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Leica V-Lux 4 vs Nikon B500

Portability
65
Imaging
36
Features
62
Overall
46
Leica V-Lux 4 front
 
Nikon Coolpix B500 front
Portability
68
Imaging
41
Features
50
Overall
44

Leica V-Lux 4 vs Nikon B500 Key Specs

Leica V-Lux 4
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200 (Increase to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-600mm (F2.8) lens
  • 588g - 125 x 87 x 110mm
  • Revealed September 2012
  • Succeeded the Leica V-Lux 3
  • Replacement is Leica V-Lux 5
Nikon B500
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 23-900mm (F3.0-6.5) lens
  • 541g - 114 x 78 x 95mm
  • Released February 2016
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Leica V-Lux 4 vs Nikon B500 Overview

Let's look a bit more closely at the Leica V-Lux 4 vs Nikon B500, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by rivals Leica and Nikon. There is a noticeable difference between the resolutions of the V-Lux 4 (12MP) and B500 (16MP) but both cameras posses the same sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The V-Lux 4 was announced 4 years earlier than the B500 and that is quite a sizable difference as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras have the same body design (SLR-like (bridge)).

Before delving into a full comparison, here is a simple synopsis of how the V-Lux 4 scores vs the B500 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Leica V-Lux 4 over the Nikon B500

 V-Lux 4 B500 
Focus manually Very precise focus
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Nikon B500 over the Leica V-Lux 4

 B500 V-Lux 4 
ReleasedFebruary 2016September 2012More recent by 41 months
Screen resolution921k460kSharper screen (+461k dot)

Common features in the Leica V-Lux 4 and Nikon B500

 V-Lux 4 B500 
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurement
Touch friendly screen Absent Touch friendly screen

Leica V-Lux 4 vs Nikon B500 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to lug around your camera regularly, you need to take into account its weight and measurements. The Leica V-Lux 4 offers outside dimensions of 125mm x 87mm x 110mm (4.9" x 3.4" x 4.3") along with a weight of 588 grams (1.30 lbs) and the Nikon B500 has proportions of 114mm x 78mm x 95mm (4.5" x 3.1" x 3.7") having a weight of 541 grams (1.19 lbs).

Check out the Leica V-Lux 4 vs Nikon B500 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you have chosen at that moment. The following is a front view proportions comparison of the V-Lux 4 versus the B500.

Leica V-Lux 4 vs Nikon B500 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the V-Lux 4 and B500 is 65 and 68 respectively.

Leica V-Lux 4 vs Nikon B500 top view buttons comparison

Leica V-Lux 4 vs Nikon B500 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is difficult to imagine the gap between sensor measurements merely by going over a spec sheet. The photograph below should give you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the V-Lux 4 and B500.

Clearly, the two cameras have the same sensor dimensions albeit different megapixels. You can expect the Nikon B500 to offer more detail with its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will enable you to crop shots a bit more aggressively. The older V-Lux 4 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Leica V-Lux 4 vs Nikon B500 sensor size comparison

Leica V-Lux 4 vs Nikon B500 Screen and ViewFinder

Leica V-Lux 4 vs Nikon B500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Leica V-Lux 4 Portrait photography information
Nikon B500 Portrait photography information
45
you can focus manually
features face detect autofocus
supports RAW files
MP count low (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
37
good MP (16 megapixels)
supports face detection focus
focusing manually not possible
cannot use external flash
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Leica V-Lux 4
Street photography with Nikon B500
57
screen articulates fully
image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW files
small sensor size (1/2.3")
heavier than average in class (588 grams)
52
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW files
heavier than competition (541 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Leica V-Lux 4 as a Sports photography camera
Nikon B500 as a Sports photography camera
46
great zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
features tracking focus
good battery pack (540 CIPA)
MP count low (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
51
amazing zoom range (23-900mm 39.1 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16MP)
supports tracking autofocus
great battery pack (600 shots)
no shutter priority
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Leica V-Lux 4
Travel photography with Nikon B500
55
good battery pack (540 CIPA)
built-in flash
display is selfie friendly
reasonably wide (25mm)
great zoom (600mm)
does not have Time Lapse mode
heavier than average in class (588 grams)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
59
great battery pack (600 shots)
connects via bluetooth
good MP (16MP)
has built in flash
fairly wide (23mm)
great reach (900mm)
no Time Lapse function
heavier than competition (541g)
does not have selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Leica V-Lux 4 as a Landscape photography camera
Nikon B500 as a Landscape photography camera
48
you can focus manually
reasonably wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW files
good battery pack (540 CIPA)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have Time Lapse mode
45
fairly wide (23mm)
good sized screen (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16 megapixels)
great battery pack (600 per charge)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW files
no Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Leica V-Lux 4
Vlogging with Nikon B500
63
reasonably wide (25mm)
display is selfie friendly
image stabilization (Optical)
features face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
includes mic jack
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
heavier than average in class (588g)
27
fairly wide (23mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection focus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
does not have selfie friendly display
no external mic jack
heavier than competition (541 grams)
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Leica V-Lux 4 vs Nikon B500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Leica V-Lux 4 and Nikon B500
 Leica V-Lux 4Nikon Coolpix B500
General Information
Make Leica Nikon
Model type Leica V-Lux 4 Nikon Coolpix B500
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2012-09-17 2016-02-23
Body design SLR-like (bridge) SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3
Highest Possible resolution 4000 x 3000 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 3200 3200
Maximum enhanced ISO 6400 -
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 23 -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) 23-900mm (39.1x)
Highest aperture f/2.8 f/3.0-6.5
Macro focusing distance 1cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 5.8
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Tilting
Display size 3" 3"
Resolution of display 460 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology Free-Angle TFT Screen LCD Display -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 1,312 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 1s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter speed 12.0 frames per second 7.4 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 13.50 m 6.90 m (at Auto ISO)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync -
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60, 50, 30, 25 fps), 1280 x 720p (60, 50, 30, 25 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p), 640 x 480 (30p, 25p)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 588 gr (1.30 lbs) 541 gr (1.19 lbs)
Physical dimensions 125 x 87 x 110mm (4.9" x 3.4" x 4.3") 114 x 78 x 95mm (4.5" x 3.1" x 3.7")
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 540 pictures 600 pictures
Style of battery Battery Pack AA
Battery ID - 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs) Yes (2, 5, 10 secs)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Retail price $899 $300