Introduction

Ease of Use

Front of the Leica V-Lux 5

Partly because its price tag, at a not inexpensive £1,050, is nevertheless one of the cheaper routes to owning a Leica-badged camera – and partly because the standard-issue bridge model layout and design makes for more intuitive handling than we’re used to from this manufacturer – Leica is pitching the V Lux 5 as a perfect camera for ‘all’ photographers.

We’d refine that further as a camera suitable for most shooting scenarios, without needing to swap out the lens in use (here, you can’t), or take a step forward or back to fit your subject into the frame. In short, versatility is the selling point.

The V-Lux 5 feels familiar when held in the palm. Its plastic (yet not overly plastic-y feeling) frame, as opposed to Leica’s more usual metal build, suggests a deliberately budget-conscious approach this time around – and, more obviously, another collaboration with Panasonic, whose own original Lumix FZ1000 and its more recent Mark II successor this most closely resembles in terms of core lens and sensor specification.

As usual, we’re paying a premium for that Leica badging here – around £280 more compared with the electronics manufacturer’s equivalent model at the time of writing. The above being said, the Leica V Lux 5 feels well built enough that it wouldn’t fall apart with a couple of accidental knocks.

Rear of the Leica V-Lux 5

While the Leica V-Lux 5’s suggested audience includes travel photographers, the camera is as bulky as you’d expect a bridge model or all-in-one to be. In other words it’s almost as big as a consumer level DSLR or premium compact system camera – meaning that it won’t fit even in a roomy jacket pocket. This is one for attaching the shoulder strap – provided with our review sample.

The industrial-feel chunkiness, which, admittedly, we do quite like, is partly due to the Leica-crafted 16x optical zoom lens bolted on the front of this camera, providing a focal range the 35mm film equivalent of 24-400mm on the front, with a maximum f/2.8 aperture at the optic’s widest setting. This is twinned with a one-inch sensor that we’d expect at this price, along with the ability to capture 4K video up to a respectable rate of 30 frames per second (with a built-in stereo microphone, plus the ability to add an external microphone, provided).

As we know this chip is physically bigger than the 1/2.3-inch sensor formerly found in most compacts, albeit here providing a standard-for-its-class but perfectly usable 20-megapixel resolution. This is also the first model in Leica’s bridge camera series that is compatible with Leica’s much-trumpeted Leica Fotos smartphone application, described as being ‘like a gallery in your pocket’.

Like the Panasonic near doppelganger, the standard-sized 3-inch LCD screen on the Leica V Lux 5 is articulated, meaning that it can be swung out from the body so that it faces the subject, camcorder-style. With a clear resolution of 1,240,000 dots and 100% filed of view provided, it’s also a touch screen. The alternative, of course, for those who prefer compositing images in a more traditional manner, is to utilise the OLED electronic viewfinder ranged above, which provides an even more life-like 2.36 million-dot resolution and, again, 100% field of view. The manufacturer suggests that said EVF has been newly developed.

Tilting LCD Screen

A one-inch sensor has enabled Leica (or partner Panasonic) to provide a maximum sensitivity of ISO12800 to help avoid camera blur resulting from slower shutter speeds in low light conditions, while there is responsiveness here too – courtesy of a 0.1-second AF acquisition. Panasonic specific technology such as ‘Post focusing’ mode is also included on this model, while there’s a vacant hotshoe for accessory flash even while there’s a built-in, spring-loaded pop-up variety sitting just in front.

Leica provided our V Lux 5 review sample out of the box with just a spare USB lead in lieu of a standalone mains charger. No matter. Luckily you can, of course, connect this to the plug you use to charge your smartphone.

Although undoubtedly a cost saving exercise, the manufacturer would also doubtless suggest it was more ‘convenient’ for users this way. What we do also get provided however is a removable lens hood – useful for reducing any possible chances of lens flare or ghosting.

The lens can be operated one of two ways – either via a twist of the lens ring that encircles the lens barrel itself – a mode of operation that will be immediately familiar to existing DSLR or CSC users – or, alternatively, via a left or right flick of the lens lever that encircles the shutter release button, which will be more familiar to standard compact camera users, trading up from a point and shoot.

For anyone wanting greater accuracy via more incremental adjustments, the lens ring is probably the better bet, as an on-screen distance bar is provided along the bottom of the LCD by way of broad guidance. Focusing range is the expected 30cm to infinity.

