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Leica X Vario vs Leica Q2 Comparison

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Camera to replace
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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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Leica Q2

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

Leica Q2
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Leica X Vario vs Leica Q2 Comparison Overview

In this review, we will be comparing X Vario and Q2, two Large Sensor Compact cameras by Leica. Leica X Vario has a 16.0MP APS-C sensor whereas Leica Q2 has a 47.0MP Full frame sensor. Leica X Vario was introduced to market in June 2013 and Leica Q2 was launched in March 2019. As you can see, X Vario is 6 years older than Q2. Let's see if this age difference between two cameras makes a big difference.

Here is a brief look at the main features of Leica X Vario and Leica Q2 before getting into our more detailed comparison.

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

Leica Q2 Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2019-03-07
  • 47MP - Full frame CMOS Sensor
  • No Anti-aliasing (AA) filter
  • ISO 50 - 50000
  • 28 mm f1.70 Prime Lens
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3" Fixed Type Screen
  • 3680k dot Electronic viewfinder
  • 20.0 fps continuous shooting
  • 4K (UHD) - 3840 x 2160 video resolution
  • Built-in Wireless
  • 718g. 130 x 80 x 92 mm mm
  • Weather Sealed Body
  • Also known as Type No. 4889
  • Replaced Leica Q Compare

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Leica X Vario and Leica Q2 compares and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.

Reasons to choose Leica X Vario over Leica Q2
Built-in Flash
Yes vs No Useful in low-light
Battery Life
450 shots vs 370 shots 80 more frames with a single charge
Weight
680 g vs 718 g 38 g lighter
Focal Length - Tele
70mm vs 28mm 42 mm longer tele reach
Optical Zoom
2.5× vs 1x more flexible focal coverage
Sensor Pixel Area
23.13µm2 vs 18.49µm2 25% larger pixel area


Reasons to choose Leica Q2 over Leica X Vario
Wireless Connection
Built-In vs None Better connectivity
Image Stabilization
Optical vs None Sharper images at longer focal lengths and long exposures
Touch Screen
Yes vs No Easy control of camera functions
Viewfinder
Electronic vs Electronic (Optional) Better framing and control
Max Sensor Resolution
47 MP vs 16 MP 193% more pixels
Max ISO
50.000 vs 12.500 300% higher Max ISO
Number of Focus Points
49 vs 11 38 more focus points
LCD Screen Resolution
1.040k dots vs 920k dots 13% higher resolution screen
Continuous Shooting
20.0fps vs 5.0fps 15 fps faster
Environmental Sealing
Yes vs No shoot at tough conditions
Timelapse Recording
Yes vs No creative shooting
Max Aperture - Wide
1.70 vs 3.50 faster lens at wide
Max Aperture - Tele
1.70 vs 6.40 faster lens at tele
Color Depth
26.4 vs 23.4 higher color depth
Dynamic Range
13.5 vs 12.7 higher dynamic range
Low Light ISO
2491 vs 1320 better High ISO performance
Max Video Resolution
3840 x 2160 vs 1920 x 1080 Higher Resolution Video
Bluetooth
Yes vs No Connect your camera to other devices via Blueetooth
Smartphone Remote
Yes vs No Remote control your camera with a smartphone
UHS Card Support
UHS-II vs none Read/Write in Ultra High Speeds

Common Strengths of Leica X Vario and Leica Q2
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
LCD Screen Resolution
920k dots vs 1.040k dots High resolution screens
Manual Focusing
Yes vs Yes both have manual focusing modes
Manual Exposure
Yes vs Yes better exposure control
AE Bracketing
Yes vs Yes Useful for tough lighting conditions and HDR
Common Weaknesses of Leica X Vario and Leica Q2
Fixed Screen
Fixed Type vs No No flexible viewing angles
Leica X Vario vs Leica Q2: 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 Leica X Vario and Leica Q2 side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions. 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). Leica Q2 has external dimensions of 130 x 80 x 92 mm (5.12 x 3.15 x 3.62″) and weighs 718 g (1.58 lb / 25.33 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Leica X Vario and Leica Q2. Leica Q2 is 3mm narrower and 3mm thinner than Leica X Vario but it is also 7mm taller.

