Leica V-Lux 5 vs Leica V-Lux (Typ 144)
Who is the Leica V-Lux 5 for?
If you’re on the hunt for an intuitive, high-quality bridge camera this is it. The Leica V-Lux 5 is by far the most travel-ready V-Lux to date thanks largely to its relatively small size, 16x zoom, improved autofocus, and updated video quality.
The new V-Lux easily fits into a backpack or large purse to capture any amazing vaca or day-to-day moments. It’s also a bridge camera which means its lens is permanently attached to the body; you don’t have to worry about hauling around extra lenses.
It’s also worth noting that the V-Lux 5 is great for music festivals where you usually can’t take a detachable lens camera.
New & Updated Features
Magnification & Video
The V-Lux 5 has a 16x zoom range that can get you close to the action without sacrificing your safety or flouting trespassing laws (yay!). Its solid magnification carries over to the V-Lux 5’s 4k video which can be recorded at 24, 25, and 30 frames per second.
Leica does a great job of combining these two features without sacrificing video sharpness.
Monitor
The V-Lux 5’s monitor got a major upgrade. Perhaps the most convenient addition to this camera is its 3″ TFT swiveling touch monitor that boasts 1.24 million pixels. For comparison, the last iteration had a lower-quality 3” screen that was affixed to the camera.
A swiveling screen makes the V-Lux 5 a more viable option for vloggers and selfie lovers interested in stepping up their content’s quality.
Focus
The improved autofocus speed of this camera is about 90 milliseconds. Alternatively, the Leica V-Lux (Typ 144) clocks in at about 100 milliseconds. While that doesn’t look like a big difference on paper, it makes all the difference when you’re out shooting and every moment matters.
Leica’s V-Lux 5 also includes post focus mode and focus stacking mode. We love these features for two main reasons. First, they’re helpful regardless of your level of photography experience. Second, they’re honestly just fun to use.
Post Focus Mode
Let’s all take a moment to acknowledge the dozens (if not hundreds) of shots we’ve lost because our focus was just a little off. Post focus mode is all about ensuring that never happens again.
This feature allows you to adjust your focus even after you’re done shooting.
For example, your autofocus locked in on the wrong pooch at the dog park and you now have a picture of a stranger’s pet. When reviewing your photos later, you can easily shift the focus so it’s on the correct dog.
Focus Stacking
Focus stacking combines multiple images shot at different focal lengths. The stacking process significantly enhances the final image’s depth of field by digitally combing the in-focus portions of multiple exposures.
For example, the left and middle image illustrate the depth of field in a single image. However, the image on the right is a composite of 6 images combined using focus stacking.
That wraps up our first look at the Leica V-Lux 5. All in all, it’s a solid update to the Leica V-Lux (Typ 144) and a worthwhile investment for anyone looking for a vacation or day-to-day camera.
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Regular price: $1,250.00
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Regular price: $2,195.00
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