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Leica X-U Review

  • Overview
  • Alternatives
    • Leica X-U

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    Main Features

    • 16MP - APS-C CMOS Sensor
    • ISO 100 - 12500
    • 35 mm f1.70 Prime Lens
    • 3.00" Fully Articulated Screen
    • 5.0fps continuous shooting
    • FHD at 30fps and HD at 30fps Video Recording
    • 635g. 140 x 79 x 88 mm
    • Weather-sealed Body
    • Also known as Typ 113
      •
    CHECK PRICE
    CHECK PRICE

    Leica X-U Overview

    First introduced in January 2016 , Leica X-U is a 16.0MP Large Sensor Compact camera with a APS-C (23.6 x 15.7 mm ) sized CMOS sensor, weather-sealed body, Fully articulated screen and 35 mm F1.7 lens. X-U is also sold as Typ 113 in some countries.

    Leica X-U Review - Click for Table of Contents

    1. Overview
    2. Pros and Cons
    3. Sensor and Photography Features
    4. Physical Specs
    5. LCD and Viewfinder
    6. Connectivity, Storage and Battery
    7. Video
    8. Other Features
    9. Lens
    10. Photography Type Scores
    11. Alternatives
    12. Popular Comparisons
    13. Frequently Asked Questions
    14. Detailed Specifications

    Leica X-U is a member of Leica's Large Sensor Compact class cameras. Below you can see the latest models in this class and how their main specs have changed with each new model.

    Leica Large Sensor Compact Series History
    Model Release Date Sensor Max FPS Dimensions Weight
    Leica Q3
    Compare     		2023 60.0MP - Full frame 15.0 fps 130 x 80 x 93mm 743g
    Leica Q2 Monochrom
    Compare     		2020 47.0MP - Full frame 20.0 fps 130 x 80 x 92mm 734g
    Leica Q2
    Compare     		2019 47.0MP - Full frame 20.0 fps 130 x 80 x 92mm 734g
    Leica D-Lux 7
    Compare     		2018 17.0MP - Four Thirds 11.0 fps 118 x 66 x 64mm 403g
    Leica Q-P
    Compare     		2018 24.0MP - Full frame 10.0 fps 130 x 80 x 93mm 640g

    Check the link below to compare specs of the latest cameras in this series side-by-side:
    Leica Q3 vs Q2 Monochrom vs Q2 vs D-Lux 7 vs Q-P

    Alternative Model names found for Leica X-U: X-U Typ 113, X-U Typ113 and XU Type113.

    **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.

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    Leica X-U PROs and CONs Review

    Now let's get in to more details of our Leica X-U review by analysing its specs and features and listing out its pros and cons compared to average competitor cameras in its class.

    PROs
    Water Proof
    Shock Proof
    Articulating Screen
    External Flash Shoe
    Full HD Video
    RAW Shooting
    11 Focus Points
    920k dots LCD Resolution
    Long Battery Life (450 shots)
    Manual Focusing
    Manual Exposure
    Environmental Sealing
    Fast 1.70 Lens at Wide
    Fast 1.70 Lens at Tele
    AE Bracketing
    Report a correction

    Buy Leica X-U from AMAZON or B&H PHOTO


    CONs
    No Wireless Connection
    No Image Stabilization
    No Touch Screen
    No Built-in Viewfinder
    No Face Detection Focusing
    Heavy Body: 635

    Report a correction


    Leica X-U Physical Specs
    Leica X-U weighs 635 g (1.40 lb / 22.40 oz) and has external dimensions of 140 x 79 x 88 mm (5.51 x 3.11 x 3.46″). Considering that the average weight of Large Sensor Compact type cameras is 402g, Leica X-U is a significantly heavy camera for its class. With a thickness of 88mm, it is not small either, 31mm thicker than the average of its class.
    Weight Comparison

    Large Sensor Compact Cameras

    Leica X-U
    Min
    Average
    Max
    Thickness Comparison

    Large Sensor Compact Cameras

    Leica X-U
    Min
    Average
    Max

    Here is the front and top view image of Leica X-U with the dimensions:

    Leica X-U Body Size Dimensions
    Front and Top View External Dimensions and Size of Leica X-U Camera Body


    In order to give you a better idea about the real life size of Leica X-U, we have added an image of how it looks next to a credit card and an AA type battery.


