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Leica D-LUX 5

 
Leica D-LUX 5 front
 
  • 10MP - 1/1.63" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-90mm (F2.0-3.3) lens
  • 271g - 110 x 66 x 43mm
  • Introduced September 2010
  • Newer Model is Leica D-Lux 6
  • Read full specs
  • Alternatives
  • Size Comparison
  • FAQ
Portability
88
Imaging
35
Features
44
Overall
38

Leica D-LUX 5 overview

Leica D-LUX 5 is Leica's Small Sensor Compact camera first launched on September of 2010. It includes a 10 MegaPixel, CCD 1/1.63" size sensor with a peak resolution of 3648 x 2736.

Leica introduced the more recent Leica D-Lux 6 (Read Full Comparison) to upgrade this camera.

The D-LUX 5 is rated #56 out of 261 in Small Sensor Compact cameras and all-around #801 out of 1465 for cameras in our collection. You can use our Advanced camera filter to see camera ratings based on your customized factors.

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The following is a graph of different criteria used in the scoring system.

Leica D-LUX 5 family

The Leica D-LUX 5 comes with a history of related cameras. Here, you can look at all previous and more recent models alongside key specifications.

ModelVisualizeLensResolutionSensor SizeReleased
Leica-D-Lux-6 front thumbnailLeica D-Lux 6
D-LUX 5 vs D-Lux 6
24-90mm
F1.4-2.3
10MP1/1.7"2012
Leica-D-LUX-5 front thumbnailLeica D-LUX 524-90mm
F2.0-3.3
10MP1/1.63"2010
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Leica D-LUX 5 Pros and Cons

Here is a collection of pluses and minuses of the Leica D-LUX 5 based on aspects that are typically seen as crucial in a camera.

built in zoom lens (24-90mm 3.8 x zoom)
comes with HDMI port
decently wide (24mm)
exports RAW formats
fast at the tele end (f3.3)
flash built-in
has image stabilization (Optical)
has manual focus
screen size is good (3 inch)
very good max aperture (f2.0)
very good min ISO (80)
display is not selfie friendly
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
lack of phase detect auto focus
low megapixels (10MP)
missing headphone port
missing microphone port
missing Timelapse function
more heavy than average (271g)
pixelated screen (460 thousand dot)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is small (1/1.63")
slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
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Leica D-LUX 5 Sensor information

The specification of the sensor on the Leica D-LUX 5 is 8.07mm x 5.56mm (1/1.63"). The 45 mm² sensor is able to resolve 3648 x 2736 pixels using aspect ratios of 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9. The camera boasts Image Stabilization (Optical). Sensor stabilization is superior than digital stabilization since the latter can easily lead to cropping.

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The CCD sensor boasts 10MP and features a native ISO range of 80 to 12800. RAW photos are saved so the user has more margin for error.

The picture below displays the D-LUX 5's sensor size when compared to other common sizes. The D-LUX 5 sensor comes with a crop factor of 4.5 and is presented in green.

Leica D-LUX 5 sensor size Peek Behind the Lens of 'Photographer' and Their Go-To Cameras

To get an idea of different aspect ratios, you should refer to the visual below.

Camera sensor aspect ratios

Leica D-LUX 5 dimensions

Leica D-LUX 5 weighs around 0.60 lbs (271 grams / 9.56 oz) and the physical size of the camera is 110mm x 66mm x 43mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.7"). The weight of general Small Sensor Compact camera is 174 grams and the Leica D-LUX 5 is more heavy as compared with various competitors.

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The following is a visual of the Leica D-LUX 5 beside a soft drink so you can have a sense of its size.

Leica D-LUX 5 dimensions scale

The top view directly below will show the button arrangement on the D-LUX 5.

Leica D-LUX 5 topview buttons dials

Leica D-LUX 5 Lens information

The D-LUX 5 has got a built-in lens having a focal range of 24-90mm making it a 3.8 x zoom which won't be huge but it will definitely be invaluable in certain circumstances.

At it's widest 24mm, it will have an aperture of f2.0 which will be wonderful in low light situations and capturing good bokeh. It is going to also allow you to use a much lower ISO to capture clearer files. For the long end, 90mm comes at f3.3 which is very good and will allow you to use higher shutter speeds.

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Leica D-LUX 5 Connectivity

The D-LUX 5 has the following connectivity:

  • USB Yes
  • HDMI Yes

Cameras which include NFC and / or Bluetooth connectivity can easily be used wirelessly by smartphones. You can easily transfer photos and sometimes change settings with no need to connect straight with the camera.

Certain apps also enable a Liveview and press the shutter if you aren't near the camera. If the camera includes a HDMI out, it could be attached to an external screen. Many cameras will allow you to recharge the battery through the USB socket.

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Leica D-LUX 5 Video information

The highest video resolution on the Leica D-LUX 5 is 1280 x 720 and it can record in AVCHD Lite and Motion JPEG format. 720p is awful by today's standards. You should really try to get at least FUll HD resolution for good video. The body doesn't include a mic and / or headphone socket so you get absolutely no control over your sound. It is perhaps a better idea to take a look at another camera in case you need good sound in your video clips.

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Leica D-LUX 5 Weather Sealing

There is no weather sealing for the Leica D-LUX 5 so you have to be cautious in rainy and dusty situations.

Leica D-LUX 5 Display and Viewfinder

The Leica D-LUX 5 includes a 3 inch fixed screen having a resolution of 460 thousand dots.