Top of the Leica V-Lux 5

Given the lens reach on offer here and the potential for hand wobble and resultant camera shake towards the telephoto end of the zoom, thankfully Leica has provided a large and rounded handgrip, around which it’s possible to squeeze four fingers, with the thumb left to hover at the back. Although there’s a rubberized and slightly rugged-ised rear to the grip, there’s not an obvious indentation to rest the thumb – it naturally falling into place over the ‘Q.Menu’ (or Quick Menu) button, which is a regular feature of Panasonic compacts and has been for quite some time.

Naturally, with this being a camera aimed both at travelling types and photo enthusiasts combined, the ability to shoot Raw files alongside or in tandem with standard, Fine quality JPEGs is provided. There’s barely any noticeable slow down if you choose to shoot Raw and JPEG together, rather than just the latter separately.

Operationally, the Leica V-Lux 5 handles very much like the consumer level DSLR it outwardly resembles. The front is dominated by its aforementioned lens, above which sits a recessed flash, an activation switch for which is provided just in front of the camera’s EVF, meaning that this falls under the thumb of the left hand when holding the camera and shooting with it.

Nestled to the side of the lens, looking at the camera front on, is that covetable red Leica logo we’re paying a premium for, while on the lens barrel itself we have not only a lens ring, but three dedicated function buttons.

Actually, it feels as though the Leica V Lux 5 is festooned with non-function specific (and so, non obvious) function buttons, and they have been crammed into every nook and cranny not otherwise featuring more obvious switches and dials. We get eight pinhead sized user selectable function buttons in total.

Rather more familiar are the camera’s top plate dials, the larger one of which is festooned with the camera’s shooting modes (10 in total, including the familiar P,A,S,M, scene and custom settings), while the second features its drive modes (single, burst, 4K capture and post focusing settings, plus two self timer options). Both are reassuringly stiff in operation, thereby preventing accidental jogging from one option to the next, with their ridged edges providing plenty of purchase between forefinger and thumb.

The Leica V-Lux 5 In-hand

The shooting mode dial is the one you’ll find conveniently encircled by the on/off lever, with the shutter release button, as on a DSLR, located on the forward slope of the handgrip. While there is not quite room for a small LCD function window on the top plate, as we’d find on a semi pro DLSR, we do get two command wheels for scrolling through options in conjunction with the larger back plate LCD, one just behind the shutter release button where it falls under the forefinger, and one further back on the grip where it can be spun by the thumb. In short, then, the layout feels ergonomically designed and therefore intuitive to use.

The nearest function button allows us to, in conjunction with said control wheel, adjust exposure compensation on the fly. Here the range is a very impressive +/- 5EV. The function button just behind this again allows the adjustment of ISO and white balance.

To be honest, it would be much more useful to have these settings displayed via a small plate LCD than to have them ‘hidden’ behind unmarked function buttons providing short cuts. That said, we do get the alternative option of selecting ISO and white balance with a press of the four-way control dial on the camera back, seeing the options available on the larger LCD.

The camera’s back is, inevitably, where we see most of the action happening with the Leica V-Lux 5. With its electronic viewfinder jutting out proudly, enveloped by a comfortable eye cup, the most natural way of handling the camera feels to be to press your eye up against it, as one would do with a DSLR.

Expectedly, we have a dioptric adjustment wheel nestling to the left of it for adjustment by spectacle wearers, just above which is a slider switch for activating the pop up flash. We would have liked a dedicated control governing flash settings by way of a time saver – as it is, you have to drill down into the camera’s menu system to find them if you want to make any manual adjustments.

The Leica V-Lux 5 Zoomed Out

The other buttons at the camera’s rear are split between what you’d expect to find on a premium compact and that of a DSLR – namely we get the familiar four-way control pad which here has settings around it governing ISO, white balance, macro and AF mode. But we also get the opportunity to lock auto exposure and AF, as well as switch between single shot or continuous AF, or indeed manual focus.

In manual focus mode the adjustment ring on the lens that formerly controlled the zoom now controls focus, with a distance slider newly called up on screen and a central portion of your frame enlarged so that accurate focus can be more keenly determined – with the areas of the image in focus highlighted with a purplish blue colour, looking for all the world like an effect beloved of TV vision mixers in the 1970s.

The base of the Leica V Lux 5 meanwhile offers up a screw thread for a tripod, and a compartment that houses both your optional media card (high capacity and high speed SD card required) and the removable lithium ion battery. As mentioned earlier no separate mains charger came supplied with our review unit. A full charge of the battery requires around 180 minutes, while the amount of captures achievable according to CIPA standards is up to a maximum 440 shots or 220 minutes of video, which, again, is a very respectable showing.