    Leica X-U Body Size Compared to a Credit card and a Battery
    Physical size of the Leica X-U Body Compared to a Credit Card and an AA Battery


    Below you can find the comparison of the weight and thickness of Leica X-U with its main competitors:

    Leica X-U Size Compared to Main Competitors
    Model Weight vs X-U Thickness vs X-U
    Leica X-U Camera Leica X (Typ 113)
    Compare     		486g 149g lighter 78mm 10mm thinner
    Leica X-U Camera Leica Q
    Compare     		640g 5g heavier 93mm 5mm thicker
    Leica X-U Camera Olympus TG-6
    Compare     		253g 382g lighter 32mm 56mm thinner
    Leica X-U Camera Leica D-Lux 7
    Compare     		403g 232g lighter 64mm 24mm thinner
    Leica X-U Camera Fujifilm X100V
    Compare     		478g 157g lighter 53mm 35mm thinner
    Leica X-U Camera Leica Q2
    Compare     		734g 99g heavier 92mm 4mm thicker
    Leica X-U Camera Leica X2
    Compare     		345g 290g lighter 52mm 36mm thinner
    Leica X-U Camera Sony RX1R II
    Compare     		507g 128g lighter 72mm 16mm thinner

    Weather Sealing

    Leica X-U has environmental sealings (waterproof, shockproof, dustproof).

    Leica X-U Lens

    Leica X-U features a 35 mm F1.7 Prime lens. This prime lens makes X-U 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.

    Wide Coverage

    Large Sensor Compact Cameras

    X-U
    Widest - Sony ZV-1 II
    Average
    Telezoom

    Large Sensor Compact Cameras

    X-U
    Longest - Panasonic ZS200
    Average

    Max Aperture at Wide

    Large Sensor Compact Cameras

    X-U
    Fastest - Panasonic LX10
    Average
    Max Aperture at Tele

    Large Sensor Compact Cameras

    X-U
    Fastest - Leica X (Typ 113)
    Average

    Leica X-U's lens also has a Manual Focus Mode.

    Leica X-U Sensor and Photography Features

    Leica X-U has a 16.0MP APS-C (23.6 x 15.7 mm ) sized CMOS sensor . You can shoot at maximum resolution of 4928 x 3264 pixels with aspect ratios of and 3:2. X-U has a native ISO range of 100 - 12500 and it can save files in RAW format which gives you a wider room for post processing.

    Leica X-U is not the highest resolution APS-C camera. Fujifilm X-T5 with its 40.2MP sensor is leading in this class. Check the comparison of Leica X-U vs Fujifilm X-T5 or take a look at Highest resolution Compact cameras list.

    Let's look at how the size of the Leica X-U's APS-C sensor compares with other standard sensor sizes.

    Leica X-U Sensor Size Comparison
    Comparison image of Leica X-U Sensor Size with other standard sensors



    Leica X-U LCD

    Leica X-U has a Fully Articulated 3.00-inch LCD screen with a resolution of 920k dots. Articulated screens are more video oriented compared to only tilting or fixed screens. On the other hand, photography oriented users generally prefer tilting screens. Both the screen size and the screen resolution is up to the standards of this class.



    Leica X-U back view and LCD

    Unfortunately Leica X-U doesn't have a Selfie friendly screen. If this feature is important for your shooting style, check here the list of Best Compact Cameras with Selfie Friendly LCD screen.


