Canon 70D vs Leica V-LUX 5

The Canon EOS 70D and the Leica V-LUX 5 are two digital cameras that were revealed to the public, respectively, in July 2013 and July 2019. The 70D is a DSLR, while the V-LUX 5 is a fixed lens compact. The cameras are based on an APS-C (70D) and an one-inch (V-LUX 5) sensor. Both cameras offer a resolution of 20 megapixels.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Headline Specifications

Canon 70D		Leica V-LUX 5
Digital single lens reflex		Fixed lens compact camera
Canon EF mount lenses		25-400mm f/2.8-4.0
20 MP – APS-C sensor		20 MP – 1" sensor
1080/30p Video		4K/30p Video
ISO 100-12,800 (100 - 25,600)		ISO 125-12,800 (80 - 25,600)
Optical viewfinder		Electronic viewfinder (2360k dots)
3.0" LCD – 1040k dots		3.0" LCD – 1240k dots
Swivel touchscreen		Swivel touchscreen
7 shutter flaps per second		12 shutter flaps per second
Weathersealed body		not weather sealed
920 shots per battery charge		350 shots per battery charge
139 x 104 x 79 mm, 755 g		136 x 97 x 131 mm, 812 g

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Check V-LUX 5 price at
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Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Canon EOS 70D and the Leica V-LUX 5? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

Body comparison

An illustration of the physical size and weight of the Canon 70D and the Leica V-LUX 5 is provided in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three successive views from the front, the top, and the rear are shown. All width, height and depth dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Leica V-LUX 5 is notably smaller (9 percent) than the Canon 70D. It is worth mentioning in this context that the 70D is splash and dust resistant, while the V-LUX 5 does not feature any corresponding weather-sealing.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete and possibly misleading, as the V-LUX 5 has a lens built in, whereas the 70D is an interchangeable lens camera that requires a separate lens. Attaching the latter will add extra weight and bulk to the setup. You can compare the optics available for the 70D and their specifications in the Canon EF Lens Catalog.

Concerning battery life, the 70D gets 920 shots out of its Canon LP-E6 battery, while the V-LUX 5 can take 350 images on a single charge of its Leica BP-DC12 power pack. The power pack in the V-LUX 5 can be charged via the USB port, which can be very convenient when travelling.

The following table provides a synthesis of the main physical specifications of the two cameras and other similar ones. If you would like to visualize and compare a different camera combination, you can navigate to the CAM-parator app and make your selection from a broad list of cameras there.

Body Specifications

		Camera Model	Camera Width	Camera Height	Camera Depth	Camera Weight	Battery Life	Weather Sealing	Camera Launch	Launch Price	Street Price
1.		Canon 70D	139 mm	104 mm	79 mm	755 g	920	Y	Jul 2013	EUR 1 099	ebay.com
2.		Leica V-LUX 5	136 mm	97 mm	131 mm	812 g	350	n	Jul 2019	EUR 1 199	amazon.com
3.		Canon 6D	145 mm	111 mm	71 mm	770 g	1090	Y	Sep 2012	EUR 1 999	ebay.com
4.		Canon 7D	148 mm	111 mm	74 mm	860 g	800	Y	Sep 2009	EUR 1 499	ebay.com
5.		Canon 7D II	149 mm	112 mm	78 mm	910 g	670	Y	Sep 2014	EUR 1 699	ebay.com
6.		Canon 50D	146 mm	108 mm	74 mm	822 g	800	Y	Aug 2008	EUR 1 099	ebay.com
7.		Canon 60D	145 mm	106 mm	79 mm	755 g	1100	Y	Aug 2010	EUR 1 149	ebay.com
8.		Canon 80D	139 mm	105 mm	79 mm	730 g	960	Y	Feb 2016	EUR 1 285	ebay.com
9.		Canon G3 X	123 mm	77 mm	105 mm	733 g	300	Y	Jun 2015	EUR 899	ebay.com
10.		Leica C-LUX	113 mm	67 mm	46 mm	340 g	370	n	Jun 2018	EUR 970	ebay.com
11.		Leica D-LUX 7	115 mm	66 mm	65 mm	392 g	300	n	Nov 2018	EUR 1 149	ebay.com
12.		Leica V-LUX Typ 114	137 mm	99 mm	131 mm	830 g	360	n	Sep 2014	EUR 1 099	ebay.com
13.		Nikon D7100	136 mm	107 mm	76 mm	765 g	950	Y	Feb 2013	EUR 1 179	ebay.com
14.		Panasonic FZ2000	138 mm	102 mm	135 mm	915 g	350	n	Sep 2016	EUR 1 249	amazon.com
15.		Sony RX10	129 mm	88 mm	102 mm	813 g	420	Y	Oct 2013	EUR 1 199	ebay.com
16.		Sony RX10 II	129 mm	88 mm	102 mm	813 g	400	Y	Jun 2015	EUR 1 599	ebay.com
17.		Sony RX100 VI	102 mm	58 mm	43 mm	301 g	240	n	Jun 2018	EUR 1 299	ebay.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
Convert to Imperial

