CameraDecision
  • CAMERAS
    • All Cameras
    • Cameras by Brand
      • Sony Cameras
      • Canon Cameras
      • Nikon Cameras
      • Pentax Cameras
      • Fujifilm Cameras
      • Olympus Cameras
      • OM-System Cameras
      • Panasonic Cameras
      • Leica Cameras
    • Cameras by Body Type
      • Mirrorless Cameras
      • DSLR Cameras
      • Compact Cameras
      • Bridge Cameras
      • Waterproof Cameras
    • Cameras by Lens Mount
      • Sony E Mount Cameras
      • Canon RF Mount Cameras
      • Nikon Z Mount Cameras
      • Micro Four Thirds Mount Cameras
      • Fujifilm X Mount Cameras
      • Leica L Mount Cameras
      • Nikon F Mount Cameras
      • Canon EF Mount Cameras
      • Canon EF M Mount Cameras
      • Canon EF S Mount Cameras
      • Pentax KAF Mount Cameras
      • Sony Alpha Mount Cameras
      • Fujifilm G Mount Cameras
      • Sigma SA Mount Cameras
      • Nikon 1 Mount Cameras
  • LENSES
    • All Lenses
    • Lenses by Mount
      • Sony E Mount Lenses
      • Canon RF Mount Lenses
      • Nikon Z Mount Lenses
      • Canon EF Mount Lenses
      • Canon EF M Mount Lenses
      • Canon EF S Mount Lenses
      • Nikon F Mount Lenses
      • Fujifilm X Mount Lenses
      • Micro Four Thirds Mount Lenses
      • Leica L Mount Lenses
      • Pentax KAF Mount Lenses
      • Fujifilm G Mount Lenses
      • Sigma SA Mount Lenses
      • Sony Alpha Mount Lenses
    • Teleconverters
    • Cinema Lenses
      • Sony E Mount Cine Lenses
      • Canon RF Mount Cine Lenses
      • Nikon Z Mount Cine Lenses
      • Canon EF Mount Cine Lenses
      • Nikon F Mount Cine Lenses
      • ARRI PL Mount Cine Lenses
      • Fujifilm X Mount Cine Lenses
      • Micro Four Thirds Mount Cine Lenses
      • Leica L Mount Cine Lenses
  • TOOLS
    • Cameras
      • Smart Find
      • 1-on-1 Comparison
    • Lenses
      • Smart Find
      • 1-on-1 Comparison
  • BLOG

Canon 5D MIV vs Leica X Vario Comparison

x
Camera to replace
Change

Canon 5D MIV

30 MP | Full frame (36 x 24 mm) CMOS Sensor

Canon 5D MIV
CHECK PRICE
CHECK PRICE
Change

Leica X Vario

16 MP | APS-C (23.6 x 15.8 mm) CMOS Sensor

Leica X Vario
CHECK PRICE
CHECK PRICE
Canon 5D MIV vs Leica X Vario Comparison Overview

Here we are comparing two cameras with different body types: Canon 5D MIV, which was introduced in August 2016 is a Advanced DSLR camera with a 30.0MP Full frame sensor whereas Leica X Vario, which was introduced in June 2013 is a Large Sensor Compact camera with a 16.0MP APS-C sensor. As you can see, X Vario is 3 years older than 5D MIV. Let's see if this age difference between two cameras makes a big difference.

Comparing a DSLR camera to a Fixed Lens camera is not an easy task but we will do our best to make this a fair comparison.

Here is a brief look at the main features of the Canon 5D MIV and Leica X Vario before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Canon 5D MIV Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2016-08-25
  • 30MP - Full frame CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 100 - 32000 ( expands to 50 - 102400)
  • Canon EF Mount
  • 3.20" Fixed Type Screen
  • Optical (pentaprism) viewfinder
  • 7.0fps continuous shooting
  • 4K (DCI) - 4096 x 2160 video resolution
  • Built-in Wireless
  • Built-in GPS
  • 890g. 151 x 116 x 76 mm
  • Weather-sealed Body
  • Replaced Canon EOS 5D Mark III Compare

Leica X Vario Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2013-06-11
  • 16MP - APS-C CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 100 - 12500
  • 28-70 mm F3.5-6.4 Zoom Lens
  • 3.00" Fixed Type Screen
  • 5.0fps continuous shooting
  • Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution
  • 680g. 133 x 73 x 95 mm
  • Replaced Leica X2 Compare

Let's read on in the following sections in order to better understand in detail how the Canon 5D MIV and Leica X Vario compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.


