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Leica V-Lux 4

 
Leica V-Lux 4 front
 
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200 (Bump to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-600mm (F2.8) lens
  • 588g - 125 x 87 x 110mm
  • Launched September 2012
  • Old Model is Leica V-Lux 3
  • New Model is Leica V-Lux 5
  • Read full specs
  • Alternatives
  • Size Comparison
  • FAQ
Portability
65
Imaging
36
Features
62
Overall
46

Leica V-Lux 4 overview

Leica V-Lux 4 is Leica's Small Sensor Superzoom camera initially announced on September of 2012. The camera has a 12MP, CMOS 1/2.3" size sensor with a peak resolution of 4000 x 3000.

Leica brought out this camera as a way to upgrade the older Leica V-Lux 3 (Read Full Comparison) and subsequently launched the updated Leica V-Lux 5 (Read Full Comparison) to upgrade this model.

The V-Lux 4 is ranked #47 out of 244 in Small Sensor Superzoom cameras and all round #498 out of 1465 for cameras in our list. You can try our Advanced camera filter to get camera results based on your personalized requirements.

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The following is a chart of multiple criteria used in the scoring system.

Leica V-Lux 4 family

The Leica V-Lux 4 is part of a family of cameras. You can read the complete list underneath.

ModelVisualizeLensResolutionSensor SizeReleased
Leica-V-Lux-5 front thumbnailLeica V-Lux 5
V-Lux 4 vs V-Lux 5
24-400mm
F2.8-4
20MP1"2020
Leica-V-Lux-4 front thumbnailLeica V-Lux 425-600mm
F2.8
12MP1/2.3"2012
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Leica-V-Lux-40 front thumbnailLeica V-Lux 40
V-Lux 4 vs V-Lux 40
24-480mm
F3.3-6.4
14MP1/2.3"2012
Leica-V-Lux-3 front thumbnailLeica V-Lux 3
V-Lux 4 vs V-Lux 3
25-600mm
F2.8-5.2
12MP1/2.3"2011
Leica-V-Lux-30 front thumbnailLeica V-Lux 30
V-Lux 4 vs V-Lux 30
24-384mm
F3.3-5.9
14MP1/2.3"2011
Leica-V-Lux-2 front thumbnailLeica V-Lux 2
V-Lux 4 vs V-Lux 2
25-600mm
F2.8-5.2
14MP1/2.3"2010
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Leica-V-Lux-20 front thumbnailLeica V-Lux 20
V-Lux 4 vs V-Lux 20
25-300mm
F3.3-4.9
12MP1/2.3"2010

Leica V-Lux 4 Pros and Cons

Here is a collection of pluses and minuses of the Leica V-Lux 4 based on features which are oftentimes seen as important in a camera.

built-in flash
display is selfie friendly
excellent zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
exports RAW files
fully articulated screen
great battery power (540 shots)
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
great zoom (600mm)
has face detect autofocus
has image stabilization (Optical)
has tracking focus
includes HDMI port
includes mic port
pretty good screen size (3")
quite wide (25mm)
very good min ISO (100)
you can focus manually
does not have headphone port
does not have Time Lapse mode
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
has no phase detect autofocus
heavier than competition in class (588 grams)
MP count low (12MP)
pixelated screen (460 k dot)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
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Leica V-Lux 4 Sensor features

The size of the sensor on the Leica V-Lux 4 is 6.08mm x 4.56mm (1/2.3"). The 28 mm² sensor can resolve 4000 x 3000 pixels using aspect ratios of 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9. The camera includes Image Stabilization (Optical). Optical stabilization is better than digital stabilization since the latter may produce cropping.

Photography Glossary

The CMOS sensor boasts 12MP and has a native ISO range of 100 to 3200. The ISO can also be expanded electronically to a maximum of 6400. RAW photos are saved so the user has more margin for error.

The graphic underneath shows the V-Lux 4's sensor size in comparison to other common sizes. The V-Lux 4 sensor comes with a crop factor of 5.9 and is displayed in green.

