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Leica V-Lux 4 vs Sony HX90V

Portability
65
Imaging
36
Features
62
Overall
46
Leica V-Lux 4 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX90V front
Portability
91
Imaging
44
Features
63
Overall
51

Leica V-Lux 4 vs Sony HX90V Key Specs

Leica V-Lux 4
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200 (Boost to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-600mm (F2.8) lens
  • 588g - 125 x 87 x 110mm
  • Revealed September 2012
  • Superseded the Leica V-Lux 3
  • Newer Model is Leica V-Lux 5
Sony HX90V
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.5-6.4) lens
  • 245g - 102 x 58 x 36mm
  • Introduced April 2015
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Leica V-Lux 4 vs Sony HX90V Overview

Here is a thorough analysis of the Leica V-Lux 4 and Sony HX90V, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by companies Leica and Sony. There exists a crucial gap between the image resolutions of the V-Lux 4 (12MP) and HX90V (18MP) but both cameras boast the same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The V-Lux 4 was introduced 3 years prior to the HX90V and that is quite a serious gap as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras have different body design with the Leica V-Lux 4 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony HX90V being a Compact camera.

Before going right into a complete comparison, here is a short synopsis of how the V-Lux 4 scores versus the HX90V when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Leica V-Lux 4 over the Sony HX90V

 V-Lux 4 HX90V 
Display typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating display

Reasons to pick Sony HX90V over the Leica V-Lux 4

 HX90V V-Lux 4 
IntroducedApril 2015September 2012Fresher by 31 months
Display resolution921k460kSharper display (+461k dot)

Common features in the Leica V-Lux 4 and Sony HX90V

 V-Lux 4 HX90V 
Manually focus Dial precise focus
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display sizing
Selfie screen Both good for selfies
Touch display Neither has Touch display

Leica V-Lux 4 vs Sony HX90V Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to carry your camera, you'll have to consider its weight and volume. The Leica V-Lux 4 has outer dimensions of 125mm x 87mm x 110mm (4.9" x 3.4" x 4.3") with a weight of 588 grams (1.30 lbs) whilst the Sony HX90V has sizing of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") having a weight of 245 grams (0.54 lbs).

Analyze the Leica V-Lux 4 and Sony HX90V in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you choose at the time. Following is a front view scale comparison of the V-Lux 4 and the HX90V.

Leica V-Lux 4 vs Sony HX90V size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the V-Lux 4 and HX90V is 65 and 91 respectively.

Leica V-Lux 4 vs Sony HX90V top view buttons comparison

Leica V-Lux 4 vs Sony HX90V Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it's tough to envision the difference between sensor sizing merely by checking technical specs. The graphic here will help offer you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the V-Lux 4 and HX90V.

As you can tell, both of those cameras have the same sensor dimensions but not the same MP. You should expect to see the Sony HX90V to give more detail using its extra 6MP. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop pics a bit more aggressively. The older V-Lux 4 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Leica V-Lux 4 vs Sony HX90V sensor size comparison

Leica V-Lux 4 vs Sony HX90V Screen and ViewFinder

Leica V-Lux 4 vs Sony HX90V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Leica V-Lux 4 Portrait photography highlights
Sony HX90V Portrait photography highlights
45
has manual focus
comes with face detect focusing
delivers RAW formats
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
46
manual focus
megapixel count good (18MP)
supports face detect focusing
no external flash support
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Leica V-Lux 4
Street photography with Sony HX90V
57
screen articulates
image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW formats
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
more heavy than average (588g)
70
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (245 grams)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Leica V-Lux 4 as a Sports photography camera
Sony HX90V as a Sports photography camera
46
long zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with tracking focus
great battery life (540 per charge)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
57
incredible zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (18 megapixels)
supports tracking focus
better than average battery (360 shots)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Leica V-Lux 4 Travel photography advice
Sony HX90V Travel photography advice
55
great battery life (540 CIPA)
built-in flash
selfie friendly screen
decently wide (25mm)
very long reach (600mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
more heavy than average (588 grams)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
76
better than average battery (360 shots)
lighter than average (245 grams)
megapixel count good (18MP)
flash built-in
selfie friendly display
relatively wide (24mm)
very long reach (720mm)
missing Timelapse mode
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Leica V-Lux 4
Landscape photography with Sony HX90V
48
has manual focus
decently wide (25mm)
screen is a good size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW formats
great battery life (540 shots)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of Timelapse recording
53
manual focus
relatively wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (18 megapixels)
better than average battery (360 per charge)
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
missing Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Leica V-Lux 4 Vlogging factors
Sony HX90V Vlogging factors
63
decently wide (25mm)
selfie friendly screen
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
has microphone support
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
more heavy than average (588g)
75
relatively wide (24mm)
selfie friendly display
image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detect focusing
great video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than average (245 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
missing microphone socket
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Leica V-Lux 4 vs Sony HX90V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Leica V-Lux 4 and Sony HX90V
 Leica V-Lux 4Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX90V
General Information
Company Leica Sony
Model type Leica V-Lux 4 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX90V
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2012-09-17 2015-04-14
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Bionz X
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 12MP 18MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4000 x 3000 4896 x 3672
Highest native ISO 3200 12800
Highest boosted ISO 6400 -
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 23 -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Max aperture f/2.8 f/3.5-6.4
Macro focusing range 1cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fully Articulated Tilting
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 460 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display tech Free-Angle TFT Screen LCD Display -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 1,312 thousand dots 638 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.5x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting rate 12.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 13.50 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
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
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 (60p, 60i, 30p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30p)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 588 gr (1.30 lbs) 245 gr (0.54 lbs)
Physical dimensions 125 x 87 x 110mm (4.9" x 3.4" x 4.3") 102 x 58 x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" 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 shots 360 shots
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs) Yes
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo
Card slots Single Single
Retail pricing $899 $440