The price is, of course, an important factor in any camera decision. The listed launch prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down.

Sensor comparison

The size of the imaging sensor is a crucial determinant of image quality. All other things equal, a large sensor will have larger individual pixel-units that offer better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Furthermore, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more possibilities to use shallow depth-of-field in order to isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors are more costly to manufacture and tend to lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Of the two cameras under consideration, the Canon 70D features an APS-C sensor and the Leica V-LUX 5 an one-inch sensor. The sensor area in the V-LUX 5 is 66 percent smaller. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 1.6 and 2.7. Both cameras have a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 3:2.

Even though the 70D has a larger sensor, both cameras offer the same resolution of 20 megapixels. This implies that the 70D has a lower pixel density and larger individual pixels (with a pixel pitch of 4.11μm versus 2.41μm for the V-LUX 5), which gives it a potential advantage in terms of light gathering capacity. It should, however, be noted that the V-LUX 5 is much more recent (by 6 years) than the 70D, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that at least partly compensate for the smaller pixel size.

The 70D has on-sensor phase detect pixels, which results in fast and reliable autofocus acquisition even during live view operation.

The Canon EOS 70D has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 12800, which can be extended to ISO 100-25600. The corresponding ISO settings for the Leica V-LUX 5 are ISO 125 to ISO 12800, with the possibility to increase the ISO range to 80-25600.

In terms of underlying technology, the 70D is build around a CMOS sensor, while the V-LUX 5 uses a BSI-CMOS imager. Both cameras use a Bayer filter for capturing RGB colors on a square grid of photosensors. This arrangement is found in most digital cameras.

Consistent information on actual sensor performance is available from DXO Mark for many cameras. This service is based on lab testing and assigns an overall score to each camera sensor, as well as ratings for dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), color depth ("DXO Portrait"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"). The adjacent table reports on the physical sensor characteristics and the outcomes of the DXO sensor quality tests for a sample of comparator-cameras.

Sensor Characteristics

		Camera Model	Sensor Class	Resolution (MP)	Horiz. Pixels	Vert. Pixels	Video Format	DXO Portrait	DXO Landscape	DXO Sports	DXO Overall
1.		Canon 70D	APS-C	20.0	5472	3648	1080/30p	22.5	11.6	926	68
2.		Leica V-LUX 5	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	4K/30p	22.2	12.4	584	65
3.		Canon 6D	Full Frame	20.0	5472	3648	1080/30p	23.8	12.1	2340	82
4.		Canon 7D	APS-C	17.9	5184	3456	1080/30p	22.0	11.7	854	66
5.		Canon 7D II	APS-C	20.0	5472	3648	1080/60p	22.4	11.8	1082	70
6.		Canon 50D	APS-C	15.1	4752	3168	none	21.8	11.4	696	63
7.		Canon 60D	APS-C	17.9	5184	3456	1080/30p	22.2	11.5	813	66
8.		Canon 80D	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	1080/60p	23.6	13.2	1135	79
9.		Canon G3 X	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	1080/60p	21.4	12.3	521	63
10.		Leica C-LUX	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	4K/30p	22.1	12.3	481	64
11.		Leica D-LUX 7	Four Thirds	16.8	4736	3552	4K/30p	22.9	12.8	1002	72
12.		Leica V-LUX Typ 114	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	4K/30p	21.6	11.7	127	60
13.		Nikon D7100	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	1080/60p	24.2	13.7	1256	83
14.		Panasonic FZ2000	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	4K/30p	23.0	12.6	538	70
15.		Sony RX10	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	1080/60p	22.9	12.6	474	69
16.		Sony RX10 II	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	4K/30p	23.0	12.6	531	70
17.		Sony RX100 VI	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	4K/30p	22.1	12.3	478	64
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age.