So, with the above in mind, how does the Leica V-Lux 5 fare when it comes to the quality of the images themselves? Read on to find out...

Image Quality

Colours are as rich as we’d expect to see from a Panasonic, sorry, Leica, camera. Detail too is on a par with what we’d envisage a bridge camera to deliver - meaning that, while perfectly acceptable, it’s not quite a match for what we’d see a compact system camera or DSLR in this price range deliver. That said, neither of those alternatives could offer this camera’s focal range and lens ‘poke’ for the price, so we have to expect some degree of compromise.

In terms of ISO performance, here the combination of a large lens, a decent maximum aperture and a big sensor have come up trumps, in providing a surprisingly good showing as we dial upwards through the range – it only really being at the top two settings, including maximum ISO 25000 equivalent, that we are seeing an obvious degradation in the image when viewing on screen. This means that the V-Lux 5, as long as a steady surface is provided, is pretty adept at delivering the goods, whether we’re talking day or night. Versatility when it comes to image capture is what we are paying for here.

In short, the Leica V-Lux 5 gives a better performance than a point and shoot compact or an average smartphone, but it’s not quite a match for a compact system camera or what’s achievable with a DSLR you could invest in for a similar cost. Still, if it’s the broader lens reach and convenient handling you’re after (as well as an easier to handle and quicker to get to grips with camera than Leica usually delivers), then a degree of compromise may well be worth taking here.

Noise

The V-Lux 5 has ten sensitivity settings available at full resolution, ranging between ISO 80 and ISO 25000. These are selectable in 1EV and 1/3EV steps, and the upper limit that Auto ISO uses can also be user-defined.

JPEG	RAW
ISO 80 (100% Crop)	ISO 80 (100% Crop)
ISO 100 (100% Crop)	ISO 100 (100% Crop)
ISO 125 (100% Crop)	ISO 125 (100% Crop)
ISO 200 (100% Crop)	ISO 200 (100% Crop)
ISO 400 (100% Crop)	ISO 400 (100% Crop)
ISO 800 (100% Crop)	ISO 800 (100% Crop)
ISO 1600 (100% Crop)	ISO 1600 (100% Crop)
ISO 3200 (100% Crop)	ISO 3200 (100% Crop)
ISO 6400 (100% Crop)	ISO 6400 (100% Crop)
ISO 12500 (100% Crop)	ISO 12500 (100% Crop)
ISO 25000 (100% Crop)	ISO 25000 (100% Crop)

Focal Range

The V-Lux 5’s 16x zoom lens covers a focal range of 25-400mm when converted into 35mm camera format. This can be increased to 32x using Extended Optical Zoom, but only by reducing the image size.

24mm

400mm

Chromatic Aberrations

The Leica V-Lux 5 handled chromatic aberrations very well during the review, with limited purple fringing present around the edges of objects in certain high-contrast situations, as shown in the examples below.

Chromatic Aberrations 1 (100% Crop)	Chromatic Aberrations 2 (100% Crop)

Macro

A 3cm minimum wide-angle focus distance gives good scope for close-up shots. Some bridge cameras boast 1cm macro modes, however sticking such a large camera even 3cm from your subject is often too close, as it blocks out a lot of the available light.

Flash

The Leica V-Lux 5’s built-in flash includes four modes: Forced Flash On, Forced On/Red-Eye, Slow Sync., Slow Sync./Red-Eye.

Our testing revealed that the V-Lux successfully avoids red-eye with and without red-eye reduction enabled. It does however produce minor wide-angle vignetting when shooting from a distance of 1.5m.

Forced On

Auto/Red-eye Reduction

Night

With Handheld Night Shot activated, the V-Lux 5 quickly captures several exposures of a night scene and combines them into a single image with increased clarity and reduced noise. The end results are attractively bright and detailed, especially considering they’re often captured at ISO 3200. Alternatively, you can switch to shutter priority mode and shoot a long exposure at a low ISO sensitivity, but you’ll need a tripod.

Sample Images

This is a selection of sample images from the Leica V-Lux 5 camera, which were all taken using the 20 megapixel Fine JPEG setting. The thumbnails below link to the full-sized versions, which have not been altered in any way.

Sample RAW Images

The Leica V-Lux 5 enables users to capture RAW and JPEG format files. We've provided some Leica RAW (RWL) samples for you to download (thumbnail images shown below are not 100% representative).

