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Leica X Vario vs Sony RX100 VA

Portability
62
Imaging
58
Features
51
Overall
55
Leica X Vario front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 V(A) front
Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
77
Overall
63

Leica X Vario vs Sony RX100 VA Key Specs

Leica X Vario
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12500
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-70mm (F3.5-6.4) lens
  • 680g - 133 x 73 x 95mm
  • Announced June 2013
  • Succeeded the Leica X2
Sony RX100 VA
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 125 - 12800 (Increase to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-70mm (F1.8-2.8) lens
  • 299g - 102 x 58 x 41mm
  • Released July 2018
Photography Glossary

Leica X Vario vs Sony RX100 VA Overview

Below is a complete overview of the Leica X Vario vs Sony RX100 VA, both Large Sensor Compact digital cameras by companies Leica and Sony. The image resolution of the X Vario (16MP) and the RX100 VA (20MP) is pretty similar but the X Vario (APS-C) and RX100 VA (1") possess different sensor sizing.

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The X Vario was revealed 6 years earlier than the RX100 VA and that is quite a large difference as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras offer the identical body type (Large Sensor Compact).

Before we go in to a full comparison, below is a simple highlight of how the X Vario scores versus the RX100 VA when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Leica X Vario over the Sony RX100 VA

 X Vario RX100 VA 

Reasons to pick Sony RX100 VA over the Leica X Vario

 RX100 VA X Vario 
ReleasedJuly 2018June 2013More recent by 61 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1229k920kSharper screen (+309k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Leica X Vario and Sony RX100 VA

 X Vario RX100 VA 
Manually focus Very precise focus
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurement
Touch friendly screen Absent Touch friendly screen

Leica X Vario vs Sony RX100 VA Physical Comparison

If you are going to lug around your camera regularly, you need to take into account its weight and proportions. The Leica X Vario comes with external measurements of 133mm x 73mm x 95mm (5.2" x 2.9" x 3.7") along with a weight of 680 grams (1.50 lbs) and the Sony RX100 VA has measurements of 102mm x 58mm x 41mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.6") accompanied by a weight of 299 grams (0.66 lbs).

Contrast the Leica X Vario vs Sony RX100 VA in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you select at the time. Following is the front view measurements comparison of the X Vario vs the RX100 VA.

Leica X Vario vs Sony RX100 VA size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the X Vario and RX100 VA is 62 and 89 respectively.

Leica X Vario vs Sony RX100 VA top view buttons comparison

Leica X Vario vs Sony RX100 VA Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, its tough to picture the gap between sensor measurements merely by reading a spec sheet. The graphic below will offer you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the X Vario and RX100 VA.

Clearly, the 2 cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The X Vario using its bigger sensor is going to make achieving bokeh easier and the Sony RX100 VA will deliver more detail because of its extra 4MP. Higher resolution can also help you crop pictures a little more aggressively. The older X Vario is going to be behind in sensor innovation.

Leica X Vario vs Sony RX100 VA sensor size comparison

Leica X Vario vs Sony RX100 VA Screen and ViewFinder

Leica X Vario vs Sony RX100 VA Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Leica X Vario Portrait photography highlights
Sony RX100 VA Portrait photography highlights
74
manual focus
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
comes with face detection focusing
delivers RAW formats
66
has manual focus
above average flash sync speed (1/2,000 seconds)
resolution is good (20MP)
sensor size is decent (1")
includes face detect focusing
supports RAW formats
cannot use external flash
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Leica X Vario
Street photography with Sony RX100 VA
53
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
screen does not articulate
lack of image stabilization
more heavy than competition in class (680g)
86
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is decent (1")
supports RAW formats
lighter than competition (299g)
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Sports Comparison

Leica X Vario Sports photography details
Sony RX100 VA Sports photography details
54
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
great battery life (450 CIPA)
slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
doesn't have phase detect AF
70
quiet shooting (1/32,000 seconds)
high max frames per second (24.0 frames/s)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (20MP)
sensor size is decent (1")
includes tracking focus
supports phase detect AF
low battery pack (220 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Leica X Vario Travel photography advice
Sony RX100 VA Travel photography advice
56
great battery life (450 shots)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
built-in flash
rather wide (28mm)
missing Timelapse function
more heavy than competition in class (680 grams)
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
76
lighter than competition (299g)
resolution is good (20 megapixels)
has built in flash
display is selfie friendly
relatively wide (24mm)
good max aperture (f1.8)
no Timelapse mode
low battery pack (220 per charge)
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Landscape Comparison

Leica X Vario Landscape photography features
Sony RX100 VA Landscape photography features
61
manual focus
rather wide (28mm)
screen size is good (3")
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
great battery life (450 shots)
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
lack of image stabilization
missing Timelapse function
66
has manual focus
relatively wide (24mm)
good max aperture (f1.8)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (20 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (1")
supports RAW formats
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
low battery pack (220 per charge)
no Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Leica X Vario Vlogging information
Sony RX100 VA Vlogging information
25
rather wide (28mm)
comes with face detection focusing
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
missing external microphone jack
more heavy than competition in class (680g)
81
relatively wide (24mm)
good max aperture (f1.8)
display is selfie friendly
built in image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detect focusing
high quality video (3840 x 2160 pxls)
lighter than competition (299 grams)
no microphone jack
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Leica X Vario vs Sony RX100 VA Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Leica X Vario and Sony RX100 VA
 Leica X VarioSony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 V(A)
General Information
Company Leica Sony
Model type Leica X Vario Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 V(A)
Category Large Sensor Compact Large Sensor Compact
Announced 2013-06-11 2018-07-13
Body design Large Sensor Compact Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Processor - Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size APS-C 1"
Sensor measurements 23.6 x 15.8mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor area 372.9mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4928 x 3272 5472 x 3648
Maximum native ISO 12500 12800
Maximum enhanced ISO - 25600
Min native ISO 100 125
RAW photos
Min enhanced ISO - 80
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 11 315
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-70mm (2.5x) 24-70mm (2.9x)
Max aperture f/3.5-6.4 f/1.8-2.8
Macro focusing distance - 5cm
Crop factor 1.5 2.7
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 920 thousand dot 1,229 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.59x
Features
Min shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Max quiet shutter speed - 1/32000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 5.0fps 24.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance - 10.20 m (at Auto ISO)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Front Curtain, Rear Curtain, Slow sync, Studio Auto, Flash On, Slow Synchro, Rear Sync, Flash Off
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/2000 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video file format MPEG-4 MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) NP-BX1 lithium-ion battery & USB charger
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 680 gr (1.50 pounds) 299 gr (0.66 pounds)
Dimensions 133 x 73 x 95mm (5.2" x 2.9" x 3.7") 102 x 58 x 41mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.6")
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 220 photographs
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BP-DC8 NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Retail pricing $2,950 $998