Lux 3 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony HX400V as a Portrait photography camera
41
you can focus manually
delivers RAW formats
low MP (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
51
focusing manually
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
features face detection autofocus
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Leica V-Lux 3 Street photography factors
Sony HX400V Street photography factors
58
screen articulates fully
image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW formats
very small sensor (1/2.3")
more heavy than competition (540g)
50
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Optical)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
more heavy than others (660 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Leica V-Lux 3 Sports photography features
Sony HX400V Sports photography features
43
great zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
better than average battery life (410 per charge)
low MP (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
55
long zoom range (24-1200mm 50.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (20 megapixels)
features tracking autofocus
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Leica V-Lux 3 Travel photography info
Sony HX400V Travel photography info
56
better than average battery life (410 CIPA)
has built in flash
display is selfie friendly
really wide (25mm)
long reach (600mm)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
more heavy than competition (540 grams)
low MP (12MP)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
53
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
built-in flash
pretty wide (24mm)
long reach (1200mm)
lack of Timelapse mode
more heavy than others (660g)
screen is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Leica V-Lux 3
Landscape photography with Sony HX400V
48
you can focus manually
really wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW formats
better than average battery life (410 shots)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
low MP (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have Timelapse mode
49
focusing manually
pretty wide (24mm)
screen size is decent (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (20 megapixels)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
lack of Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Leica V-Lux 3 Vlogging information
Sony HX400V Vlogging information
62
really wide (25mm)
display is selfie friendly
image stabilization (Optical)
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does have microphone support
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
more heavy than competition (540g)
29
pretty wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
features face detection autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
includes external microphone port
slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen is not selfie friendly
more heavy than others (660g)
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Leica V-Lux 3 vs Sony HX400V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Leica V-Lux 3 and Sony HX400V
 Leica V-Lux 3Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX400V
General Information
Make Leica Sony
Model type Leica V-Lux 3 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX400V
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2011-12-08 2014-02-12
Body design SLR-like (bridge) SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Powered by - Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4000 x 3000 5184 x 3888
Highest native ISO 6400 12800
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 23 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) 24-1200mm (50.0x)
Highest aperture f/2.8-5.2 f/2.8-6.3
Macro focusing range 1cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Tilting
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 461k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Features
Min shutter speed 30s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter speed 12.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 9.50 m 8.50 m (ISO Auto)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync Flash Off / Autoflash / Fill-flash / Slow Sync. / Advanced Flash / Rear Sync. / Wireless (with optional compliant flash)
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60, 30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (220 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 24p), 1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 540g (1.19 pounds) 660g (1.46 pounds)
Physical dimensions 124 x 81 x 95mm (4.9" x 3.2" x 3.7") 130 x 93 x 103mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 4.1")
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 410 shots 300 shots
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BP-DC 9 NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 pictures)) Yes (2 or 10 sec, portrait)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Launch cost $949 $448