Review: Leica V-Lux (Typ 114)

Introduction and features

Leica and Panasonic have an interesting working relationship. Some Panasonic cameras have Leica lenses that are produced in Panasonic's factory following Leica quality control measures. And some Panasonic cameras are essentially rebadged as Leica models. The V-Lux (Typ 114), for example is Leica's version of the popular Panasonic FZ1000 and like the D-Lux (aka Panasonic LX100), it's produced in Panasonic's factory.

Both have been covered already along with all the other latest camera reviews and news in the Techradar Camera Channel home page.

The (Typ 114), by the way, distinguishes the V-Lux from its predecessor, which was called the V-Lux 4 (confusingly) but was based on an the older Panasonic FZ200 bridge camera which has a smaller sensor.

As usual there is a price premium to pay for the Leica badge, but the V-Lux comes with a 3-year warrantee from Leica and a copy of Lightroom 5 for organising and processing your images.

Like the FZ1000, the V-Lux (Typ 114) is a bridge camera with a 16x zoom range and a focal length equivalent to 25-400mm. Both cameras have a Leica DC Vario-Elmarit lens with a maximum aperture of f/2.8 at the widest point and f/4 at the narrowest.

Leica V-Lux (Typ 114)

Just like the FZ1000, the V-Lux is a direct competitor to the Sony RX10 which also has a (20.2Mp) 1-inch sensor, but the Sony's focal length range is restricted to the equivalent of 24-200mm, although the maximum aperture is a constant f/2.8 throughout the zoom range – the V-Lux's maximum aperture drops to f/4 at the equivalent of 175mm.

Inside the body is a 1-inch sensor (significantly larger than the 1/2.3-inch devices in most models), with 20.1 million pixels. The bigger sensor means larger photo-receptors, to allow more light to be captured and improve noise control, dynamic range and image quality as a whole.

Leica doesn't actually mention the V-Lux's processing engine, but it's a safe bet that it's the same Venus Engine as is found in the Panasonic FZ1000. This allows the native sensitivity to be set in the range ISO 80-12,500 with an expansion setting of ISO 25,000 – that's slightly different from the FZ1000 which tops out at ISO 12,800.The maximum continuous shooting speed is 12 frames per second.

There are exposure modes to suit enthusiasts (program, aperture priority, shutter priority and manual) along with a fully automatic mode and scene modes to help less experienced photographers. The V-Lux also has a mode that gives access to the same 22 filter effects available on the FZ1000. These effects are applied to JPEG files, but they can be used when shooting raw files simultaneously so that a clean file is available for processing.

The FZ1000 was the first bridge camera capable of 4K (3840 x 2160 pixel) video recording at up to 25fps (PAL) in MP4 format, and the V-Lux follows suit. While this may not impress some stills photographers, the fact that it's possible to extract 8Mp still images form 4K video may.

It's also possible to record video at Full HD and VGA resolution, but the V-Lux only allows MP4 recording while the FZ1000 can record in MP4 or AVCHD. The FZ1000's ability to record Full HD footage at 100fps is also absent in the V-Lux.

Like the FZ1000, the V-Lux has a collection of AF point selection options including, 49-Area, 1-Area AF, Pinpoint AF, Face Detection AF and the Custom Multi AF mode first seen in the GH4 that allows the user to select blocks, rows or columns of AF points for use. It's also possible to focus manually and Focus Peaking is available to show the areas of highest contrast (focus) – this is especially useful during video recording.

There is also a Zebra display for highlighting areas close to burning out. This can be set to indicate a brightness value of 50-105%.

Leica V-Lux (Typ 114)

Naturally, as it's a bridge camera, the V-Lux's viewfinder is electronic rather than optical. This is a 2,359,000-dot OLED device, and there's a vari-angle 3-inch 921,000-dot LCD. As on the FZ1000, this screen is not touch-sensitive.

The V-Lux has Wi-Fi and NFC connectivity built-in for connecting to smartphones and tablets. In addition, Leica offers a free app (Image Shuttle) which enables the camera to be controlled remotely and images transferred wirelessly.

An intervalometer for time lapse recording, multiple exposure mode and a built-in flash, along with a hot-shoe for attaching an external flashgun, top-off the V-Lux's specification nicely.