    X-U doesn't have a viewfinder and no option for external viewfinder. Lack of a viewfinder can be problematic especially under strong light where visibility of LCD screens goes down dramatically. If you need a Compact camera with a built-in viewfinder in a similar price range, consider Nikon Coolpix P7800 (Compare) or Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS100 (Lumix DMC-TZ100) (Compare).
    Alternatively, check here the list of all Compact cameras with viewfinder..

    Leica X-U Connectivity, Storage and Battery

    Leica X-U has a USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) port to connect your camera to other devices.

    Leica X-U Battery

    Leica X-U is powered by BP-DC8 battery which provides a battery life of 450 shots according to CIPA standards. Considering that the average battery life of Large Sensor Compact type cameras is 304 shots, Leica X-U has a good battery life for its class.

    Battery Life Comparison in Large Sensor Compact Cameras

    Leica X-U
    Min
    Average
    Max

    Leica X Vario with its 450shots is the model with longest battery life among Large Sensor Compact cameras. Check the comparison of Leica X-U vs Leica X Vario or take a look at Longest Battery Life Compact cameras list.

    Leica X-U Features Compared to Main Competitors
    Model Max Video Battery Life Wi-fi Bluetooth NFC
    Leica X-U Camera Leica X (Typ 113)
    Compare     		1920 x 1080 350shots No No No
    Leica X-U Camera Leica Q
    Compare     		1920 x 1080 shots Yes No No
    Leica X-U Camera Olympus TG-6
    Compare     		3840 x 2160 340shots Yes No No
    Leica X-U Camera Leica D-Lux 7
    Compare     		3840 x 2160 340shots Yes Yes No
    Leica X-U Camera Fujifilm X100V
    Compare     		3840 x 2160 420shots Yes Yes No
    Leica X-U Camera Leica Q2
    Compare     		4096 x 2160 370shots Yes Yes No
    Leica X-U Camera Leica X2
    Compare     		None 450shots No No No
    Leica X-U Camera Sony RX1R II
    Compare     		1920 x 1080 220shots Yes No Yes

    Leica X-U Video Features

    With Leica X-U, you can record your videos at a highest resolution of 1920 x 1080 at 30p fps and save in and MPEG-4 formats. Full HD resolution of Leica X-U will be adequate in most of the situations. But if you are after the highest resolution videos available, see our list of Top Cameras with 4K (Ultra-HD) Video.

    Video Resolutions Comparison Chart


    Microphones, Speaker and Headphone Connections

    Leica X-U has a built-in Stereo microphone and a Mono speaker. On the other hand, Leica X-U doesn't have any connections for external microphones and headphones. If you need a Large Sensor Compact camera with external microphone connectivity, consider or in a similar price range.

    Also read:

    • Best Compact Cameras with Microphone Port
    • Best Compact Cameras with Headphone Port

    If you are getting into videography and want to know what are the must-have video accessories for your camera, read our article:
    Essential Videography / Filmmaking Accessories for your Camera

    Leica X-U Other Features

    Max Shutter speed

    Leica X-U can shoot continuously at max speed of 5.0 fps and has max shutter speed of 1/2000 sec.

    Flash

    X-U has a built-in flash, and it also has a flash shoe to mount your external flashes too.

    Focusing

    Leica X-U features a Contrast Detection autofocusing system. The AF system has 11 points to choose from.



    What type of Photography is Leica X-U Good for?
    In this section, we review and score Leica X-U in 5 different photography areas.