Please be aware that the screen offers no touch support.

Leica D-LUX 5 screen and viewfinder Leica struggles with L-Mount camera sales, tougher than Q or M

The View Finder specifications regarding Leica D-LUX 5 are below:

  • ViewFinder Electronic (optional)

In those bright outdoor situations that make the camera screens washed out and challenging to view, viewfinders will be very helpful.

Leica D-LUX 5 Shutter information

Leica D-LUX 5 continuous shooting speed is 3.0 fps. The maximum shutter speed is 1/4000s.

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Leica D-LUX 5 Flash and Hot shoe information

Leica D-LUX 5 boasts both built-in flash and external flash ability.

Leica D-LUX 5 Autofocus information

Leica D-LUX 5 boasts only Contrast Based AF and doesn't have Phase Detect AF. Phase Detection focusing is a lot faster & exact as compared with Contrast Based focusing.

The AF system includes 23 focus points to pick from. Leica D-LUX 5 supports manual focusing when required in low light situations or you require more exact control on focusing.

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Leica D-LUX 5 Battery life

The typical Small Sensor Compact camera battery life is 241. Fujifilm X30 comes with the highest (470) battery life in this range of cameras.

Underneath is a list of Small Sensor Compact cameras with the best battery life:

Leica D-LUX 5 for different types of photography

The following graph provides a analysis of the Leica D-LUX 5 for different types of photography. To view more, check out the specific section below.

Portrait photography with Leica D-LUX 5

The Leica D-LUX 5 has a rating of 41 which is really bad, meaning that it is not really appropriate to use for portraits. Photographing portraits leans heavily to sensor size, support for RAW photos & ability to work with external flash.

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you can focus manually
exports RAW formats
MP count low (10MP)
sensor is small (1/1.63")

Leica D-LUX 5 Street photography details

Having a average score of 59, the Leica D-LUX 5 is fairly appropriate to buy for street photography. A very good street photography camera provides a fine balance of image quality and portability.

Peek Behind the Lens of 'Photographer' and Their Go-To Cameras
has image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW files
screen is fixed
sensor is tiny (1/1.63")
more heavy than average in class (271g)

Sports photography with Leica D-LUX 5

A really bad sports photography points tally of 27 indicates the Leica D-LUX 5 is not really appropriate for photographing sports. A camera must have good tracking and shutter speeds for sports photography.

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built in image stabilization (Optical)
low frames per second (3.0 frames per second)
low megapixels (10MP)
small sensor size (1/1.63")
doesn't have phase detect AF

Leica D-LUX 5 Travel photography info

Size is very crucial in selecting a travel camera. All round, the Leica D-LUX 5 gets a modest 59 for a travel camera which makes it relatively suited to buy for your travels.

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built-in flash
fairly wide (24mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
heavier than competition (271g)
low resolution (10 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly

Landscape photography with Leica D-LUX 5

When you're planning to choose a digital camera for landscape photographs, the most important factor is going to be image quality. The Leica D-LUX 5 at it's reasonable rating of 52 for a landscape camera is fairly acceptable within the current marketplace.

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focusing manually
really wide (24mm)
very good maximum aperture (f2.0)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW files
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/1.63")
missing Timelapse recording

Leica D-LUX 5 Vlogging highlights

A camera for vlogging ought to come with a articulating display, mic port and preferably IBIS. Taking all things into account, the Leica D-LUX 5 is not really appropriate as a vlog camera as it comes to a really bad score of 29.

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quite wide (24mm)
good max aperture (f2.0)
has image stabilization (Optical)
does not feature selfie friendly display
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have external microphone jack
more heavy than competition in class (271g)

Leica D-LUX 5 Alternatives

If you are shopping for replacements to the D-LUX 5, here is a selection of the top scored cameras which fall under the category of Small Sensor Compact.

The line chart just below offers you a summary of the D-LUX 5 versus it's highest rated competitors shown previously.

Here are a few more cameras you might take into account as alternate options. To see a detailed comparison, simply click on the "compare" link.

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Specifications

General Information
Manufacturer
Leica
Model type
Leica D-LUX 5
Class
Small Sensor Compact
Introduced
2010-09-21
Body design
Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type
CCD
Sensor size
1/1.63"
Sensor measurements
8.07 x 5.56mm
Sensor surface area
44.9mm²
Sensor resolution
10MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio
1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution
3648 x 2736
RAW support
Maximum native ISO
12800
Lowest native ISO
80
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points
23
Lens
Lens mount type
fixed lens
Lens zoom range
24-90mm (3.8x)
Largest aperture
f/2.0-3.3
Macro focusing distance
1cm
Focal length multiplier
4.5
Screen
Display type
Fixed Type
Display diagonal
3 inch
Resolution of display
460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder
Electronic (optional)
DXO scores
DXO All around rating
not tested
DXO Color Depth rating
not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating
not tested
DXO Low light rating
not tested
Features
Lowest shutter speed
60 seconds
Highest shutter speed
1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed
3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation
Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance
7.20 m
Flash modes
Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions
1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution
1280x720
Video format
AVCHD Lite, Motion JPEG
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless
None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB
USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS
None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight
271 gr (0.60 lbs)
Dimensions
110 x 66 x 43mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.7")
Other
Self timer
Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage
SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots
1
Cost at launch
$799