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Canon SX30 IS vs Leica X Vario Comparison

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Canon SX30 IS

14 MP | 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) CCD Sensor

Canon SX30 IS
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Leica X Vario

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

Leica X Vario
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Canon SX30 IS vs Leica X Vario Comparison Overview

Here we are comparing two cameras with different body types: Canon SX30 IS, which was introduced in September 2010 is a Small Sensor Superzoom camera with a 14.0MP 1/2.3" 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, SX30 IS is 3 years older than X Vario. Let's see if this age difference between two cameras makes a big difference.

Here is a brief look at the main features of Canon SX30 IS and Leica X Vario before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Canon SX30 IS Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2010-09-14
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" CCD Sensor
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • 24-840 mm F2.7-5.8 Zoom Lens
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 2.7" Fully Articulated Screen
  • Electronic viewfinder
  • 1 fps continuous shooting
  • HD - 1280 x 720 video resolution
  • 601g. 123 x 92 x 108 mm
  • Replaced Canon PowerShot SX20 IS 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" Fixed Type Screen
  • 5 fps continuous shooting
  • Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution
  • 680g. 133 x 73 x 95 mm
  • Replaced Leica X2 Compare

Canon SX30 IS was replaced by Canon PowerShot SX40 HS. You may also be interested in these comparisons:
Canon PowerShot SX40 HS vs Canon PowerShot SX30 IS
Canon PowerShot SX40 HS vs Leica X Vario

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Canon SX30 IS and Leica X Vario compares and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.

Reasons to choose Canon PowerShot SX30 IS over Leica X Vario
Image Stabilization
Optical vs None Sharper images at longer focal lengths and long exposures
LCD Screen
Fully Articulated vs Fixed Type Flexible shooting positions
Viewfinder
Electronic vs Electronic (Optional) Better framing and control
Max Mech. Shutter
1/3200s vs 1/2000s faster mechanical shutter
Weight
601 g vs 680 g 79 g lighter
Focal Length - Wide
24mm vs 28mm 4 mm wider coverage
Focal Length - Tele
840mm vs 70mm 770 mm longer tele reach
Optical Zoom
35× vs 2.5× more flexible focal coverage
Max Aperture - Wide
2.70 vs 3.50 faster lens at wide
Max Aperture - Tele
5.80 vs 6.40 faster lens at tele
Selfie & Vlogger Friendly LCD
Yes vs No Rotate LCD for taking Selfies


Reasons to choose Leica X Vario over Canon PowerShot SX30 IS
RAW Support
Yes vs No Better image quality
Face Detection Focus
Yes vs No very handy for portraits
Max Sensor Resolution
16 MP vs 14 MP 14% more pixels
Max ISO
12.500 vs 1.600 681% higher Max ISO
Number of Focus Points
11 vs 9 2 more focus points
LCD Screen Size
3" vs 2.7" 0.3 inches larger display
LCD Screen Resolution
920k dots vs 230k dots 300% higher resolution screen
Continuous Shooting
5.0fps vs 1.0fps 4 fps faster
Sensor Pixel Area
23.13µm2 vs 2.01µm2 1050% larger pixel area
Max Video Resolution
1920 x 1080 vs 1280 x 720 Higher Resolution Video
AE Bracketing
Yes vs No Useful for tough lighting conditions and HDR

Common Strengths of Canon PowerShot SX30 IS and Leica X Vario
Built-in Flash
Yes vs Yes Useful in low-light
External Flash Shoe
Yes vs Yes Better for flash photography
Manual Focusing
Yes vs Yes both have manual focusing modes
Manual Exposure
Yes vs Yes better exposure control
Common Weaknesses of Canon PowerShot SX30 IS and Leica X Vario
Environmental Sealing
No vs No not suitable for tough conditions
Max Aperture - Tele
5.80 vs 6.40 Slow lenses at tele
Canon SX30 IS vs Leica X Vario: Physical Specs and Body features Comparison

Size and weight is a big decision factor when you are trying to find the ideal camera for your needs. In this section, We are going to illustrate Canon SX30 IS and Leica X Vario side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions. Canon SX30 IS has external dimensions of 123 x 92 x 108 mm (4.84 x 3.62 x 4.25″) and weighs 601 g (1.32 lb / 21.20 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 Canon SX30 IS and Leica X Vario. Leica X Vario is 19mm shorter and 13mm thinner than Canon SX30 IS but it is also 10mm wider.