Leica X Vario vs Leica Q2 Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of Leica X Vario and Leica Q2 Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Here is the back view size comparison of Leica X Vario and Leica Q2.

Leica X Vario vs Leica Q2 Camera Size Comparison - Back View
Comparison image of Leica X Vario and Leica Q2 Size and Weight - Back View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Leica X Vario and Leica Q2.
Leica X Vario vs Leica Q2 Camera Size Comparison - Top View
Top View Comparison image of Leica X Vario and Leica Q2 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 38g lighter than the Leica Q2 but we don't think this will make a significant difference.

Weight Comparison

Compact Cameras

X Vario
Q2
Min
Average
Max
Thickness Comparison

Compact Cameras

X Vario
Q2
Min
Average
Max

Weather Sealing

Thanks to the weather sealed body of Q2, you can use this camera with more confidence under conditions where there is risk of exposure to water and dust compared to X Vario.

LCD Screen Size and Features

Leica X Vario and Leica Q2's LCD screens has the same diagonal size of 3".

Unfortunately, both cameras has fixed screens so they don't tilt or flip in directions.
Leica X Vario vs Leica Q2: Sensor Comparison

Leica X Vario has a 16.0MP APS-C (23.6 x 15.8 mm ) sized CMOS sensor . On the other hand, Leica Q2 has a 47.0MP Full frame (36 x 24 mm ) sized CMOS sensor .

Leica Q2's sensor provides 31MP 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.

One other difference between these two cameras that is worth mentioning is that Leica Q2's sensor doesn't have an anti-alias (Low-Pass) filter. Removing anti-alias filter increases the sharpness and level of detail but at the same time, it increases the chance of moire occurring in certain scenes.

Below you can see the X Vario and Q2 sensor size comparison.

Leica X Vario vs Leica Q2 Sensor Size Comparison
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Leica X Vario and Leica Q2 Cameras


As seen above, Leica Q2 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

DxOMark is a benchmark that scientifically assesses image quality of camera sensors. It 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. Leica X Vario and Leica Q2 sensors have been tested by DxO and the results show that Q2 has a better overall score of 96, 18 points higher compared to X Vario's score of 78.

Model Overall Color Depth Dynamic Range Low-light ISO
Leica X Vario 78 23.4 bits 12.7 Evs 1320 ISO
Leica Q2 96 26.4 bits 13.5 Evs 2491 ISO
Leica X Vario vs Leica Q2 Lens Specs Comparison

Leica X Vario features a 28-70 mm F3.5-6.4 2.5× zoom lens whereas Leica Q2 features a 28 mm F1.7 Prime lens.

It is not easy to compare a prime lens with a zoom lens. Leica X Vario's zoom lens provides a great flexibility compared to Leica Q2's 28mm fixed focal length lens. On the other hand, Q2's prime lens makes it a specialized camera. You compromise the flexibility of a zoom in order to enjoy the high image quality and unique rendering of this fast lens. On the tele end, Leica X Vario has 42mm longer reach than the Leica Q2. However, with a max aperture of f1.70, Leica Q2 is faster at tele end.

Wide Coverage

Large Sensor Compact Cameras

X Vario
Q2
Widest - Canon G1 X II
Average
Telezoom

Large Sensor Compact Cameras

X Vario
Q2
Longest - Panasonic ZS200
Average
Max Aperture at Tele

Large Sensor Compact Cameras

X Vario
Q2
Fastest - Leica Q
Average
Max Aperture at Wide

Large Sensor Compact Cameras

X Vario
Q2
Fastest - Panasonic LX10
Average
What types of Photography are Leica X Vario and Leica Q2 Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Leica X Vario and Leica Q2 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.