Many modern cameras cannot only take still pictures, but also record videos. Both cameras under consideration have a sensor with sufficiently fast read-out times for moving pictures, but the V-LUX 5 provides a better video resolution than the 70D. It can shoot movie footage at 4K/30p, while the Canon is limited to 1080/30p.

Feature comparison

Beyond body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. For example, the V-LUX 5 has an electronic viewfinder (2360k dots), while the 70D has an optical one. Both systems have their advantages, with the electronic viewfinder making it possible to project supplementary shooting information into the framing view, whereas the optical viewfinder offers lag-free viewing and a very clear framing image. The viewfinder in the V-LUX 5 offers a wider field of view (100%) than the one in the 70D (98%), so that a larger proportion of the captured image is visible in the finder. In addition, the viewfinder of the V-LUX 5 has a higher magnification (0.70x vs 0.59x), so that the size of the image transmitted appears closer to the size seen with the naked human eye. The adjacent table lists some of the other core features of the Canon 70D and Leica V-LUX 5 along with similar information for a selection of comparators.

Core Features

		Camera Model	Viewfinder (Type or 000 dots)	Control Panel (yes/no)	LCD Specifications (inch/000 dots)	LCD Attach- ment	Touch Screen (yes/no)	Max Shutter Speed *	Max Shutter Flaps *	Built-in Flash (yes/no)	Built-in Image Stab
1.		Canon 70D	optical	Y	3.0 / 1040	swivel	Y	1/8000s	7.0/s	Y	n
2.		Leica V-LUX 5	2360	n	3.0 / 1240	swivel	Y	1/4000s	12.0/s	Y	Y
3.		Canon 6D	optical	Y	3.0 / 1040	fixed	n	1/4000s	4.5/s	n	n
4.		Canon 7D	optical	Y	3.0 / 920	fixed	n	1/8000s	8.0/s	Y	n
5.		Canon 7D II	optical	Y	3.0 / 1040	fixed	n	1/8000s	10.0/s	Y	n
6.		Canon 50D	optical	Y	3.0 / 920	fixed	n	1/8000s	6.3/s	Y	n
7.		Canon 60D	optical	Y	3.0 / 1040	swivel	n	1/8000s	5.3/s	Y	n
8.		Canon 80D	optical	Y	3.0 / 1040	swivel	Y	1/8000s	7.0/s	Y	n
9.		Canon G3 X	optional	n	3.2 / 1620	tilting	Y	1/2000s	5.9/s	Y	Y
10.		Leica C-LUX	2330	n	3.0 / 1240	fixed	Y	1/2000s	10.0/s	Y	Y
11.		Leica D-LUX 7	2764	n	3.0 / 1240	fixed	Y	1/4000s	11.0/s	n	Y
12.		Leica V-LUX Typ 114	2359	n	3.0 / 921	swivel	n	1/4000s	12.0/s	Y	Y
13.		Nikon D7100	optical	Y	3.2 / 1229	fixed	n	1/8000s	6.0/s	Y	n
14.		Panasonic FZ2000	2360	n	3.0 / 1040	swivel	Y	1/4000s	12.0/s	Y	Y
15.		Sony RX10	1440	Y	3.0 / 1229	tilting	n	1/3200s	10.0/s	Y	Y
16.		Sony RX10 II	2359	Y	3.0 / 1229	tilting	n	1/3200s	14.0/s	Y	Y
17.		Sony RX100 VI	2359	n	3.0 / 1229	tilting	Y	1/2000s	24.0/s	Y	Y
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.

One feature that is present on the 70D, but is missing on the V-LUX 5 is a top-level LCD. While being, of course, smaller than the rear screen, the control panel conveys some of the essential shooting information and can be convenient for quick and easy settings verification.