Canon SX30 IS vs Leica X Vario Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of Canon SX30 IS and Leica X Vario Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Weight is another important factor especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Canon SX30 IS is 79g lighter than the Leica X Vario but we don't think this will make a significant difference.

Weight Comparison

Compact Cameras

SX30 IS
X Vario
Min
Average
Max
Thickness Comparison

Compact Cameras

SX30 IS
X Vario
Min
Average
Max

Weather Sealing

Unfortunately neither Canon PowerShot SX30 IS nor Leica X Vario provides any type of weather sealing in their body, so you have to give extra care especially when you are shooting outdoors. If weather sealing is a must-have feature for you, check these sections:
Top Bridge Cameras with Weather Sealing
Top Compact Cameras with Weather Sealing

LCD Screen Size and Features

Leica X Vario's 3" LCD screen is slightly larger than Canon SX30 IS's 2.7" screen.

On the other hand, Canon SX30 IS sports a Fully Articulated screen which you can change the angle and position of the screen almost freely, making it possible to shoot from waist or over the head levels, and especially very useful for shooting selfies and video. On the other hand, Leica X Vario has a fixed type screen which provides almost no flexibility in shooting positions compared to SX30 IS.
Canon SX30 IS vs Leica X Vario: Sensor Comparison

Canon SX30 IS has a 14.0MP 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized CCD sensor and features Digic 4 processor. On the other hand, Leica X Vario has a 16.0MP APS-C (23.6 x 15.8 mm ) sized CMOS sensor .

Below you can see the SX30 IS and X Vario sensor size comparison.

Canon SX30 IS vs Leica X Vario Sensor Size Comparison
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Canon SX30 IS and Leica X Vario Cameras


As seen above, Leica X Vario has a 13.3x Larger sensor area than Canon SX30 IS. 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.

Canon SX30 IS vs Leica X Vario Lens Specs Comparison

Canon SX30 IS features a 24-840 mm F2.7-5.8 35× zoom lens whereas Leica X Vario features a 28-70 mm F3.5-6.4 2.5× zoom lens.

Canon SX30 IS has 4mm wider coverage than the Leica X Vario. At f2.70, it is also faster at widest end. On the tele end, Canon SX30 IS has 770mm longer reach than the Leica X Vario. At f5.80, it is also faster at tele end.

Wide Coverage

DSLR-Like Cameras

SX30 IS
X Vario
Widest - Samsung WB2200F
Average
Telezoom

Large Sensor Compact Cameras

SX30 IS
X Vario
Longest - Nikon P1000
Average
Max Aperture at Tele

Large Sensor Compact Cameras

SX30 IS
X Vario
Fastest - Olympus 1
Average
Max Aperture at Wide

Large Sensor Compact Cameras

SX30 IS
X Vario
Fastest - Sony RX10 III
Average
What types of Photography are Canon SX30 IS and Leica X Vario Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Canon SX30 IS 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 SX30 IS for Portrait Photography

AVERAGE

Leica X Vario for Portrait Photography

AVERAGE
Image Stabilization
External Flash Shoe
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Average Resolution Sensor: 14.0MP
Average Ergonomics&Handling
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
Read the details
Large APS-C (23.6 x 15.8 mm) sensor
RAW shooting capability
External Flash Shoe
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Average Resolution Sensor: 16.0MP
Optional External Viewfinder
No Image Stabilization
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details

