Leica X Vario Review

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X Vario Overview
Design
Operation
Optics
Exposure
Performance
Specs
Samples
Gallery
Video

Basic Specifications
Resolution:	16.20 Megapixels
Sensor size:	APS-C
Lens:	2.55x zoom (28-70mm eq.)
Viewfinder:	LCD
ISO:	100-12500
Shutter:	30-1/2000
Max Aperture:	3.5
Dimensions:	5.2 x 2.9 x 3.7 in. (133 x 73 x 95 mm)
Weight:	22.2 oz (628 g) includes batteries
MSRP:	$2,850
Availability:	06/2013

16.20 Megapixels	2.55x zoom	APS-C size sensor

Leica X Vario Preview

by Mike Tomkins
Preview posted: 06/11/2013

The Leica X Vario came billed during a lengthy teaser campaign and series of leaks prior to its launch as the Leica Mini M, but perhaps calling it the Maxi X would've been more accurate. It's said to be the world's first APS-C compact camera with a zoom lens, something that's technically true, but doesn't quite tell the whole story. We'll come back to that point in a moment, though -- first, let's see where it fits in Leica's lineup.

In terms of height and width, the X Vario's body falls about halfway between Leica's M-series cameras and the Leica X2. Ignoring its lens, the X Vario is quite a bit slimmer than the M-series cameras, and near-identical to the body thickness of the X2. Like the X2, though -- and unlike the M-series -- the X Vario's lens is permanently attached to the camera body. Factor that into the equation and the the X Vario is twice as thick as the X2, and much closer to the size of an M-series camera with one of its smaller lenses mounted.

The Leica X Vario's 2.5x optical zoom lens provides a 35mm-equivalent range from 28 to 70mm. (Actual focal lengths range from 18 to 46mm.) Maximum aperture of the Vario-Elmar branded optic varies from f/3.5 at wide angle to a decidedly dim f/6.4 at telephoto, while the minimum aperture is f/16 across the board. Taking into account the focal length crop, background blur would be similar to that from an f/5.3 lens on a full-frame body at wide angle, and by the telephoto position would equate to that of an f/9.8 lens.

The lens design features nine elements in eight groups, including two aspheric elements. The X Vario's autofocus system operates to as close as one foot (30cm) at the telephoto position. No maximum magnification is stated, and nor has Leica yet provided any information on the aperture design. Nor does the company mention image stabilization, suggesting it's likely not included -- and that's a particular shame given the rather dim lens.

Where recent M-series cameras have sported 35mm full-frame image sensors, the X Vario instead features an APS-C sized sensor. That's the same size you'll find in the majority of consumer and enthusiast digital SLRs and many compact system cameras. Both lens and sensor are much more closely aligned with the X-series than they are with an M-series camera. Despite the pre-launch marketing attempting to relate the new model with higher-end models, Leica clearly recognizes this, slotting the new model into the X-series lineup.

The Leica X Vario's APS-C sized CMOS sensor offers an effective resolution of 16.2 megapixels, from a total of 16.5 megapixels. The company doesn't state what processor is used, but it allows burst shooting at either three or five frames per second, for a maximum of seven Raw+Fine JPEG frames. Sensitivity ranges from ISO 100 to 12,500 equivalents.

The X Vario does not include a built-in viewfinder, but it does accept an optional electronic viewfinder accessory, the very same Leica Visoflex EVF 2 model used by the Leica M Typ 240 and X2. It's essentially a rebadged, restyled Olympus VF-2 electronic viewfinder, and past experience has shown that the two are interchangeable. That's worth knowing, given that Leica's version costs around US$500, and the Olympus variant can be picked up for US$200.

There is, of course, an LCD panel as well, so you can forgo the viewfinder altogether if that fits with your shooting style. The built-in monitor has a pretty standard three-inch diagonal, and a reasonably high resolution of around 920,000 dots. That approximately equates to a VGA array of 640 x 480 pixels, with each pixel made up of adjacent red, green, and blue dots.

As you'd expect of an enthusiast-oriented camera with the Leica red dot, there are no hand-holding scene modes and the like on the X Vario. Only four standard exposure mode options are available: program, aperture-priority, shutter-priority, and manual. Both variables are set with physical dials on the camera's top deck, with an Auto position on each dial taking that variable out of the user's hands. Available shutter speeds range from 30 to 1/2,000 second, and bulb exposures are also possible. Metering modes include multi-field, center-weighted, and spot, and Leica offers +/- 3.0EV of exposure compensation in 1/3EV steps.

