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Leica X Vario vs Panasonic S5 Mark II 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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Panasonic S5 II

24 MP | Full frame (35.6 x 23.8 mm) CMOS Sensor

Panasonic S5 II
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Leica X Vario vs Panasonic S5 II Comparison Overview

Here we are comparing two cameras with different body types: Leica X Vario, which was introduced in June 2013 is a Large Sensor Compact camera with a 16.0MP APS-C sensor whereas Panasonic S5 II, which was introduced in January 2023 is a Pro Mirrorless camera with a 24.0MP Full frame sensor. As you can see, X Vario is 10 years older than S5 Mark II. Let's see if this age difference between two cameras makes a big difference.

Comparing an interchangeble lens camera to a fixed lens camera is a bit tricky but we will do our best to make this a fair comparison.

Here is a brief look at the main features of the Leica X Vario and Panasonic S5 II 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
  • 3.00" 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

Panasonic S5 II Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2023-01-04
  • 24MP - Full frame CMOS Sensor
  • No Anti-aliasing (AA) filter
  • ISO 100 - 51200 ( expands to 50 - 204800)
  • Leica L Mount
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 3.00" Fully Articulated Screen
  • 3680k dot Electronic viewfinder
  • 9.0fps (30.0fps Electronic) continuous shooting
  • 6K - 5952 x 3968 video resolution
  • Built-in Wireless
  • 740g. 134 x 102 x 90 mm
  • Weather-sealed Body
  • Replaced Panasonic Lumix DC-S5 Compare

Let's read on in the following sections in order to better understand in detail how the Leica X Vario and Panasonic S5 II compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.


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**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 Leica X Vario over Panasonic Lumix DC-S5 Mark II
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 740 g 60 g lighter
CHECK X Vario PRICE


Reasons to choose Panasonic Lumix DC-S5 Mark II over Leica X Vario
Video Record Limit
Unlimited vs Limited Record clips longer than 30 minutes
Wireless Connection
Built-In vs None Better connectivity
Live Composite Mode
Yes vs No Excellent help for long-exposure photography
In-built Image Stabilization
Sensor-shift vs None Sharper images at longer focal lengths and slow shutter speeds
LCD Screen
Fully Articulated vs Fixed Type Flexible shooting positions
Touch Screen
Yes vs No Easy control of camera functions
Viewfinder
Electronic vs Electronic (Optional) Better framing and control
Sensor Resolution
24 MP vs 16 MP 50% more pixels
Max ISO
51.200 vs 12.500 309% higher Max ISO
Number of Focus Points
779 vs 11 768 more focus points
LCD Resolution
1.840k dots vs 920k dots 100% higher resolution screen
Max Mech. Shutter
1/8000s vs 1/2000s faster mechanical shutter
Continuous Shooting
30.0fps vs 5.0fps 25 fps faster
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
Sensor Pixel Area
35.30µm2 vs 23.13µm2 52% larger pixel area
Max Video Resolution
5952 x 3968 vs 1920 x 1080 Higher Resolution Video
Full-size HDMI Port
Yes vs No Use standard HDMI cables without adapters
Selfie & Vlogger LCD
Yes vs No Rotate LCD for taking Selfies
Pixel Shift High-Res Mode
Yes (96 MP) vs No Increased resolution with pixel shift
4K Photo Mode
Yes vs No Extract 8MP photos from 4K Video
6K Photo Mode
Yes vs No Extract 18MP photos from Video footage
Bluetooth
Yes vs No Connect your camera to other devices via Blueetooth
Focus Bracketing
Yes vs No Take multiple photos shifting focus point
Focus Stacking
Yes vs No Stacks photos in-camera to maximize depth of field
Post Focus Mode
Yes vs No Change focus point after taking a shot
Storage Slot
2 vs 1 Extra storage slot
Smartphone Remote
Yes vs No Remote control your camera with a smartphone
Digital video stabilization
Yes vs No Stabilizes your videos in-camera
UHS Card Support
UHS-II vs none Read/Write in High Speeds
USB Version
USB 3.2 Gen 2 (5 GBit/sec) vs USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) Faster Data transfer from the camera
Animal Eye AF Tracking
Yes vs No Easily lock and track focus on animals
Webcam Function
Yes vs No Use your camera as a Webcam
Anti Flicker
Yes vs No Reduced uneven color and exposure under flickering light
Eye Tracking Focus
Yes vs No Autofocus system locks on the eye and tracks the subject
CHECK S5 Mark II PRICE

Common Strengths of Leica X Vario and Panasonic Lumix DC-S5 Mark II
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 1.840k dots High resolution screens
AE Bracketing
Yes vs Yes Useful for tough lighting conditions and HDR
Common Weaknesses of Leica X Vario and Panasonic Lumix DC-S5 Mark II
Leica X Vario vs Panasonic S5 II: 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 Leica X Vario and Panasonic S5 II 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). Panasonic S5 II has external dimensions of 134 x 102 x 90 mm (5.29 x 4.03 x 3.55″) and weighs 740 g (1.63 lb / 26.10 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front-view size comparison of the Leica X Vario and the Panasonic S5 II. Leica X Vario is 1mm narrower and 29mm shorter than Panasonic S5 II but it is also 5mm thicker. As you can tell, actually this is not a fair size comparison since Leica X Vario has a built-in lens but Panasonic S5 II doesn't. Once you put a lens on S5 Mark II, its thickness will increase significantly.

Leica X Vario vs Panasonic S5 II Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of the Leica X Vario and the Panasonic S5 II Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Here is the back view size comparison of the Leica X Vario and Panasonic S5 II.

