Leica X1 Comparison Review

The Leica X1 is a fixed lens compact camera that was officially introduced in September 2009 and is equipped with an APS-C sensor. It offers a resolution of 12.2 megapixel.

Is the Leica X1 a good camera? The X1 has a Camera Elo of 1171. This rating puts the X1 below average of all prime lens compact cameras. In terms of its sensor size category (APS cameras), the X1 also ranks below average. Based on its within category standings, the camera earns a 2.5-star performance rating. – Well, the Leica X1 is more than 15 years old, and there have been many other good digital cameras released since 2009.

Read on to find out more about the camera's size, sensor, features, reception by expert reviewers, and how it compares to other digital cameras.

Body comparison with a credit card

An illustration of the physical dimensions of the Leica X1 vis-à-vis a credit card is provided in the side-by-side display below. 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.

The table below summarizes the key physical specs of the Leica X1 alongside a set of similar cameras. If you want to review a particular camera pair side-by-side, just move across to the CAM-parator tool and choose from the broad selection of possible comparisons there.

Body Specifications

		Camera Model	Camera Width	Camera Height	Camera Depth	Camera Weight	Battery Life	Weather Sealing	Camera Launch	Launch Price	Street Price
1.		Leica X1	124 mm	60 mm	32 mm	306 g	260	n	Sep 2009	EUR 1 549	ebay.com
2.		Canon G16	109 mm	76 mm	40 mm	356 g	360	n	Aug 2013	EUR 599	ebay.com
3.		Fujifilm X20	117 mm	70 mm	57 mm	353 g	270	n	Jan 2013	EUR 549	ebay.com
4.		Leica D-LUX Typ 109	118 mm	66 mm	55 mm	405 g	300	n	Sep 2014	EUR 995	ebay.com
5.		Leica D-LUX 5	110 mm	65 mm	43 mm	271 g	400	n	Sep 2010	EUR 699	ebay.com
6.		Leica D-LUX 6	111 mm	68 mm	46 mm	298 g	330	n	Sep 2012	EUR 699	ebay.com
7.		Leica V-LUX 2	124 mm	80 mm	95 mm	520 g	410	n	Sep 2010	EUR 749	ebay.com
8.		Leica X2	124 mm	69 mm	52 mm	345 g	450	n	May 2012	EUR 1 749	ebay.com
9.		Leica X Typ 113	133 mm	73 mm	78 mm	486 g	350	n	Sep 2014	EUR 1 849	ebay.com
10.		Panasonic LX5	110 mm	65 mm	43 mm	271 g	400	n	Jul 2010	EUR 529	ebay.com
11.		Panasonic LX7	111 mm	68 mm	46 mm	298 g	330	n	Jul 2012	EUR 529	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 listed prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. The Leica X1 was launched in the US market at a price of $1,999. 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. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be found on the pre-owned market.

Check X1 offers at
ebay.com

Sensor comparison with a 35mm slide

The size of the imaging sensor is a crucial determinant of image quality. A large sensor will tend to have larger individual pixels that provide better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixel-units in a sensor of the same technological generation. Further, a large sensor camera will give the photographer additional creative options when using shallow depth-of-field to isolate a subject from its background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be associated with larger, more expensive camera bodies and lenses.

The Leica X1 features an APS-C sensor and has a format factor (sometimes also referred to as "crop factor") of 1.5. Within the spectrum of camera sensors, this places the Leica X1 among the medium-sized sensor cameras that aim to strike a balance between image quality and portability.

For most cameras, data on sensor performance has been reported by DXO Mark. 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 alternative cameras.

Sensor Characteristics

		Camera Model	Sensor Class	Resolution (MP)	Horiz. Pixels	Vert. Pixels	Video Format	DXO Portrait	DXO Landscape	DXO Sports	DXO Overall
1.		Leica X1	APS-C	12.2	4272	2856	none	22.6	11.8	1037	69
2.		Canon G16	1/1.7	12.0	4000	3000	1080/60p	21.0	11.7	230	54
3.		Fujifilm X20	2/3	12.0	4000	3000	1080/60p	20.1	10.9	-462	46
4.		Leica D-LUX Typ 109	Four Thirds	12.7	4112	3088	4K/30p	22.4	12.1	607	67
5.		Leica D-LUX 5	1/1.7	10.0	3648	2736	720/60p	19.5	10.4	-583	39
6.		Leica D-LUX 6	1/1.7	10.0	3648	2736	1080/60p	19.8	10.8	-303	43
7.		Leica V-LUX 2	1/2.3	14.0	4320	3240	1080/60i	19.4	10.7	321	39
8.		Leica X2	APS-C	16.1	4928	3264	none	23.2	12.4	1275	74
9.		Leica X Typ 113	APS-C	16.1	4928	3264	1080/30p	23.6	12.8	1491	78
10.		Panasonic LX5	1/1.7	10.0	3648	2736	720/60p	19.6	10.8	132	41
11.		Panasonic LX7	1/1.7	10.0	3648	2736	1080/60p	20.7	11.7	147	50
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age.