Leica V-Lux 4 sensor size Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

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

Camera sensor aspect ratios

Leica V-Lux 4 dimensions

Leica V-Lux 4 weighs about 1.30 lbs (588g or 20.74 oz) and the physical size of the camera is 125mm x 87mm x 110mm (4.9" x 3.4" x 4.3"). The weight of general Small Sensor Superzoom camera is 387g and the Leica V-Lux 4 is weightier as compared with various competitors.

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Down below is a picture of the Leica V-Lux 4 next to a soft drink to help you to have a sense of its size.

Leica V-Lux 4 dimensions scale

The top view underneath will highlight the button arrangement on the V-Lux 4.

Leica V-Lux 4 topview buttons dials

Leica V-Lux 4 Lens features

The V-Lux 4 provides an inbuilt lens having a focal range of 25-600mm making it a 24.0 x zoom which is significant and can enable you to zoom all the way in.

At it's widest 25mm, it offers an aperture of f2.8 which is very sluggish and not good in low light events and you will struggle to capture a shallow depth of field. You could also have to boost your ISO setting which results in noisy photographs.is amazing zoom and

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Leica V-Lux 4 Connectivity

The V-Lux 4 has the following connectivity:

  • USB Yes
  • HDMI Yes

Cameras that feature NFC and / or Bluetooth support can easily be controlled wirelessly by smartphones. You are able to copy pictures and sometimes adjust camera settings without the hassle of connecting directly with the camera.

Many apps also enable a Liveview and press the shutter when you aren't near the camera. If the camera has a HDMI out, it could be connected to an external display. Many cameras enable you to recharge the battery with the USB socket.

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Leica V-Lux 4 Video features

The highest video quality on the Leica V-Lux 4 is 1920 x 1080 and it can record in MPEG-4 and AVCHD format. 1080p quality gives you an excellent balance in quality and file size but FULL HD isn't going to leave you with much room to crop. Although the body includes a mic jack, it is lacking a headphone jack so you won't have the ability to check your audio levels.

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Leica V-Lux 4 Weather Sealing

There is no weather sealing in the Leica V-Lux 4 so you have to be cautious in wet and dusty conditions.

Leica V-Lux 4 Display and Viewfinder

The Leica V-Lux 4 has a 3" fully articulated display having a resolution of 460k dots.

The display is selfie friendly to get self portraits and group photos if needed. Sadly the display is not a touch screen.

Leica V-Lux 4 screen and viewfinder Photography Glossary

The ViewFinder specifications regarding Leica V-Lux 4 are as follows:

  • ViewFinder Electronic
  • Resolution 1,312k dots
  • Coverage 100 percent

Viewfinders are rather handy in sunny outdoor conditions which may make the camera display washed out and difficult to view.

Leica V-Lux 4 Shutter features

Leica V-Lux 4 continuous shooting rate is 12.0 fps. The highest shutter speed is 1/4000 seconds.

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Leica V-Lux 4 Flash and Hot shoe features

Leica V-Lux 4 includes both in-built flash and external flash ability.

Leica V-Lux 4 Autofocus features

Leica V-Lux 4 includes only Contrast Detect Autofocus and is missing Phase Detect Autofocus. Phase Detection focusing is a lot more snappier and accurate as compared with Contrast Detect focusing. The camera has Face detect which is helpful for people photography.

The AF system has 23 focus points to choose from. It also features Tracking Autofocus for subjects that move. Leica V-Lux 4 comes with manual focus if required in low light conditions or you need to have more exact focus control.

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Leica V-Lux 4 Battery life

The battery power in the Leica V-Lux 4 is made to last for 540 clicks as per the CIPA benchmarks which is higher than the usual in comparison to its class. The typical Small Sensor Superzoom camera battery life is 316. Fujifilm HS35EXR offers the highest (600) battery life in this type of cameras.

Listed below is a list of Small Sensor Superzoom cameras that have the best battery life:

Leica V-Lux 4 for specific styles of photography

The following graph presents a analysis of the Leica V-Lux 4 for specific styles of photography. To view more, browse to the specific section underneath.

