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Leica X Vario vs Sony RX1R II

Portability
62
Imaging
58
Features
51
Overall
55
Leica X Vario front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1R II front
Portability
78
Imaging
76
Features
65
Overall
71

Leica X Vario vs Sony RX1R II 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
  • Launched June 2013
  • Superseded the Leica X2
Sony RX1R II
(Full Review)
  • 42MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 50 - 25600 (Boost to 102400)
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 35mm (F2.0) lens
  • 507g - 113 x 65 x 72mm
  • Announced October 2015
  • Earlier Model is Sony RX1R
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Leica X Vario vs Sony RX1R II Overview

Let's look more in depth at the Leica X Vario vs Sony RX1R II, both Large Sensor Compact cameras by competitors Leica and Sony. There exists a huge gap among the image resolutions of the X Vario (16MP) and RX1R II (42MP) and the X Vario (APS-C) and RX1R II (Full frame) posses totally different sensor measurements.

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The X Vario was released 3 years before the RX1R II and that is a fairly significant gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras feature the same body design (Large Sensor Compact).

Before diving straight to a full comparison, here is a short highlight of how the X Vario matches up versus the RX1R II with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Leica X Vario over the Sony RX1R II

 X Vario RX1R II 

Reasons to pick Sony RX1R II over the Leica X Vario

 RX1R II X Vario 
AnnouncedOctober 2015June 2013More recent by 28 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1229k920kCrisper screen (+309k dot)

Common features in the Leica X Vario and Sony RX1R II

 X Vario RX1R II 
Manually focus More exact focusing
Screen size3"3"Same screen measurements
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Missing Touch friendly screen

Leica X Vario vs Sony RX1R II Physical Comparison

When you are planning to lug around your camera frequently, you'll have to factor its weight and dimensions. The Leica X Vario offers exterior dimensions of 133mm x 73mm x 95mm (5.2" x 2.9" x 3.7") and a weight of 680 grams (1.50 lbs) and the Sony RX1R II has dimensions of 113mm x 65mm x 72mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 2.8") accompanied by a weight of 507 grams (1.12 lbs).

Check the Leica X Vario vs Sony RX1R II in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are employing at that time. Underneath is a front view physical size comparison of the X Vario compared to the RX1R II.

Leica X Vario vs Sony RX1R II size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the X Vario and RX1R II is 62 and 78 respectively.

Leica X Vario vs Sony RX1R II top view buttons comparison

Leica X Vario vs Sony RX1R II Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is tough to see the contrast in sensor measurements merely by seeing specs. The graphic here will help offer you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the X Vario and RX1R II.

All in all, both the cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The X Vario because of its smaller sensor will make getting shallower depth of field trickier and the Sony RX1R II will produce extra detail as a result of its extra 26MP. Higher resolution will also let you crop pictures way more aggressively. The older X Vario will be behind with regard to sensor technology.

Leica X Vario vs Sony RX1R II sensor size comparison

Leica X Vario vs Sony RX1R II Screen and ViewFinder

Leica X Vario vs Sony RX1R II Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Leica X Vario Portrait photography highlights
Sony RX1R II Portrait photography highlights
74
has manual focus
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
has face detection autofocus
delivers RAW formats
85
has manual focus
great flash sync speed (1/4,000 seconds)
fantastic MP (42 megapixels)
great sensor size (Full frame)
offers face detect focusing
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Leica X Vario Street photography details
Sony RX1R II Street photography details
53
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
screen does not articulate
no image stabilization
more heavy than average in class (680g)
73
screen tilts up and down
great sensor size (Full frame)
supports RAW files
very good high ISO (25,600)
lack of image stabilization
heavier than others (507g)
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Sports Comparison

Leica X Vario Sports photography highlights
Sony RX1R II Sports photography highlights
54
resolution is good (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
good battery life (450 CIPA)
slow fps (5.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
63
fantastic MP (42 megapixels)
great sensor size (Full frame)
offers tracking focus
sensor has phase detect AF
can't change focal length (35mm)
slow frames per second (5.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
low battery pack (220 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Leica X Vario Travel photography advice
Sony RX1R II Travel photography advice
56
good battery life (450 CIPA)
resolution is good (16MP)
built-in flash
decently wide (28mm)
does not have Timelapse function
more heavy than average in class (680g)
does not posses selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
59
fantastic MP (42 megapixels)
very good max aperture (f2.0)
missing Time Lapse recording
low battery pack (220 CIPA)
heavier than others (507 grams)
does not have selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Leica X Vario Landscape photography factors
Sony RX1R II Landscape photography factors
61
has manual focus
decently wide (28mm)
good sized screen (3 inches)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
good battery life (450 CIPA)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
no image stabilization
does not have Timelapse function
68
has manual focus
very good max aperture (f2.0)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
fantastic MP (42MP)
great sensor size (Full frame)
doesnt have low pass filter
very good high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW files
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
can't change focal length (35mm)
lack of image stabilization
low battery pack (220 CIPA)
missing Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Leica X Vario Vlogging highlights
Sony RX1R II Vlogging highlights
25
decently wide (28mm)
has face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
does not posses selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
does not have external microphone socket
more heavy than average in class (680g)
34
very good max aperture (f2.0)
offers face detect focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
includes mic port
does not have selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
heavier than others (507 grams)
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Leica X Vario vs Sony RX1R II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Leica X Vario and Sony RX1R II
 Leica X VarioSony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1R II
General Information
Brand Leica Sony
Model Leica X Vario Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1R II
Category Large Sensor Compact Large Sensor Compact
Launched 2013-06-11 2015-10-13
Body design Large Sensor Compact Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - BIONZ X
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size APS-C Full frame
Sensor dimensions 23.6 x 15.8mm 35.9 x 24mm
Sensor area 372.9mm² 861.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 42MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4928 x 3272 7952 x 5304
Highest native ISO 12500 25600
Highest enhanced ISO - 102400
Min native ISO 100 50
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 11 25
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-70mm (2.5x) 35mm (1x)
Maximum aperture f/3.5-6.4 f/2.0
Macro focus range - 14cm
Focal length multiplier 1.5 1
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 3" 3"
Screen resolution 920k dot 1,229k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359k dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.74x
Features
Min shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 5.0 frames/s 5.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range - no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Front Curtain, Rear Curtain, Slow sync, Studio Off, auto, fill flash, slow sync, rear sync, wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/4000 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 30p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (120p, 30p)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4 MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S, H.264
Mic 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 680 gr (1.50 pounds) 507 gr (1.12 pounds)
Physical dimensions 133 x 73 x 95mm (5.2" x 2.9" x 3.7") 113 x 65 x 72mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 78 97
DXO Color Depth score 23.4 25.8
DXO Dynamic range score 12.7 13.9
DXO Low light score 1320 3204
Other
Battery life 450 pictures 220 pictures
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BP-DC8 NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2,5, 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo
Storage slots One One
Launch pricing $2,950 $3,300