Leica launches new C-Lux 20.1MP 15x optical zoom 4K compact camera

John Aldred

John Aldred is a photographer with over 25 years of experience in the portrait and commercial worlds. He is based in Scotland and has been an early adopter – and occasional beta tester – of almost every digital imaging technology in that time. As well as his creative visual work, John uses 3D printing, electronics and programming to create his own photography and filmmaking tools and consults for a number of brands across the industry.

Leica has announced a new point & shoot; The Leica C-Lux. It contains a 20.1MP 1″ MOS sensor, shoots 4K 30fps video, features 5-way optical image stabilisation, and its 8.8-132mm lens offers the equivalent field of view to 24-360mm on a full frame body. Surprisingly, it’s not the most expensive point & shoot out there, coming in at slightly less than the newly announced Sony RX100 VI. Although it’s more than it should be, thanks to the Leica name.

The new Leica C-Lux is available in two colours. Midnight Blue and Light Gold. Adding to the aesthetic is a 3.0″ 1.24 million dot touchscreen LCD on the back (it doesn’t tilt) and a 0.21″ 2.33 million dot electronic viewfinder. It also has a built-in pop-up flash, if that’s your thing.

  • Sensor: 20.9MP 1″ MOS
  • Resolution: 20.1MP
  • Lens: 8.8-132mm f/3.3-6.4 (24-360mm full frame field of view equivalent)
  • Zoom: 15x (optical) / 4x (digital)
  • Minimum focus distance: 50cm (wide) / 1m (tele) / 3cm (wide macro) / 1m (tele macro)
  • ISO: ??-25,600
  • Shutter speed: 60-1/2000 (mechanical) 1-1/16000 (electronic)
  • Continuous shooting speed: 10fps
  • Buffer: 28 frames (raw) / 85 frames (jpg)
  • Video: 4K UHD 24/30fps / 1920x1080p 30/60fps / 1280x720p 30fps
  • Video duration: Up to 29 minutes
  • Microphone: Built-in stereo microphone
  • Connectivity: 802.11b/g/n WiFi / Micro HDMI / USB 2.0 Micro B
  • Dimensions: 113 x 67 x 46mm (4.4 x 2.6 x 1.8″)
  • Weight: 340g (11.99oz) with battery and memory card

So, it’s about what we’d expect from a fairly high end point & shoot. Except, it basically looks like a rebranded Panasonic Lumix ZS200 (or TZ200 outside of the USA) with slightly different buttons. And the ZS200 costs only $800.

The Leica C-Lux is available to pre-order right now in either Midnight Blue or Light Gold for $1050. No word yet on when they might ship.


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John Aldred

John Aldred

John Aldred is a photographer with over 25 years of experience in the portrait and commercial worlds. He is based in Scotland and has been an early adopter – and occasional beta tester – of almost every digital imaging technology in that time. As well as his creative visual work, John uses 3D printing, electronics and programming to create his own photography and filmmaking tools and consults for a number of brands across the industry.

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6 responses to “Leica launches new C-Lux 20.1MP 15x optical zoom 4K compact camera”

  1. Huge Dom Avatar
    Huge Dom

    We be interesting to see how the Leica compares to the Sony in the real world.

    Btw, is that a Sony sensor ??

    1. Frank Nazario Avatar
      Frank Nazario

      Exactly to my point… sad… so sad.

  2. Najib Saer Avatar

    Leica be like…

  3. Brian Picariello Avatar
    Brian Picariello

    No 120fps with 1080? SMH.

  4. Gary Sthland Avatar

    So the price Will be so ridiculously High it remains out of reach of many and remains that trendy item for the elite makes you want to throw up

  5. Frank Nazario Avatar
    Frank Nazario

    is Leica sooo poor that they have to be grabbing other brand products ripping their label and slapping the Leica logo to keep competitive… when are these people going to understand that there is an educated community of consumers that KNOW what they are doing and instead of admiration they dig themselves deeper and deeper into the ridicule…
    LEICA STEP IT UP AND DO AN “AFFORDABLE PRODUCT” THAT GAINS THE RESPECT AND ACCOLADES OF YOUR TARGET MARKET STOP THIS DESPERATION OF KEEPING UP WITH THE WAVE AND REBRANDING PRODUCTS THAT CAN BE PURCHASED FOR HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS LESS… SAD.