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Leica V-Lux 4 vs Nikon P520

Portability
65
Imaging
36
Features
62
Overall
46
Leica V-Lux 4 front
 
Nikon Coolpix P520 front
Portability
66
Imaging
42
Features
51
Overall
45

Leica V-Lux 4 vs Nikon P520 Key Specs

Leica V-Lux 4
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200 (Boost to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-600mm (F2.8) lens
  • 588g - 125 x 87 x 110mm
  • Announced September 2012
  • Older Model is Leica V-Lux 3
  • Replacement is Leica V-Lux 5
Nikon P520
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3.2" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-1000mm (F3.0-5.9) lens
  • 550g - 125 x 84 x 102mm
  • Launched January 2013
  • Superseded the Nikon P510
  • Successor is Nikon P530
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Leica V-Lux 4 vs Nikon P520 Overview

Here is a complete review of the Leica V-Lux 4 vs Nikon P520, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by manufacturers Leica and Nikon. There exists a huge gap between the sensor resolutions of the V-Lux 4 (12MP) and P520 (18MP) but both cameras posses the same sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The V-Lux 4 was unveiled 4 months prior to the P520 and they are both of a similar generation. Both cameras have the same body design (SLR-like (bridge)).

Before getting into a in depth comparison, here is a brief summation of how the V-Lux 4 grades vs the P520 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Leica V-Lux 4 over the Nikon P520

 V-Lux 4 P520 

Reasons to pick Nikon P520 over the Leica V-Lux 4

 P520 V-Lux 4 
Screen dimensions3.2"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution921k460kCrisper screen (+461k dot)

Common features in the Leica V-Lux 4 and Nikon P520

 V-Lux 4 P520 
LaunchedSeptember 2012January 2013Similar generation
Manually focus Very precise focus
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFully ArticulatedFully Articulated screen
Selfie screen Both good for selfies
Touch friendly screen Lack of Touch friendly screen

Leica V-Lux 4 vs Nikon P520 Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to carry your camera regularly, you need to factor its weight and volume. The Leica V-Lux 4 provides external measurements of 125mm x 87mm x 110mm (4.9" x 3.4" x 4.3") having a weight of 588 grams (1.30 lbs) while the Nikon P520 has sizing of 125mm x 84mm x 102mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 4.0") accompanied by a weight of 550 grams (1.21 lbs).

Look at the Leica V-Lux 4 vs Nikon P520 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you have attached at that time. Following is a front view sizing comparison of the V-Lux 4 and the P520.

Leica V-Lux 4 vs Nikon P520 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the V-Lux 4 and P520 is 65 and 66 respectively.

Leica V-Lux 4 vs Nikon P520 top view buttons comparison

Leica V-Lux 4 vs Nikon P520 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, its hard to picture the contrast between sensor sizing purely by reading through a spec sheet. The graphic below will help give you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the V-Lux 4 and P520.

As you can see, both cameras have the same sensor dimensions albeit different resolution. You should expect the Nikon P520 to give you more detail having an extra 6MP. Higher resolution will enable you to crop pictures a bit more aggressively.

Leica V-Lux 4 vs Nikon P520 sensor size comparison

Leica V-Lux 4 vs Nikon P520 Screen and ViewFinder

Leica V-Lux 4 vs Nikon P520 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Leica V-Lux 4 Portrait photography highlights
Nikon P520 Portrait photography highlights
45
focusing manually
offers face detect focus
supports RAW files
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
41
has manual focus
MP count decent (18MP)
can't use external flash
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Leica V-Lux 4 Street photography factors
Nikon P520 Street photography factors
57
fully articulated screen
image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW files
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
heavier than others in class (588 grams)
51
screen articulates
image stabilization (Optical)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
heavier than competition (550g)
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Sports Comparison

Leica V-Lux 4 Sports photography info
Nikon P520 Sports photography info
46
excellent zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
offers tracking focus
good battery pack (540 CIPA)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
46
long zoom range (24-1000mm 41.7 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (18 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
low battery pack (200 shots)
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Leica V-Lux 4
Travel photography with Nikon P520
55
good battery pack (540 per charge)
built-in flash
display is selfie friendly
reasonably wide (25mm)
very long zoom (600mm)
does not have Time Lapse recording
heavier than others in class (588g)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
57
MP count decent (18MP)
has built in flash
selfie friendly display
reasonably wide (24mm)
long reach (1000mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
low battery pack (200 CIPA)
heavier than competition (550g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Leica V-Lux 4 Landscape photography features
Nikon P520 Landscape photography features
48
focusing manually
reasonably wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW files
good battery pack (540 per charge)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have Time Lapse recording
46
has manual focus
reasonably wide (24mm)
screen size is decent (3.2 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (18MP)
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
low battery pack (200 shots)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Leica V-Lux 4
Vlogging with Nikon P520
63
reasonably wide (25mm)
display is selfie friendly
image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
has mic support
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
heavier than others in class (588 grams)
57
reasonably wide (24mm)
selfie friendly display
image stabilization (Optical)
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
doesn't have external mic support
heavier than competition (550 grams)
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Leica V-Lux 4 vs Nikon P520 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Leica V-Lux 4 and Nikon P520
 Leica V-Lux 4Nikon Coolpix P520
General Information
Manufacturer Leica Nikon
Model type Leica V-Lux 4 Nikon Coolpix P520
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2012-09-17 2013-01-29
Physical type 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 6.16 x 4.62mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 28.5mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 18 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 -
Max resolution 4000 x 3000 4896 x 3672
Max native ISO 3200 3200
Max enhanced ISO 6400 -
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
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) 24-1000mm (41.7x)
Maximum aperture f/2.8 f/3.0-5.9
Macro focusing distance 1cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.9 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fully Articulated Fully Articulated
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3.2 inches
Screen resolution 460 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen technology Free-Angle TFT Screen LCD Display TFT-LCD with Anti-reflection coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 1,312 thousand dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 8 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 12.0fps 7.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 13.50 m -
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync -
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
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
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD -
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Optional
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) none
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 588 gr (1.30 lbs) 550 gr (1.21 lbs)
Physical dimensions 125 x 87 x 110mm (4.9" x 3.4" x 4.3") 125 x 84 x 102mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 4.0")
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 images 200 images
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - EN-EL5
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs) -
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Price at release $899 $380