Leica V-Lux (Typ 114) review review

Incredibly versatile; Excellent image and video quality; Fast autofocus;

It’s expensive; Almost identical to the cheaper Panasonic FZ1000;

Leica V-Lux (Typ 114) review

Bridge cameras can often prove a disappointment: in trying to be all things to all photographers, they end up failing to excel in any one area – think John Barrowman, but for cameras instead of showbusiness. Not so the Leica V-Lux – it’s a truly fantastic all-rounder that can deliver excellent photos and videos in almost all situations. If you’re travelling light and looking for the ideal camera to take along, the V-Lux could well be it. Versatile, well constructed, easy to use but offering deep tweakability to those who desire it, we’re a bit sorry we have to part with it. Its price is high, but unless the extended warranty and Lightroom software, the premium camera strap, or the Leica badge are particularly important to you, the Panasonic FZ1000 does everything the V-Lux does for £300 less. Under the skin the two cameras are virtually the same, and for that reason we're going to have to deny the Leica the full five stars. Nice camera though.

Incredibly versatile; Excellent image and video quality; Fast autofocus;

It’s expensive; Almost identical to the cheaper Panasonic FZ1000;

Leica V-Lux (Typ 114) Review

Make no mistake about it, the Leica V-Lux (Typ 114) ($1,350) is the same camera as the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ1000 ($797.99 at Amazon) , just with slightly different cosmetics and with a higher sticker price. The $450 increase for the Leica version doesn't just get you the company's famous red dot logo and the satisfaction of owning a Leica, however. You also get a longer three-year warranty, versus Panasonic's one-year coverage, and a license for Adobe Photoshop Lightroom. If those are worth the extra money to you, rest assured that the V-Lux is just as good as a camera as the FZ1000. But we're rating it a half-star lower due to the higher asking price. And our favorite bridge-style camera is still Sony's RX10 ( at Amazon) , which handles a bit better, but doesn't have quite the zoom range as the V-Lux or FZ1000. What's Different? The V-Lux has the same body as the FZ1000, but its exterior is a bit different. The texture around the handgrip has changed, as has the general feel of...

The Leica V-Lux (Typ 114) is the same camera as the Panasonic FZ1000, but it adds a longer warranty and an Adobe Lightroom license.

Superior image quality at higher ISOs; Very fast autofocus; 11.8fps burst shooting; 1-inch image sensor; 16x zoom range; 4K video capability; Vari-angle LCD; Sharp EVF; Integrated Wi-Fi with NFC

Expensive; Bulky; Lacks built-in ND filter; Not weather sealed; Physical controls could be better; 4K video is cropped and requires manual exposure control