Both Leica C and Leica X1 have 12.0 MP resolution sensors but Leica C's sensor is 1/1.7-inch (7.44 x 5.58 mm ) and Leica X1's sensor is APS-C (23.6 x 15.8 mm ).
Since Leica X1's has a larger sensor area with the same resolution, this means that it also has a larger pixel area hence better light collecting capacity for a given aperture compared to Leica C.
Below you can see the C and X1 sensor size comparison.
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Leica C and Leica X1 Cameras
As seen above, Leica X1 has a 9.0x Larger sensor area than Leica C. 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.
Sensor size sets the circle of confusion, so it drives how much depth of field each
of these bodies gives you at a given aperture. You can calculate it exactly for the
Leica C
or the
Leica X1 ,
including hyperfocal distance.
One thing to watch when comparing these two: they have different sensor sizes
(1/1.7-inch versus APS-C),
so compare them at the same framing rather than the same focal length.
Put the same focal length on the smaller sensor and it will show less depth of
field, not more, because it also crops tighter. The calculator shows the
full frame equivalent focal length for each body so you can match the framing.
