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Leica X-U vs Sony RX100 IV

Portability
64
Imaging
60
Features
52
Overall
56
Leica X-U front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IV front
Portability
89
Imaging
52
Features
79
Overall
62

Leica X-U vs Sony RX100 IV Key Specs

Leica X-U
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 12500
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 35mm (F1.7-16.0) lens
  • 635g - 140 x 79 x 88mm
  • Launched January 2016
  • Other Name is Typ 113
Sony RX100 IV
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 125 - 12800 (Raise to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-70mm (F1.8-2.8) lens
  • 298g - 102 x 58 x 41mm
  • Announced June 2015
  • Replaced the Sony RX100 III
  • Updated by Sony RX100 V
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Leica X-U vs Sony RX100 IV Overview

Following is a extended assessment of the Leica X-U and Sony RX100 IV, both Large Sensor Compact cameras by companies Leica and Sony. The image resolution of the X-U (16MP) and the RX100 IV (20MP) is relatively comparable but the X-U (APS-C) and RX100 IV (1") enjoy totally different sensor size.

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The X-U was manufactured 8 months after the RX100 IV and they are of a similar generation. Both of these cameras offer the identical body type (Large Sensor Compact).

Before diving straight into a more detailed comparison, below is a brief summation of how the X-U scores versus the RX100 IV when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Leica X-U over the Sony RX100 IV

 X-U RX100 IV 
AnnouncedJanuary 2016June 2015More modern by 8 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen

Reasons to pick Sony RX100 IV over the Leica X-U

 RX100 IV X-U 
Screen resolution1229k920kSharper screen (+309k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Leica X-U and Sony RX100 IV

 X-U RX100 IV 
Focus manually More exact focusing
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen size
Touch screen Neither includes Touch screen

Leica X-U vs Sony RX100 IV Physical Comparison

If you are looking to carry around your camera frequently, you have to take into account its weight and proportions. The Leica X-U features exterior measurements of 140mm x 79mm x 88mm (5.5" x 3.1" x 3.5") and a weight of 635 grams (1.40 lbs) and the Sony RX100 IV has measurements of 102mm x 58mm x 41mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.6") and a weight of 298 grams (0.66 lbs).

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Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are utilising at that moment. Below is the front view physical size comparison of the X-U vs the RX100 IV.

Leica X-U vs Sony RX100 IV size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the X-U and RX100 IV is 64 and 89 respectively.

Leica X-U vs Sony RX100 IV top view buttons comparison

Leica X-U vs Sony RX100 IV Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is very hard to envision the difference in sensor sizes simply by seeing technical specs. The pic here might give you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the X-U and RX100 IV.

As you can tell, both of these cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The X-U featuring a bigger sensor will make shooting shallow DOF simpler and the Sony RX100 IV will show more detail due to its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will let you crop photographs far more aggressively. The more recent X-U will have an advantage when it comes to sensor technology.

Leica X-U vs Sony RX100 IV sensor size comparison

Leica X-U vs Sony RX100 IV Screen and ViewFinder

Leica X-U vs Sony RX100 IV Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Leica X-U Portrait photography highlights
Sony RX100 IV Portrait photography highlights
76
you can focus manually
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
65
manual focus
flash sync speed is above average (1/2,000 seconds)
megapixel count good (20MP)
sensor size is decent (1")
supports face detection focusing
delivers RAW files
no external flash support
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Street Comparison

Leica X-U Street photography details
Sony RX100 IV Street photography details
64
fully articulated screen
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
weather proofing
no image stabilization
more heavy than competition in class (635g)
85
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is decent (1")
delivers RAW files
lighter than competition (298 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Leica X-U
Sports photography with Sony RX100 IV
55
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
weather proofing
good battery life (450 shots)
focal length is fixed (35mm)
painfully slow continuous shooting (5.0 fps)
no image stabilization
has no phase detect AF
68
quiet shutter (1/32,000 seconds)
high frames per second (16.0 fps)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (20 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (1")
supports tracking autofocus
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Leica X-U Travel photography factors
Sony RX100 IV Travel photography factors
62
good battery life (450 CIPA)
weather proofing
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
great maximum aperture (f1.7)
no Timelapse function
more heavy than competition in class (635 grams)
screen isn't selfie friendly
86
lighter than competition (298 grams)
megapixel count good (20 megapixels)
flash built-in
screen is selfie friendly
quite wide (24mm)
very good max aperture (f1.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Leica X-U Landscape photography factors
Sony RX100 IV Landscape photography factors
63
you can focus manually
great maximum aperture (f1.7)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
decent megapixels (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
weather proofing
good battery life (450 CIPA)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
focal length is fixed (35mm)
no image stabilization
no Timelapse function
74
manual focus
quite wide (24mm)
very good max aperture (f1.8)
pretty good screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (20 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (1")
delivers RAW files
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Leica X-U
Vlogging with Sony RX100 IV
25
great maximum aperture (f1.7)
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
no microphone support
more heavy than competition in class (635g)
81
quite wide (24mm)
very good max aperture (f1.8)
screen is selfie friendly
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection focusing
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 pixels)
lighter than competition (298g)
does not have external microphone port
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Leica X-U vs Sony RX100 IV Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Leica X-U and Sony RX100 IV
 Leica X-USony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IV
General Information
Brand Leica Sony
Model Leica X-U Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IV
Alternate name Typ 113 -
Category Large Sensor Compact Large Sensor Compact
Launched 2016-01-20 2015-06-10
Body design Large Sensor Compact Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by - Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size APS-C 1"
Sensor measurements 23.6 x 15.7mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor surface area 370.5mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4928 x 3264 5472 x 3648
Maximum native ISO 12500 12800
Maximum enhanced ISO - 25600
Lowest native ISO 100 125
RAW data
Lowest enhanced ISO - 80
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 11 25
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 35mm (1x) 24-70mm (2.9x)
Maximum aperture f/1.7-16.0 f/1.8-2.8
Macro focus range - 5cm
Focal length multiplier 1.5 2.7
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Tilting
Display sizing 3" 3"
Display resolution 920k dot 1,229k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359k dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.59x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/2000 secs
Fastest quiet shutter speed - 1/32000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 5.0 frames/s 16.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 2.00 m (at ISO 100) -
Flash modes Automatic, automatic/red eye reduction, on, on/red eye reduction, long-term synchronization/red eye reduction, off -
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync - 1/2000 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p) 3840 x 2160 (30p, 25p, 24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p/60i/24p), 1280 x 720 (60p/30p/24p/120p), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video file format MPEG-4 MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 635 gr (1.40 lb) 298 gr (0.66 lb)
Dimensions 140 x 79 x 88mm (5.5" x 3.1" x 3.5") 102 x 58 x 41mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.6")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 70
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.9
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.6
DXO Low light score not tested 562
Other
Battery life 450 shots 280 shots
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BP-DC8 NP-BX1
Self timer Yes Yes
Time lapse shooting With downloadable app
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One One
Price at release $3,495 $898