Leica V-Lux 5 (Type No. 7741) Digital Camera {20.1MP} 19121

Leica V-Lux 5: 16x zoom bridge camera with a 1-inch sensor.

The V-Lux 5 packs a 25–400mm equivalent zoom range into a single body, built around a 20.1MP 1-inch MOS sensor that sits several generations above the smaller chips typical in this class. That sensor size directly affects what you can do at higher ISOs, with a native range of 125–12,800 and an extended ceiling of 25,600. Five-axis optical stabilization in the integrated lens keeps the longer end of that zoom usable at handheld shutter speeds that would otherwise be a problem. Macro focus down to 3 cm at wide angle means the zoom range isn't the only story here.

For burst work, the V-Lux 5 shoots at 12 fps at full 20.1MP resolution, or drops to 30 fps at 8MP in 4K Photo mode for pulling stills from video frames. UHD 4K records internally at 100 Mb/s in MP4, which gives you real editing headroom. The electronic viewfinder resolves 2,360,000 dots at 0.7x magnification, and the 3.0-inch articulating touchscreen covers angles the EVF won't. Built-in Wi-Fi with NFC, a hot shoe for external flash, and a microphone input round out a kit that doesn't ask you to carry much else.

Who It's For

Travel photographers who refuse to juggle multiple lenses will appreciate a 25–400mm equivalent range in a single 812g body. Wildlife and safari shooters benefit from 12 fps continuous shooting and the reach of 400mm equivalent without a tripod, thanks to 5-axis stabilization. Video-focused creators get 4K at 100 Mb/s with a dedicated microphone port and a 30-minute recording limit per clip. Nature and garden macro photographers can work at 3 cm minimum focus distance at wide angle, making the V-Lux 5 a close-focus tool as much as a telephoto one.

Key Features

• 20.1MP 1-inch MOS sensor with native ISO 125–12,800, extended to 25,600
• 25–400mm equivalent f/2.8–f/4 zoom with 16x optical magnification
• 5-axis optical stabilization in integrated lens
• 12 fps continuous at full 20.1MP; 30 fps at 8MP in 4K Photo mode
• UHD 4K at 100 Mb/s internally with 30-minute recording limit
• 2.36-megadot OLED electronic viewfinder at 0.7x magnification
• 3.0-inch articulating touchscreen LCD with 49 autofocus points
• Macro focus to 3 cm wide angle; built-in Wi-Fi, NFC, microphone input, hot shoe

FAQ

What's the real low-light capability of the 1-inch sensor?

The native ISO range of 125–12,800 gives you usable latitude in dim conditions, and the extended range stretches to 25,600. Noise performance at 6400–12,800 is substantially cleaner than what you'd get from smaller 1/2.3-inch sensors in this class, though not at the level of an interchangeable system with larger sensors.

How does the 5-axis stabilization actually perform at the 400mm end?

It's optical and in-lens, so it stabilizes across all five axes directly at the sensor plane. At 400mm equivalent, you can reliably handhold at 1/125 second or faster without blur. Lower light forces longer exposures where a tripod makes sense anyway.

Can you shoot RAW, and is the buffer usable for continuous work?

Yes, RAW is supported. The 12 fps burst at full 20.1MP resolution is solid, though buffer depth isn't specified. For longer sequences, the 4K Photo mode at 30 fps (8MP stills) gives you another option if resolution trade-off is acceptable.

What's the macro range like across the zoom?

Macro focus starts at 3 cm at wide angle, which is genuinely close and useful for small subjects. Telephoto macro is 1 m, so you lose the extreme close focus past the 25mm equivalent range.

Is the articulating screen useful or a gimmick on a camera this size?

It's a 3.0-inch touchscreen with 921,000 dots. For overhead or low-angle framing, it's genuinely practical. Touching to focus and tap-to-expose works as expected.

How much editing headroom does the 4K video actually give you?

It records at 100 Mb/s in MP4 format, which is solid for a bridge camera. That bitrate is high enough for color grading without significant compression artifacts, though it's not intra-frame encoded.

Will this replace an interchangeable-lens system for travel?

The 25–400mm equivalent range and 1-inch sensor cover most travel scenarios without lens swaps. The tradeoff is fixed lens and smaller sensor. You're trading flexibility for weight and bulk reduction, not outright image quality parity.