Leica V-Lux 4 Portrait photography advice

The Leica V-Lux 4 has a score of 45 which is lousy, and means the camera is not very good for portrait photography. Taking portrait photos leans greatly towards sensor resolution, support for RAW photos in addition to the flexibility to work with external flash.

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focusing manually
supports face detection focusing
supports RAW files
megapixel count low (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")

Leica V-Lux 4 Street photography factors

Having a reasonable points total of 57, the Leica V-Lux 4 is fairly acceptable to buy for street photography. A very good street photography camera provides a fine balance of image quality and portability.

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screen articulates fully
image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW files
sensor is small (1/2.3")
more heavy than competition (588g)

Leica V-Lux 4 Sports photography details

A modest sports photography rating of 46 suggests the Leica V-Lux 4 is reasonably acceptable for shooting sports. A camera needs to have very good autofocus and shutter speeds for sports photography.

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excellent zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
features tracking autofocus
better than average battery (540 shots)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus

Leica V-Lux 4 as a Travel photography camera

Weight is super crucial in getting a camera for travel. Over-all, the Leica V-Lux 4 gets a decent 55 for a travel camera which makes it somewhat adequate for your trips.

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great battery (540 CIPA)
flash built-in
display is selfie friendly
quite wide (25mm)
long reach (600mm)
lack of Time Lapse mode
heavier than average in class (588g)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)

Leica V-Lux 4 Landscape photography details

For those who are planning to purchase a camera for landscape pictures, the biggest aspect will no doubt be image quality. The Leica V-Lux 4 at it's reasonable rating of 48 for a landscape camera is relatively suited amongst it's competitors.

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has manual focus
fairly wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW files
great battery (540 per charge)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
missing Time Lapse mode

Vlogging with Leica V-Lux 4

A camera for vlogging really should have a articulating screen, microphone port and preferably IBIS. Taking all things into account, the Leica V-Lux 4 is a fine option as a vlog camera as it receives a very good score of 63.

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relatively wide (25mm)
selfie friendly display
image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
has microphone port
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
more heavy than competitors in class (588 grams)

Leica V-Lux 4 Alternatives

If you are searching for replacements to the V-Lux 4, here is a number of the highest scored cameras which fall into the class of Small Sensor Superzoom.

The line chart down below gives you an overview of the V-Lux 4 compared to it's top rated competitors mentioned previously.

There are more cameras you might look at as alternate options. To go through a extensive comparison, simply click the "compare" link.

Photography Glossary

Specifications

General Information
Brand
Leica
Model
Leica V-Lux 4
Type
Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched
2012-09-17
Body design
SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Sensor type
CMOS
Sensor size
1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions
6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area
27.7mm²
Sensor resolution
12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio
1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution
4000 x 3000
RAW format
Max native ISO
3200
Max boosted ISO
6400
Lowest native ISO
100
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points
23
Lens
Lens mounting type
fixed lens
Lens focal range
25-600mm (24.0x)
Maximum aperture
f/2.8
Macro focus distance
1cm
Focal length multiplier
5.9
Screen
Range of display
Fully Articulated
Display size
3"
Resolution of display
460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display technology
Free-Angle TFT Screen LCD Display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type
Electronic
Viewfinder resolution
1,312k dot
Viewfinder coverage
100 percent
DXO scores
DXO All around score
not tested
DXO Color Depth score
not tested
DXO Dynamic range score
not tested
DXO Low light score
not tested
Features
Lowest shutter speed
60 seconds
Highest shutter speed
1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed
12.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation
Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range
13.50 m
Flash settings
Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions
1920 x 1080 (60, 50, 30, 25 fps), 1280 x 720p (60, 50, 30, 25 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25 fps)
Max video resolution
1920x1080
Video format
MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless
None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB
USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS
None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight
588g (1.30 pounds)
Dimensions
125 x 87 x 110mm (4.9" x 3.4" x 4.3")
Other
Battery life
540 photographs
Battery form
Battery Pack
Self timer
Yes (2 or 10 secs)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage
SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots
Single
Retail price
$899