Build and handling

Bridge cameras have grown in size in recent years, perhaps to convey a greater sense of gravitas, but the V-Lux (Typ 114) is one of the larger models around. Like the Panasonic FZ1000, it's a little larger than the Sony RX10, but it also has a much longer lens (albeit with a smaller maximum aperture at longer focal lengths). Neither the FZ1000 nor the V-Lux have quite the same high quality feel as the RX10.

Leica V-Lux (Typ 114)

Although the V-Lux is reasonably solid for a bridge camera and is very similar in appearance to the FZ100, there are a few design touches that make it feel a little different in the hand. The Leica camera is just a tad more angular in appearance than the Panasonic camera and instead of the bottom edges being rounded, they are chamfered. It isn't a major issue, but this makes the camera a little less comfortable in the hand.

The textured coatings on the front and rear grips of the Leica camera also aren't quite as grippy as on the Panasonic model. Plus, the coating on the back doesn't extend quite so far around the thumb-ridge and this makes the camera feel a little less secure in the hand.

There are no changes to the control layout, however, and the V-Lux has a fairly extensive collection of buttons and dials giving a direct route to key features.

There's a mode dial on top of the camera that can be used to set the camera to shoot in aperture priority, shutter priority or manual exposure mode, or one of the Automatic or Scene modes. The point marked COL gives access to Creative Control mode and the 22 digital filter effects, including Sepia, High Dynamic, Toy Pop, Rough Monochrome, Soft Focus and Miniature Effect.

Like the FZ1000, there's a deep zoom ring around the lens barrel, but it isn't always convenient to use it to zoom from 25 to 400mm. Instead, I found that I often used the sprung switch around the shutter release to make major adjustments, while the ring is handy for minor tweaks to the framing.

Leica V-Lux (Typ 114)

This ring can also be used to focus manually and there's a switch on the side of the barrel that allows you to switch between zooming and focusing. I found that there were very few occasions when I needed to focus manually because the autofocus system is very good, but Leica enthusiasts may feel more comfortable with manual focus. If they do, as well as the Focus Peaking display, the camera can be set to magnify a section of the scene to make it easier to assess focus.

I found that the 2,359,000-dot OLED electronic viewfinder (EVF) gives a good, clear view and changes made to the exposure or colour settings are quickly reflected in the image it displays. The rear screen, which has 921,000 dots also gives a clear, detailed view and its articulating joint means it is useful for composing images at above or below head-height. It's a shame the screen isn't touch-sensitive though as this would make it much easier to set the AF point, especially when shooting from awkward angles.

The electronic level which can be displayed in the EVF and rear screen is especially useful when shooting from unusual angles and you need to keep the horizon level, but it can be tricky to see on the screen in some situations – especially in bright conditions.

By default in 1-Area AF mode the desired point is set by tapping the left navigation key to access the AF point selection options, tapping the down key and then using the navigation controls to highlight the point. I activated the Direct Focus Area option in the custom menu to speed the process up by allowing the navigation keys to set the AF point directly. Unfortunately this means that their shortcut options (ISO, white balance and macro mode) are not accessible, but they can be reached via the Quick Menu.

The Quick Menu can be left in its default set-up or customised. I prefer to customise it so that I can access the options I want without having to scroll through features I rarely use. The customisation is easy, but once features have been assigned a position in this menu, the only way to reposition them is to delete them from it and then add them again.

Conveniently, there are a few options such as the drive mode and focus mode that can be set via dials and without delving into either the main or Quick menu. This speeds things up considerably. I also found it useful to set the Custom shooting modes (accessed via the mode dial) so that I could quickly switch between my preferred set-ups. You just need to remember that any features that need to be set via dials (such as the drive mode) will not be changed.

Leica V-Lux (Typ 114)

Leica has used the same menu arrangement for the V-Lux as Panasonic has for the FZ1000, but rather than highlighting the selected option, it is underlined in red. There's also the same Menu Guide with it's rather variable degree of assistance. For example, if you try to access the HDR (high dynamic range) feature when recording raw files (or raw and JPEG files simultaneously) it shows the option as greyed out. There's no explanation that this is a JPEG-only option and that to access it you first need to turn off raw recording. It also doesn't explain why you might select features like the electronic or mechanical shutter (maximum shutter speed rises to 1/16000sec with the electronic shutter), it just informs you which option will be selected by each setting. It's not so much helping you decide what to do, as confirming that you are doing what you are doing.