Importantly, given its not-so-bright lens and lack of image stabilization, the Leica X Vario includes both a built-in flash and a hot shoe for external strobes. The internal flash is rather puny, with a guide number of just 16.4 feet (5 meters) at ISO 100. At base sensitivity that means a range of about 4.7 feet at wide angle, and a nearly useless 2.6 feet at telephoto; you'll want to dial the ISO sensitivity up for a useful range, or better still use an external strobe.

As well as still images, the Leica X Vario can also shoot movies in MP4 format. The maximum video resolution is 1,920 x 1,080 pixels (Full HD), with a rate of 30 frames per second. There's also an optional 1,280 x 720 pixel mode, which likewise records at 30 frames per second. Audio is likely stereo -- there appears to be a two-port microphone in front of the flash hotshoe -- and Leica states that a wind cut filter is included.

The Leica X Vario stores images on Secure Digital cards, including the higher-capacity SDHC and SDXC types. (No mention is made of support for higher-speed UHS-I cards, which fall back to standard speeds in non-compliant cameras.) Power comes courtesy of a proprietary 3.7 volt, 1,600 mAh lithium-ion rechargeable battery pack, which Leica rates as good for 350 shots on a charge. Connectivity options include Mini USB 2.0 data, HDMI high-definition video, and the proprietary socket for Leica's external viewfinder accessory. Included in the product bundle is a copy of Adobe's just-released Photoshop Lightroom 5, a comprehensive and photographer-centric imaging application.

As we've already said, the Leica X Vario is technically the world's first APS-C compact zoom -- Sony's Cyber-shot DSC-R1 doesn't count because it could hardly be considered a compact -- but this rather overlooks the fact that you can already purchase a smaller camera with exactly the same sensor size and a lens that -- on paper at least -- is superior to that of the X Vario. It just happens that it's not a fixed-lens camera. The unusual Ricoh GXR camera system pairs lens and sensor together to create interchangeable modules, and one of those modules is a very close equivalent to the X Vario. (There may well be certain combinations of mirrorless cameras and lenses that also fit the bill at a size, weight, and price below that of the Leica X Vario; the Ricoh is just the first that occurred to us.)

Mount the Ricoh A16 module on the GXR body, and you have a combination that's 0.75 inches (19.1mm) narrower, 0.1 inches (1.7mm) taller, 0.1 inches (3.5mm) deeper, and at least 2.8 ounces (78g) lighter than the X Vario, according to the folks over at Photography Blog.

The GXR + A16 combo offers a 3.5x zoom range covering everything from 24-85mm equivalent (15.7-55.5mm actual), yielding significantly more reach at both ends of the range compared to Leica's 28-70mm equivalent (18-46mm actual) optic. The Ricoh A16 lens is also noticeably brighter at telephoto despite its extra reach, although neither optic is terribly bright, an acknowledgement of the compromise inherent in making a reasonably compact wide zoom for an APS-C image circle.

And even though it's smaller, lighter, includes a more versatile zoom, and is vastly less expensive -- US$800 all-told, versus an expected US$2,850 for the Leica -- the Ricoh offers the advantage of an interchangeable-lens/sensor design, compared to the fixed-lens design of the Leica. Mind you, this is all just a paper comparison: to make a real judgement you'd have to compare the two cameras side by side.

There will of course be other areas in which the Leica wins, and some in which it's simply too close to call. Many of these will depend upon your shooting style. Obviously Leica should have an advantage in terms of reliability and durability, thanks to the fixed-lens design. The company has also built a reputation on the quality of its optics, and it's quite possible the X Vario's lens could outperform that of the Ricoh for metrics other than zoom reach and maximum aperture. Neither is going to win any awards for brightness, though.

At the end of the day, the Leica X Vario is interesting for what it represents: one of photography's most famous names trying a new direction with a large-sensor, zoom compact that -- while pretty pricey -- is more affordable than much of its gear. It's clearly not a camera for the common man, though, and potential buyers need to consider the compromise inherent in the design of a camera like this: a relatively dim lens which limits your possibilities for blurring backgrounds.

Available immediately, the Leica X Vario is priced at US$2,850 in the US market. In the UK, list pricing for the camera is set at £2,150 including VAT.

Similar to the X Vario but smaller lighter larger sensor cheaper But ...