Related Blog Posts

Top 10 Lightest Full-Frame Mirrorless Cameras in 2023
The Most Rented Compact Cameras in 2022
DPReview to Close
Daily Deals: Sirui Anamorphic Lens, Apple MacBook Air and more
100-400mm Lens Size Comparison: Leica vs Sony vs Canon vs Nikon
Leica Vario-Elmar-SL 100-400mm f5-6.3 for L Mount Announced
Sirui 24mm f2.8 Super35 Anamorphic 1.33x Lens %50 Off
Best Selling Lenses in Micro Four Thirds, Fujifilm X and Canon EF Mounts in 2023


**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Reasons to choose Canon EOS 5D Mark IV over Leica X Vario
Wireless Connection
Built-In vs None Better connectivity
Touch Screen
Yes vs No Easy control of camera functions
Viewfinder
Optical vs Electronic (Optional) Better framing and control
Sensor Resolution
30 MP vs 16 MP 87% more pixels
Max ISO
32.000 vs 12.500 156% higher Max ISO
Number of Focus Points
61 vs 11 50 more focus points
LCD Screen Size
3.2" vs 3 0.2 inches larger display
LCD Resolution
1.620k dots vs 920k dots 76% higher resolution screen
Max Mech. Shutter
1/8000s vs 1/2000s faster mechanical shutter
Continuous Shooting
7.0fps vs 5.0fps 2 fps faster
Battery Life
900 shots vs 450 shots 450 more frames with a single charge
Microphone Port
Yes vs No High quality audio recording option
Headphone Port
Yes vs No better video control
Environmental Sealing
Yes vs No shoot at tough conditions
Timelapse Recording
Yes vs No creative shooting
Color Depth
24.8 vs 23.4 higher color depth
Dynamic Range
13.6 vs 12.7 higher dynamic range
Low Light ISO
2995 vs 1320 better High ISO performance
Sensor Pixel Area
28.69µm2 vs 23.13µm2 24% larger pixel area
Max Video Resolution
4096 x 2160 vs 1920 x 1080 Higher Resolution Video
Top LCD
Yes vs No Help viewing and changing settings easily
Flash Sync Port
Yes vs No Connect off-camera flash
NFC Connection
Yes vs No Easy wireless connectivity with compatible devices
4K Photo Mode
Yes vs No Extract 8MP photos from 4K Video
Storage Slot
2 vs 1 Extra storage slot
Smartphone Remote
Yes vs No Remote control your camera with a smartphone
UHS Card Support
UHS-I vs none Read/Write in High Speeds
USB Version
USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec) vs USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) Faster Data transfer from the camera
Webcam Function
Yes vs No Use your camera as a Webcam
Anti Flicker
Yes vs No Reduced uneven color and exposure under flickering light
CHECK 5D MIV PRICE


Reasons to choose Leica X Vario over Canon EOS 5D Mark IV
Built-in Flash
Yes vs No Useful in low-light
Weight
680 g vs 890 g 210 g lighter
CHECK X Vario PRICE

Common Strengths of Canon EOS 5D Mark IV and Leica X Vario
External Flash Shoe
Yes vs Yes Better for flash photography
RAW Support
Yes vs Yes Better image quality
Face Detection Focus
Yes vs Yes very handy for portraits
AE Bracketing
Yes vs Yes Useful for tough lighting conditions and HDR
Common Weaknesses of Canon EOS 5D Mark IV and Leica X Vario
In-body Image Stabilization
No vs No No Built-in stabilization
Fixed Screen
Fixed Type vs No Screen tilts or Flips out independently, perfect for both stills and video
Canon 5D MIV vs Leica X Vario: Physical Specs and Body Features Comparison

Size and weight are big decision factors when you are trying to find the ideal camera for your needs. In this section, we are going to illustrate the Canon 5D MIV and Leica X Vario side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions. Canon 5D MIV has external dimensions of 151 x 116 x 76 mm (5.94 x 4.57 x 2.99″) and weighs 890 g (1.96 lb / 31.39 oz) (including batteries). Leica X Vario has external dimensions of 133 x 73 x 95 mm (5.24 x 2.87 x 3.74″) and weighs 680 g (1.50 lb / 23.99 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front-view size comparison of the Canon 5D MIV and the Leica X Vario. Leica X Vario is 18mm narrower and 43mm shorter than Canon 5D MIV but it is also 19mm thicker. As you can tell, actually this is not a fair size comparison since Leica X Vario has a built-in lens but Canon 5D MIV doesn't. Once you put a lens on 5D MIV, its thickness will increase significantly.

Canon 5D MIV vs Leica X Vario Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of the Canon 5D MIV and the Leica X Vario Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Here is the back view size comparison of the Canon 5D MIV and Leica X Vario.

Canon 5D MIV vs Leica X Vario Camera Size Comparison - Back View
Comparison image of the Canon 5D MIV and the Leica X Vario Size and Weight - Back View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Canon 5D MIV and Leica X Vario.
Canon 5D MIV vs Leica X Vario Camera Size Comparison - Top View
Top View Comparison image of the Canon 5D MIV and the the Leica X Vario Size

Weight is another important factor, especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Leica X Vario is significantly lighter (210g ) than the Canon 5D MIV which may become a big advantage especially on long walking trips.