Canon SX30 IS for Street Photography

GOOD

Leica X Vario for Street Photography

GOOD
Image Stabilization
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Live-view
Fully Articulated LCD Screen
Fast Lens at Wide: f2.70
24 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Medium sized Body
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
Read the details
Large APS-C (23.6 x 15.8 mm) sensor
RAW shooting capability
Manual Focus Mode
Small Body
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
28 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Optional External Viewfinder
No Image Stabilization
Read the details

Canon SX30 IS for Sports Photography

AVERAGE

Leica X Vario for Sports Photography

AVERAGE
Image Stabilization
External Flash Shoe
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
840 mm Tele Lens
Average Ergonomics&Handling
Average Max shutter speed: 1/3200s
No RAW shooting capability
Slow Continuous Shooting: 1.0fps
Environmental Sealings
9 Focus Points
Slow Lens at Tele: f5.80
Read the details
RAW shooting capability
External Flash Shoe
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
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 SX30 IS for Daily Photography

AVERAGE

Leica X Vario for Daily Photography

GOOD
35.0X Optical Zoom
Medium size Body
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
601g
Body Thickness 108mm
Read the details
Large APS-C (23.6 x 15.8 mm) sensor
RAW shooting capability
Compact Body
680g
Body Thickness 95mm
2.5X Optical Zoom
Read the details

Canon SX30 IS for Landscape Photography

POOR

Leica X Vario for Landscape Photography

AVERAGE
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
24 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Average Resolution Sensor: 14.0MP
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details
Large APS-C (23.6 x 15.8 mm) sensor
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
28 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Average Resolution Sensor: 16.0MP
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details

Canon SX30 IS 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 SX30 IS and Leica X Vario, below you can find their scores in five different aspects. Our Decision Algorithm dynamically scores cameras using 63 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 SX30 IS and Leica X Vario scores compare:

Canon SX30 IS
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #69 out of 113 in SLR-like (bridge) cameras
Ranked #626 out of 1220 in all Cameras
Leica X Vario
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #41 out of 61 in Large sensor compact cameras
Ranked #375 out of 1220 in all Cameras

Leica X Vario is the clear winner of this comparison. It has a higher Overall Score and beats Canon SX30 IS in all criteria.
It has better general image quality, more features, more compact body and offers more value for the money

Canon SX30 IS
Canon SX30 IS
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Leica X Vario
Leica X Vario
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Leica X Vario vs Canon SX30 IS Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Canon PowerShot SX30 IS Leica X Vario
Brand Canon Leica
Announced 2010-09-14 2013-06-11
Body Type SLR-like (bridge) Large sensor compact
Sensor
Type CCD CMOS
Size 1/2.3" APS-C
Dimensions 6.17 x 4.55 mm 23.6 x 15.8 mm
Area 28.07mm2 372.88mm2
Megapixels 14 megapixels 16 megapixels
Max Resolution 4320 x 3240 4928 x 3272
Max Native Light sensitivity 1,600 ISO 12,500 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity 80 ISO 100 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 9 11
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens Focal Range 24-840 mm (35×) 28-70 mm (2.5×)
Max Aperture F2.7-5.8 F3.5-6.4
Macro Focus Range 0cm n/a
Screen
Type Fully Articulated Fixed type
Size 2.7" 3"
Resolution 230k dots 920k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic (optional)
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter 1/3200s 1/2000s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Image Stabilization Optical No
Built-in Flash
Flash Range 6.80 m n/a
External Flash
Continuous Shooting 1.0 fps 5.0 fps
Multi-Segment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF-Area
Center Weighted
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Video Features
Max Video Resolution 1280 x 720 1920 x 1080
Video Formats Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity Eye-Fi Connected None
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 601g 680g
Dimensions 123 x 92 x 108mm 133 x 73 x 95mm
Battery Life n/a 450 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS None None
DxO Sensor Scores
DxO Overall Score not tested 78
DxO Color Depth not tested 23.4
DxO Dynamic Range not tested 12.7
DxO Low Light ISO not tested 1320
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