Sample Movie & Video

Product Images

Conclusion

The Leica V-Lux 5 is one of the more affordable means of owning a Leica camera – albeit one that is not quite a ‘pure’ Leica, in that it shares so much with a more mass-produced Panasonic model costing almost £300 less.

That said, we do get the covetable red Leica badge on the front and of course Leica branded optics. Image quality, whilst not up there with the best of what compact system cameras or DSLRs can currently offer, is nevertheless pretty decent in terms of both the colours and definition delivered, with the Leica V Lux 5 being capable of better results than expected in challenging conditions, such as low light or even night time shooting (as long as the camera is resting on a steady surface).

The f/2.8 maximum aperture whilst not overly impressive on paper fortunately seems to deliver in practice, while the broad lens range, reaching from a 35mm equivalent ultra wide angle 25mm all the way up to 400mm at the telephoto end is very useful, avoiding the need to shuffle forward or back to achieve the framing you were after. Indeed it’s much easier to zoom in quickly to achieve that ‘capture’ you might otherwise have missed.

At the end of the day, convenience and versatility is what we’re actually paying a slight premium for with the Leica V-Lux 5. Since we can shoot 4K video and 20 megapixel stills and do so with a larger than average sensor, the ‘one camera fits all’ approach here may well be more than enough for most photographers.

Ratings (out of 5)
Design	4
Features	4
Ease-of-use	4
Image quality	4
Value for money	3.5

Main Rivals

Listed below are some of the rivals of the Leica V-Lux 5.

Review Roundup

Reviews of the Leica V-Lux 5 from around the web.

Specifications

News

The Leica V-Lux 5 is a new super-zoom camera with a 25-400mm lens, 20 megapixels and 4K/60p movies.

• 20 megapixel 1-inch sensor
• 9.1-146 mm (25-400 mm equiv.) f/2.8-4 ASPH. lens
• 2.36 megapixel OLED EVF with 0.74x magnification
• High-speed AF & 12 fps continuous burst shooting
• 4K video recording and 4K photo modes
• Wi-Fi + Bluetooth connectivity with the Leica FOTOS app

The Leica V-Lux 5 is available now priced at £1,050 / $1,250.

Made for Adventure: the Leica V-Lux 5.

London, 10 July 2019. Leica Camera presents the Leica V-Lux 5, one of the most versatile and multifaceted cameras in its product portfolio. No matter if the subject is far or close, indoor or outdoor, static or moving, the 24–400mm zoom lens, rapid autofocus and newly developed larger sensor make it the ideal camera for travel and adventure seekers. Whether you are on safari or planning your next backpacking journey, no trip can be complete without the V-Lux 5.

The camera offers a multitude of powerful functions, but not only for photos – it is also the ideal camera for capturing highest quality video footage, recording at 60-frames-per-second in excellent 4K definition which is four times the resolution of full-HD.

Featuring a newly developed OLED electronic viewfinder and flip touchscreen panel on the back provide the best view of the subject from every angle.  With the touchscreen, helpful automatic modes and smart functions like face recognition or burst shooting, the Leica V-Lux 5 supports amateur photographers on their search for the perfect image. Thanks to its fast autofocus and a high continuous-shooting rate, the camera captures every detail, while innovative exposure modes like ‘Focus Stacking’ and ‘Post-focusing’ enrich its wide range of functions. The V-Lux 5 is the first model in this range that can be used with the Leica FOTOS App. To use the app, the user simply connects the camera to their iOS or Android smartphone via Bluetooth so it can be fully operated remotely. Photos and videos can be quickly and easily transferred for post-processing or sharing on social networks at any time.

The V-Lux 5’s state-of-the-art 20-megapixel one-inch sensor and Leica Vario-Elmarit 9.1-146mm f/2.8-4 aspherical lens delivers outstanding image performance whether shooting in macro, wide-angle, standard or telephoto settings. It takes shake-free stills and video in low lighting without needing a tripod thanks to its maximum apertures, ISO 12800 sensitivity and its integrated optical image stabiliser. The Leica V-Lux 5 takes 0.1 seconds to focus sharply on a subject, reliably capturing all the action in sensational clarity and detail.

The camera offers fantastic tools for composing subjects. With a resolution of 2.36 megapixels and organic light-emitting diode technology, its newly developed electronic viewfinder brings improved contrast and richer colour depth while simultaneously consuming less power. The battery can be charged via USB in addition to a main electric socket which comes in particularly handy when travelling.

