I have just bought this camera and thoroughly enjoying it. Always had SLRs with heavy lenses - what pleasure to have a bridge camera with no lenses to lug around.
A nicely done review with some excellent advice. I have the Leica 114 version and have been able to get excellent quality out of prints up to 23-inches wide so far using the lowest ISO settings. It's nice to see someone giving this camera the attention I think it deserves. I worked as a newspaper photographer for 40+ years and used this camera for almost two years before I retired for mostly daylight shooting when I had to produce videos and stills simultaneously.
@@LeicaCameraAustralia I am considering get back into photography and purchasing this camera. I was a higher end user of 35mm when digital was still largely ignored by professionals in the late 1980s. I would like to know if you still feel the same way about this model 3 years later and if Leica has a newer model in the sub $2000 range that will be taking its place anytime soon. Thanks!
Very good review indeed Nick! You made me love the V-lux 5. And I love the price too. At last a Leica that don't empty your wallet completely! And a great lence and the flipout screen. Great pictures too! Greetings from Norway 🇧🇻‼️
Man, 280mm on your SL2 cropped to 24Mpx might be even more reach than this 400mm équivalent ! It's just that you need to change the Lens to come back to 25mm ! 😄 It's where the V Lux 5 shines
Greetings! i am starting my photography journey and i am torn between this and sony rx10 iv. the latter got lot's of praise while lux 5 own some solid merits. I'm into potrait macro and gliding birds...
You might need to find a DC adapter to fit into the battery compartment - this could be run off a powerbank. As it stands, no, you cannot charge and use at the same time.
I'm a bit late to the party but am considering the V-Lux 5 as a final long zoom travel camera (rather than carrying body + several lenses) as I approach 77 years old. I have read elsewhere that the similar Panasonic FZ1000ii's cursor buttons can be set for up/down/left/right for focus and the other functions set up on other buttons. This would suit me well rather than touch focus. Can the Leica be set up the same please? Many thanks for your very helpful video, best wishes, John
Thanks for the review. I was wondering if you could help with a question: The Leica V Lux, being an 1" sensor, does it favour a deeper depth of field? My question relates to product photography mainly taken with a focal length of around 90mm at a distance of around 80 cms. Thank you for your most esteemed reply
Yes, it does closeups, maybe not strictly 'macro' but certainly close enough for most subjects. Closeups are a bit tricky as you are very limited by depth of field so use f8. I'd put the camera on f8, aperture priority and auto ISO. Then use manual focus and focus by moving the camera forwards and backwards slightly, not the focussing ring.
The V-Lux will work with a normal generic wireless trigger so any brand of flash that can be triggered this way will work. I use the Leica SF60 with my SL2 but with other cameras like the V-Lux or for more power I have some Profoto gear.
Most of these images are Jpegs out of camera. A few may have been shot as raw files and edited later. Not sure which ones are which since I did this video a while back!
For close subjects - using a telephoto setting, say above 100mm - you can get a nice out of focus background if you use the widest aperture. This works well for portraits. However, it cannot compete with an M, SL2 or CL in terms of narrow depth of field and really smooth bokeh. Smaller sensors have advantages when it comes to telephoto lenses but they lose out if you want minimal DoF.
Hi. I just purchased v-lux 5, and am not able to set up the EVF to automatically switch between the monitor and the view finder as described in the manual. At this point, when in monitor, i have to manually turn off monitor for the viewfinder to turn on. Please advise on what I’m doing wrong. Also, is there another source for videos and tutorials for this camera?
Two possibilities. One: there is some dirt on a tiny little sensor next to the viewfinder eyepiece - you might have to look very closely to find it. That can stop it sensing that your eye has moved close. Make sure the viewfinder is very clean. Two: the menu options have been altered. The EVF/Monitor switch should set to Auto in the Eye Sensor part of the Setup menu. P209 in the manual.
@@LeicaCameraAustralia Thanks for this. The view finder is clean (don't see a sensor. I adjusted the setting through the viewfinder to evf/mon auto. Still, when i pull the camera away from my eye, the monitor does not turn on. The only way to turn on is to push the evf/fn6 button
It should work as you expect and as I have described. I don't have a V-Lux handy to test out. All I can really do is suggest you take it back to your Leica Dealer and see if it can be looked at. Sorry I could not be of more help.
Hi. Yes there is a video mode - it shoots 4K video quite well. Generally this class of camera struggle at very high ISO compared to cameras like the M10, Q2 and so on, but are totally fine at night if you use a tripod and do long exposures.
You know, to be honest I have not tried it. Focus stacking for large subjects (Landscapes) is easy to do manually, and for Macro, you really need a specialist focussing rail. Next time I take it out I'll try it.
