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Leica V-Lux 4 vs Sony HX20V

Portability
65
Imaging
36
Features
62
Overall
46
Leica V-Lux 4 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V front
Portability
90
Imaging
42
Features
50
Overall
45

Leica V-Lux 4 vs Sony HX20V Key Specs

Leica V-Lux 4
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200 (Expand to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-600mm (F2.8) lens
  • 588g - 125 x 87 x 110mm
  • Introduced September 2012
  • Earlier Model is Leica V-Lux 3
  • Later Model is Leica V-Lux 5
Sony HX20V
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-500mm (F3.2-5.8) lens
  • 254g - 107 x 62 x 35mm
  • Announced July 2012
  • Old Model is Sony HX10V
  • Refreshed by Sony HX30V
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Leica V-Lux 4 vs Sony HX20V Overview

Following is a extensive assessment of the Leica V-Lux 4 vs Sony HX20V, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by brands Leica and Sony. There exists a substantial gap among the resolutions of the V-Lux 4 (12MP) and HX20V (18MP) but both cameras posses the identical sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The V-Lux 4 was announced 2 months after the HX20V so they are of a similar age. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Leica V-Lux 4 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony HX20V being a Compact camera.

Before diving right into a in-depth comparison, here is a concise summary of how the V-Lux 4 grades versus the HX20V when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Leica V-Lux 4 over the Sony HX20V

 V-Lux 4 HX20V 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Sony HX20V over the Leica V-Lux 4

 HX20V V-Lux 4 
Screen resolution922k460kSharper screen (+462k dot)

Common features in the Leica V-Lux 4 and Sony HX20V

 V-Lux 4 HX20V 
AnnouncedSeptember 2012July 2012Same age
Focus manually Dial accurate focus
Screen size3"3"Same screen sizing
Touch screen Neither contains Touch screen

Leica V-Lux 4 vs Sony HX20V Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to carry around your camera, you have to take into account its weight and measurements. The Leica V-Lux 4 has got outer 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) while the Sony HX20V has proportions of 107mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4") accompanied by a weight of 254 grams (0.56 lbs).

Look at the Leica V-Lux 4 vs Sony HX20V in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are employing at the time. Following is a front view overall size comparison of the V-Lux 4 compared to the HX20V.

Leica V-Lux 4 vs Sony HX20V size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the V-Lux 4 and HX20V is 65 and 90 respectively.

Leica V-Lux 4 vs Sony HX20V top view buttons comparison

Leica V-Lux 4 vs Sony HX20V Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is tough to picture the gap in sensor sizes simply by seeing technical specs. The image below might give you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the V-Lux 4 and HX20V.

As you can tell, both the cameras feature the identical sensor size albeit different MP. You can expect the Sony HX20V to produce more detail with its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also help you crop photographs way more aggressively.

Leica V-Lux 4 vs Sony HX20V sensor size comparison

Leica V-Lux 4 vs Sony HX20V Screen and ViewFinder

Leica V-Lux 4 vs Sony HX20V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Leica V-Lux 4 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony HX20V as a Portrait photography camera
45
has manual focus
provides face detect focus
saves RAW formats
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
45
manual focus
MP count decent (18MP)
comes with face detect autofocus
no external flash support
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Leica V-Lux 4
Street photography with Sony HX20V
57
screen can move to multiple angles
built in image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW formats
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
heavier than others in class (588 grams)
61
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (254 grams)
no moving screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Leica V-Lux 4
Sports photography with Sony HX20V
46
incredible zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides tracking focus
great battery (540 CIPA)
low resolution sensor (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
49
incredible zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (18 megapixels)
comes with tracking focus
no shutter priority
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Leica V-Lux 4
Travel photography with Sony HX20V
55
great battery (540 CIPA)
flash built-in
selfie friendly screen
pretty wide (25mm)
great reach (600mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
heavier than others in class (588 grams)
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
69
lighter than competition in class (254g)
MP count decent (18 megapixels)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
long reach (500mm)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
screen is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
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Landscape Comparison

Leica V-Lux 4 Landscape photography information
Sony HX20V Landscape photography information
48
has manual focus
pretty wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW formats
great battery (540 shots)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
50
manual focus
reasonably wide (25mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (18MP)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
doesn't have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Leica V-Lux 4 Vlogging features
Sony HX20V Vlogging features
63
pretty wide (25mm)
selfie friendly screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
includes mic socket
slow max aperture (f2.8)
heavier than others in class (588 grams)
34
reasonably wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition in class (254 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
screen is not selfie friendly
doesn't have microphone port
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Leica V-Lux 4 vs Sony HX20V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Leica V-Lux 4 and Sony HX20V
 Leica V-Lux 4Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V
General Information
Make Leica Sony
Model type Leica V-Lux 4 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2012-09-17 2012-07-20
Body design SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - BIONZ
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 18 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 4000 x 3000 4896 x 3672
Max native ISO 3200 12800
Max boosted ISO 6400 -
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 23 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) 25-500mm (20.0x)
Max aperture f/2.8 f/3.2-5.8
Macro focusing range 1cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.9 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dot 922 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech Free-Angle TFT Screen LCD Display XtraFine TruBlack TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 1,312 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting speed 12.0 frames per second 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 13.50 m 7.10 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported 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 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 588g (1.30 lbs) 254g (0.56 lbs)
Physical dimensions 125 x 87 x 110mm (4.9" x 3.4" x 4.3") 107 x 62 x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 320 images
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One One
Launch pricing $899 $397