    Leica X-U for Portrait Photography

    Leica X-U has a score of 46 for Portrait Photography which makes it an AVERAGE candidate for this type of photography. If Portrait is important for you, we recommend you to check our Top Compact Cameras for Portrait Photography list.
    Large APS-C (23.6 x 15.7 mm) sensor
    RAW shooting capability
    External Flash Shoe
    Manual Focus Mode
    Manual Exposure Mode
    Average Resolution Sensor: 16.0MP
    No Image Stabilization
    No Built-in Viewfinder
    Not so good Ergonomics&Handling

    Read the details of how we scored Leica X-U for Portrait Photography

    Leica X-U for Street Photography

    Leica X-U has a score of 57 for Street Photography which makes it an AVERAGE candidate for this type of photography. If Street is important for you, we recommend you to check our Top Compact Cameras for Street Photography list.
    Manual Focus Mode
    Live-view
    Fully Articulated LCD Screen
    Fast Lens at Wide: f1.70
    RAW shooting capability
    Small Body
    Large APS-C (23.6 x 15.7 mm) sensor
    No Built-in Viewfinder
    No Image Stabilization
    35 mm - Poor Wide Angle Coverage

    Read the details of how we scored Leica X-U for Street Photography

    Leica X-U for Sports Photography

    Leica X-U has a score of 39 for Sports Photography which makes it a POOR candidate for this type of photography. If Sports We strongly recommend you to check our Top Compact Cameras for Sports Photography list and consider these alternatives over theX-U.
    Environmental Sealings
    11 Focus Points
    Manual Exposure Mode
    Manual Focus Mode
    External Flash Shoe
    RAW shooting capability
    Average Continuous Shooting: 5.0fps
    Average Max shutter speed: 1/2000s
    Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
    No Built-in Viewfinder
    No Image Stabilization
    35 mm Tele Lens

    Read the details of how we scored Leica X-U for Sports Photography

    Leica X-U for Daily Photography

    Leica X-U has a score of 55 for Daily Photography which makes it an AVERAGE candidate for this type of photography. If Daily is important for you, we recommend you to check our Top Compact Cameras for Daily Photography list.
    Compact Body
    Environmental Sealings
    Large APS-C (23.6 x 15.7 mm) sensor
    RAW shooting capability
    635g
    Body Thickness 88mm

    Read the details of how we scored Leica X-U for Daily Photography

    Leica X-U for Landscape Photography

    Leica X-U has a score of 38 for Landscape Photography which makes it a POOR candidate for this type of photography. If Landscape We strongly recommend you to check our Top Compact Cameras for Landscape Photography list and consider these alternatives over theX-U.
    Manual Exposure Mode
    Manual Focus Mode
    RAW shooting capability
    Large APS-C (23.6 x 15.7 mm) sensor
    Environmental Sealings
    Average Resolution Sensor: 16.0MP
    35 mm - Poor Wide Angle Coverage

    Read the details of how we scored Leica X-U for Landscape Photography
    Leica X-U Alternatives
    In this section, we analyse how Leica X-U compares with other Large Sensor Compact cameras within a similar price range.
    Read a more detailed analysis of Leica X-U alternatives.

    Popular Comparisons of Leica X-U

    Here are the eight most popular comparisons of the Leica X-U amongst Camera Decision readers.

    Leica X (Typ 113)
    Leica X (Typ 113)
    Compare
    Leica Q
    Leica Q
    Compare
    Olympus TG-6
    Olympus TG-6
    Compare
    Leica D-Lux 7
    Leica D-Lux 7
    Compare
    Fujifilm X100V
    Fujifilm X100V
    Compare
    Leica Q2
    Leica Q2
    Compare
    Leica X2
    Leica X2
    Compare
    Sony RX1R II
    Sony RX1R II
    Compare

    Leica X-U Alternatives in Cameras

    It would also be interesting to compare Leica X-U with Cameras. Below we have listed 4 highest ranked cameras in Leica X-U's price range.

    Leica X-U Conclusion and Scores

    Currently, Leica X-U has an Overall Score of 55/100 which is based on our evaluation of 69 different technical parameters. Our scores are dynamically updated whenever a new camera is added to our database or when we change our ranking algorithm and the maximum score is always 100. Leica X-U is ranked #47 out of 64 in Large Sensor Compact cameras (Top 20 Compact), and ranked #462 out of 1268 in all Cameras (Top 20 Overall).