Performance

My first impressions of the V-Lux were very good. It's clearly capable of capturing high quality images with pleasant colours and a decent level of detail. Raw files in particular impress with their dynamic range and the ability to draw back detail from areas that initially look burned out.

However, the multi-purpose metering system throws up a few surprises. On some occasions it delivers perfectly exposed results, but on others it delivers very bright images. In some situations during this test the exposure needed to be reduced by 1EV or more, without any logical reason – the AF point was on a midtone and the iDynamic dynamic range optimisation system was switched off.

Leica V-Lux (Typ 114) sample image

This was shot using the exposure settings suggested by the camera and looks too bright. Click here for a full resolution version.

Leica V-Lux (Typ 114) sample image

Reducing the exposure by 1EV has produced a more pleasing image that better reflects the shooting conditions at the time. Click here for a full resolution version.

Leica V-Lux (Typ 114) sample image

Another rather bright image. Click here for a full resolution version.

Leica V-Lux (Typ 114) sample image

This time reducing the exposure by 2/3EV has produced a more natural result. Click here for a full resolution version.

Thankfully the electronic viewfinder (EVF) and screen on the back of the camera do a good job of representing the image as it will be captured. So if the image is going to be too bright you will see it before the shot is taken. There's also a histogram view and the Zebra view to assist with this. However, when set to show areas at 100% brightness, the Zebra display is a little over-enthusiastic and tends to indicate more will be white than actually is.

Images produced using the default 'Standard' Photo Style have pleasant colours and a pleasing level of mid-tone contrast. Simultaneously captured raw files look a little flat and lacking in saturation, but are ripe for processing.

It's interesting to compare images from the V-Lux with those from the Panasonic FZ1000. At the lower sensitivity settings the Leica camera produces JPEGs that look a fraction more natural at 100% than those from the Panasonic model. Details are slightly sharper and out of focus areas appear more naturally soft. These differences, which indicate that Leica has chosen the in-camera processing, become less noticeable as sensitivity rises. The Leica camera's processing seems to handle out of focus areas a little better, although there's not much in it. At normal viewing sizes the JPEG images are hard to tell apart.

Panasonic and Leica provide different raw file processing software and this may have an impact upon how the raw files appear direct from the cameras and after processing. However, when raw files from the two cameras are processed in the same way using Adobe Camera Raw, they look the same.

Processing raw files post capture brings the ability to apply as much or as little noise reduction as you like to preserve detail. At normal viewing sizes the V-Lux produces decent looking images throughout its native sensitivity range (ISO 80-12,500). Zoom into 100%, however, and there's a faint granular texture visible in some areas even at low sensitivity settings such as ISO 400. This luminance noise becomes more visible along with chroma noise as sensitivity rises (when all noise reduction is turned off). By ISO 3200 there's some softening apparent in JPEGs, and smudging of details captured in JPEGs captured at ISO 6400.

The V-Lux's automatic white balance (AWB) system performs well in most natural light conditions, producing images that represent the shooting conditions well. Under overcast skies the atmosphere of the weather conditions is visible, but the images don't look excessively cold or blue. Similarly, images taken in full sunlight look warm, but not too yellow.

As with the FZ1000, chromatic aberration is controlled well and distortion isn't a major issue at any point in the lens's focal length range.

Leica V-Lux (Typ 114) sample image

The AF system had no trouble getting this bird sharp as long as it stayed on its perch. The detail around the eye is good, but the complex patterns of the feathers on the back of the bird look rather painterly. Click here for a full resolution version.

The V-Lux is capable of focusing quickly even in quite low light and it can keep a moving subject sharp provided that the active AF point is kept over the target. The Tracking AF system, however, is useless with anything other than slow moving subjects. It doesn't respond quickly enough to movements around the frame or to changes in subject distance.

Image quality and resolution

As part of our image quality testing for the Leica V-Lux (Typ 114), we've shot our resolution chart.

Click here to see a full explanation of what our resolution charts mean.

Examining images of the chart taken at each sensitivity setting reveals the following resolution scores in line widths per picture height x100: