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Leica V-Lux 5

 
Leica V-Lux 5 front
 
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 80 - 12500 (Increase to 25000)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-400mm (F2.8-4) lens
  • 812g - 137 x 97 x 132mm
  • Introduced January 2020
  • Older Model is Leica V-Lux 4
  • Read full specs
  • Alternatives
  • Size Comparison
  • FAQ
Portability
55
Imaging
55
Features
80
Overall
65

Leica V-Lux 5 overview

Leica V-Lux 5 is Leica's Large Sensor Superzoom camera initially revealed on January of 2020. The camera comes with a 20MP, BSI-CMOS 1" size sensor with a maximum resolution of 5472 x 3648.

Leica released this camera in order to improve the previous Leica V-Lux 4 (Read Full Comparison)

The V-Lux 5 is ranked #1 out of 9 in Large Sensor Superzoom cameras & all-around #227 out of 1465 for cameras in our collection. Remember to check out our Smart camera finder to see camera rankings based on your customized factors.

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Below is a diagram of different criteria used in the scoring system.

Leica V-Lux 5 family

The Leica V-Lux 5 is part of a family of cameras. You can view the detailed list below.

ModelVisualizeLensResolutionSensor SizeReleased
Leica-V-Lux-5 front thumbnailLeica V-Lux 524-400mm
F2.8-4
20MP1"2020
Leica-V-Lux-4 front thumbnailLeica V-Lux 4
V-Lux 5 vs V-Lux 4
25-600mm
F2.8
12MP1/2.3"2012
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Leica-V-Lux-3 front thumbnailLeica V-Lux 3
V-Lux 5 vs V-Lux 3
25-600mm
F2.8-5.2
12MP1/2.3"2011
Leica-V-Lux-2 front thumbnailLeica V-Lux 2
V-Lux 5 vs V-Lux 2
25-600mm
F2.8-5.2
14MP1/2.3"2010

Leica V-Lux 5 Pros and Cons

Here is a selection of benefits and drawbacks of the Leica V-Lux 5 based on criterias that are oftentimes viewed as important in a camera.

display is selfie friendly
does have HDMI port
does have mic port
fast aperture at full zoom (f4)
good MP (20 megapixels)
good resolution screen (1,240 thousand dot)
great zoom range (24-400mm 16.7 x zoom)
has bluetooth
has built in flash
high res video (3840 x 2160 pixels)
image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detect autofocus
includes tracking focus
long reach (400mm)
manual focus
nice screen size (3")
provides focus via touch
quiet shutter (1/16,000 seconds)
relatively wide (24mm)
saves RAW formats
screen articulates
sensor size is decent (1")
touch screen
very good min ISO (80)
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
doesn't have headphone port
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
lacks phase detect autofocus
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Leica V-Lux 5 Sensor information

The measurement of the sensor in the Leica V-Lux 5 is 13.2mm x 8.8mm (1"). The 116 mm² sensor can resolve 5472 x 3648 pixels using aspect ratios of 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9. The camera has Image Stabilization (Optical). In body stabilization is preferable than digital stabilization as the latter might produce cropping.

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The BSI-CMOS sensor has 20 megapixels and gives a native ISO range of 80 - 12500. The ISO can be widened electronically to a maximum of 25000. RAW format is saved which means that you have more margin for error.

The image below illustrates the V-Lux 5's sensor size in comparison to other common sizes. The V-Lux 5 sensor has a crop factor of 2.7 and is pointed out in green.

Leica V-Lux 5 sensor size OM System OM-1 Set to Enhance Autofocus

To get an idea of various aspect ratios, you can refer to the visual below.

Camera sensor aspect ratios

Leica V-Lux 5 dimensions

Leica V-Lux 5 weighs about 1.79 lb (812 grams / 28.64 oz) & the physical size of the camera is 137mm x 97mm x 132mm (5.4" x 3.8" x 5.2"). The weight of normal Large Sensor Superzoom camera is 874 grams so the Leica V-Lux 5 is on par compared with various rivals.

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Below is a photo of the Leica V-Lux 5 beside a softdrink to help you to get a feel for its size.

Leica V-Lux 5 dimensions scale

The top view below will show you the button arrangement on the V-Lux 5.