The reported shutter speed information refers to the use of the mechanical shutter. Yet, some cameras only have an electronic shutter, while others have an electronic shutter in addition to a mechanical one. In fact, the V-LUX 5 is one of those camera that have an additional electronic shutter, which makes completely silent shooting possible. However, this mode is less suitable for photographing moving objects (risk of rolling shutter) or shooting under artificial light sources (risk of flickering).

The Leica V-LUX 5 has an intervalometer built-in. This enables the photographer to capture time lapse sequences, such as flower blooming, a sunset or moon rise, without purchasing an external camera trigger and related software.

Concerning the storage of imaging data, both the 70D and the V-LUX 5 write their files to SDXC cards. Both cameras can use UHS-I cards, which provide for Ultra High Speed data transfer of up to 104 MB/s.

Connectivity comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Canon EOS 70D and Leica V-LUX 5 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

Input-Output Connections

		Camera Model	Hotshoe Port	Internal Mic / Speaker	Microphone Port	Headphone Port	HDMI Port	USB Port	WiFi Support	NFC Support	Bluetooth Support
1.		Canon 70D	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	Y	-	-
2.		Leica V-LUX 5	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	Y
3.		Canon 6D	Y	mono / mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	Y	-	-
4.		Canon 7D	Y	mono / -	Y	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
5.		Canon 7D II	Y	stereo / mono	Y	Y	mini	3.0	-	-	-
6.		Canon 50D	Y	- / -	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
7.		Canon 60D	Y	mono / mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
8.		Canon 80D	Y	stereo / mono	Y	Y	mini	2.0	Y	Y	-
9.		Canon G3 X	Y	stereo / mono	Y	Y	mini	2.0	Y	Y	-
10.		Leica C-LUX	-	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	-
11.		Leica D-LUX 7	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	Y
12.		Leica V-LUX Typ 114	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
13.		Nikon D7100	Y	stereo / mono	Y	Y	mini	2.0	-	-	-
14.		Panasonic FZ2000	Y	stereo / mono	Y	Y	micro	2.0	Y	-	-
15.		Sony RX10	Y	stereo / mono	Y	Y	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
16.		Sony RX10 II	Y	stereo / mono	Y	Y	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
17.		Sony RX100 VI	-	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	Y

It is notable that the 70D has a microphone port, which is missing on the V-LUX 5. Such an external microphone input can help to substantially improve the quality of audio recordings when a good external microphone is used.

The V-LUX 5 is a recent model that features in the current product line-up of Leica. In contrast, the 70D has been discontinued (but can be found pre-owned on ebay). As a replacement in the same line of cameras, the 70D was succeeded by the Canon 80D. Further information on the features and operation of the 70D and V-LUX 5 can be found, respectively, in the Canon 70D Manual (free pdf) or the online Leica V-LUX 5 Manual.

Review summary

So how do things add up? Is there a clear favorite between the Canon 70D and the Leica V-LUX 5? Which camera is better? The listing below highlights the relative strengths of the two models.

Arguments in favor of the Canon EOS 70D:

• Better live-view autofocus: Features on-sensor phase-detection for more confident autofocus.
• Better sound: Can connect to an external microphone for higher quality sound recording.
• Brighter framing: Features an optical viewfinder for clear, lag-free composition.
• Easier setting verification: Features an LCD display on top to control shooting parameters.
• Faster shutter: Has higher mechanical shutter speed (1/8000s vs 1/4000s) to freeze action.
• More flexible: Can take a variety of interchangeable lenses, including specialty optics.
• Longer lasting: Can take more shots (920 versus 350) on a single battery charge.
• Better sealing: Is weather sealed to enable shooting in dusty or wet environments.
• More heavily discounted: Has been available for much longer (launched in July 2013).