Hi. I've just bought one and been using it for few days. Why does it always show F2.8 on screen all the time on auto mode unless zoomed in then it will show F4. Is this how it supposed to be?
@@LeicaCameraAustralia thank you for the reply. I guess I'm used to the APSC and compact cameras show different aperture range and lens focal length like 5mm wide to maximum 146mm
Hi Lisa. Many of the menu options are almost identical between models, and the overall operation is very similar. The V-Lux 5 has a touch screen so you need to use the rear buttons to work the menus on the 114.
Hi Ian. Whilst the hardware is very similar there are some styling differences but the main difference is in the firmware and the look of the JPEGs. You would see a more muted look with lower contrast and less saturated colors. For raw files the look is up to you of course.
No. The lens is the same, designed by Leica of course. The firmware is different and will give a subtly different result when using Jpeg mode. You also get a 3 month trial subscription to Adobe Lightroom.
I have just bought this camera and thoroughly enjoying it. Always had SLRs with heavy lenses - what pleasure to have a bridge camera with no lenses to lug around.
two boat shot is unreal
A nicely done review with some excellent advice. I have the Leica 114 version and have been able to get excellent quality out of prints up to 23-inches wide so far using the lowest ISO settings. It's nice to see someone giving this camera the attention I think it deserves. I worked as a newspaper photographer for 40+ years and used this camera for almost two years before I retired for mostly daylight shooting when I had to produce videos and stills simultaneously.
Glad you are happy with it. An under-rated camera IMO.
@@LeicaCameraAustralia I am considering get back into photography and purchasing this camera. I was a higher end user of 35mm when digital was still largely ignored by professionals in the late 1980s. I would like to know if you still feel the same way about this model 3 years later and if Leica has a newer model in the sub $2000 range that will be taking its place anytime soon. Thanks!
The picture quality looks better than its rivals. Leica-like almost. I thought it is just a Lumix with another logo but looks like I was wrong.
Very good review indeed Nick! You made me love the V-lux 5. And I love the price too. At last a Leica that don't empty your wallet completely! And a great lence and the flipout screen. Great pictures too! Greetings from Norway 🇧🇻‼️
Thanks for watching!
THANK YOU! I'm always nervous to take my camera off auto. (fear of messing something up), this video was really helpful.
Glad it was helpful!
Love the video thanks a bunch
Glad you enjoyed it
Man, 280mm on your SL2 cropped to 24Mpx might be even more reach than this 400mm équivalent ! It's just that you need to change the Lens to come back to 25mm ! 😄 It's where the V Lux 5 shines
Good point! The 280m on the CL (24MP) is like at 420mm, cropped to 24MP on the SL2 it's about 395mm.
Greetings! i am starting my photography journey and i am torn between this and sony rx10 iv. the latter got lot's of praise while lux 5 own some solid merits. I'm into potrait macro and gliding birds...
a question... can it be charge with a powerbank and use it at the same time?
You might need to find a DC adapter to fit into the battery compartment - this could be run off a powerbank. As it stands, no, you cannot charge and use at the same time.
@@LeicaCameraAustralia appreciate
I'm a bit late to the party but am considering the V-Lux 5 as a final long zoom travel camera (rather than carrying body + several lenses) as I approach 77 years old. I have read elsewhere that the similar Panasonic FZ1000ii's cursor buttons can be set for up/down/left/right for focus and the other functions set up on other buttons. This would suit me well rather than touch focus. Can the Leica be set up the same please? Many thanks for your very helpful video, best wishes, John
Yes, as an alternative to Touch, the rear rocker switch can move the focus cursor up/down, left/right.
Thanks for the review. I was wondering if you could help with a question: The Leica V Lux, being an 1" sensor, does it favour a deeper depth of field? My question relates to product photography mainly taken with a focal length of around 90mm at a distance of around 80 cms. Thank you for your most esteemed reply
Yes it does. Smaller sensors have more depth of field (all other things being equal).
Can this camera take macro photos? If so, what range of settings should work in good light?
Yes, it does closeups, maybe not strictly 'macro' but certainly close enough for most subjects. Closeups are a bit tricky as you are very limited by depth of field so use f8. I'd put the camera on f8, aperture priority and auto ISO. Then use manual focus and focus by moving the camera forwards and backwards slightly, not the focussing ring.
hi Nick , what external fashes do you recommend for Leica V lux 5 ? thank you.
The V-Lux will work with a normal generic wireless trigger so any brand of flash that can be triggered this way will work. I use the Leica SF60 with my SL2 but with other cameras like the V-Lux or for more power I have some Profoto gear.
How is this camera compared to Panasonic FZ-300? Are they using the same lens?
Yes same camera the Leica v lux 5 is made in Japan by Panasonic
Hi Nick, may i ask if all jpegs are edited somehow in post-production? Thank you :)
Most of these images are Jpegs out of camera. A few may have been shot as raw files and edited later. Not sure which ones are which since I did this video a while back!
What kind of depth of field can you get with this lens/sensor combo at 100mm and 300mm (35mm equiv.) bokeh effect?
For close subjects - using a telephoto setting, say above 100mm - you can get a nice out of focus background if you use the widest aperture. This works well for portraits. However, it cannot compete with an M, SL2 or CL in terms of narrow depth of field and really smooth bokeh. Smaller sensors have advantages when it comes to telephoto lenses but they lose out if you want minimal DoF.
Hi. I just purchased v-lux 5, and am not able to set up the EVF to automatically switch between the monitor and the view finder as described in the manual. At this point, when in monitor, i have to manually turn off monitor for the viewfinder to turn on. Please advise on what I’m doing wrong.
Also, is there another source for videos and tutorials for this camera?
Two possibilities. One: there is some dirt on a tiny little sensor next to the viewfinder eyepiece - you might have to look very closely to find it. That can stop it sensing that your eye has moved close. Make sure the viewfinder is very clean. Two: the menu options have been altered. The EVF/Monitor switch should set to Auto in the Eye Sensor part of the Setup menu. P209 in the manual.
@@LeicaCameraAustralia Thanks for this. The view finder is clean (don't see a sensor. I adjusted the setting through the viewfinder to evf/mon auto. Still, when i pull the camera away from my eye, the monitor does not turn on. The only way to turn on is to push the evf/fn6 button
It should work as you expect and as I have described. I don't have a V-Lux handy to test out. All I can really do is suggest you take it back to your Leica Dealer and see if it can be looked at. Sorry I could not be of more help.
Thank you
You're welcome
I wanted the Panasonic FZ1000 2 but then I noticed that Leica has the same camera for double price, so I went for the Leica
I believe the Leica has different color science.
😂
Hi! How about nighttime pictures? What are your reviews? Does it also have a video mode? Or only for pictures?
What if you are shooting only on not-so-illuminated places? Does it still take crisp photos?
Looking forward for your answers!! :)
Hi. Yes there is a video mode - it shoots 4K video quite well. Generally this class of camera struggle at very high ISO compared to cameras like the M10, Q2 and so on, but are totally fine at night if you use a tripod and do long exposures.
I’m right that you can’t get this camera any longer is that true?
It is still showing on the Leica Store site here, so it should be still available.
leica-store.com.au/products/19120
Does the focus stacking mode work well, or is it better to just blend images in photoshop?
You know, to be honest I have not tried it. Focus stacking for large subjects (Landscapes) is easy to do manually, and for Macro, you really need a specialist focussing rail. Next time I take it out I'll try it.
It works wonderfully. It gives you the option to select the range you want in focus.
Hi. I've just bought one and been using it for few days. Why does it always show F2.8 on screen all the time on auto mode unless zoomed in then it will show F4. Is this how it supposed to be?
Hi Ray, that's correct. The lens has a maximum aperture at F2.8 at Wide-angle, and F4 in telephoto.
@@LeicaCameraAustralia thank you for the reply. I guess I'm used to the APSC and compact cameras show different aperture range and lens focal length like 5mm wide to maximum 146mm
could this advise be applicable to the V Lux 114 as well?
Hi Lisa. Many of the menu options are almost identical between models, and the overall operation is very similar. The V-Lux 5 has a touch screen so you need to use the rear buttons to work the menus on the 114.
How about its low light performance?
The low light performance is perfectly fine for camera in this class. By shooting in raw you can do good noise reduction in Lightroom too.
Whats different to a Panasonic?
Hi Ian. Whilst the hardware is very similar there are some styling differences but the main difference is in the firmware and the look of the JPEGs. You would see a more muted look with lower contrast and less saturated colors. For raw files the look is up to you of course.
@@LeicaCameraAustralia I was Told by a Leica Dealer that the Optics are different and superior on the Leica compared to the Panasonic. IS that true?
No. The lens is the same, designed by Leica of course. The firmware is different and will give a subtly different result when using Jpeg mode. You also get a 3 month trial subscription to Adobe Lightroom.
Ma come foto e valida come una reflex?
New to Leica. What is the 114?
It's simply the internal model number. V-Lux (Type 114).
Greet review. Is thuis a good camera to take a picture of birds?
The 400mm f4 lens makes it ideal for birds, yes.
Thank you
Do you think this camera would perform ok at Airshows ? Thanks
I'd say so, yes. The long lens would be very useful and the AF tracking is pretty good.
Thank you for replying very helpful
Panasonic LUMIX DC-FZ1000 II Digital Camera , the same exact camera, without the red dot ,and the price. 😄😄😄😄😄😄