Leica V-Lux 5 topview buttons dials

Leica V-Lux 5 Lens information

The V-Lux 5 offers an inbuilt lens having a focal range of 24-400mm making it a 16.7 x zoom which is great and will allow you to zoom right in.

At it's widest 24mm, the lens has an aperture of f2.8 and that's pretty sluggish and not great for low light occasions and you may find it hard to get a shallow depth of field. You will probably also have to increase your ISO setting which causes noisy files. Towards the long end, 400mm is fantastic zoom and comes at f4 making it quite good and will allow you to use higher shutter speeds.

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Leica V-Lux 5 Connectivity

The V-Lux 5 has the following connectivity:

  • USB Yes
  • Wireless Yes
  • Bluetooth Yes
  • HDMI Yes

Cameras with NFC and / or Bluetooth support can be controlled wirelessly through smartphones. You will be able to transfer pictures and at times alter camera settings without connecting physically with the camera.

Certain apps also give a Liveview and click the shutter whenever you aren't close to the camera. If the camera boasts a HDMI port, it can be connected to an external display. Many cameras will allow you to charge the battery through the USB socket.

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Leica V-Lux 5 Video information

The maximum video quality in the Leica V-Lux 5 is 3840 x 2160 and you can record in MPEG-4 and H.264 format. 2160p provides a great quality for video. You are able to downsample to Full HD in order to get clearer video. Be mindful of the large file sizes and make sure you have decent SD cards with good write speed. Although the body has a mic socket, it is sadly lacking a headphone socket which means that you will not have the option to monitor your sound levels.

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Leica V-Lux 5 Weather Sealing

There is no weather proofing for the Leica V-Lux 5 so you have to be cautious in rainy or dusty conditions.

Leica V-Lux 5 Display and Viewfinder

The Leica V-Lux 5 comes with a 3 inch fully articulated display having a resolution of 1,240 thousand dots.

It possesses a selfie friendly display for self portraits as well as group photos when necessary. Additionally the display is touch friendly which means that you are able to set focus point plus adjust settings using your finger.

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The ViewFinder specifications for Leica V-Lux 5 are below:

  • ViewFinder Electronic
  • ViewFinder Resolution 2,360 thousand dots
  • ViewFinder Coverage 100%

Viewfinders are really handy in bright outdoor conditions which can make the camera display washed out and very difficult to see.

Leica V-Lux 5 Shutter information

Leica V-Lux 5 can shoot continuously at 12.0 frames per second. The max shutter speed is 1/4000s. The camera also has silent electronic shutter of 1/16000s. Keep in mind that the electronic shutter might produce "rolling shutter" under some lighting conditions.

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Leica V-Lux 5 Flash and Hot shoe information

Leica V-Lux 5 has both built-in flash along with external flash ability.

Leica V-Lux 5 Autofocus information

Leica V-Lux 5 has only Contrast Based Autofocus & lacks Phase Detect Autofocus. Phase Detection autofocusing is more snappier & exact as compared with Contrast Based autofocusing. The camera comes with Face detect which makes it valuable for portraits.

The AF system comes with 49 focus points to select from. Leica V-Lux 5 has tap to focus. You can easily use your fingers in order to adjust focus points. It also includes Tracking Autofocus for moving objects. Leica V-Lux 5 boasts manual focusing when required in low light or you want more precise control on focusing.

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Leica V-Lux 5 Battery life

The battery for the Leica V-Lux 5 is designed to last for 360 photos with respect to the CIPA benchmarks which is similar to it's rivals. The general Large Sensor Superzoom camera battery life is 373. Sony RX10 III features the highest possible (420) battery life in this kind of cameras.

Listed below is a list of Large Sensor Superzoom cameras that come with the highest battery life:

Leica V-Lux 5 for different styles of photography

The following graph indicates a analysis of the Leica V-Lux 5 for different styles of photography. To view more, check out the specific section below.

Leica V-Lux 5 Portrait photography highlights

The Leica V-Lux 5 has a rating of 73 which is above average, and means the camera is a respectable fit for portrait photography. Shooting portraits leans greatly towards sensor dimension, support for RAW photos plus the potential to work with off-camera lighting.