It should be noted that unlike many modern cameras, the X1 does not provide the possibility to capture videos.

Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. The adjacent tables list some of the other core features of the Leica X1 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.		Leica X1	none	n	2.7 / 230	fixed	n	1/2000s	3.0/s	Y	n
2.		Canon G16	optical	n	3.0 / 922	fixed	n	1/4000s	2.2/s	Y	Y
3.		Fujifilm X20	optical	n	2.8 / 460	fixed	n	1/4000s	12.0/s	Y	Y
4.		Leica D-LUX Typ 109	2764	n	3.0 / 921	fixed	n	1/4000s	11.0/s	n	Y
5.		Leica D-LUX 5	optional	n	3.0 / 460	fixed	n	1/4000s	2.5/s	Y	Y
6.		Leica D-LUX 6	optional	n	3.0 / 920	fixed	n	1/4000s	11.0/s	Y	Y
7.		Leica V-LUX 2	202	n	3.0 / 460	swivel	n	1/2000s	11.0/s	Y	Y
8.		Leica X2	optional	n	2.7 / 230	fixed	n	1/2000s	5.0/s	Y	n
9.		Leica X Typ 113	optional	n	3.0 / 920	fixed	n	1/2000s	5.0/s	Y	n
10.		Panasonic LX5	optional	n	3.0 / 460	fixed	n	1/4000s	2.5/s	Y	Y
11.		Panasonic LX7	optional	n	3.0 / 920	fixed	n	1/4000s	11.0/s	Y	Y
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.

One convenient feature of the X1 is the presence of an on-board flash. While this built-in flash is not very powerful, it can at times be useful as a fill-in light to brighten deep shadow areas.

Connection 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 Leica X1 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.		Leica X1	Y	- / -	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
2.		Canon G16	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	Y	-	-
3.		Fujifilm X20	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	-	-	-
4.		Leica D-LUX Typ 109	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
5.		Leica D-LUX 5	Y	mono / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
6.		Leica D-LUX 6	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
7.		Leica V-LUX 2	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
8.		Leica X2	Y	- / -	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
9.		Leica X Typ 113	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
10.		Panasonic LX5	Y	mono / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
11.		Panasonic LX7	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-

The X1 has a prime lens built in (24mm f/2.8), which, in full frame equivalent terms, provides a focal length of 36mm. The camera is, hence, ready to shoot, while remaining more compact in size than an interchangeable lens camera with an optic of similar focal length and aperture specifications.

Further information on the features and operation of the X1 can be found in the free online Leica X1 Manual or on the Leica support site.

Expert reviews

While the comparison of the spec-sheets of cameras can offer a general idea of their imaging potential, it remains incomplete and does no justice, for example, to the way the X1 handle or perform in practice. 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. This is where reviews by experts come in. The table below summarizes the assessments of some of the best known camera review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]).

Review Scores

		Camera   Model	AP   score	CL   score	DCW   score	DPR   score	EPZ   score	PB   score	Camera Launch	Launch Price	Street Price
1.		Leica X1	3/5	..	..	+	..	4/5	Sep 2009	EUR 1 549	ebay.com
2.		Canon G16	4/5	+	..	..	4.5/5	4.5/5	Aug 2013	EUR 599	ebay.com
3.		Fujifilm X20	4/5	+ +	..	77/100	4.5/5	5/5	Jan 2013	EUR 549	ebay.com
4.		Leica D-LUX Typ 109	..	..	..	..	4.5/5	4.5/5	Sep 2014	EUR 995	ebay.com
5.		Leica D-LUX 5	..	..	..	..	4.5/5	4/5	Sep 2010	EUR 699	ebay.com
6.		Leica D-LUX 6	..	..	..	..	4/5	4/5	Sep 2012	EUR 699	ebay.com
7.		Leica V-LUX 2	..	..	..	..	..	..	Sep 2010	EUR 749	ebay.com
8.		Leica X2	3/5	..	..	..	3/5	4/5	May 2012	EUR 1 749	ebay.com
9.		Leica X Typ 113	3.5/5	..	..	..	3.5/5	4/5	Sep 2014	EUR 1 849	ebay.com
10.		Panasonic LX5	4/5	+	..	73/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jul 2010	EUR 529	ebay.com
11.		Panasonic LX7	3/5	+ +	..	75/100	4/5	4.5/5	Jul 2012	EUR 529	ebay.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.

The review scores listed above should be treated with care, though. The ratings are only valid when referring to cameras in the same category and of the same age. Thus, a score needs to be put into the context of the launch date and the launch price of the camera, and comparing ratings of very distinct cameras or ones that are far apart in terms of their release date have little meaning. It should also be noted that some of the review sites have over time altered the way they render their verdicts.

Check X1 offers at
ebay.com

Camera to camera comparisons

In case you would like to check on the differences and similarities with other camera models, just make a corresponding selection in the search boxes below. There is also a set of direct links to comparison reviews that other users of the CAM-parator app explored.

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