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Leica X Vario vs Leica X2

Portability
62
Imaging
58
Features
51
Overall
55
Leica X Vario front
 
Leica X2 front
Portability
83
Imaging
57
Features
37
Overall
49

Leica X Vario vs Leica X2 Key Specs

Leica X Vario
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12500
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-70mm (F3.5-6.4) lens
  • 680g - 133 x 73 x 95mm
  • Released June 2013
  • Replaced the Leica X2
Leica X2
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12500
  • No Video
  • 36mm (F2.8) lens
  • 345g - 124 x 69 x 52mm
  • Launched May 2012
  • Earlier Model is Leica X1
  • New Model is Leica X Vario
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Leica X Vario vs Leica X2 Overview

Let's look a little more in depth at the Leica X Vario and Leica X2, both Large Sensor Compact cameras and both of them are manufactured by Leica. The sensor resolution of the X Vario (16MP) and the X2 (16MP) is very comparable and both cameras boast the identical sensor measurements (APS-C).

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The X Vario was announced 14 months later than the X2 making them a generation apart from each other. Both the cameras feature the same body design (Large Sensor Compact).

Before going right into a full comparison, here is a brief overview of how the X Vario matches up against the X2 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Leica X Vario over the Leica X2

 X Vario X2 
LaunchedJune 2013May 2012More recent by 14 months
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution920k230kCrisper display (+690k dot)

Reasons to pick Leica X2 over the Leica X Vario

 X2 X Vario 

Common features in the Leica X Vario and Leica X2

 X Vario X2 
Manual focus More accurate focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch display Absent Touch display

Leica X Vario vs Leica X2 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to lug around your camera often, you're going to have to factor its weight and dimensions. The Leica X Vario comes with external dimensions of 133mm x 73mm x 95mm (5.2" x 2.9" x 3.7") accompanied by a weight of 680 grams (1.50 lbs) and the Leica X2 has dimensions of 124mm x 69mm x 52mm (4.9" x 2.7" x 2.0") having a weight of 345 grams (0.76 lbs).

Contrast the Leica X Vario and Leica X2 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are working with at that time. Underneath is a front view over all size comparison of the X Vario against the X2.

Leica X Vario vs Leica X2 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the X Vario and X2 is 62 and 83 respectively.

Leica X Vario vs Leica X2 top view buttons comparison

Leica X Vario vs Leica X2 Sensor Comparison

Usually, its tough to visualize the gap in sensor measurements simply by checking out technical specs. The graphic below may provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the X Vario and X2.

As you have seen, both of the cameras come with the identical sensor size and the exact same resolution therefore you can expect comparable quality of files but you should always take the launch date of the cameras into account. The more modern X Vario should have an advantage in sensor tech.

Leica X Vario vs Leica X2 sensor size comparison

Leica X Vario vs Leica X2 Screen and ViewFinder

Leica X Vario vs Leica X2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Leica X Vario Portrait photography information
Leica X2 Portrait photography information
74
has manual focus
decent MP (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
has face detect focus
supports RAW files
74
focusing manually
MP count decent (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detect focusing
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Leica X Vario as a Street photography camera
Leica X2 as a Street photography camera
53
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
no moving screen
no image stabilization
more heavy than competition in class (680g)
65
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
screen does not articulate
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Leica X Vario as a Sports photography camera
Leica X2 as a Sports photography camera
54
decent MP (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
great battery pack (450 shots)
slow frames per second (5.0 fps)
no image stabilization
no phase detect auto focus
49
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
great battery pack (450 shots)
fixed focal length (36mm)
painfully slow continuous shooting (5.0 fps)
no image stabilization
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Leica X Vario Travel photography information
Leica X2 Travel photography information
56
great battery pack (450 per charge)
decent MP (16MP)
built-in flash
rather wide (28mm)
no Timelapse recording
more heavy than competition in class (680 grams)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f3.5)
64
great battery pack (450 CIPA)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
missing Timelapse mode
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Leica X Vario Landscape photography information
Leica X2 Landscape photography information
61
has manual focus
rather wide (28mm)
screen size is decent (3")
decent MP (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
great battery pack (450 per charge)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
no image stabilization
no Timelapse recording
53
focusing manually
MP count decent (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
great battery pack (450 per charge)
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
fixed focal length (36mm)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
no image stabilization
missing Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Leica X Vario
Vlogging with Leica X2
25
rather wide (28mm)
has face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
no microphone port
more heavy than competition in class (680g)
9
lack of video recording
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Leica X Vario vs Leica X2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Leica X Vario and Leica X2
 Leica X VarioLeica X2
General Information
Make Leica Leica
Model type Leica X Vario Leica X2
Category Large Sensor Compact Large Sensor Compact
Released 2013-06-11 2012-05-10
Physical type Large Sensor Compact Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor measurements 23.6 x 15.8mm 23.6 x 15.8mm
Sensor surface area 372.9mm² 372.9mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4928 x 3272 4928 x 3264
Max native ISO 12500 12500
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 11 11
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-70mm (2.5x) 36mm (1x)
Maximal aperture f/3.5-6.4 f/2.8
Macro focusing range - 30cm
Crop factor 1.5 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of screen 920k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Electronic (optional)
Features
Min shutter speed 30s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/2000s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter rate 5.0 frames per sec 5.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Front Curtain, Rear Curtain, Slow sync, Studio Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Front Curtain, Rear Curtain, Slow sync, Studio
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 -
Max video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video format MPEG-4 -
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
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 680g (1.50 lbs) 345g (0.76 lbs)
Physical dimensions 133 x 73 x 95mm (5.2" x 2.9" x 3.7") 124 x 69 x 52mm (4.9" x 2.7" x 2.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 78 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 23.4 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.7 not tested
DXO Low light rating 1320 not tested
Other
Battery life 450 photographs 450 photographs
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BP-DC8 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC card
Card slots One One
Pricing at release $2,950 $994