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has manual focus
megapixel count good (20MP)
sensor size is decent (1")
includes face detect focusing
supports RAW formats

Leica V-Lux 5 Street photography features

Having a above average score of 71, the Leica V-Lux 5 is a fine fit to buy for street photography. A good street photography camera has a good balance of image quality plus portability.

OM System OM-1 Set to Enhance Autofocus
fully articulated screen
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor size (1")
delivers RAW files
includes focus by touch

Leica V-Lux 5 as a Sports photography camera

A above average sports photography score of 70 means the Leica V-Lux 5 is a very decent fit for shooting sports. A camera must have good autofocus and fast continuous shooting for sports photography.

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amazing zoom range (24-400mm 16.7 x zoom)
quiet shutter (1/16,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (1")
provides tracking focus
no phase detect AF

Travel photography with Leica V-Lux 5

Size is extremely critical when getting a travel camera. All round, the Leica V-Lux 5 gets a nice 64 as a travelling camera which is a fine option to buy for your holidays.

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supports bluetooth
boasts touch focus
resolution is good (20MP)
has built in flash
selfie friendly screen
quite wide (24mm)
long reach (400mm)
lack of Timelapse function
slow max aperture (f2.8)

Leica V-Lux 5 Landscape photography features

For anyone who is looking to buy a camera for landscape photography, the most significant aspect will no doubt be image quality. The Leica V-Lux 5 with it's above average rating of 62 as a landscape camera is a respectable option within the current market.

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you can focus manually
relatively wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (20MP)
sensor size is good (1")
delivers RAW formats
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
missing Timelapse mode

Vlogging with Leica V-Lux 5

A vlogging camera ought to offer a moving display screen, mic input and if possible IBIS. Taking everything in to account, the Leica V-Lux 5 is a respectable pick as a vlog camera as it gets a above average rating of 68.

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rather wide (24mm)
display is selfie friendly
touch screen
image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection autofocus
video res high (3840 x 2160 pxls)
includes external mic socket
slow max aperture (f2.8)

Leica V-Lux 5 Alternatives

If you are trying to find replacements to the V-Lux 5, below is a selection of the top scored cameras which fall in to the family of Large Sensor Superzoom.

The chart here gives you an overview of the V-Lux 5 vs it's highest scored competitors suggested earlier.

These are various other cameras you might consider as alternate options. To look at a comprehensive comparison, go to the "compare" link.

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Specifications

General Information
Make
Leica
Model type
Leica V-Lux 5
Type
Large Sensor Superzoom
Introduced
2020-01-17
Body design
SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Sensor type
BSI-CMOS
Sensor size
1"
Sensor dimensions
13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor surface area
116.2mm²
Sensor resolution
20 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio
1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution
5472 x 3648
RAW files
Maximum native ISO
12500
Maximum boosted ISO
25000
Minimum native ISO
80
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points
49
Lens
Lens support
fixed lens
Lens zoom range
24-400mm (16.7x)
Max aperture
f/2.8-4
Macro focusing range
3cm
Crop factor
2.7
Screen
Display type
Fully Articulated
Display size
3"
Resolution of display
1,240 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type
Electronic
Viewfinder resolution
2,360 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage
100%
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
Slowest shutter speed
60s
Maximum shutter speed
1/4000s
Maximum quiet shutter speed
1/16000s
Continuous shooting speed
12.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation
Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance
13.50 m (with Auto ISO)
Flash modes
Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, auto w/slow sync and redeye reduction, on, off
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions
3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, MP4, H.264, AAC3840 x 2160 @ 24p / 100 Mbps, MP4, H.264, AAC1920 x 1080 @ 60p / 28 Mbps, MP4, H.264, AAC1920 x 1080 @ 30p / 20 Mbps, MP4, H.264, AAC
Maximum video resolution
3840x2160
Video format
MPEG-4, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless
Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB
Yes
GPS
None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight
812 gr (1.79 lb)
Dimensions
137 x 97 x 132mm (5.4" x 3.8" x 5.2")
Other
Battery life
360 photos
Form of battery
Built-in
Self timer
Yes
Time lapse feature
Storage media
SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Storage slots
Single
Cost at launch
$1,550