Again, this comparison may not be very useful in real life as we are comparing the weight of a camera with a built-in lens to the body-only weight of an interchangeable lens camera. Once you put a lens on 5D MIV, the total kit will weigh much higher.

Weather Sealing

With its weather-sealed body, we believe that the 5D MIV has a big advantage over the X Vario which doesn't provide any kind of environmental sealing.

LCD Screen Size and Features

Canon 5D MIV's 3.20" LCD screen is slightly larger than Leica X Vario's 3 screen.

Unfortunately, both cameras has fixed screens so they don't tilt or flip in directions.


Canon 5D MIV vs Leica X Vario: Sensor Comparison

Canon 5D MIV has a 30.0MP Full frame (36 x 24 mm ) sized CMOS sensor and features Digic 6+ processor. On the other hand, Leica X Vario has a 16.0MP APS-C (23.6 x 15.8 mm ) sized CMOS sensor .

Canon 5D MIV's sensor provides 14MP more than Leica X Vario's sensor, which gives a significant advantage in real life. You can print your images larger or crop more freely. On the other hand, please keep in mind that Max sensor resolution is not the only determinant of resolving power. Factors such as the optical elements, low pass filter, pixel size and sensor technology also affects the final resolution of the captured image.

Below you can see the 5D MIV and X Vario sensor size comparison.

Canon 5D MIV vs Leica X Vario Sensor Size Comparison
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Canon 5D MIV and Leica X Vario Cameras


As seen above, Canon 5D MIV has a 2.3x Larger sensor area than Leica X Vario. Larger sensors give photographer more control on the depth of field and blurry background compared to smaller sensor when shot in same focal length and aperture.

DxOMark Sensor Scores

Both Canon 5D MIV and Leica X Vario sensors have been tested by DxoMark. DxoMark scores camera sensors for color depth (DXO Portrait), dynamic range (DXO Landscape) and low-light sensitivity (DXO Sports), and also gives them an overall score. Of the two cameras that we are comparing, 5D MIV has scored 91, 13 points higher than X Vario.

Model Overall Color Depth Dynamic Range Low-light ISO
Canon 5D MIV 91 24.8 bits 13.6 Evs 2995 ISO
Leica X Vario 78 23.4 bits 12.7 Evs 1320 ISO
What types of Photography are Canon 5D MIV and Leica X Vario Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Canon 5D MIV and Leica X Vario for five different photography types in order to make your decision process easier in case you are specifically interested in one or more of these areas.

Canon 5D MIV for Portrait Photography

GOOD

Leica X Vario for Portrait Photography

AVERAGE
Large Full frame (36 x 24 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 30.0MP
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
No Image Stabilization
Read the details
Large APS-C (23.6 x 15.8 mm) sensor
External Flash Shoe
Average Resolution Sensor: 16.0MP
Optional External Viewfinder
No Image Stabilization
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details

Canon 5D MIV for Street Photography

GOOD

Leica X Vario for Street Photography

GOOD
Large Full frame (36 x 24 mm) sensor
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
No Image Stabilization
Large Body
Read the details
Large APS-C (23.6 x 15.8 mm) sensor
Small Body
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
28 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Optional External Viewfinder
No Image Stabilization
Read the details

Canon 5D MIV for Sports Photography

EXCELLENT

Leica X Vario for Sports Photography

AVERAGE
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Fast Continuous Shooting: 7.0fps
Anti Flicker feature
Environmental Sealings
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/8000s
41 Cross Type Focus sensors
61 Focus Points
Good Battery Life: 900 shots
Good Low Light ISO
Wireless Connection
No Image Stabilization
Read the details
External Flash Shoe
11 Focus Points
Good Low Light ISO
Optional External Viewfinder
Average Continuous Shooting: 5.0fps
Average Max shutter speed: 1/2000s
No Image Stabilization
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Environmental Sealings
70 mm Tele Lens
Read the details

Canon 5D MIV for Daily Photography

GOOD

Leica X Vario for Daily Photography

GOOD
Large Full frame (36 x 24 mm) sensor
Anti Flicker feature
Environmental Sealings
Large Body
890g
Body Thickness 76mm
Read the details
Large APS-C (23.6 x 15.8 mm) sensor
Compact Body
680g
Body Thickness 95mm
2.5X Optical Zoom
Read the details

Canon 5D MIV for Landscape Photography

AVERAGE

Leica X Vario for Landscape Photography

POOR
Large Full frame (36 x 24 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 30.0MP
Environmental Sealings
Live-view
Built-in GPS
Read the details
Large APS-C (23.6 x 15.8 mm) sensor
28 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Average Resolution Sensor: 16.0MP
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details

Canon 5D MIV vs Leica X Vario: OUR DECISION

You may have already made your decision about which camera suits better for your needs and your budget so far, but in case you wonder how we rated Canon 5D MIV and Leica X Vario, below you can find their scores in five different aspects. Our Decision Algorithm dynamically scores cameras using 69 different specs, current price and DxO Mark scores (where possible) in order to make a more objective and consistent comparison.

