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Leica V-Lux 4 vs Sony HX99

Portability
65
Imaging
36
Features
62
Overall
46
Leica V-Lux 4 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX99 front
Portability
91
Imaging
45
Features
67
Overall
53

Leica V-Lux 4 vs Sony HX99 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
  • Introduced September 2012
  • Earlier Model is Leica V-Lux 3
  • Successor is Leica V-Lux 5
Sony HX99
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3-inch Sensor
  • 3.00" Tilting Display
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.5-6.4) lens
  • 242g - 102 x 58 x 36mm
  • Introduced September 2018
Photography Glossary

Leica V-Lux 4 vs Sony HX99 Overview

Its time to look more in depth at the Leica V-Lux 4 vs Sony HX99, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by brands Leica and Sony. There exists a crucial gap among the sensor resolutions of the V-Lux 4 (12MP) and HX99 (18MP) and the V-Lux 4 (1/2.3") and HX99 (1/2.3-inch) offer totally different sensor size.

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The V-Lux 4 was announced 7 years prior to the HX99 and that is a fairly serious gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Leica V-Lux 4 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony HX99 being a Compact camera.

Before getting right into a more detailed comparison, here is a short view of how the V-Lux 4 grades versus the HX99 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Leica V-Lux 4 over the Sony HX99

 V-Lux 4 HX99 
Display typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating display

Reasons to pick Sony HX99 over the Leica V-Lux 4

 HX99 V-Lux 4 
IntroducedSeptember 2018September 2012More recent by 72 months
Display resolution921k460kClearer display (+461k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Leica V-Lux 4 and Sony HX99

 V-Lux 4 HX99 
Focus manually Dial exact focus
Display dimensions3"3.00"Equal display size
Selfie screen Both are selfie friendly

Leica V-Lux 4 vs Sony HX99 Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to lug around your camera, you will have to take into account its weight and measurements. The Leica V-Lux 4 comes with outside dimensions of 125mm x 87mm x 110mm (4.9" x 3.4" x 4.3") with a weight of 588 grams (1.30 lbs) while the Sony HX99 has proportions of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") along with a weight of 242 grams (0.53 lbs).

Examine the Leica V-Lux 4 vs Sony HX99 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you have chosen at that time. Below is a front view scale comparison of the V-Lux 4 vs the HX99.

Leica V-Lux 4 vs Sony HX99 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the V-Lux 4 and HX99 is 65 and 91 respectively.

Leica V-Lux 4 vs Sony HX99 top view buttons comparison

Leica V-Lux 4 vs Sony HX99 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it's hard to see the contrast in sensor measurements purely by looking through specifications. The photograph below should provide you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the V-Lux 4 and HX99.

Plainly, each of these cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The V-Lux 4 using its larger sensor will make achieving shallow depth of field less difficult and the Sony HX99 will result in more detail with its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop pics more aggressively. The older V-Lux 4 will be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Leica V-Lux 4 vs Sony HX99 sensor size comparison

Leica V-Lux 4 vs Sony HX99 Screen and ViewFinder

Leica V-Lux 4 vs Sony HX99 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Leica V-Lux 4 Portrait photography info
Sony HX99 Portrait photography info
45
manual focus
has face detect autofocus
saves RAW files
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
53
has manual focus
megapixel count good (18 megapixels)
comes with face detect autofocus
supports RAW formats
no external flash support
sensor is tiny (1/2.3-inch)
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Street Comparison

Leica V-Lux 4 as a Street photography camera
Sony HX99 as a Street photography camera
57
screen articulates fully
has image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW files
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
heavier than competition (588g)
77
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization
supports RAW formats
lighter than competition in class (242 grams)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3-inch)
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Sports Comparison

Leica V-Lux 4 as a Sports photography camera
Sony HX99 as a Sports photography camera
46
long zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
has tracking focus
great battery (540 CIPA)
resolution not great (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
58
amazing zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization
megapixel count good (18MP)
comes with tracking focus
good battery pack (360 CIPA)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3-inch)
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Leica V-Lux 4
Travel photography with Sony HX99
55
great battery (540 per charge)
flash built-in
selfie friendly screen
relatively wide (25mm)
long zoom (600mm)
missing Time Lapse function
heavier than competition (588g)
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
76
good battery pack (360 shots)
lighter than competition in class (242 grams)
megapixel count good (18 megapixels)
built-in flash
selfie friendly screen
decently wide (24mm)
great reach (720mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Leica V-Lux 4
Landscape photography with Sony HX99
48
manual focus
relatively wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW files
great battery (540 shots)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
resolution not great (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
missing Time Lapse function
58
has manual focus
decently wide (24mm)
good sized screen (3.00 inch)
built in image stabilization
megapixel count good (18MP)
supports RAW formats
good battery pack (360 shots)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3-inch)
lack of Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Leica V-Lux 4 Vlogging features
Sony HX99 Vlogging features
63
relatively wide (25mm)
selfie friendly screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does have mic support
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
heavier than competition (588 grams)
76
decently wide (24mm)
selfie friendly screen
built-in touchscreen
built in image stabilization
comes with face detect autofocus
high quality video (3840 x 2160 resolution)
lighter than competition in class (242 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
lack of microphone socket
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Leica V-Lux 4 vs Sony HX99 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Leica V-Lux 4 and Sony HX99
 Leica V-Lux 4Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX99
General Information
Brand Leica Sony
Model type Leica V-Lux 4 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX99
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2012-09-17 2018-09-01
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3-inch
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 18 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4000 x 3000 4896 x 3672
Max native ISO 3200 12800
Max enhanced ISO 6400 -
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW format
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 mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Highest aperture f/2.8 f/3.5-6.4
Macro focusing distance 1cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.9 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fully Articulated Tilting
Display sizing 3 inch 3.00 inch
Display resolution 460 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech Free-Angle TFT Screen LCD Display -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 1,312 thousand dots 638 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.5x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 12.0 frames per second 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 13.50 m 5.40 m (with Auto ISO)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync Auto, flash on, slow sync, flash off, rear sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
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) 3840 x 2160 (30p, 24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 30p, 24p, 120p)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
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 None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 588g (1.30 lb) 242g (0.53 lb)
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 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 photos 360 photos
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs) Yes
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo
Card slots Single Single
Cost at release $899 $469