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Leica X2 vs Sony RX100 IV

Portability
83
Imaging
57
Features
37
Overall
49
Leica X2 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IV front
Portability
89
Imaging
52
Features
79
Overall
62

Leica X2 vs Sony RX100 IV Key Specs

Leica X2
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12500
  • No Video
  • 36mm (F2.8) lens
  • 345g - 124 x 69 x 52mm
  • Announced May 2012
  • Earlier Model is Leica X1
  • Successor is Leica X Vario
Sony RX100 IV
(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
  • 298g - 102 x 58 x 41mm
  • Revealed June 2015
  • Older Model is Sony RX100 III
  • Updated by Sony RX100 V
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Leica X2 vs Sony RX100 IV Overview

Here is a in depth overview of the Leica X2 and Sony RX100 IV, both Large Sensor Compact cameras by companies Leica and Sony. The image resolution of the X2 (16MP) and the RX100 IV (20MP) is pretty close but the X2 (APS-C) and RX100 IV (1") possess totally different sensor sizes.

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The X2 was released 4 years prior to the RX100 IV and that is a fairly significant gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras offer the identical body type (Large Sensor Compact).

Before delving straight into a full comparison, below is a brief overview of how the X2 grades versus the RX100 IV in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Leica X2 over the Sony RX100 IV

 X2 RX100 IV 

Reasons to pick Sony RX100 IV over the Leica X2

 RX100 IV X2 
RevealedJune 2015May 2012Fresher by 37 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution1229k230kSharper screen (+999k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Leica X2 and Sony RX100 IV

 X2 RX100 IV 
Manual focus Dial accurate focusing
Touch friendly screen Neither comes with Touch friendly screen

Leica X2 vs Sony RX100 IV Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to carry your camera regularly, you will want to take into account its weight and volume. The Leica X2 comes with outside measurements of 124mm x 69mm x 52mm (4.9" x 2.7" x 2.0") having a weight of 345 grams (0.76 lbs) whilst the Sony RX100 IV has sizing of 102mm x 58mm x 41mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.6") and a weight of 298 grams (0.66 lbs).

Analyze the Leica X2 and Sony RX100 IV in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are working with during that time. Here is the front view dimension comparison of the X2 and the RX100 IV.

Leica X2 vs Sony RX100 IV size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the X2 and RX100 IV is 83 and 89 respectively.

Leica X2 vs Sony RX100 IV top view buttons comparison

Leica X2 vs Sony RX100 IV Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is hard to envision the gap in sensor sizing merely by viewing a spec sheet. The graphic here should provide you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the X2 and RX100 IV.

As you can see, the 2 cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The X2 featuring a bigger sensor will make getting shallower DOF simpler and the Sony RX100 IV will result in more detail as a result of its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop shots a little more aggressively. The older X2 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

Leica X2 vs Sony RX100 IV sensor size comparison

Leica X2 vs Sony RX100 IV Screen and ViewFinder

Leica X2 vs Sony RX100 IV Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Leica X2
Portrait photography with Sony RX100 IV
74
manual focus
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
offers face detection focus
delivers RAW formats
65
focusing manually
above average flash sync (1/2,000s)
decent MP (20MP)
good sensor size (1")
comes with face detect focus
exports RAW formats
external flash not possible
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Street Comparison

Leica X2 Street photography features
Sony RX100 IV Street photography features
65
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
no articulating screen
no image stabilization
85
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good sensor size (1")
exports RAW formats
lighter than competition (298g)
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Sports Comparison

Leica X2 as a Sports photography camera
Sony RX100 IV as a Sports photography camera
49
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
good battery life (450 shots)
can't change focal length (36mm)
low frames per second (5.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
lacks phase detect auto focus
68
silent shooting (1/32,000s)
max fps high (16.0 fps)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (1")
comes with tracking focus
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Leica X2
Travel photography with Sony RX100 IV
64
good battery life (450 per charge)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
does not feature selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f2.8)
86
lighter than competition (298 grams)
decent MP (20MP)
has built in flash
selfie friendly screen
pretty wide (24mm)
very good maximum aperture (f1.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Leica X2 Landscape photography highlights
Sony RX100 IV Landscape photography highlights
53
manual focus
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
good battery life (450 per charge)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
can't change focal length (36mm)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
no image stabilization
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
74
focusing manually
pretty wide (24mm)
very good maximum aperture (f1.8)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (1")
exports RAW formats
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
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Vlogging Comparison

Leica X2 Vlogging information
Sony RX100 IV Vlogging information
9
no video
81
pretty wide (24mm)
very good maximum aperture (f1.8)
selfie friendly screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect focus
high res video (3840 x 2160 pxls)
lighter than competition (298g)
does not have microphone port
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Leica X2 vs Sony RX100 IV Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Leica X2 and Sony RX100 IV
 Leica X2Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IV
General Information
Manufacturer Leica Sony
Model type Leica X2 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IV
Type Large Sensor Compact Large Sensor Compact
Announced 2012-05-10 2015-06-10
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 surface area 372.9mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4928 x 3264 5472 x 3648
Maximum native ISO 12500 12800
Maximum boosted ISO - 25600
Minimum native ISO 100 125
RAW support
Minimum boosted ISO - 80
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 11 25
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 36mm (1x) 24-70mm (2.9x)
Largest aperture f/2.8 f/1.8-2.8
Macro focusing distance 30cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 1.5 2.7
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 2.7 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 230k dot 1,229k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359k dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.59x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/2000s
Highest silent shutter speed - 1/32000s
Continuous shooting speed 5.0 frames/s 16.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Front Curtain, Rear Curtain, Slow sync, Studio -
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync - 1/2000s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions - 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 None 3840x2160
Video format - 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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 345g (0.76 lbs) 298g (0.66 lbs)
Dimensions 124 x 69 x 52mm (4.9" x 2.7" x 2.0") 102 x 58 x 41mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.6")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 70
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.9
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.6
DXO Low light rating not tested 562
Other
Battery life 450 shots 280 shots
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes
Time lapse shooting With downloadable app
Type of storage SD/SDHC card SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Price at launch $994 $898