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Leica V-Lux 3 vs Sony WX500

Portability
67
Imaging
36
Features
57
Overall
44
Leica V-Lux 3 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500 front
Portability
91
Imaging
43
Features
56
Overall
48

Leica V-Lux 3 vs Sony WX500 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
  • Announced December 2011
  • Replaced the Leica V-Lux 2
  • Newer Model is Leica V-Lux 4
Sony WX500
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.5-6.4) lens
  • 236g - 102 x 58 x 36mm
  • Introduced April 2015
  • Previous Model is Sony WX350
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Leica V-Lux 3 vs Sony WX500 Overview

Below, we will be comparing the Leica V-Lux 3 versus Sony WX500, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by brands Leica and Sony. There exists a significant gap among the image resolutions of the V-Lux 3 (12MP) and WX500 (18MP) but they use the exact same sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The V-Lux 3 was launched 4 years earlier than the WX500 which is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Leica V-Lux 3 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony WX500 being a Compact camera.

Before going through a step-by-step comparison, below is a quick summary of how the V-Lux 3 scores vs the WX500 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Leica V-Lux 3 over the Sony WX500

 V-Lux 3 WX500 
Focus manually More precise focusing
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Sony WX500 over the Leica V-Lux 3

 WX500 V-Lux 3 
IntroducedApril 2015December 2011Newer by 40 months
Screen resolution921k461kCrisper screen (+460k dot)

Common features in the Leica V-Lux 3 and Sony WX500

 V-Lux 3 WX500 
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurement
Touch friendly screen No Touch friendly screen

Leica V-Lux 3 vs Sony WX500 Physical Comparison

When you are going to travel with your camera frequently, you will have to factor in its weight and size. The Leica V-Lux 3 enjoys outside measurements of 124mm x 81mm x 95mm (4.9" x 3.2" x 3.7") having a weight of 540 grams (1.19 lbs) and the Sony WX500 has specifications of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") along with a weight of 236 grams (0.52 lbs).

Take a look at the Leica V-Lux 3 versus Sony WX500 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you select at that time. Underneath is the front view overall size comparison of the V-Lux 3 and the WX500.

Leica V-Lux 3 vs Sony WX500 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the V-Lux 3 and WX500 is 67 and 91 respectively.

Leica V-Lux 3 vs Sony WX500 top view buttons comparison

Leica V-Lux 3 vs Sony WX500 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is hard to visualize the gap in sensor dimensions only by viewing a spec sheet. The picture below will help offer you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the V-Lux 3 and WX500.

Clearly, both the cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements albeit different resolution. You should expect the Sony WX500 to provide you with more detail utilizing its extra 6MP. Higher resolution will let you crop photographs somewhat more aggressively. The more aged V-Lux 3 will be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Leica V-Lux 3 vs Sony WX500 sensor size comparison

Leica V-Lux 3 vs Sony WX500 Screen and ViewFinder

Leica V-Lux 3 vs Sony WX500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Leica V-Lux 3 Portrait photography advice
Sony WX500 Portrait photography advice
41
focusing manually
delivers RAW formats
low megapixels (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
39
decent sensor resolution (18MP)
provides face detection focus
lack of manual focus
no external flash support
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Street Comparison

Leica V-Lux 3 as a Street photography camera
Sony WX500 as a Street photography camera
58
screen articulates
built in image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW formats
small sensor size (1/2.3")
heavier than competition (540 grams)
69
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (236g)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Leica V-Lux 3 as a Sports photography camera
Sony WX500 as a Sports photography camera
43
great zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good battery life (410 shots)
low megapixels (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
57
long zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (18 megapixels)
provides tracking autofocus
good battery power (360 CIPA)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Leica V-Lux 3 Travel photography features
Sony WX500 Travel photography features
56
good battery life (410 per charge)
flash built-in
selfie friendly display
reasonably wide (25mm)
very long reach (600mm)
does not have Time Lapse mode
heavier than competition (540 grams)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
71
good battery power (360 CIPA)
lighter than others (236 grams)
decent sensor resolution (18 megapixels)
built-in flash
pretty wide (24mm)
very long zoom (720mm)
no Time Lapse recording
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Leica V-Lux 3 Landscape photography details
Sony WX500 Landscape photography details
48
focusing manually
reasonably wide (25mm)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW formats
good battery life (410 CIPA)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have Time Lapse mode
49
pretty wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (18MP)
good battery power (360 shots)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
no Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Leica V-Lux 3 Vlogging factors
Sony WX500 Vlogging factors
62
reasonably wide (25mm)
selfie friendly display
built in image stabilization (Optical)
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does have mic port
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
heavier than competition (540 grams)
35
pretty wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than others (236 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no external mic port
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Leica V-Lux 3 vs Sony WX500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Leica V-Lux 3 and Sony WX500
 Leica V-Lux 3Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500
General Information
Brand Name Leica Sony
Model Leica V-Lux 3 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2011-12-08 2015-04-14
Body design SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Chip - Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 18 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4000 x 3000 4896 x 3672
Maximum native ISO 6400 12800
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 23 -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Highest aperture f/2.8-5.2 f/3.5-6.4
Macro focus distance 1cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Tilting
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 461 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting speed 12.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 9.50 m 5.40 m (with Auto ISO)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync Auto, flash on, slow sync, flash off, rear sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
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, 30p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30p)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, AVCHD, Motion JPEG AVCHD, XAVC S
Mic 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 None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 540 gr (1.19 pounds) 236 gr (0.52 pounds)
Dimensions 124 x 81 x 95mm (4.9" x 3.2" x 3.7") 102 x 58 x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 life 410 pictures 360 pictures
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BP-DC 9 NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 pictures)) Yes
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Cost at launch $949 $348