Advantages of the Leica V-LUX 5:

• Better video: Provides higher definition movie capture (4K/30p vs 1080/30p).
• More framing info: Has an electronic viewfinder that displays shooting data.
• More complete view: Has a viewfinder with a larger field of view (100% vs 98%).
• Larger viewfinder image: Features a viewfinder with a higher magnification (0.70x vs 0.59x).
• More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (1240k vs 1040k dots).
• Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (12 vs 7 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
• Less disturbing: Has an electronic shutter option for completely silent shooting.
• Easier time-lapse photography: Has an intervalometer built-in for low frequency shooting.
• Ready to shoot: Comes with an integrated lens, while the 70D requires a separate lens.
• Easier travel charging: Can be conveniently charged via its USB port.
• Sharper images: Has stabilization technology built-in to reduce the impact of hand-shake.
• Easier wireless transfer: Supports Bluetooth for image sharing without cables.
• More prestigious: Has the Leica luxury appeal, which ensures a high resale value.
• More modern: Reflects 6 years of technical progress since the 70D launch.

If the number of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the V-LUX 5 is the clear winner of the contest (14 : 9 points). However, the relative importance of the various individual camera aspects will vary according to personal preferences and needs, so that you might like to apply corresponding weights to the particular features before making a decision on a new camera. A professional wedding photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a travel photog, and a person interested in cityscapes has distinct needs from a macro shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Canon 70D and the Leica V-LUX 5 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best DSLR Camera and Best Superzoom Camera listings whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the comparison of technical specifications can provide a useful overview of the capabilities of different cameras, it remains partial and cannot reveal, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance when actually working with the 70D or the V-LUX 5. User reviews that are available, for instance, at amazon can sometimes shed light on these issues, but such feedback is all too often partial, inconsistent, and inaccurate.

Expert reviews

This is why hands-on reviews by experts are important. The adjacent summary-table relays the overall verdicts of several of the most popular camera review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

Expert Camera Reviews

		Camera   Model	AP   score	CL   score	DCW   score	DPR   score	EPZ   score	PB   score	Camera Launch	Launch Price	Street Price
1.		Canon 70D	5/5	+ +	..	83/100	4.5/5	5/5	Jul 2013	EUR 1 099	ebay.com
2.		Leica V-LUX 5	..	..	..	..	4/5	4/5	Jul 2019	EUR 1 199	amazon.com
3.		Canon 6D	5/5	+ +	..	83/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Sep 2012	EUR 1 999	ebay.com
4.		Canon 7D	5/5	+ +	..	84/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Sep 2009	EUR 1 499	ebay.com
5.		Canon 7D II	4.5/5	+	3.5/5	84/100	4/5	4.5/5	Sep 2014	EUR 1 699	ebay.com
6.		Canon 50D	..	+ +	..	+ +	4.5/5	4.5/5	Aug 2008	EUR 1 099	ebay.com
7.		Canon 60D	5/5	+	..	79/100	4/5	4.5/5	Aug 2010	EUR 1 149	ebay.com
8.		Canon 80D	4/5	+ +	4.5/5	84/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Feb 2016	EUR 1 285	ebay.com
9.		Canon G3 X	3.5/5	+	..	..	4.5/5	4/5	Jun 2015	EUR 899	ebay.com
10.		Leica C-LUX	..	..	3.5/5	..	4.5/5	4/5	Jun 2018	EUR 970	ebay.com
11.		Leica D-LUX 7	..	..	..	..	..	4.5/5	Nov 2018	EUR 1 149	ebay.com
12.		Leica V-LUX Typ 114	..	..	..	..	..	5/5	Sep 2014	EUR 1 099	ebay.com
13.		Nikon D7100	5/5	+ +	..	85/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Feb 2013	EUR 1 179	ebay.com
14.		Panasonic FZ2000	..	+	..	82/100	4.5/5	5/5	Sep 2016	EUR 1 249	amazon.com
15.		Sony RX10	5/5	+	..	80/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Oct 2013	EUR 1 199	ebay.com
16.		Sony RX10 II	5/5	+ +	..	82/100	4.5/5	4/5	Jun 2015	EUR 1 599	ebay.com
17.		Sony RX100 VI	4.5/5	+ +	..	83/100	4/5	4.5/5	Jun 2018	EUR 1 299	ebay.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.

The review scores listed above should be treated with care, though. The ratings were established in reference to similarly priced cameras that were available in the market at the time of the review. Hence, a score should always be seen in the context of the camera's market launch date and its price, and comparisons of ratings among very different cameras or across long time periods have little meaning. Also, kindly note that some of the listed sites have over time developped their review approaches and their reporting style.

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Other camera comparisons

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