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Leica X1 vs Sony RX1

Portability
89
Imaging
52
Features
33
Overall
44
Leica X1 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1 front
Portability
79
Imaging
70
Features
57
Overall
64

Leica X1 vs Sony RX1 Key Specs

Leica X1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • No Video
  • 35mm (F2.8) lens
  • 306g - 124 x 60 x 32mm
  • Released December 2009
  • Renewed by Leica X2
Sony RX1
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 35mm (F2.0-22.0) lens
  • 482g - 113 x 65 x 70mm
  • Revealed February 2013
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Leica X1 vs Sony RX1 Overview

The following is a extended comparison of the Leica X1 versus Sony RX1, both Large Sensor Compact digital cameras by competitors Leica and Sony. There is a significant difference between the sensor resolutions of the X1 (12MP) and RX1 (24MP) and the X1 (APS-C) and RX1 (Full frame) posses totally different sensor sizing.

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The X1 was announced 4 years earlier than the RX1 which is quite a sizable gap as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras have the same body design (Large Sensor Compact).

Before diving straight to a complete comparison, here is a quick summary of how the X1 matches up vs the RX1 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Leica X1 over the Sony RX1

 X1 RX1 

Reasons to pick Sony RX1 over the Leica X1

 RX1 X1 
RevealedFebruary 2013December 2009Newer by 38 months
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution1229k230kSharper display (+999k dot)

Common features in the Leica X1 and Sony RX1

 X1 RX1 
Manual focus Dial accurate focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly display No Touch friendly display

Leica X1 vs Sony RX1 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to travel with your camera, you need to factor its weight and volume. The Leica X1 offers outer dimensions of 124mm x 60mm x 32mm (4.9" x 2.4" x 1.3") along with a weight of 306 grams (0.67 lbs) whilst the Sony RX1 has sizing of 113mm x 65mm x 70mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 2.8") along with a weight of 482 grams (1.06 lbs).

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Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you have chosen at the time. The following is a front view over all size comparison of the X1 against the RX1.

Leica X1 vs Sony RX1 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the X1 and RX1 is 89 and 79 respectively.

Leica X1 vs Sony RX1 top view buttons comparison

Leica X1 vs Sony RX1 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is very difficult to envision the gap between sensor dimensions just by checking a spec sheet. The picture underneath may provide you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the X1 and RX1.

Clearly, both the cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The X1 having a tinier sensor will make shooting shallow DOF trickier and the Sony RX1 will give greater detail with its extra 12 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop photos a bit more aggressively. The more aged X1 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Leica X1 vs Sony RX1 sensor size comparison

Leica X1 vs Sony RX1 Screen and ViewFinder

Leica X1 vs Sony RX1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Leica X1 Portrait photography details
Sony RX1 Portrait photography details
63
has manual focus
sensor size is good (APS-C)
offers face detection focus
saves RAW files
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
82
has manual focus
above average flash sync (1/4,000 seconds)
decent MP (24 megapixels)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
offers face detect autofocus
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Leica X1 as a Street photography camera
Sony RX1 as a Street photography camera
70
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW files
lighter than average in class (306 grams)
fixed screen
no image stabilization
66
sensor size is large (Full frame)
saves RAW formats
great high ISO (25,600)
screen is fixed
no image stabilization
heavier than competition in class (482 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Leica X1 Sports photography advice
Sony RX1 Sports photography advice
34
sensor size is good (APS-C)
fixed focal length (35mm)
max fps low (3.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
lacks phase detect auto focus
53
decent MP (24MP)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
offers tracking focus
can't change focal length (35mm)
very slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
low battery (270 CIPA)
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Leica X1
Travel photography with Sony RX1
59
lighter than average in class (306g)
built-in flash
does not have Time Lapse mode
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
62
decent MP (24 megapixels)
flash built-in
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
no Time Lapse recording
low battery (270 CIPA)
heavier than competition in class (482g)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Leica X1 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony RX1 as a Landscape photography camera
44
has manual focus
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW files
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
fixed focal length (35mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
small screen (2.7 inch)
no image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
does not have Time Lapse mode
65
has manual focus
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
screen size is decent (3")
decent MP (24 megapixels)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
great high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW formats
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
can't change focal length (35mm)
no image stabilization
low battery (270 per charge)
no Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Leica X1 Vlogging information
Sony RX1 Vlogging information
9
can't shoot video
34
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
offers face detect autofocus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
has mic support
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
heavier than competition in class (482g)
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Leica X1 vs Sony RX1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Leica X1 and Sony RX1
 Leica X1Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1
General Information
Manufacturer Leica Sony
Model type Leica X1 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1
Category Large Sensor Compact Large Sensor Compact
Released 2009-12-18 2013-02-19
Physical type Large Sensor Compact Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C Full frame
Sensor dimensions 23.6 x 15.8mm 35.8 x 23.8mm
Sensor area 372.9mm² 852.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 24 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4272 x 2856 6000 x 4000
Maximum native ISO 3200 25600
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 11 25
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 35mm (1x) 35mm (1x)
Max aperture f/2.8 f/2.0-22.0
Macro focusing range 30cm -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 1
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 2.7 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 230k dots 1,229k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology - Xtra FineTFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic and Optical (optional)
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames/s 5.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance - 6.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Front Curtain, Rear Curtain, Slow sync, Studio Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/4000 secs
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, 25, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30, 25 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25 fps)
Maximum video resolution None 1920x1080
Video format - MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 306 grams (0.67 lbs) 482 grams (1.06 lbs)
Physical dimensions 124 x 60 x 32mm (4.9" x 2.4" x 1.3") 113 x 65 x 70mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 93
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 25.1
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 14.3
DXO Low light rating not tested 2534
Other
Battery life - 270 images
Battery style - Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $1,495 $2,798