Leica X Vario for Portrait Photography

AVERAGE

Leica Q2 for Portrait Photography

GOOD
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
Large Full frame (36 x 24 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 47.0MP
Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
External Flash Shoe
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details

Leica X Vario for Street Photography

GOOD

Leica Q2 for Street Photography

EXCELLENT
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
Large Full frame (36 x 24 mm) sensor
Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Small Body
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Fast Lens at Wide: f1.70
28 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Read the details

Leica X Vario for Sports Photography

AVERAGE

Leica Q2 for Sports Photography

AVERAGE
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
Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
External Flash Shoe
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Fast Continuous Shooting: 20.0fps
Environmental Sealings
49 Focus Points
Good Low Light ISO
Wireless Connection
Average Max shutter speed: 1/2000s
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
28 mm Tele Lens
Read the details

Leica X Vario for Daily Photography

GOOD

Leica Q2 for Daily Photography

EXCELLENT
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
Large Full frame (36 x 24 mm) sensor
RAW shooting capability
Compact Body
Environmental Sealings
718g
Body Thickness 92mm
Read the details

Leica X Vario for Landscape Photography

AVERAGE

Leica Q2 for Landscape Photography

GOOD
Large APS-C (23.6 x 15.8 mm) sensor
RAW shooting capability
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
28 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Average Resolution Sensor: 16.0MP
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details
Large Full frame (36 x 24 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 47.0MP
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Environmental Sealings
28 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Read the details

Leica X Vario vs Leica Q2: 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 Leica X Vario and Leica Q2, 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 Leica X Vario and Leica Q2 scores compare:

Leica X Vario
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #41 out of 61 in Large sensor compact cameras
Ranked #379 out of 1226 in all Cameras
Leica Q2
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #1 out of 61 in Large sensor compact cameras
Ranked #36 out of 1226 in all Cameras

Leica Q2 is the overall winner of this comparison. It has a higher Overall Score and beats Leica X Vario in all criteria except one: Portability.
If small size and light body is a big priority for you, choose Leica X Vario. Otherwise, Leica Q2 is the better camera overall.

Leica X Vario
Leica X Vario
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Leica Q2
Leica Q2
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Leica Q2 vs Leica X Vario Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Leica X Vario Leica Q2
Brand Leica Leica
Announced 2013-06-11 2019-03-07
Body Type Large sensor compact Large sensor compact
Sensor
Type CMOS CMOS
Size APS-C Full frame
Dimensions 23.6 x 15.8 mm 36 x 24 mm
Area 372.88mm2 864.00mm2
Megapixels 16 megapixels 47 megapixels
Max Resolution 4928 x 3272 8368 x 5584
Max Native Light sensitivity 12,500 ISO 50,000 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity 100 ISO 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 11 49
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens Focal Range 28-70 mm (2.5×) 28 mm (1x)
Max Aperture F3.5-6.4 F1.7
Macro Focus Range n/a 17cm
Screen
Type Fixed type Fixed type
Size 3" 3"
Resolution 920k dots 1,040k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder Resolution no electronic viewfinder 3,680k dots
Viewfinder Coverage n/a 100%
Viewfinder Magnification n/a 0.76x
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter 1/2000s 1/2000s
Max Electronic Shutter n/a 1/40000s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Image Stabilization No Optical
Built-in Flash
Max Flash Sync n/a 1/500s
External Flash
Continuous Shooting 5.0 fps 20.0 fps
Multi-Segment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF-Area
Center Weighted
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Video Features
Max Video Resolution 1920 x 1080 3840 x 2160
Video Formats MPEG-4 MPEG-4
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity None Built-In
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 680g 718g
Dimensions 133 x 73 x 95mm 130 x 80 x 92 mmmm
Battery Life 450 shots 370 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS None None
DxO Sensor Scores
DxO Overall Score 78 96
DxO Color Depth 23.4 26.4
DxO Dynamic Range 12.7 13.5
DxO Low Light ISO 1320 2491
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