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Leica V-Lux 4 vs Sony HX20V

Portability
65 Imaging
35 Features
62 Overall
45
Leica V-Lux 4 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V front
Portability
90 Imaging
41 Features
50 Overall
44

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")
44
 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
Photography Glossary
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
47
 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