Leica X Vario vs Panasonic S5 II Camera Size Comparison - Back View
Comparison image of the Leica X Vario and the Panasonic S5 II Size and Weight - Back View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Leica X Vario and Panasonic S5 II.
Leica X Vario vs Panasonic S5 II Camera Size Comparison - Top View
Top View Comparison image of the Leica X Vario and the the Panasonic S5 II 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 60g lighter than the Panasonic S5 II but we don't think this will make a significant difference.

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 S5 Mark II, the total kit will weigh much higher.

Weather Sealing

Thanks to the weather-sealed body of the S5 Mark II, you can use this camera with more confidence under conditions where there is risk of exposure to water and dust compared to the X Vario.

LCD Screen Size and Features

Leica X Vario and Panasonic S5 II's LCD screens have the same diagonal size of 3.00 inches.

On the other hand, Panasonic S5 II 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. Leica X Vario's LCD screen is a fixed type which provides almost no flexibility in shooting positions compared to S5 Mark II.


Leica X Vario vs Panasonic S5 II: Sensor Comparison

Leica X Vario has a 16.0MP APS-C (23.6 x 15.8 mm ) sized CMOS sensor . On the other hand, Panasonic S5 II has a 24.0MP Full frame (35.6 x 23.8 mm ) sized CMOS sensor and features Venus Engine processor.

Panasonic S5 II's sensor provides 8MP 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 Panasonic S5 II'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 moiré occurring in certain scenes.

Below you can see the X Vario and S5 Mark II sensor size comparison.

Leica X Vario vs Panasonic S5 II Sensor Size Comparison
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Leica X Vario and Panasonic S5 II Cameras


As seen above, Panasonic S5 II 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.

What types of Photography are Leica X Vario and Panasonic S5 II Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Leica X Vario and Panasonic S5 II 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

Panasonic S5 II for Portrait Photography

GOOD
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
Large Full frame (35.6 x 23.8 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 24.0MP
Image Stabilization
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details

Leica X Vario for Street Photography

GOOD

Panasonic S5 II for Street Photography

EXCELLENT
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
Large Full frame (35.6 x 23.8 mm) sensor
Image Stabilization
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Fully Articulated LCD Screen
Medium sized Body
Read the details

Leica X Vario for Sports Photography

AVERAGE

Panasonic S5 II for Sports Photography

GOOD
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
Image Stabilization
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Fast Continuous Shooting: 9.0fps
Environmental Sealings
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/8000s
779 Focus Points
Good Low Light ISO
Wireless Connection
Anti Flicker feature
Read the details

Leica X Vario for Daily Photography

GOOD

Panasonic S5 II for Daily Photography

EXCELLENT
Large APS-C (23.6 x 15.8 mm) sensor
Compact Body
680g
Body Thickness 95mm
2.5X Optical Zoom
Read the details
Large Full frame (35.6 x 23.8 mm) sensor
Environmental Sealings
Anti Flicker feature
Medium size Body
740g
Body Thickness 90mm
Read the details

Leica X Vario for Landscape Photography

POOR

Panasonic S5 II for Landscape Photography

AVERAGE
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
Large Full frame (35.6 x 23.8 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 24.0MP
Environmental Sealings
Live-view
Read the details

Leica X Vario vs Panasonic S5 II: 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 Panasonic S5 II, 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 Leica X Vario and Panasonic S5 II scores compare:

Leica X Vario
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #42 out of 62 in Large sensor compact cameras
Ranked #400 out of 1260 in all Cameras
Panasonic S5 II
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #20 out of 111 in SLR-style mirrorless cameras
Ranked #21 out of 1260 in all Cameras

Panasonic S5 II 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, Panasonic S5 II is the better camera overall.

Leica X Vario
Leica X Vario
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Panasonic S5 II
Panasonic S5 II
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Panasonic S5 II vs Leica X Vario Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Leica X Vario Panasonic Lumix DC-S5 Mark II
Brand Leica Panasonic
Announced 2013-06-11 2023-01-04
Body Type Large sensor compact SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor
Type CMOS CMOS
Size APS-C Full frame
Dimensions 23.6 x 15.8 mm 35.6 x 23.8 mm
Area 372.88mm2 847.28mm2
Megapixels 16 megapixels 24 megapixels
Max Resolution 4928 x 3272 6000 x 4000
Max Native Light sensitivity 12,500 ISO 51,200 ISO
Max Boosted Light Sensitivity - 204800 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 11 779
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount fixed lens Leica L
Lens Focal Range 28-70 mm (2.5×) no lens
Max Aperture F3.5-6.4 no lens
Screen
Type Fixed type Fully Articulated
Size 3.00" 3.00"
Resolution 920k dots 1,840k 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 0.78x
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter 1/2000s 1/8000s
Max Electronic Shutter n/a 1/8000s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Built-in Image Stabilization No Sensor-shift
Built-in Flash
Max Flash Sync n/a 1/250s
External Flash
Continuous Shooting 5.0 fps 9.0 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 1920 x 1080 5952 x 3968
Video Formats MPEG-4 MPEG-4, H.264, H.265
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity None Built-In
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 680g 740g
Dimensions 133 x 73 x 95mm 134 x 102 x 90mm
Battery Life 450 shots 370 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS None None
DxO Sensor Scores
DxO Overall Score 78 not tested
DxO Color Depth 23.4 not tested
DxO Dynamic Range 12.7 not tested
DxO Low Light ISO 1320 not tested
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