The Leica V-Lux 5 is available from 10th July at Leica Store Mayfair, Leica Store City, Leica Store Harrods, authorised dealers and online at www.leicastore-mayfair.co.uk

About Leica Camera AG

Leica Camera AG is an international luxury brand and manufacturer of cameras and sport optics products. Since Leica introduced the first 35mm camera in 1914, the legendary status of the brand was built on a tradition of excellence in the construction of lenses, and in making photography a part of everyday life. Today, in combination with innovative technologies, Leica products continue to guarantee better pictures in all moments and worlds of visualisation and perception. Simultaneously, Leica has been deeply involved in the culture of photography since the company’s inception, and this ethos is still something that it champions today with its magazine, global galleries, and the esteemed Leica Oskar Barnack Prize. For Leica, photography has always been at the forefront of its thoughts and actions, along with a message to “focus on the essential”. Leica Camera AG has its headquarters in Wetzlar, in the state of Hesse in Germany, and a second production site in Vila Nova de Famalicão, Portugal. The company operates branch offices in Australia, China, France, Italy, Japan, Switzerland, Singapore, South Korea, UK, and the US.

Specifications

Camera name	Leica V-LUX 5
Camera - effective pixels	20.1 megapixels
Image sensor	1″ MOS sensor, primary colour filter
Lens	16x optical zoom
Zoom range	9.1 mm to 146 mm (equivalent to 25 to 400 mm in 35 mm film format)
Aperture range	f/2.8 to f/11 (extreme wide-angle) - f/4 to f/11 (extreme telephoto)
Image stabilisation	Optical
Focusing range	AF: 30 cm (0.98 feet) (extreme wide-angle)/1 m (3.3 feet) (telephoto) to infinity AF Macro/MF/Snapshot Modes/Video: 3 cm (0.098 feet) (extreme wide-angle)/1 m (3.3 feet) (extreme telephoto) to infinity
Shutter system	Electronic shutter + mechanical shutter
Shutter speed	Stills (with mechanical shutter): B (Bulb) (max. approx. 120 s), 60 - 1/4000 s Stills (with electronic shutter): 1 - 1/16000 s Video: 1/25 - 1/16000 s 1/2 - 1/16000 s (When [Exposure Mode] is set to [M] in Creative Video Mode and [MF] is selected)
Exposure	Programme AE (P)/aperture priority AE (A)/shutter speed priority AE (S)/manual exposure setting (M) Exposure compensation (1/3 EV steps, -5 EV to +5 EV)
Metering modes	Multiple/centre-weighted/spot
Monitor	3.0″ TFT LCD (3:2) (Approx. 1,240,000 dots; field of view approx. 100%) Touch screen
Viewfinder	0.39″ OLED Live Viewfinder (4:3) (Approx. 2,360,000 dots; field of view approx.100%)
Flash	Built-in pop-up flash AUTO, AUTO/Red-Eye Reduction, Forced ON, Forced ON/Red-Eye Reduction, Slow Sync., Slow Sync./Red-Eye Reduction, Forced OFF
Microphone	Stereo (built-in)
Recording media	SD Memory Card/SDHC Memory Card*/SDXC Memory Card* * UHS-Ι UHS Speed Class 3
Recording file format	Still: RAW/JPEG Video: MP4
Audio compression format	AAC (2 ch)
Interfaces	Microphone (off-camera): 3.5 mm stereo jack Remote: 2.5 mm jack HDMI: Micro HDMI Type D USB/charge: USB 2.0 (High Speed)/USB 2.0 Micro-B
Wireless	IEEE 802.11b/g/n, Wi-Fi compliant WPA™/WPA2™, infrastructure mode Bluetooth version 4.2

Image Gallery

Click on a thumbnail to see the full version.

Preview Images

Ahead of our full review, here are some sample JPEG and Raw images taken with the Leica V-Lux 5 super-zoom camera. The Leica V-Lux 5 is a new super-zoom camera with a 25-400mm lens, 20 megapixel sensor and 4K/60p movie recording.

A gallery of sample images taken with the Leica V-Lux 5 super-zoom camera.

Leica V-Lux 5 Sample Images

Sample RAW Images

The Leica V-Lux 5 enables users to capture RAW and JPEG format files. We've provided some Leica RAW (RWL) samples for you to download (thumbnail images shown below are not 100% representative).

Sample Movie & Video

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