Leica X Vario
- 16MP - APS-C Sensor
- 3" Fixed Screen
- ISO 100 - 12500
- 1920 x 1080 video
- 28-70mm (F3.5-6.4) lens
- 680g - 133 x 73 x 95mm
- Revealed June 2013
- Replaced the Leica X2
- Read full specs
- Alternatives
- Size Comparison
- FAQ
62 Imaging
58 Features
51 Overall
55
Leica X Vario overview
Leica X Vario is Leica's Large Sensor Compact digital camera initially released on June of 2013. It features a 16 MegaPixel, CMOS APS-C size sensor with a maximum resolution of 4928 x 3272.
Leica released this model in an effort to improve the earlier Leica X2 (Read Full Comparison)
The X Vario is positioned #46 out of 65 in Large Sensor Compact cameras & all around #368 out of 1465 for cameras in our collection. Remember to look at our Smart camera filter to get camera rankings based on your customized factors.
Here is a diagram of various criteria used in the scoring system.
Leica X Vario history
The Leica X Vario is part of a family of cameras. You can see the detailed list underneath.
F3.5-6.416MPAPS-C2013
Leica X Vario Gallery
You can view the X Vario from various angles in the gallery below.
Leica X Vario Pros and Cons
Here is a list of pluses and minuses of the Leica X Vario based on things which are normally viewed as crucial in a digital camera.
Leica X Vario Sensor features
The dimension of the sensor in the Leica X Vario is 23.6mm x 15.8mm (APS-C). The 373 mm² sensor has the ability to resolve 4928 x 3272 pixels with aspect ratios of 3:2.
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next monthThe CMOS sensor has 16 megapixels and includes a standard ISO range of 100 - 12500. RAW format is supported so you have more room to maneuver in post.
The image underneath shows the X Vario's sensor size when compared to other popular sizes. The X Vario sensor has a crop factor of 1.5 and is shown in green.
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD CardsTo get an idea of various aspect ratios, you can refer to the graphic below.
Leica X Vario dimensions
Leica X Vario has a weight of 1.50 lb (680 grams or 23.99 ounces) & has exterior size of 133mm x 73mm x 95mm (5.2" x 2.9" x 3.7"). The weight of normal Large Sensor Compact camera is 396 grams so the Leica X Vario is weightier compared to its rivals.
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or banHere is a image of the Leica X Vario besides a soda to help you get a feel for its size.
The top view underneath will highlight the button design on the X Vario.
Leica X Vario Lens features
The X Vario is equipped with a fixed lens giving a focal range of 28-70mm giving it a 2.5 x zoom which isn't exceptional nevertheless it might be invaluable in some scenarios.
At it's widest 28mm, the lens has an aperture of f3.5 which is somewhat sluggish and not very good for low light events and you might find it difficult to get good bokeh. You would also have to increase your ISO setting resulting in noisy photos. Towards the long end, 70mm comes with f6.4 making it pretty sluggish and you would have to utilize slower shutter speeds.
Leica X Vario Connectivity
The X Vario has the following connectivity:
- USB Yes
- HDMI Yes
Cameras that include NFC or Bluetooth connectivity can be used wirelessly through smartphones. You will be able to send files and at times adjust settings without connecting physically with the camera.
Many apps also provide a Liveview and click the shutter in case you aren't close to the camera. If the camera contains a HDMI port, it can be attached to an external screen. A lot of cameras enable you to charge the battery with the USB port.
Leica X Vario Video features
The maximum video resolution in the Leica X Vario is 1920 x 1080 and you can save in MPEG-4 file format. 1080p resolution can provide a good balance in video quality and file size but FULL HD will not leave you with any room to downsample. The body doesn't feature a microphone or headphone jack so you have zero control over the audio. It is probably a better idea to take a look at a different model in case you want decent audio for your videos.
Leica X Vario Weather Sealing
Leica X Vario doesn't have weather proofing so wet conditions may affect the camera.
Leica X Vario Screen and Viewfinder
The Leica X Vario features a 3" fixed screen with a resolution of 920k dots.
Please note that the screen has no touch support.
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a LandslideThe View Finder specs for Leica X Vario are as follows:
- ViewFinder Electronic (optional)
For sunny outdoor situations that make the camera screens washed out and hard to see, viewfinders can be quite helpful.
Leica X Vario Shutter features
Leica X Vario has the ability to shoot continuously at 5.0 frames per second. The max shutter speed is 1/2000 seconds.
Leica X Vario Flash and Hot shoe features
Leica X Vario has both in-built flash as well as external flash ability.
Leica X Vario Autofocusing features
Leica X Vario has only Contrast Detect Autofocus & is missing Phase Detect Autofocus. Phase Detection autofocusing is more faster and accurate compared to Contrast Detect autofocusing. The camera features Face detection which makes it helpful for portrait photography.
The AF system features 11 focus points to select from. Leica X Vario supports manual focus when needed in low light conditions or you want to have more exact focus control.
Leica X Vario Battery life
The battery (BP-DC8) for the Leica X Vario is designed to last for 450 images with respect to the CIPA requirements making it higher than standard when compared to its class. The general Large Sensor Compact camera battery life is 301. Leica X-U features the highest possible (450) battery life in this kind of cameras.
Following is a collection of Large Sensor Compact cameras with the strongest battery life:
Leica X Vario for various forms of photography
The following chart presents a analysis of the Leica X Vario for various forms of photography. To find out more, go to the specific paragraph underneath.
Leica X Vario Portrait photography advice
The Leica X Vario receives a rating of 74 which is above average, and means the camera is a good option to use for portrait photography. Shooting portrait photos leans greatly towards sensor specs, RAW support & potential to use external flash.
Leica X Vario as a Street photography camera
With a average rating of 53, the Leica X Vario is relatively suitable for street photography. A good street photography camera provides a good balance of picture quality and portability.
Sports photography with Leica X Vario
A modest sports photography rating of 54 means the Leica X Vario is somewhat acceptable for photographing sports. A camera should have good tracking plus continuous shooting for sports photography.
Leica X Vario Travel photography factors
Portability is extremely critical in getting a travel camera. Overall, the Leica X Vario gets a modest 56 for a travelling camera which makes it fairly appropriate to buy for your journeys.
Leica X Vario Landscape photography details
For anyone looking to pick a digital camera for landscape photographs, the biggest factor is going to be image quality. The Leica X Vario with it's nice grade of 61 for a landscape camera is a very decent pick in the current marketplace.
Leica X Vario Vlogging details
A camera for vlogging really should come with a articulating display screen, mic port and if possible IBIS. Taking all things into account, the Leica X Vario is simply not suitable as a vlog camera as it comes to a awful score of 25.
Leica X Vario Alternatives
If you are searching for replacements to the X Vario, here is a number of the highest ranked cameras that fall under the family of Large Sensor Compact.
The line chart below gives you a bird's eye view of the X Vario compared to it's highest ranking rivals listed earlier.
Here are a few more cameras you may take into account as alternate options. To see a full comparison, visit the "compare" link.