Capturing Life's Moments with Leica V-Lux 40: A Review

In this blog post, we'll take a closer look at the Leica V-Lux 40 camera and why it's becoming a popular choice for capturing life's moments. We'll explore its key features, functionality, and performance and see why it's a valuable investment for those looking to capture stunning photos and videos.

Written by Victor Chan | Updated: Mon May 01 2023

Leica V-Lux 40 article cover photo

Key Features

May 10 2012

Announced

14 megapixels

Resolution

BrandLeica
Sensor Type1/2.3-inch
SensorCMOS
Weight210g
MSRP$699USD

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Overview of the V-Lux 40

In today's digital age, it's easy to capture life's precious moments through our smartphones but for those wanting to take their photography experience to the next level, investing in a high-quality camera can make all the difference. Leica V-Lux 40 is one such camera that offers advanced technology and features that could potentially transform your photography. With its sleek design and user-friendly interface, the Leica V-Lux 40 is a great investment for aspiring photographers, travel enthusiasts, and even professional photographers alike. Let's explore why it's a camera worth investing in and how it can help you capture life's moments like never before.

Leica V-Lux 40 Pros and Cons

Now, we will look more closely at our review of the Leica V-Lux 40 camera. We will see what it can do and compare it to other cameras like it. We will tell you what's good about it and what's not so good. This way, you'll know if it's the camera for you!

Pros

High-quality images
Good zoom
Compact size
User-friendly interface
GPS feature
Fast autofocus
Good low-light performance
Good video quality
High-resolution LCD screen
WiFi connectivity

Cons

Expensive
Limited manual controls
Limited aperture range
No viewfinder
Short battery life
No RAW support
No headphone jack
Limited dynamic range
Slow burst shooting
No external mic input

Build and Construction

Body and dimensions

Leica V-Lux 40

Weather sealed
Dimensions105 x 59 x 28mm
Weight210g
Thickness28mm
Weight
Min
Avg
This
Max
Thickness
Min
Avg
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Max

Weather Sealing

The Leica V-Lux 40 is not sealed against water and dust, so it's important to be careful when using it in such conditions. If you often shoot in environments with water or dust, it's recommended to check out another camera with weather sealing.

Design and Handling

Main design features

View FinderNone
Screen TypeFixed Type
Screen Resolution461k dots
Body typeCompact

Suitable for:

PhotographyAbove Avg.
VideographyAbove Avg.
TravelAbove Avg.

LCD Screen

This camera has a fixed type 3.00" screen, with a display resolution of 461k dots. This makes the Leica V-Lux 40 not as suitable for those looking for a vlogging camera as you cannot view yourself while shooting selfies easily. The camera also features a touch screen, which adds to its ease of use.

Viewfinder

Leica V-Lux 40 does not include a viewfinder. The lack of a viewfinder on the V-Lux 40 camera may make it less suitable for outdoor photography in bright conditions.

Image Quality

Leica V-Lux 40 has a 14MP sized CMOS sensor. You can shoot at maximum resolution of 14 pixels. Leica V-Lux 40 has a native ISO range of 100 - 6400 which can be boosted to null - null.

Key Features

May 10 2012

Announced

100 - 6400

ISO Range

Sensor1/2.3-inch
Extended ISOnull - null
Max resolution4320 x 3240 pixels

DXO Sensor Scores

Overall

not tested

Color Depth

not tested

Dynamic Range

not tested

Low Light ISO

not tested

DXO mark sensor scores

The DXOmark rankings indicate that the Leica V-Lux 40 camera has excellent color depth performance, which refers to the number of colors the sensor can distinguish. Additionally, its dynamic range is also excellent, allowing it to retain high amounts of details in both bright and dark areas of a scene. The camera's low light ISO performance is excellent, which is an important factor to consider if you plan to use it in dimly lit indoor environments or at night. Overall the image quality of the V-Lux 40 is excellent

Crop Factor

Camera crop factor (or focal length multiplier) refers to how a camera's sensor size affects the apparent field of view of a lens. Crop factor is determined by comparing the size of a camera's sensor to that of a full-frame sensor, which is a standard reference size for camera sensors.

Size comparison

Medium FormatFull FrameAPS-C (Sony, Nikon)

Crop factor calculator

Crop factor

1x

Full frame equivalent

24mm

This camera: 1/2.3-inch

24mm

850100150200

Connectivity, storage, battery

StorageSD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Battery Life210 shots
Battery Model
HDMI
USD
Wireless Connectivity

Storage

The Leica V-Lux 40 supports SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal with 1 slots for storage. This may suffice for everyday use. However, for professional applications such as wedding photography, it is not recommended as a memory card malfunction could lead to the loss of all footage.

Battery

The Leica V-Lux 40 uses the undefined model of battery pack. This is rated for 210 shots shots which is high. If you intend to take photos or record videos for an extended period, it might be a good idea to bring along additional batteries.

Photography Features

Flash

The Leica V-Lux 40 has built in flash which is great for event photography and in low light situations. However it lacks an external flash shoe, which limits you to using the built-in flash.

Shutter

The Leica V-Lux 40 boasts a maximum mechanical shutter speed of 1/2000s, which is ideal for shooting fast-moving subjects in bright environments, such as in sports photography. Faster shutter speeds enable you to freeze the action and capture every detail, making it easier to get the perfect shot.

With a continuous mechanical shutter speed of n/a or an electronic shutter speed of n/a, this camera is not capable of capturing the perfect moment more easily, making it not as suited for wedding, sports, and wildlife photography. Higher shutter speeds make it easier to capture fast-paced action, ensuring that you never miss the perfect shot.

Autofocus

The Leica V-Lux 40 includes contrast detection autofocus (AF), with 23 number of focus points.

While contrast detection is generally more accurate and precise, phase detection autofocus is faster and more effective in most situations, particularly when photographing moving subjects.

Phase detection autofocus works by dividing the incoming light into pairs and then analyzing how they intersect on the camera's sensor. This method allows the camera to determine not only if a subject is in focus but also the direction and distance needed to adjust the focus to achieve perfect sharpness.

On the other hand, contrast detection autofocus works by analyzing the contrast of an image and adjusting the focus until the highest contrast is detected. While this method is very accurate, it can be slow, especially in low light conditions or when photographing moving subjects.

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FAQ

What is the sensor size of the Leica V-Lux 40?

The Leica V-Lux 40 features a CMOS sensor

Is the Leica V-Lux 40 weather sealed?

No the V-Lux 40 does not have weather sealing.

When was the Leica V-Lux 40 announced?

The Leica V-Lux 40 was announced on May 10 2012

Does the Leica V-Lux 40 have in-body image stabilization?

Yes the V-Lux 40 does have in-body image stabilization that can compensate for camera shake, making it easier to shoot handheld in low light conditions.

What is the ISO range of the Leica V-Lux 40?

The V-Lux 40 has a native ISO range of 100-6400, which can be expanded to ISO null-null for even greater sensitivity in low light conditions.

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