Here is a summary of how Canon 5D MIV and Leica X Vario scores compare:

Canon 5D MIV
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #6 out of 95 in Mid-size SLR cameras
Ranked #57 out of 1259 in all Cameras
Leica X Vario
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #42 out of 62 in Large sensor compact cameras
Ranked #400 out of 1259 in all Cameras

Canon 5D MIV is the overall winner of this comparison. It has a higher Overall Score and beats Leica X Vario in all criteria except one: Portability. But the size difference between these cameras are negligible in real world so it is not a big disadvantage for Canon 5D MIV.

Canon 5D MIV
Canon 5D MIV
CHECK PRICE

CHECK PRICE

Leica X Vario
Leica X Vario
CHECK PRICE

CHECK PRICE

Leica X Vario vs Canon 5D MIV Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Canon EOS 5D Mark IV Leica X Vario
Brand Canon Leica
Announced 2016-08-25 2013-06-11
Body Type Mid-size SLR Large sensor compact
Sensor
Type CMOS CMOS
Size Full frame APS-C
Dimensions 36 x 24 mm 23.6 x 15.8 mm
Area 864.00mm2 372.88mm2
Megapixels 30 megapixels 16 megapixels
Max Resolution 6720 x 4480 4928 x 3272
Max Native Light sensitivity 32,000 ISO 12,500 ISO
Max Boosted Light Sensitivity 102400 ISO -
Min Native Light sensitivity 100 ISO 100 ISO
Min Boosted Light Sensitivity 50 ISO -
RAW Support
Autofocus
AF Touch
AF Continuous
AF Single
AF Tracking
AF Selective
AF Center
AF Multi Area
AF Live View
AF Face Detection
AF Contrast Detection
AF Phase Detection
Number of Focus Points 61 11
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount Canon EF fixed lens
Lens Focal Range no lens 28-70 mm (2.5×)
Max Aperture no lens F3.5-6.4
Screen
Type Fixed type Fixed type
Size 3.20" 3.00"
Resolution 1,620k dots 920k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder Coverage 100% n/a
Viewfinder Magnification 0.71x n/a
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter 1/8000s 1/2000s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Built-in Image Stabilization No No
Built-in Flash
Max Flash Sync 1/200s n/a
External Flash
Continuous Shooting 7.0 fps 5.0 fps
Multi-Segment Metering
Average Metering
Spot Metering
Partial Metering
AF-Area Metering
Center Weighted Metering
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Video Features
Max Video Resolution 4096 x 2160 1920 x 1080
Video Formats MPEG-4, Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity Built-In None
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 890g 680g
Dimensions 151 x 116 x 76mm 133 x 73 x 95mm
Battery Life 900 shots 450 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS Built-in None
DxO Sensor Scores
DxO Overall Score 91 78
DxO Color Depth 24.8 23.4
DxO Dynamic Range 13.6 12.7
DxO Low Light ISO 2995 1320
Report a correction Report a correction


FOLLOW US


Most Popular Cameras
Sony A7 IV
33 MP | Full frame Sensor | Sony E Mount
Sony A7R IV
61 MP | Full frame Sensor | Sony E Mount
Canon R3
24 MP | Full frame Sensor | Canon RF Mount
Canon M50 II
24 MP | APS-C Sensor | Canon EF-M Mount
Nikon Z9
46 MP | Full frame Sensor | Nikon Z Mount
Fujifilm X-T30 II
26 MP | APS-C Sensor | Fujifilm X Mount
Fujifilm GFX 100
102 MP | Medium format Sensor | Fujifilm G Mount
Nikon Z5
24 MP | Full frame Sensor | Nikon Z Mount
Latest Cameras
Canon R50
24 MP | APS-C Sensor | Canon RF Mount
Canon R8
24 MP | Full frame Sensor | Canon RF Mount
Panasonic S5 II X
24 MP | Full frame Sensor | Leica L Mount
Panasonic S5 II
24 MP | Full frame Sensor | Leica L Mount
Pentax KF
24 MP | APS-C Sensor | Pentax KAF2 Mount
Fujifilm X-T5
40 MP | APS-C Sensor | Fujifilm X Mount
Canon R6 II
24 MP | Full frame Sensor | Canon RF Mount
Sony A7R V
61 MP | Full frame Sensor | Sony E Mount
Copyright © 2023 by CameraDecision
Privacy About Contact Us SpeakerDecision

Report a Correction