    #462 out of 1268 in Top Ranking Cameras
    #47 out of 64 in Top Ranking Compact Cameras
    #48 out of 66 in Top Ranking Large Sensor Compact Cameras
    #184 out of 273 in Top Ranking APS-C Sensor Cameras
    #27 out of 29 in Lightest Compact Cameras with APS-C sensor(635g)
    #130 out of 151 in Top Ranking Cameras with Fully Articulated Screen
    Geek Score: 0

    Leica X-U
    Leica X-U
    CHECK PRICE

    CHECK PRICE

    Main Scores
    Imaging
    Features
    Value for Money
    Portability
    Overall Score
    Check our Smart Finder Tool to filter, sort and compare all digital cameras.

    Frequently Asked Questions about Leica X-U
    Does the Leica X-U have Image Stabilization?
    Does the Leica X-U have RAW support?
    Does the Leica X-U have Weather Sealing?
    Does the Leica X-U have built-in GPS?
    What is the Max ISO of Leica X-U?
    What is the Sensor Size of Leica X-U?
    is the Leica X-U a Full Frame (FF) camera?
    Does the Leica X-U have Touch Screen?
    Does the Leica X-U have built-in Wireless?
    What is the Max Continuous Shooting Speed (fps) of Leica X-U?
    What is the Weight of Leica X-U?
    What are the Dimensions of Leica X-U?
    Leica X-U Detailed Specifications

    General
    Brand Leica
    Model Leica X-U
    Also known as Typ 113
    Announced 2016-01-20
    Body Type Large sensor compact
    Lens
    Manual Focus
    Lens Mount fixed lens
    Lens Focal Range 35 mm (1×)
    Max Aperture F1.7
    Macro Focus Range n/a
    Screen
    Screen Type Fully Articulated
    Screen Size 3.00"
    Screen Resolution 920k dots
    Live View
    Touch Screen
    Viewfinder
    Viewfinder None
    Viewfinder Resolution no electronic viewfinder
    Viewfinder Coverage n/a
    Viewfinder Magnification n/a
    Photography Features
    Min Shutter Speed 30s
    Max Mechanical Shutter Speed 1/2000s
    Max Continuous Shooting 5.0 fps
    Shutter Priority
    Aperture Priority
    Manual Exposure Mode
    Exposure Compensation Yes
    Custom White Balance
    Image Stabilization
    Built-in Flash
    Flash Range 2.00 m (at ISO 100)
    Flash Modes Automatic, automatic/red eye reduction, on, on/red eye reduction, long-term synchronization/red eye reduction, off
    External Flash
    AE Bracketing
    WB Bracketing
    Exposure Modes
    Multi-Segment
    Average
    Spot
    Partial
    AF-Area
    Center Weighted
    DxO Sensor Scores
    DxO Overall Score not tested
    DxO Color Depth not tested
    DxO Dynamic Range not tested
    DxO Low Light ISO not tested
    Report a correction

    Sensor
    Sensor Type CMOS
    Sensor Size APS-C
    Sensor Dimensions 23.6 x 15.7 mm
    Sensor Area 370.52mm2
    Sensor Resolution 16 megapixels
    Max Image Resolution 4928 x 3264
    Max Native ISO 12,500
    Min Native ISO 100
    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
    Number of Cross Focus Points Unknown
    Video Features
    Video Resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p)
    Max Video Resolution 1920 x 1080
    Video Formats MPEG-4
    Microphone Port
    Headphone Port
    Connectivity
    Wireless Connectivity None
    HDMI
    USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
    Physical
    Environmental Sealing
    Water Proof
    Dust Proof
    Shock Proof
    Crush Proof
    Freeze Proof
    Weight 635g
    Physical Dimensions 140 x 79 x 88mm
    Battery Life 450 shots
    Battery Type Battery Pack
    Battery Model BP-DC8
    Other Features
    Self Timer Yes
    Timelapse Recording
    GPS None
    Storage Type SD/SDHC/SDXC
    Storage Slots 1


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